Brides Now Renting Wedding Dresses

Sacramento, CA (CBS) -- Budget-conscious brides in

search of a gown are discovering what grooms knew long

ago: Renting is an option.

Many brides are avoiding the wedding bell budget blues

by turning to something borrowed.

Newlywed Holly Medina vowed to keep her wedding on-

budget.

She says it's so perfect, that she modeled the dress

she wore for us. She estimates she saved about $3,000

and three-months of searching by renting her wedding

dress.

Medina says, "To me, I can't see spending that much on

one piece of clothing I'm going to wear one day. I

can't."

Medina's not alone. Brides-to-be crowd into

Alexandria's Formal Gown Rentals in Sacramento,

California. Walking down these aisles helped Clara

McCoy's daughter save hundreds.

"It's inexpensive and she doesn't want to store a

dress for another 50 years for no reason," McCoy says.

The Bridal Association of America says the average

cost of buying a wedding dress is $1500 dollars.

Renting a dress is a bridal bargain.

As far as the cost goes?

"You're looking at $249. That includes the dress, the

shoes, necklace, bracelet, veil, your tiara, slip and

shawl, and your bustier," says Giselle Holman, owner

of the store.

In-house alterations and dry cleaning are included,

too. The store stocks more than 2800 wedding dresses,

some private labels, all purchased new before going on

the showroom floor.

Holman says, in this tight economy, her business has

never been better.

"They are looking to save money. They want to go on

great honeymoons or they're looking to put down

payments on houses or cars," says Holman.

With the money she saved, Medina and her husband,

Miguel, were able to splurge on catering and drinks at

their wedding, and a trip to Las Vegas.

"It's definitely worth it," Medina says.

And she'll always have pictures to remember that dream

dress on her big day.