The Running of the Brides? No, it's not a sequel to Runaway Bride, it's a "major event' sponsored by Filene's Basement.
For one day, racks and racks of designer bridal gowns are on sale for $249. Here's a glimpse of what happens taken from an article in AtlantaBridal.com written back in July of 2004.
The morning of the sale, brides, mothers and friends begin lining up early. Usually by the time the doors open at 8am, hundreds of women are waiting in line. According to the Web site, "when the crowd is let loose, it takes less than 60 seconds for the racks to be stripped bare". Evidently the women just grab as many dresses as they can, go off in a corner, strip down and start trying them on. Then the brides start bartering with each other for dresses until they find the perfect gown (for only $249).
There are no refunds, no returns. What you get is what you get.
I gotta say folks, there is no way in HELL you would ever find me at something like that. No. Way.
Now, I didn't have a decent wedding, and if (big IF) I ever walk that aisle again, I would like a nice dress and my friends around me. A Real Wedding.
That being said, the event at Filene's sounds like torture. Pure and simple. For several reasons:
1) Hundreds of women. **Oh. My. Goodness. Pushing, shoving, grabbing, punchig. No. Thank you very much.**
2) Hundreds of women. Limited Dresses. The words Cattle Call comes to mind.
3) Hundreds of women. .......... No. No. And No again.
Ok - maybe it's only one reason, but it's a pretty big one.
Just imagine this folks....the most important event in your life. Your wedding. You want everything to be perfect. Most especially your dress. So you're gonna join a crowd of women, push your way into a store and hope you can find something that you love, that perfect dress, that Fits, in the middle of swirling chaos?? Just to have a designer dress?
I'm all about saving money. OK, maybe not ALL about, but I love a good bargin and this just does not compute. I'd love to hear from anyone that's actually attended one of these. Tell me about it. Because I sure as hell can't even imagine!!!!
Posted by Tammi at January 21, 2005 08:20 AMI went just to watch girls fighting ;-)
Posted by: Harvey at January 21, 2005 08:25 AMWhy doesn't that surprise me? ;P
Posted by: Tammi at January 21, 2005 08:27 AM.. hundreds of women?... stripping down in the aisles?.. what was that address again?...
Posted by: Eric at January 21, 2005 08:59 AMOH My. Just the thought of that... just shoot me.
If I ever had to do it again, which I won't thankfully, I would just wear a simple frock, go to the beach and jump over a stick and declare us married. Forget the whole pomp and circumstance. Highly overrated.
Posted by: Bou at January 21, 2005 12:31 PMUm Eric - I saw some video footage of this on the news (special circumstances - since I rarely watch news)... believe me when I say there wasn't anyone in that group worth the hassle of going to watch the spectacle! Yeesh.
There is not a dress on the planet worth any of that - no matter where it's being worn! I have never understood that sort of mentality and I never will.
Posted by: Teresa at January 21, 2005 02:04 PMThe whole thing just seems undignified. If you really want a designer dress at a discount, I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who can get you top of the line stuff that...um...fell off a truck. He doesn't give refunds either (or receipts, for that matter), but you won't get trampled by a herd of stampeding brides. You only have to endure the customary frisk for wires by Rocco. But don't worry, Rocco is thoroughly professional about the whole thing.
Posted by: Noble Eagle at January 21, 2005 05:59 PMI don't know, the crowd I saw up in Boston wasn't bad looking at all. Some of them had good lefts too... *G*
Posted by: Laughing Wolf at January 21, 2005 07:31 PMThis, of course, is my idea of HELL. Well, it's Hell if I were having to participate in this "event" and I was flanked by Richard Simmons and Kathie Lee Gifford.
Hell. That's what it is. Purely and simply.
:: shudders ::
Posted by: Margi at January 22, 2005 12:46 AM