The dress is easily one of the biggest decisions to be made when planning a wedding and it can be hard to choose the style you want to go with. We found a few Kleinfeld dresses that combine fashion forward and traditional elements beautifully. The downtown chic bridal trend is great for brides that want to be unique while still maintaining that timeless look. We'll be featuring gowns from Matthew Williamson, Dennis Basso, and Pnina Tornai.

We love this flattering Matthew Williamson sheath from Kleinfeld Bridal that is perfect for your wedding reception dress. To keep this trend going throughout your wedding prep, sport this Badgley Mischka Sequin Belle Sleeve Sheath for your bridal shower. For an updated LWD (little white dress) look sport this gorgeous Rachel Roy White Tex Dress for your bachelorette party.

This beautiful embroidered vintage lace Pnina Tornai gown is perfect for brides who want a feminine aesthetic while still staying fashion forward and unique. We love the texture on this gown and suggest staying true to this theme for your other events. For a pop of color and texture, sport this stylish Prabal Gurung Baroque Ombre Sheath for your rehearsal dinner. For your bridal shower, give your guests a sneak peak of how you'll look on your big day with this Thread Social White Eyelet Dress.

This Pnina Tornai gown, exclusive to Kleinfeld Bridal, features a mermaid style with princess seams in lace. Break out in a big skirt for your rehearsal dinner with this Peter Soronen Glam Me Up Dress. For your bachelorette party, we love this Milly Almond Rosette Dress that is flirty and flattering.

This Dennis Basso mermaid gown features a satin empire waist and chapel train. If you love satin, go with this champagne colored Temperley London Gown for your rehearsal dinner. For your bridal shower, keep it long and simple with this Halston Heritage Capri Romance Gown that is a gorgeous blush pink color.

The dress is easily one of the biggest decisions to be made when planning a wedding and it can be hard to choose the style you want to go with. We found a few Kleinfeld dresses that combine romantic and feminine elements beautifully. The Romantic bridal trend is great for brides that want to have a feminine aesthetic while still maintaining that timeless look. These Alita Graham gowns are sweet, romatic, and feminine and feature soft materials such as tulle and Chantilly lace.

This a-line Alita Graham gown features a sweetheart neckline with a natural waist in Chantilly lace. The ball gown has soft tiered ruffles of lace with a chapel train. If you love an a-line, this gown is for you and you can coordinate your bridal shower, bachelorette party, and rehearsal dinner dresses with RTR! Try this Alice by Templerley Lace Dress for your bridal shower - we love how the eyelet trim adds a romantic factor. For your rehearsal dinner, go with this gorgeous floral Prabal Gurung dress.

This Alita Graham mermaid gown features a sweetheart neckline with a dropped waist in beaded lace and organza. We love mermaid styles (and they are very popular with celebrities!) and this gown is the perfect combination of romance and femininity. For your bridal shower, try this flirty Milly dress that will have you looking modern and chic. This timeless Z Spoke Zac Posen Countryside Chiffon Dress will be perfect for your rehearsal dinner.

This a-line Alita Graham gown features a sweetheart neckline with a natural waist in chiffon and beaded embroidery. It has a chapel train and features pleated tiers of tulle. Complete your princess look with this Kate Middleton-esque Haute Hippie Dress for your bridal shower. For your Bachelorette party, wear this super fun Adam dress and you'll be sure to be the best dressed!

Introducing…Wedding Wednesdays! Each Wednesday we’ll be featuring a different wedding trend from Kleinfeld Bridal, New York’s premiere designer gown destination.

The dress is easily one of the biggest decisions to be made when planning a wedding and it can be hard to choose between a classic or modern style. We found a few Kleinfeld dresses that combine traditional and modern elements beautifully. The Modern Traditionalist bridal trend is great for brides that want to incorporate trends while still maintaining that timeless look.

This Dennis Basso long sleeve gown is hand beaded and features an embroidered illusion bodice. The natural waist line keeps the focus on the beautiful detail of the lace and simple lines that the tulle skirt creates. The bodice can be lined for those who want to leave a little more to the imagination, or kept sheer for the full effect. This style is perfect for the princess bride who also wants to feel sexy on her big day.  Get the laced look for your bridal shower too with this Shoshanna Blush Wedding Lace Dress. Sexy and sophisticated, the Nicole Miller All Laced Up Dress will ensure a good night with friends at your bachelorette party!

