Bride Talk - Fabulous Designer Rehearsal Dinner Dresses For Less

Alright, Bride-ys! Second installment here of Bride Talk. If you didn't read my first post about Rent the Runway, click here to catch up. Time to talk dresses! Now, if you're anything like me, you might be hesitant to rent a dress online for an important occasion like the Rehearsal Dinner. All the "What if's?" are popping into your head, aren't they? I completely understand and thankfully, so do the girls over at Rent the Runway. Here's a run-down of how it works and why you don't need to be scared.

After choosing your favorite dress (and jewelry!), you will want to select it to be delivered 2 days prior to your event. This way, if there is a problem with what you've selected, the Rent the Runway girls still have time to come to the rescue. However, it probably won't come to that. Here's why. . .

To ensure the perfect fit, you get to pick a back-up size for FREE when you order your dress. On top of that, for $25 you can pick a back-up dress (different style selection) for the same dates AND you get a 2nd size for that selection too! So now you have 4 dresses for $25+ the cost of your first dress. THAT is smart thinkin'. Click here to learn more of how it works.

To help you determine if a dress is right for you, you can read Stylist's Notes, Product Details, Info about Size & Fit, and Customer Reviews for each dress in order to help you make a good choice for you and your body type. And in the unlikely event that you do have fit issues when you receive your dress, they will work with you to FedEx you a new dress in time for your event. These girls have thought of everything.

And NO- this is not a paid blog advertisement or anything. I don't even know anybody who works for this company. I just am in awe of this amazing gig so had to share with my dear internets. Enjoy the fashion-love. Here's my top picks for the Rehearsal Dinner. (Click on the images for links to the dresses.)

*LOVE* this first one! Love, love, love.

BADGLEY MISCHKA

Sequin Bell Sleeve Sheath

Retail $800 rented for $100

The interweaving of these layers is stunning.

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Champagne Hypnotizer Dress

Retail $450 rented for $50

Love the detail of the cut here:

LELA ROSE

Couture Wave Dress

Retail $1,295 rented for $150

Oolala! Sleek and sophisticated.

RACHEL ROY

Lipstained Stretch Dress

Retail $1,395 rented for $200

For a soft, romantic look:

MOSCHINO

Satin Bow Surprise Dress

Retail $1,695 for $200

And my FAVORITE of all favorites, hands down. This would be my own personal dress choice.

RACHEL ROY

Mercury One Shoulder Dress

Retail $1,295 rented for $150

Can I hear a collective gasp/sigh, all? Mercy, I love this dress!

So which dress would YOU choose, my internets? Add your comment.

And check back soon for my top picks for your sweet engagement photo session!

Something Old, Something New, Something RENTED, Something Blue

From time to time I get a wave of random inspiration that I simply MUST share. That's why I'm establishing a new category on my blog called "Bride Talk". I love all things wedding. While my wedding 13 years ago was absolutely perfect, I do sometimes dream about what I would do if I was planning my wedding today. Sometimes I send inspiration ideas/photos to my bride-to-be friends in an attempt to work out my own creative build-up. So now I've decided to do that more 'globally' and share my whims and inspirations with all of you, my loyal blogreaders. Hopefully, you'll have as much fun as I do and maybe even find an idea you want to snag - or share with a bride-to-be friend of yours.

A few months back I discovered Rent the Runway. Have you heard of it? It is an online store that rents out designer fashions for women at 1/10th of the cost. It's incredible! There are times when a girl just wants to go over-the-top glam but needs to do so on an everyday budget. I'm thinking fabulous statement jewelry for the wedding day, I'm thinking stunning dress for the rehearsal dinner, I'm thinking hot little number for the engagement shoot . . . oh yes, it's got me in a crazy little whir of excitement. And I don't even have an event of my own to plan for! So let me be your personal shopper, will you?

Here are my wedding day finds for you, my sweet Bride-y blogreaders. Today we'll start with wedding jewelry and I'll follow up soon with posts on rehearsal dinner dresses and engagement photoshoot picks. I'm a statement necklace girl myself so that's what I'd shop for. Necklaces are the piece of jewelry that I think photographs the best on brides. Close enough to your face to be in all the shots, but not so close that it draws attention away from your eyes in the upclose shots (a good reason not to get oversized earrings for your wedding day, at least from the photographic perspective). So here are this photographer/fashion-lover's picks. . .

(Click on the images for links to shop.)

I adore this ($375) Ciner necklace rented for $50 . . . talk about vintage chic! Vintage is not necessarily my style but seriously, it is so beautiful and I would LOVE to photograph a bride in it.

Or this classic Ciner ($363) stunner for $50. Definitely for an evening wedding, so very regal.

This fun floral design statement necklace just reads uber-romantic outdoor spring/summer wedding, doesn't it? (A Kenneth Jay Lane $538 masterpiece for $65.)

This Nicole Miller piece is a beautiful and would work well with so many different dresses. LOVE it. ($350 piece renting for $35)

I could see this Badgley Mischka crystal necklace with a soft and flowy dress with lots of breezy layers . . .

And my favorite statement necklace for the wedding day . . . drumroll please . . . A Miriam Haskell design retailing for $825 but rented to you for just $85.

It would be the talk of the town, this necklace. It's just so . . . so . . . everything. The only question is- who wants to be my muse and reserve it for your wedding day? Come on, I'll love you forever if you do. :)

More Bride Talk soon. . . the dresses are coming!