NEW - Rent Your Bridesmaids' Gowns, Rehearsal Dinner Dresses, etc.!

[lurkyloo]

Rent the Runway just added bridesmaids' gowns to its roster of rentable eveningwear and special-occasion dresses and jewelry.

http://www.renttherunway.com/redir/...n=M_1.18_Weddings Launch&utm_content=weddings

Membership is free, and you don't need a referral.

The dress is shipped to your home or the wedding location, kept for 8 days, and mailed back in a prepaid envelope after the wedding. They also let you select a second dress (like for the rehearsal dinner) for $40 in the same order.

I'm trying their eveningwear service in a few weeks (4-day rental, $25 for an additional dress), so I'll let you know how it goes... Seems like a great way not to stick the bridesmaids with a dress they'll never wear again or couldn't otherwise afford.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

sounds like a great deal!

one of my dior clients told me about this last week. she's going thru them for her winter formal and for prom. what a sweet idea for bridesmaids!

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm back and can report on my experience with Rent the Runway!

For our Old Hollywood-themed anniversary dinner at Tower of Terror I was able to rent an $850 gold sequined Badgley Mischka evening gown for $100. The whole process worked great! The fee included the dress in two sizes, and for $25 extra I was able to get a backup dress in a different style in two sizes. I also rented some earrings for $15.

About 2 days before the event I got an email and a phone call that one of my backup dresses had not been returned by the previous renter, so I could choose *any* dress on the site to replace it, at any fee (fees go up to $350/dress). If I hadn't been able to get back to them, they would have chosen a backup for me, but I was able to call when my plane landed. So I ended up getting a third style of dress to try.

I chose my sizes based on what fits me at department and chain stores and the reviews posted for each dress on Rent the Runway's site. They also have a live chat feature where you can talk to someone about what size to order. I loved the fact that most of their floor-length gowns come in Regular and Long lengths.

The rental period is 4 days (8 days for bridesmaids dresses), so they overnighted the dresses to arrive the day before our party. I was still kinda scared that none of the dresses would fit, so I brought a back-up dress. However, when I tried them on, I found they all pretty much ran true to size and fit as I had expected—there were just the usual issues one has when one's figure is not model-perfect! So it helps if you know, for example, that empire-waisted gowns make you look short or drop-waisted gowns don't work with your hips.

The earrings were OK and probably photographed well, but they seemed a little worse for wear. Also, I don't think they were really worth the $90 the site said they were, so I'm not sure the $15 rental fee was such a screaming deal.

The dresses arrived in individual plastic bags packed inside a garment bag (to keep), along with a large self-sealing, pre-stamped bubble mailer for each dress. The "fit kit" they included just had a small packet of Hollywood Fashion Tape and a Biore Make-up Removing Towelette—I think these are kinda like Sephora samples and change all the time. The earrings came with an alcohol swab.

The day after the event, I wrapped each dress in its plastic bag (no hanger) and crammed it into its bubble mailer, then dropped them all at the front desk of the Beach Club for mailing. Easy! Considering how often I find myself buying special-occasion dresses (for weddings, Christmas parties, etc.) that I never wear again, I think I will definitely be using RTR again.

 

[Princess SarahK]

Oh I am thrilled! I have been on the fence about this company for a while, not sure if I was willing to take the risk. Thanks for taking it for me Carrie..lol Im so glad you had a great experience with them, and how cool you had an anniversary party at the ToT!!! Pictures, pleeeaaase?? Congratulations on your anniversary as well. Ive been on the boards and lurking around since before you got married, I cant believe its been this long! Yay for successful and lasting Disney marriages!

 

[PixyDusted]

I would love to see a photo of you in the dress!

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh I am thrilled! I have been on the fence about this company for a while, not sure if I was willing to take the risk. Thanks for taking it for me Carrie..lol Im so glad you had a great experience with them, and how cool you had an anniversary party at the ToT!!! Pictures, pleeeaaase?? Congratulations on your anniversary as well. Ive been on the boards and lurking around since before you got married, I cant believe its been this long! Yay for successful and lasting Disney marriages!

Hey, thanks! And I hope you have a great experience with RTR!

I would love to see a photo of you in the dress!

I would too! But I don't wanna bug the Roots yet cuz it's only been 3 days...

 

[TheBearrs]

That's an exciting link! Thank you so much for sharing-- definitely something to consider!

 

[Mindyjoy]

Today's WeddingChannel.com deal is for Rent the Runway! $100 credit for $50. You have to buy it within the next 15 hours and use it by February 8, 2012 so plenty of time.

http://deals.weddingchannel.com/deal/national-deals/rent-runway-national

I think I might try it for my engagement dinner later this month.



After reading the deal further, it looks like you can only choose a $100 dress for $50 with this deal. You can't choose two $50 dresses.

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

Here is a new code I recieved because my birthday is in March. Not sure if anyone can use it as I won't be.

Here's the code: MARBDAY952417A7

 

[Mindyjoy]

I used Rent the Runway this past weekend for my engagement party, and it worked out very well. I won't rehash the details as my experience was pretty much exactly like Carrie's, except I didn't get the "fit kit" she described and I didn't put my dresses back in the plastic before putting them in the return envelope (hope I don't get dinged for that!)

I'll post pictures once I get them from my brother, who was the evening's photographer.

Overall it was an excellent experience and I'll probably use them again.

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for bumping this thread!

Here's a photo of the dress from our party. I also spotted it on a non-celebrity at the Academy Awards last Sunday!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Wow wow wow, Carrie!!! How glamorous you both look. Really like 1940's starlets!!! A gorgeous photo!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hey, thanks! The dress turned out to be perfect for our Old Hollywood theme.

 

[Mindyjoy]

Gorgeous! I agree, it's perfect for your theme! I'm still waiting for my photos but I will post a pic of the dress once I have them.

 

[Mindyjoy]

Here's the dress I rented.

 

[lurkyloo]

Cute! I love the color and the overlay!

 

[slotzkin]

just found this thread and have been considering using this service but have been to chicken...now that I see how well it worked out for you two gorgeous ladies I am definitely thinking of trying it for wedding season