Filene's Running of the Brides in Chicago

Hey Ladies. Filene's annual Running of the Brides is Friday July 25th, 2008. Are there any DW brides in Chicago planning on subjecting themselves to this? I'm planning on going with my mother, future mother-in-law, best friend and two future sister-in-law's. I'm totally nervous about being overwhelmed and either making the wrong decision or not finding a dress at all with less than 5 months till the wedding. Any suggestions on strategy. I heard there was a show all about this on TLC or something. Did anyone see it?

I watched the show that they had on TLC. It looks pretty intense!!

I'd say you should definately have a laid-back attitude to be successful. Some of the ladies were kinda spazzy & it was annoying to watch them so I can imagine how irritating they were to everyone around them!!

Most people wore matching outfits or something to group them (ie hats or something) so they could ID each other in a crowd. Lots of yelling, lots of grabbing, but lots of deals! lol

That's all the info I can give you, from watching the show

Good Luck! I watched the TLC show...dress in the same color shirt...have a game plan (for example:know the size of the dress, maybe style)...OH and then when you get a bunch of dresses and you try some on you don't then like you have to have someone from your group walk around and make trades! like a size 6 for a 4 or ballroom for mermaid...something like that...that was on the show too!

Some of them had shirts made with a description of the dress they were looking for so that when they went to make trades, it would be obvious what they wanted. Some people carried signs that would say "strapless" and the size or something. It looked like craziness to me! I would freak out. But the deals are amazing, so if you can handle it, it's SO worth it!

I am amazed at how much strategy went into the this, I thought people just showed up and grabbed stuff. These girls had matching outfits, signs and assigned duties, crazy. The one thing I learned from a show is make sure you bring really aggressive friends, everyone pushes and fights over dresses, you need girls who are willing to fight for you (that sounds weird even as i write it). Let us know how it goes, I'd love to hear more about it.

Thanks ladies. I definately know that there needs to be a strategy to this. My mother and I are pretty tiny and reserved but my future SIL's are extremely agressive. It should be interesting. I'll repost after the event with pics hopefully.

Hi Ladies! Just checking in again. The event is a little less than a week away. Are there any brides out there willing to subject themselves to this?

I'm getting really pumped at the idea of finding my dress.

I'll post afterwards and let you all know how it went.

im so excited for you to go next week, i hope you find a dress!!! i have always wondered what the running of the brides was like, but the sale didnt fall during the time i was engaged, and i dont know that i wouldve gone anyway because huge crowds kinda freak me out. but more power to you if you are going - are you taking a team with you?

im so excited for you to go next week, i hope you find a dress!!! i have always wondered what the running of the brides was like, but the sale didnt fall during the time i was engaged, and i dont know that i wouldve gone anyway because huge crowds kinda freak me out. but more power to you if you are going - are you taking team with you?

oh yeah, I've got a great team. My future SIL's are linebackers. 6 feet tall aggressive and strong. They're going to be my fetchers and traders. My mom and I are more reserved. I don't think I would have even attempted this if I didn't have my SIL's to be I've given them all pictures of what I like in a dress so hopefully, hopefully, hopefully I'll find my dress. Otherwise I'm in a real rush to find a dress with only 5 months to go I kinda stretched it to the limit on this one