Running of the Brides
Encyclopedia
The Running of the Brides is a one-day sale of wedding gowns, garnering local media attention because of the sight of hundreds of brides-to-be scrambling for bargains. A local tradition since 1947 at Filene's Basement
in downtown Boston
, the ROTB is also held at Filene's in Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
The store stocks thousands of gowns for that day, and marks them down drastically. Prices range from $249.00 to $699.00, marked down from retail prices as high as $9,000; gowns are non-returnable. Prospective brides, and their hovering mothers, sisters, and friends, line up the night before the doors open at 8:00 a.m. to join the crush. Most "bridal groups" wear the same color shirts, and communicate with each other using whistles or bells in order to help locate one another. In the first few minutes, patrons run as fast as they can and take as many dresses off the racks as possible. The racks are emptied quickly, and immediately trading begins. Most brides try the gowns on in the aisles, or in front of mirrors, while their helpers run around trying to trade and barter. When a bride-to-be finds "The One", others applaud her.
Filene's Basement
Filene's Basement, also called The Basement, is a Massachusetts-based chain of department stores which was owned by Retail Ventures, Inc. until April 2009 when it was sold to Syms....
in downtown Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, the ROTB is also held at Filene's in Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
The store stocks thousands of gowns for that day, and marks them down drastically. Prices range from $249.00 to $699.00, marked down from retail prices as high as $9,000; gowns are non-returnable. Prospective brides, and their hovering mothers, sisters, and friends, line up the night before the doors open at 8:00 a.m. to join the crush. Most "bridal groups" wear the same color shirts, and communicate with each other using whistles or bells in order to help locate one another. In the first few minutes, patrons run as fast as they can and take as many dresses off the racks as possible. The racks are emptied quickly, and immediately trading begins. Most brides try the gowns on in the aisles, or in front of mirrors, while their helpers run around trying to trade and barter. When a bride-to-be finds "The One", others applaud her.
External links
- Kim Knox Beckius The Running of the Brides
- Running of the Brides 2009 Gallery
- Be Very Afraid: The 'Running of the Brides' - slideshow by Life magazine
- Engagement Experts Diary at 'Running of the Brides' along with a summary of tips