This Pnina Tornai dress combines a traditional sweetheart neckline and full a-line skirt with a modern deep-v and feathers. The jeweled bodice and skirt are accented with feathers and crystals, a huge trend in bridal right now. Fashion forward brides will love this style for its fresh perspective on the sweetheart neckline and a-line skirt. For your bridal shower, wear this Cushnie Et Ochs My Boyfriend Dress for a chic update to the classic strapless dress. To keep the Modern Traditionalist trend going throughout your wedding celebration too, wear this Carlos Miele Ivory Frosting Petal Dress for your rehearsal dinner.

This Pnina Tornai gown is a great alternative to strapless as it shows off the boned corset with a sheer mid-section. The fun and flirty skirt has dimension and softness to create a modern princess look. We love the jeweled illusion bodice and the jeweled straps add extra sparkle for this bride. To try this trend for your bridal shower, try the Lela Rose Ivory Ombre Dress. If you love the jeweled detail of this Pnina Tornai gown, rent the Badgley Mischka Nude Sequin Cluster Sheath that will have you sparkling for your Bachelorette or rehearsal dinner.

This Pnina Tornai ivory silk satin organza gown has a drop waist a-line with three dimensional hand rolled detail. The modern twist on a traditional dropped waist a-line is a total show stopper. We love how the dimension is draped by hand and molded into a gorgeous floral motif. The bolero, which is detachable and sold separately, offers two looks in one for this bride.  If you love the 3-D effect of this gown, rent the Tibi Odetta Cloud Dress for your bridal shower for a modern update to a classic, elegant style. For a twist of intrigue, try this Robert Rodriguez Black Label One-Shouldered Dress for your rehearsal dinner.

We're pros at helping people celebrate weddings in style, but there's nothing like a Rent the Runway wedding. Last weekend, our former Sr. Director of HR, Nadia Johnson, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Oheka Castle on Long Island....Talk about keeping it in the family - 7 people at the wedding were looking lovely in Rent the Runway!

Congratulations to Nadia + her husband David from all of us Rent the Runway! - Jenn

Brought to Rent the Runway by AisleDash.com’s staff and Linsey SnyderWachalter of Face Time Beauty Concierge.

You found THE dress! Now, all you need is the gorgeous glow to go with it. Choosing your makeup look for your special day can be a tricky task. Here are the best tips for choosing the best look for you.

1. Consider the season and time of year.

Are you having a winter wedding or a summer soiree? If it's the middle of winter, you can get away with deep plum lips and a matte powdered face. But, if you're getting married in July, you'll want to lighten your look up a bit.
 

2. Think about the atmosphere and feel of the venue.

Are you getting married in a ballroom or at the beach? A ballroom calls for sophistication and glamour. A bride at the beach can get away with lip gloss and bronzer.

 

3. Think about what look suits you on a typical night out.

Do you usually go for a bold lip or smokey eyes? If you normally choose Chapstick and lots of black mascara, go for a similar feel but bump it up a notch with a glossy lip and faux lashes. It's important that you feel comfortable as you walk down the aisle and still look like you.

 

4. Lastly, acknowledge your fiancé's preference.

Does your groom love when you wear red lipstick or does he think you are prettiest when you wake up in the morning au naturel? Ask him how he envisions you as you walk down the aisle to meet him. After all, your wedding day is about both of you!

For more tips and guides on everything bridal, visit aisledash.com.

Brought to Rent the Runway by Ovando Floral & Event Design

Ovando Floral & Event Design wants to know what kind of bride are you? From cascading bouquets to small and round bouquets, there’s a floral bouquet and a dress to fit your personality and that your bridesmaids will love. They share with us their favorite combinations for bridesmaids dresses and bouquets.

