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Jacqueline
Beginner August 2017

Rent the Runway might ruin my wedding.

Jacqueline, on August 1, 2017 at 1:00 PM Posted in Wedding Attire 0 38

I need to vent. I have six bridesmaids and they all reserved their dresses with Rent the Runway FOUR MONTHS AGO, the very first day possible, to ensure there was no last minute scrambling. Well now it's the week of my wedding (it's this Saturday) and four out of the six are scrambling to find a back up dress because their orders were unceremoniously canceled. They offered 25% off a different size. Ummm, no. A slightly cheaper dress that does not fit is NOT an acceptable solution! The girls had each called independently and weren't really getting anywhere. I called this morning and I'm waiting for a response now. This is a nightmare. The alternative is rush out and BUY the same dresses (they retail at $290, as opposed to the $80 rental fee). This is a nightmare!! Rent the Runway really needs to make this right - they need to deliver the product/service that they promised back in APRIL.

38 Comments

Latest activity by Shy-Bull, on August 1, 2017 at 3:59 PM
  • Ella
    Super August 2017
    Ella ·
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    That is really frustrating. is it an option to purchase the dresses and return them if RTR comes through?

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    Two of the girls already purchased the dresses as soon as RTR fell through. ONE out of six was delivered this morning like they were all supposed to be.

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  • QueSeraSera
    VIP December 2017
    QueSeraSera ·
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    Ahhhh! Why did they cancel it?! That makes me super wary of RTR..

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  • Bethyonce
    Master February 2015
    Bethyonce ·
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    I recently had a similar experience w/RTR. Although mine was just a dress as a guest in a wedding in Hawaii.

    They did offer that we could go into the SF store and pick up replacement options. They also offered to overnight dresses to me. Which they did.

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    They said the dress that had been reserved in April must have been lost or damaged. Sounds like they need to buy another one, then, and let us rent that one! Ugh. I never would have gone this route had I known they were so flakey.

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  • Bee
    Master April 2017
    Bee ·
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    Yikes. Sorry to hear this. At this point they should try to find a dress in the same color family at a department store. Mismatched bridesmaids dresses are seen pretty frequently on these forums and they look great.

    I love rtr but we weren't comfortable with using them for the wedding/bridal party for fear something like this would happen so went with vowtobechic.

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    How does only ONE out of SIX come through?? I'm dumbfounded.

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  • fallinthegarden
    Master October 2017
    fallinthegarden ·
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    It happens with RTR sometimes. The dresses can be lost or damaged by other people.

    If three girls will have that dress, have the other three buy a different one. Mismatched dresses will not ruin your wedding.

    ETA: those that won't get the dress should get a refund, so they can use the refund money to buy a new dress. Plenty of department stores sell off the rack dresses that are appropriate for BMs.

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2018
    Nicole ·
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    I had an awful experience with rent the runway when I rented a dress for an event. They sent me the wrong one and said they couldn't overnight be the correct one in time. They gave me a coupon code and a refund, but they were awful when I was trying to call and get it fixed. Good luck though! I hope it all works out!

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  • Vanessa
    VIP November 2017
    Vanessa ·
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    Wow im so sorry. I have heard great things about Nordstroms. I actually know 2 people who lets the girls pick their dresses from there.

    Im so sorrg for this stress!

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    It wouldn't bother me if we weren't leaving for my wedding the day after tomorrow.

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  • Bee
    Master April 2017
    Bee ·
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    If it's a popular dress and looks like a bridesmaids dress, it's possible a different wedding party had it before it was to be shipped to your girls. They might have returned it late or damaged. Rtr is great for 1 or 2 dresses at a time but they're not a bridal dress rental place like union station or vowtobechic so don't plan ahead for times like this.

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    No I'm totally flexible - we were originally going to have mismatched dresses but that was actually harder. If they can send half of the bridesmaids a similar dress, I would be totally fine with that. It just amazes me that the majority of the order fell through, and with hardly any notice from the company.

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    They shouldn't advertise themselves as a wedding vendor if this is such a casually accepted issue. Would anyone be so casual if suddenly they had no linens or the venue was double-booked? Saying that's just how RTR works is concerning to me because that's terrible customer service.

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  • Harts&Bows
    VIP September 2017
    Harts&Bows ·
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    Ugh I am soooo sorry you're dealing with this, OP. As if the week before the wedding wasn't stressful enough. If it's any consolation, my friend did mismatched dresses in the same color scheme and basic length - it looked very modern-chic. I absolutely LOVE how her pictures turned out, too.

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  • Jacqueline
    Beginner August 2017
    Jacqueline ·
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    Thank you

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  • Jo
    WeddingWire Administrator May 2015
    Jo ·
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    I'm so sorry! I will cross my fingers that they call you back and make this right. Even if they cannot, this absolutely will NOT ruin your wedding! Your wedding will be amazing despite this, this is super frustrating and annoying but your day will still be wonderful, no matter what dresses your BMs are wearing. Can we help you with the search for new dresses?

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  • Munchkin9218
    Master September 2018
    Munchkin9218 ·
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    Yes but its a clothing rental place - when you decide to rent instead of purchase you have to accept that last minute changes may be part of them game because you more than likely aren't the only one renting them.

    The difference with linens or double booked venue is that, generally, when you sign a contract with them the terms of that contract prohibit those mistakes from happening, and so when that contract is broken - either accidentally or on purpose - it creates a much bigger issue

    When you rent from RTR or any other dress rental you automatically enter into that agreement that a change may happen just from the nature of WHAT you are renting. Flexiblility is key. Even if the dresses had arrived on time - what if one girl ended up not fitting in either size and something had to be sent back and another size sent out or she had to wear one of the sizes that didnt fit her and was uncomfortable all night?

    It's what you sign up for with a dress rental. No one is being casual about and the customer service your getting isnt bad - they are trying to offer options to you. I understand its so close to your wedding and that's frustrating but its also the chance you took.

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  • OG Dianna
    Master March 2017
    OG Dianna ·
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    Well, they can't control what happens to it once it's rented (getting damaged, lost, etc)... that's a risk you take using RTR. Sorry this happened though, OP. Hope your girls find other dresses quickly.

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  • Cait
    Dedicated August 2018
    Cait ·
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    I love RTR for everyday occasions, but experiences like this have pushed me to stop using it for important occasions.

    For everyone that's saying "that's what you get", I'm sorry, but Rent The Runway advertises themselves as a wedding vendor. They really, really shouldn't do that; it's irresponsible of them to market themselves as something that they really are not.

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