Website Lets Bridesmaids Rent a Designer Dress for Less

— -- Being a bridesmaid isn’t easy on the psyche or the wallet.

The bride’s chosen helpers have to assist the bride, who will likely be stressed, and may also have to spend hundreds of dollars or more on their dresses and accessories, plus other costs.

Kelsey Doorey, 29, questioned why bridesmaids should spend so much money on a dress they likely would never wear again, so, one year ago, she launched Vow to Be Chic, a website on which bridesmaids can rent designer gown for far less than the purchase price.

Doorey, who has been a bridesmaid six times, told ABC correspondent Abbie Boudreau that bridesmaids can save up to 85 percent on the cost of a dress by renting from Vow to Be Chic.

The dresses she offers don’t come with a profusion of ruffles or taffeta. Her website features more fashion-forward designs, including from by Alvina Valenta and Theia.

One metallic Alvina Valenta dress that retails for $300 can be had for $110 through Vow to Be Chic, while a $495 Theia dress can be rented for $125.

The rental process works like this: three months before the big day, brides pick out their bridesmaids’ dresses on Vow to Be Chic’s website. The bridesmaid submits her measurements and receives two sizes of the chosen style, which she tries to test the fit and returns to the company. One week before the wedding, the gown -- adjusted to fit her -- is sent back to her.

The chosen gown also comes with a prepaid return envelope so that after the wedding the bridesmaid can drop the dress in the mail. Vow to Be Chic takes care of cleaning the dress.

And customers' reactions?

“They're loving it,” Doorey said.