Crowning and Captivating: Running of the Brides, Cleveland, Ohio 2010

Things here in the Crowning Celebrations office are busy, busy! And I realized I have not posted more images from last weekend's Running of the Brides in Cleveland, Ohio!

Check out Kelly and Kathleen as they race alongside other

fabulous brides to find the perfect dress!

 Yes, those are piles of wedding gowns - waist high!!!

 Check out another "running team" in colored tulled tiaras!

Notice the race numbers "91711" - the bride's wedding day. Very cute!

Our Toledo Free Press Bride, Kathellen Reynolds with her team! As she purchased the dress, the cashier got on the PA and announced that "Kathleen found her wedding dress!" and everyone cheered!

Crowning Celebrations bride, Kelly Childress, and her bridesmaids found a beautiful white gown with a black sash and pearl and crystal broach for a steal! Love their shirts! Kelly and her girls then found their way to Saks' shoe department - a girl after my own heart! Congrats Kelly - can't wait for your wedding day!!!!

Running of the Brides, TODAY in Cleveland, Ohio

Here's a peak at today's fabulous event,

the Filene's Basement Running of the Brides in Cleveland, Ohio!

Our Toledo Free Press winner, Kathleen Reynolds, who won a free gown from Filene's, raced in with her team. You will see them dart to the right of your screen in hot pink t-shirts with white silhouettes of a bride.

More pictures to come this weekend!

Filene's Basement, Running of the Brides, August 27th

This month the Toledo Free Press and Filene's Basement will be giving away a

FREE BRIDAL GOWN!

But not just any gown, a DESIGNER GOWN!!!

Designers like Vera Wang, Kenneth Pool, Anne Barge, Priscilla of Boston and more!

Gowns like these can cost as much as $1400 to $9000 - and more!

But at the Running of the Brides, you can buy one as low as $249!

But a lucky Northwest Ohio Bride can WIN A DESIGNER GOWN!

Look for details in August's Toledo Free Press and Star news papers.

or on their facebook and twitter pages

In addition to the designer gown from Filene's Basement, the winer will receive complimentary consultations from Crowning Celebrations, a bridal bouquet from Bumble Flowers, chair covers from Meredith Party Rentals, bridal hair and make-up from David Broadway Salon, and a complimentary night stay the night before at the Marriott Cleveland East hotel (which overlooks Filene's),

in addition to other great prizes!!!

The Cleveland Running of the Brides will be held

Friday, August 27th

Doors open at 8:00 am

4045 Richmond Road

Cleveland, OH 44122-6048

(216) 593-0009

Directions

Running of the Brides, August 27th, Cleveland

ATTENTION: NORTHWEST OHIO BRIDES

If you are planning on participating in the ROTB 

 Friday August 27th  Cleveland, Ohio

 we want to hear from you!

Contact me with info on your team, your approach and your budget.

Filene’s Basement is known for its bargains on everything from fashions to home goods, 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.

E-mail pat.boudrot@filenesbasement.com to request the “Secrets of Success—finding your dream dress at Filene’s Basement’s Running of the Brides®.”

More info on the Filene's Basement Facebook page

Eventista

Eventista

Local woman to run with the brides

Written by Brittany Craig

brittany@crowningcelebrations.com

The record: 36 seconds. Yes, imagine close to 800 brides storming through the doors to grab 2500 discounted designer gowns in less than one minute. Arms out wide, brides sweep in and grab as many dresses as they can. The tulle flies as they scurry over to squeeze a spot by the mirror. They try on dress after dress, swap with other shoppers and even bargain with one another. Its really one of the most competitive bridal sports there is – other than snagging the groom!

The Running of the Brides is a Filene’s Basement tradition since 1947. With eight sales a year in select stores, designer gowns that retail for as much as $9,000 are sold from $249-$699. Toledo bride, Rachel Grace will be participating in the January 29th Running in Columbus. She and five other friends are going down Thursday night so they can be at the doors first thing Friday morning. Sales like Filene’s offers brides the opportunity to have their dream dress. “I don’t want to comprise the quality of my wedding dress. I want to find my dream designer dress… and I am willing to drive hours to find the perfect one,” Grace said. No appointment is needed. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. and the sale goes all day or until all gowns are sold. Sizes, styles and fabrics vary. It’s suggested you bring “running buddies” to help you grab the gown you are looking for. “I plan on having each of the girls take a section of the store and grab as many dresses as they can…with a sweetheart neckline and trumpet style,” is Grace’s strategy.

In addition to Columbus, Filene’s Running of the Brides will be taking place in Chicago and Cleveland. Information can be found at filenesbasement.com/bridal. 

According to About.com the average wedding dress costs $3,000. Couture designers such as Monique Lhuillier can retail up to $20,000. But for many, saving on the dress allows for other extravagances on wedding day. So many brides are buying gently used gowns at upscale boutiques. Stores like White Chicago and WhiteXhange, believe bridal style shouldn’t have to be sacrificed for price. On-line boutiques such as PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com and EncoreBridal.com offer a selection of new, sample and nearly-new wedding dresses at the click of a button.

But you don’t have to go far for a good deal. Gallippo’s Bridal and Formal in Toledo is offering an exclusive sale with up to 80 percent off designer gowns that retail for over $1,500. “The designer offered me a break on the price of the gowns for purchasing this large selection. No two gowns are alike and all are brand new,” said bridal salon owner, Yvonne Gallippo.

One word of advice: dramatic alterations, repairs and cleaning can be costly and defeat the purpose of your discount. An alteration on the hem alone can cost as much as $200. Be sure to examine your dress carefully before purchase. Most bargains and re-sales are non-refundable.

See you at the finish line!

Brittany is the principle Event Designer and Coordinator for Crowning Celebrations. She specializes in wedding and social celebrations. You can follow her blog at http://www.crowningcelebrations.blogspot.com/ .