TrenLend

TrenLend rents designer dresses for weddings, formals and vacations, and its Cary boutique sits on Chapel Hill Road. You can try things on before you commit, which is the part that makes renting a dress feel less like a gamble.

There is a second try-on boutique at North Hills in Raleigh, and orders ship nationwide. Local customers can pick up free of charge, and anything bought outright in the shop goes home the same day. New arrivals are added to the racks on a regular basis.

What to know

• Rentals run for four, eight, or fourteen days.
• Bookings can be made up to 120 days in advance.
• A backup dress can be rented alongside the first at 70 percent off.
• Dresses go back either in store or by mail using the provided return label.
• The full inventory can be browsed online before a visit.