This Brielle Bow Dress from Badgley Mischka is playfully flirtatious. The brazen royal blue hue certainly demands attention while the elegant satin fabric and modest, above the knee cut is nothing short of perfect sophistication. Ovando’s lovely cascading bouquet composed of seeded eucalyptus, white roses, calla lilies, lisianthus and green orchids offers a hyper-feminine flare. The green cymbidiums and pale blue-green seeded eucalyptus add color and texture and play nicely against the bright blue satin gown. Your bridesmaids are ever-so-chic and exquisitely delicate in this combination.

Or perhaps you prefer to make a bolder statement? Your bridesmaids will undoubtedly turn heads with this vibrant red rose and gloriosa bouquet, finished in a brilliant, hot pink satin ribbon. Pairing this very contemporary look from Ovando against the dazzling blue pick from Badgley Mischka leaves no question in anyone’s mind: you are quite the trendsetter and your besties love modern flare.

This symmetrical Excellent Elena Dress from Badgley Mischka also has you swooning!  The steel blue satin offers a fabulously smart look, finished off with a lovely asymmetrical cut which proposes demurely coquettish appeal. Accent the dress with Ovando’s red rose and gloriosa bouquet for a more avant-garde finesse.  You can hardly go wrong with this combo for your bridal party.

Or play upon the sophisticate in you by pairing your Excellent Elena dress with Ovando’s quintessentially feminine bouquet. You boast graceful savoir-faire at its finest. 

Indeed, the possibilities are endless! Overwhelming? Hardly. It would be hard to believe that getting primped up in these heartthrob pieces could be anything short of rapturous recreation! A toast to you and the bridesmaids!

To see Ovando’s work, book them for your wedding and learn more about them, visit OvandoNY.com. All photos are by PhotoMuse.com.

Brought to Rent the Runway by Christian Oth

There are so many great options in wedding photography available now to couples, and it can be almost overwhelming to know how to find the best match.  As a seasoned wedding photographer and studio owner, I’ve had a lot of experience working with couples to find a photographer and style that works best for them. 

For the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing my best suggestions for booking your wedding photographer in Booking Your Wedding Photographer: Tips Series by Christian Oth. Following these tips will get you one step closer to getting great photographs that you’ll be able to cherish for years to come.

Week 3: The Test of Time

Do their photographs stand the test of time?  I believe a talented photographer should be able to capture beautiful photographs without using trendy processing or editing techniques in the studio that will date them down the road.  These techniques applied after the fact, are often used to distract from sub-par photography.  Instead, look at how the photographer is able to use natural light sources to accentuate the subject of the photographs, and their creative ability to use framing and focus to draw your eye to the subject.  A great, timeless photograph should still be able to communicate the same feeling to the viewer twenty years later as it did on the wedding day.

So, always ask yourself- does this photographer’s work stand the test of time?

To see Christian’s work, book him for your wedding and learn more about him, visit ChristianOthStudio.com. Bouquets were provided by Ovando Floral and Event Design.

Brought to Rent the Runway by Ruth Drennan of RuthDrennanCakes.com

When it comes to getting married there are so many details to take care of and unless you come from a household that entertains frequently (I certainly didn’t!), you have no idea where to go for all the things for your big day… especially the cake! Everyone knows you need one of those, but where should you start your search?

1. Friends and Family – This should be the first place you go to try and find your cake baker (or ANY vendor for that matter!). Your married friends can tell you about their own experience with their baker and can help direct you towards the right people to connect with as well as those to avoid! Listen to your friends. They won’t steer you wrong!

2. Magazines – The top bakers often have their creations featured in the pages of national and local bridal magazines. Take a look inside the pages and save pictures of all the cakes you like. Contact information is often given with the picture credit, so visit the sites of anyone whose work strikes your fancy. Just remember, featured bakers are justifiably more expensive than people who haven’t had the same exposure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will make a better cake.  If you MUST have the exact cake you saw in Brides, get it from the person who created it. Most bakers don’t want to be copycats, because they don’t want their designs stolen by others either!

3. Go Online – Most of you will probably be checking out bakers online while you’re supposed to be working. A good place to start is a wedding portal like TheKnot.com. This site is free to users and lists a lot of local vendors for everything you might need for your wedding. They might not list everyone though, so you’ll want to explore other options as well. 

