The Running of the Brides

Ok, now THIS is a fun one.

This photos is the "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona, Spain. And, it's not tooo different than the photo below it! The second photo is from MyDeejay.com, a local DJ who played music for the event, AND got these first rate photos, what a trooper!





If you ask me, this seems just as wild as bulls chasing you!

For those of you who aren't from "around here" you may not have heard of Filene's Basement, although they do have locations throughout the US. If you have not heard of them, they are a bargain store that sells designer brands for less than designer prices. Typically I find good deals, however, I was not privy to this when I was in wedding planning mode *DARN*

Okay, Amy, enough beating around the dress racks...IF you are a bride, know a bride, are going to be a bride or are in the bridal dress market DO NOT MISS THIS!!

Each year (unless you're in Boston, in which case twice a year) Filene's Basement does a huge sale called "Running of the Brides". It is one day of sheer insanity, but sheer fun.

Here's the low-down:
Brides grab their moms, bridesmaids, or whoever's crazy enough to come along and get to the store EARLY, usually before 6 a.m. (or the evening before and CAMP out if you're really dedicated to get a prime spot in line. Most brides are OCD, I mean, organized enough to wear the same thing (so they can find one another in the thick of things).



Again, photo from MyDeejay.com, but look at the hilarious shirts, Low Budget B*tches-haha, what a riot!

People bring snacks, water, whistles, signs, you name it, they've got it, I mean they ARE brides after all! Planning is their gig!

I found Documentary Associates a website and blog through this wedding search and loved this photo they had (below). Check out their website if you are in need of a fantastic photographer, they capture weddings and events in a photojournalistic style and have a natural eye for "that shot", the one that you'll smile at for years to come.



Basically as soon as the doors open people RUSH to the racks and grab whatever they can. The racks are usually stripped of dresses within 2 mintues and the brides are not far behind. They strip down, yep, right there on the salesfloor to see what works and what doesn't.

Then the trading begins. People have signs with their sizes or dress details and will hold them up and barter dress for dress.

As you can imagine this can often go wrong, very wrong, which is hilarious to watch I'm sure. But it also often goes right and a bride-to-be ends up with her dream dress for either $249, $499 or $699 where they would have paid $900-$9,000 retail. The other brides will stop to cheer for another bride who's found "THE DRESS" and the commotion continues.

All in all, it is a GREAT way to find an otherwise maybe un-affordable dress, and a fun experience with the ladies in your life.

Have you gone to this? Would you go? And if so, you bloggers could come up with some really clever T-shirts, let me know what would yours say?

In other DC Dress news, check out Chevy Chase Bridal, they're hosting a sample sale from July 30 through August 5, offering up to 80 percent off designer gowns. Also, through August, Rizik's is slashing prices by 50 to 70 percent on sample sizes of bridal gowns from Christos, Liancarlo, Rivini and Jenny Packham.

Happy Dress Hunting!
Cheers to Wedding Season! We've got 5 this year, so I'll be doing some wedding posts!
Amy