The "Running of the Brides," Filene's Basement's famous discount wedding gown sale, is coming to the Cleveland area. The sale, which offers bargains on designer and brand name wedding gowns, will be held Friday, April 13, 2007 at the store in Warrensville Heights.

More than 1500 designer and famous name wedding gowns (bearing original tags with prices from $850 to $9,000) will be on sale for one day only, discounted by Filene's Basement to $249 and $499. There will also be an assortment of very high-end gowns from bridal boutiques and salons selling for $699.

"When we opened here in Warrensville Heights last October, we got so many inquiries about our wedding gown event that I convinced the buyer to hold a sale here," said Karen Fiegelist, Filene's Basement store manager. "It wasn't easy - just shipping the dresses here is expensive - but I got the go-ahead because customer response to our new store has been great. Our associates are really excited. They've all heard stories about the "Running of the Brides" and they're really looking forward to helping local brides-to-be find their dream dresses."

Filene's Basement's Bridal Gown Sale is called "The Running of the Brides" because it reminds people of the famous "running of the bulls" in Pamplona. Lines begin to form outside the store as early as 3:00 a.m. When the doors open at 8:00 a.m., the brides-to-be and their helpers 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.

Over the years (the first Filene's Basement Bridal Gown Sale took place in 1947 in the original store in Boston) brides-to-be have developed unique strategies for success. They cleverly battle and barter to get the dress of their dreams for a fraction of what they would pay in a bridal boutique. "It will be interesting to see if Cleveland-area brides have any new tricks up their sleeves for shopping this sale," said store manager Fiegelist.

Filene's Basement is located in Warrensville Heights at the new Harvard Park Shopping Center on Richmond Road and I-271. Store hours on the day of the Bridal Gown Sale are 8:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. Cash, major credit cards and checks are accepted. Because the store does not carry wedding gowns on a regular basis, the dresses are not returnable. For more information, contact the store at 216-593-0009.

Contact: Patricia Boudrot
Filene's Basement
617-348-7273