Thanks, badbadrubberpiggy. Expect to see many more threads started by me on related topics in the coming months, because there was never a more clueless bride-to-be.
No, trust me, you won’t beat my cluelessnes. 
Also–my mom kept her wedding dress so she can prove to herself she can still fit in it. I’s not really an accomplishment, she was about four months pregnent and showing…
Depends where you live. In the small town I was living when I got married, not really. They had a couple of dresses that were way to frou frou and frankly, it wasn’t inexpensive anyway (to me). If I could buy a dress for $350, why rent for $200 and not get exactly what I want? I suspect in a larger area, rental may be more of an option.
Just to clarify, I sold my dress because I was not sentimental about the piece of clothing. That says nothing at all about how I felt (feel) about the wedding or the marriage. It was a beautiful day and the memory is all I need. I also don’t wear my engagement ring and only occasionally wear my wedding ring. I know I’m married. The jewelry is irrelevant.
I think you’re supposed to keep it so you can dye it black later, and it can be your mourning dress. Just the thing to whisper to your betrothed before you set off down the aisle.
So, if I’m understanding you correctly, Ross, it can’t be black to start off with? 
Mine, along with the headpiece is sealed in a box with a window so I can look at it if I want to. I don’t want to. In fact, it’s down cellar behind all kinds of crap near the oil tank.
Don’t some people keep a slice of their wedding cake?, that seems a lot more bizarre.
I still have mine. About a billion yards of ivory damask. Prettiest thing I’ve ever worn.
pool-no, you’re supposed to keep the top tier of the cake and use it for your first baby’s christening cake. This works best with a traditional fruit cake and a traditional pregnant bride.
My mother cut the train off her dress and wore it a few times to cocktail parties. It’s very 70s, but it’s pretty. She kept her veil too, and I’ll be wearing that as my “something old” in September.
I’m going to keep mine, not only because it’s being designed and made specially for me (and thus would fit only another 5’ woman with a 25’’ waist and E cup boobs), but because I’m sentimental about that stuff.
I bought mine off the rack for $300, paid $125 to have it cleaned and sealed in a box, (complete with window), kept it under the guest room bed to 9 years, and ditched it by giving it to a community theatre group. I’m sure it was turned into something strange.
10 years later I have a 8 year old DD asking where the dress is. She wants to wear it. (yeah, right).
Our family keeps a wedding dress, but it’s a family heriloom from the early 20th century. I have no clue what became of my mother’s actual wedding dress.