Wedding Season is Upon Us

May 1, 2013May 1, 2013 in Style

I’m attending a wedding in Cabo San Lucas over Memorial Day weekend which thrills me to no end. I mean, duh, it’s Cabo San Lucas, and it’s been quite awhile since I visited. (Cabo used to be a frequent destination for my family, and hoo boy, do I have stories. Near-death experience 40 feet under the ocean? Check. Drunken escapades galore? Check. Bad decision making? HAHA, CHECK. Alas, not today. Over drinks, perhaps?)

So! Cabo San Lucas, YAY. Procuring wedding-appropriate garments for Cabo San Lucas, BOOOOO.

I know, I know. Me? Not looking forward to shopping? Bizarre…but it’s just that I never look forward to buying new cocktail/wedding-type dresses because I know, despite telling myself differently and SWEARING THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT, I’ll wear them once and only once. Return on Investment? Not really happening with the fancypants dresses. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Nevertheless, I’ve spent mucho time looking at possibilities online, and here’s what I’m loving. For now.

Methinks this might the perfect time to try out Rent the Runway. Has anyone used them before? Thoughts?

Style

27 comments

sizzle
May 1, 2013 at 7:56 am

Weddings seem to be less formal (at least the ones I have been to lately) so I try to buy something that can work for multiple events if I can or be dressed up in some way with shoes & accessories. Now if only I could find a friend getting married in Cabo…sounds divine.
Krysta
May 1, 2013 at 8:17 am

I have a couple (2 or maybe 3) dressier cocktail dresses that serve as a kind of go-to for nicer events. My absolute favorite has been worn to weddings, nice dinners and then to my own wedding rehearsal dinner. Definitely getting my monies worth on that one. I think the key is picking a dress that is a bit timeless in style/color that you can keep for years. And then for the event where you just really feel like wearing something new or maybe extra fancy (like a gown) absolutely use rent the runway! I have used them to great success!
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 2:23 pm
  
  See, you are awesome. I have dresses like that, but I just don’t want to wear them again. I know, I SUCK.
Darcey
May 1, 2013 at 8:22 am

As someone about to get married (10! Days!), I just want my guests to be comfortable. I don’t care if I’ve seen their dress before – I want them out on the dance floor with me!!

And Rent the Runway? LOVE IT. I rented 2 dresses about 6 weeks ago for our very belated engagement shoot. Not only were they spectacular and made me feel like a princess (a very Mad Men princess), but the fit was just as promised, and it was such an easy transaction. Worth every penny. When else am I going to have an excuse to wear a floor-length rose gold sequined gown? You can see them here on our photographers’ blog – it’s the sequin gown and the black/green one: http://ardentstory.com/darcey-joe-engagement/
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 2:24 pm
  
  Wow, there are such differing comments on RTR. I’m tempted to try!
kat
May 1, 2013 at 8:26 am

Since we have family in New Orleans, we have gone to a million and one weddings which always includes the rehearsal dinner. And god forbid you wear the same dress! So rent the runway has become my absolute favorite for one-off dresses I wouldn’t necessarily wear again. I have also found some good gems at Nordstrom Rack.
Christina
May 1, 2013 at 8:33 am

I too have a few dresses that I can dress up for weddings, or put a cardigan over for work.

I LOVE the floral J.Crew dress though. Definitely would be able to wear it multiple times.
Sharon Schneider
May 1, 2013 at 8:44 am

I have tried Rent the Runway twice (with great excitement!) and both times were a total bust. The first time, the dress didn’t look at all good on me in person and I tried to return it for a different one but they couldn’t get me one in time. Second time, same thing. The dress I tried to rent was a shapeless muumuu even in the backup size. And it arrived on a Saturday for a four-day rental since my black tie event was a Monday–smart to plan ahead, right? No such luck. They told me Fed-ex doesn’t pick up on Saturday so, again, they couldn’t get me a replacement dress. So I had to run out last minute to buy something anyway, which just added to my stress.

