WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio—
It was a race to the rack as brides-to-be lunged at hundreds of discounted designer dresses! Filene's Basement in Warrensville Heights hosted the madness Friday morning with its 'Running of the Brides.'Doors opened just before 8:00 a.m., although many brides and teams of dress-hunters camped out the night before, hoping to get first pick of the bargains.
But the brides were anything but picky, grabbing at anything white in sight. They clung to plastic-encased gowns and made their way to dressing rooms, hoping their dream dress was somewhere to be found.
Teams of women (and a few supportive men!) dressed in matching t-shirts. Some carried balloons, wore wigs or donned bunny ears. It all added to the thrill of the hunt.
More than 1,400 gowns were there for the taking, priced from $249-$699. The same dresses are marked in the thousands at salons and boutiques. The discounts are the result of manufacturers' and retailers' clearing out overstock.
Filene's representatives say the initial chaos turns to business when brides begin to barter dresses; switching, swapping and sometimes begging, until she finds 'the one.'
And if the perfect dress isn't the perfect fit, that's okay, too. Experts from Studio Z in Mayfield Heights were on hand to offer free advice about alterations.