4. Go Local – Who says you need to go to a fancy cake designer like me? If the baker on the corner makes the best cookies and cupcakes ever, see if they make wedding cakes too. The price is going to be a lot easier on the wallet, you know that you already like the stuff they make and you can feel good knowing you are helping to support a small business in your own community.

To see Ruth’s work and learn more about her, visit RuthDrennanCakes.com.

Brought to Rent the Runway by Christian Oth

For the last couple of weeks and several more to come, I have been sharing my best suggestions for booking your wedding photographer in Booking Your Wedding Photographer: Tips Series by Christian Oth.  With so many great options in wedding photography available to couples, it can be almost overwhelming to know how to find the best match. Following these tips will get you one step closer to getting great photographs that you’ll be able to cherish for years to come. This week we focus on one of the most crucial of the deciding factors- credibility.

Week 4: Credibility

Do they come highly recommended?  A great way to find a reputable wedding photographer is by asking your friends for recommendations. Keep in mind that your taste and style may be different than your friends, but if you love their photographs and they had a great experience with the photographer it’s a good bet that you will, too.  Ask them about their entire experience- from the wedding day to how timely the delivery of their images was.  If you are the first in your circle of friends to get married, ask other vendors and tastemakers that you admire who they would recommend.

Are they well-established?  Ask about your photographer’s background and level of experience.  Are they conducting their business out of Starbucks, or do they have their own studio?  All photographers have to start somewhere, and often you’ll find very talented photographers running their own small businesses.  Just make sure to do your research and take care to ask for references.  On the flip side, don’t be blinded by the brick-and-mortar businesses.  They could be burnouts, so take just as much time to look into these as well.

Can you view complete albums?  Most photographers are great at taking pictures, but sometimes when it comes to putting together an album, they can fall short.  By viewing complete albums, you’ll be able to see the cover and paper materials they use, and the quality and craftsmanship of the design.  Some larger studios have their own album designers and some outsource, but either way, at the end of the day the album is going to be what you have to remember your wedding.

To see Christian’s work, book him for your wedding and learn more about him, visit ChristianOthStudio.com.

Brought to Rent the Runway by AisleDash.com’s Brooke Showell.

Not only must they look lovely in coral satin and dance a mean Macarena, they'll keep you sane and smiling from the engagement to the afterparty. Whether it's just one sister or a gaggle of gal pals from all different stages of your life, your bridesmaids will be among your biggest supporters on the big day. Choose them wisely.

1. Determine the size

There is no hard and fast rule as to how many attendants you should have (a good estimate is one attendant for every 50 guests), but consider the approximate size of your wedding in relation to the bridal party. Also, keep in mind that the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen does not have to be perfectly even and consider your budget: more ladies means more bouquets, bridal-party gifts, hair and makeup styling and anything else you plan to provide.

2. Consider the relationship

Sisters, sisters of the groom, and other close relatives such as a favorite cousin get priority. Such gestures are greatly appreciated and may help avoid any potential conflicts or hurt feelings. When it comes to friends, consider the nature of the relationship and the person's role in your life. Also, consider how the women you're considering get along with each other. Two cousins engaged in a lifelong feud may make matters difficult for the rest of the bridesmaids (and you).

3. Think about her situation

If a friend is moving to another country, starting a rigorous graduate-school program, recently unemployed or maybe even getting married herself, it might not be a great time for her to devote herself to your wedding. If being a bridesmaid doesn't work out, she may prefer to be involved with another way, such as giving a reading during the ceremony.

4. Don't feel pressured

Almost every bride will have that one person whom they feel they should ask to be a bridesmaid but really just don't want to. Before you give in to the fear of hurting someone's feelings, think about what you want and figure out a tactful way to make that happen. Most importantly, don't let anyone invite herself into the bridal party -- after all, it's your wedding.

5. Be prompt and considerate

Of course, you'll want to spread the good news of your engagement before you even think about the bridal party. Do not extend any official bridesmaid invitations until you have given it some thought and are absolutely sure of the decision, but don't put it off forever, either. Friends and family who suspect they're in the running will want to know whether or not they should start practicing their processional walk -- and you'll be able to put any bridal-party anxiety behind you and move on to other aspects of wedding planning.

For more on how to choose your bridesmaids visit Aisledash.com