Filene's Basement "Running of the Brides"

I'm sure you have seen it on television or at least heard about it - hundreds of women rushing to racks and racks of designer wedding gowns and trying them on in the aisles.

Filene’s Basement is known for its bargains on everything from fashions to luggage, but perhaps the store is most famous for its annual Bridal Gown Events when brides-to-be can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on designer wedding gowns.

The sale is held in selected Filene’s Basement stores once a year (twice a year in Boston). News reports so often compare it to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain that the event is now officially called the “Running of the Brides®.”

The day of the sale, brides-to-be and their helpers line up early. When the doors open, they run full speed towards the racks. In less than 60 seconds, the racks are stripped bare (store employees have to hold on to the fixtures so they don’t topple). The women grab whatever gowns they can, haul them off to a corner, strip down to their underwear and start trying on dresses. Minutes later the trading begins. Every dress, no matter what size, style or color, gets bartered for another, as each bride tries to find the gown of her dreams at a cut-rate price.

The doors of Filene’s Basement won't open until 8am, but the true bridezillas are camped out by 6am. The queue forms and you can typically expect it to snake around the corner. Every last engaged-to-be-wed woman will be there, her bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride (MOBsters, indeed) in tow.

Upcoming Filene's Bridal Events:

FEB27th
New York, NY (Union Square)
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MAR20th
Atlanta, GA (Buckhead)
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APR3rd
Washington, D.C. (Rockville, MD)
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JUL24th
Chicago, IL (State Street)
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JUL31st
Washington, D.C. (Mazza Gallerie)
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AUG21st
Boston, MA (Hynes Convention Center)
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OCT16th
Cleveland, OH (Warrensville Heights)