All this to say, unless you know the designer well and look good in anything, don’t count on Rent the Runway to come through in a pinch. I so wanted to love this service but it just didn’t work for me at all.
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 2:25 pm
  
  Good to know – thank you!
Haley @ CardiganJunkie.com
May 1, 2013 at 8:56 am

I’ve heard that Rent the Runway is great if you are familiar with a designer’s sizing (i.e. You always fit into a 1-2 size range from Kate Spade) but it’s a risk if you’re trying it for the first time.

You’re small enough that it will probably be ok, but for people with big busts/hips it’s either a bargain or a waste of $75. I ended up chickening out because I realized that I could find a dress to own at Nordstrom Rack for about the same price as what I would rent and then possibly sell it if I don’t end up re-wearing.
Cat
May 1, 2013 at 9:45 am

That Tucker cami dress is FAB. And you could wear it with a black blazer back home. Totally versatile:)
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 2:25 pm
  
  I think I’m going to get it. It’s definitely my favorite. (Although the navy and orange tunic from Emerson Fry is a very close second!)
  - Cat
    May 1, 2013 at 2:44 pm
    
    That’s my second fav too, but it’s probably not as versatile (if you’re going for a cost-per-wear item).
loeper
May 1, 2013 at 10:13 am

for what it’s worth, I tried RTR for a black tie wedding after much deliberation. i should have known that being on the ‘most popular’ list of their dresses that it might look a little tired. i contacted RTR and they assured me they wouldn’t send out a dress that they themselves wouldn’t wear. i got the dress and it had threads hanging and little snags. i ended up buying a BCBG off the rack in about 20 min over my lunch break the day before the wedding. don’t know that i’d go back…
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 2:26 pm
  
  Dude! LAME.
Melissa Flohr
May 1, 2013 at 10:57 am

I’m all over that maxi from Anthro. Would def fit with the Cabo vibe and a nice pair of bangs!
xo
Julie
May 1, 2013 at 11:17 am

Love those dresses although they’re pricey if you’re going to wear them once! Do you ever wear Ann Taylor Loft? (Look at the paisley print lace trim halter dress if so.) It’s only $89.50 and if you only wear it once, I’ll buy it! Win Win!
shannon
May 1, 2013 at 11:48 am

I’ve used RTR and had a great experience!
yasmara
May 1, 2013 at 1:44 pm

I just bought this dress as an experiment – and for $17, you basically can’t go wrong. I got it in black, but I actually like all the colors. The blush (Sierra Hills) would be really fun for a wedding.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1142243/apt-9-sequin-drapeneck-dress.jsp
A Little Coffee
May 1, 2013 at 3:47 pm

I love you Whoorl, but I’m having a really hard time holding back snark about how nice it must be to spend a whole whack of money on a cocktail dress and then wear it only once. So in lieu of snark, I give you genuine confusion: Why on earth wouldn’t you wear a dress twice? It’s not like it’s always the same group of people seeing you at multiple formal events, is it? And even if it is, if you rotate through 4 or 5 dresses they won’t even remember seeing it before by the time you get back to the first one…
- whoorl
  May 1, 2013 at 3:55 pm
  
  Fair question! And you’re right…I definitely have dresses that I’ve worn more than once (this one has been worn a gazillion times: https://whoorl.com/archives/7731)
  
  Maybe it’s just this event in particular…or outdoor weddings in general; I just feel like nothing in my closet will work. So, in essence, it’s not that I worry about people seeing me in the same dress, it’s just that I don’t think what I have works in the current moment.
  
  And I love you too. I think. ;)
  - A Little Coffee
    May 1, 2013 at 4:19 pm
    
    Haha ok that’s VERY different than what I thought you were saying. :) I thought you meant you had a closet of dresses you only wear once and you have to get another one this time and are certain you’ll only wear it once also!
amti'b
May 1, 2013 at 5:15 pm

a lot of these look like you wear again with a casual sandal!