Renting vs Buying

Last night, while doing my evening wedding research I happened upon what I consider to be a very brilliant idea... Wedding Gown Rentals.  Now, I love to look at dresses just as much as the next girl, but part of the reason I haven't entered a Bridal Boutique is I'm petrified to look at the price tags.  I love a strapless dress with a little oommf to the bottom, and ideally a little bead or crystal detail work for accent. 
So here I am, pinning away on Pinterest (do you follow me?  BloggingToBliss), when a cute pin comes up about renting gowns... so I do a general google search for Wedding Gown Rentals in Boston and do links populate!
I found a shop that offers rentals as close as 25 minutes away from me... and the pricing (which does not include alterations), seems quite reasonable.  However, I'm sentimental and would I really go for RENTING a dress?
My thoughts:  I'm only going to wear my wedding dress once, and while it would be a wonderful tradition to pass it along should I have a daughter I need to consider a few things.

1. I would NEVER wear my mother's wedding dress.  She was married in 1981.  I love my mother and father dearly, and I'm sure she looked gorgeous, but in 31 years, I think that fashions and trends are completely different.

2.  There's no promise that I will have a daughter, or that she will share the same figure as me, or style (see above).

3. Renting a dress could possibly afford us a few more guests at the wedding, or an upgrade at our honeymoon, or maybe just a few extra nights out together...

I'm on the fence about renting vs buying, and luckily have lots of time to think it over, and many married women to poll!

What are your thoughts?  Would you rent the gown of your dreams, or is it an emotional purchase in which you wouldn't want to part with?


Stacy