Weddingbee Blog

If you decide to brave the bride-infested waters at a Running of the Brides near or far from you, here are my tips for making the most out of the experience (with the large caveat that I am by no means an expert, considering I did not buy a dress during the sale).

Before:

• Do your research. Shop, try on dresses, find out what you like and don’t like to narrow down your search parameters. ROTB is overwhelming even if you have a clear idea of what you want, so be sure to either have a clear vision or be ready for a long day.
• Plan early. Ask trusted and hard-working family and friends to help you out. Don’t ask three days until the sale and expect people to drop what they have going on for you (not that I did that or anything…).
• Wear something comfortable and have your helpers do the same. It can be a long, stressful day. No need to make it worse by wearing uncomfortable clothing.
• Also, flip flops + this…

{Photo by George Rizer / via The Boston Globe}

…may not be the best idea. Do your toes a favor and wear substantial shoes.

• Plan what clothes and/or undergarments you want to wear when trying on dresses. Many girls try on dresses in the middle of the store (myself included). If you are modest or self-conscious of people seeing you in your skivvies, you should consider some more covering options. I wore some opaque leggings and a camisole and felt fine, albeit slightly exposed.
• Don’t wear makeup that will smear on the dresses. You could ruin a dress with an innocent foundation application. Just skip the makeup for the day.
• Scope out the dresses the day before the sale. You can’t peruse individual dresses, but you can look from a few feet away to see where particular styles are hanging and head for them when the doors open. (This is how BM M found her dress!)
• Make it fun for the people helping you out! Whether it is wearing matching T-shirts, or making signs or fun props, have fun with your search (and the wait in line).

Image via Something New Entertainment {I forgot about Team (Am)Erica}

• Bring useful items, such as a mirror, people to help you out, and a camera to capture the memories!
• But leave clutter in the car!
  • Leave your purse in the car. It will only get in the way, and you can always go out and get your wallet when the time comes.
  • We only brought in the bare essentials: keys, camera, and ourselves. No reason to keep track of blankets or chairs in addition to your pile of “keep” dresses.

During:

• Keep calm. Emotions can run high when wedding dresses are involved, but there are plenty of dresses and opportunities to find the perfect one for you.
• Remember to be courteous. Everyone is there for the same reason. There’s no reason to get nasty.
• If you are done with a dress, share it with another group or put it back on the rack. Shoppers will appreciate being able to find the dresses in a central location, and the retail workers will love you. (Good bridal karma is always a plus.)

Image by Karen Blake via WODS Radio

• Consult the on-site alterations personnel if you like a gown but would like to make some adjustments. I am not sure if every ROTB location brings in alterations experts for the event, but the store in Cleveland had someone in the store to answer questions about changing a dress and the cost of alterations.
• Trade, trade, trade! We made friends with girls that had similar tastes and agreed to exchange dresses that didn’t work with each other. This encouraged me to give up dresses I wasn’t feeling, and it felt good to know we might be helping another bride find her dress.
• Don’t feel pressured to buy a dress just because it’s cheap/you drove eight hours/you think your friends will hate you if you don’t buy something after you made them get up so damn early. This is a big decision, and you shouldn’t pressure yourself into buying a dress just for the sake of buying a dress.
• Know your limits. Some people might be able to shop all day. Some people can take a break and then go back to shopping. I am not some people. After about five hours, I knew I was done. I needed to walk away or risk a meltdown.

After the run:

• Treat your helpers to lunch, ice cream, a strong drink, or all of the above. My helpers sacrificed a lot of time (MOH E had gotten back from her honeymoon just days prior—what a sacrifice!) and worked really hard to help me at ROTB. I wish I would have done more to thank them.
• Thank your helpers profusely!

Photo by Ted Fitzgerald / The Boston Herald via Wed Savvy

Final Thoughts:

• The dresses seemed a little dated for my tastes. Perhaps since Cleveland was one of the last ROTB sales of the year they had less selection, but I was disappointed in what they had to offer. There were many lovely dresses at the sale, but if you want something trendy and/or modern, it is best you stick with a traditional bridal shop.
• I didn’t see many “designer” dresses. I wasn’t looking for a “label,” but if you are, I found that a majority of dresses I tried on were from designers or companies I had never heard of before.
• There was a plethora of strapless dresses, but the selection of dresses with straps was lacking. This was a big deal for me since I was mostly interested in gowns with straps.
• Unless you really like the thrill of shopping with large groups of people, wait until later in the morning or evening to attend. If I had to do one thing over again at ROTB, it would be to wait until later to shop. We easily could have showed up a couple hours later and still had plenty of opportunity to look at dresses. True, a few dresses would have been purchased or hoarded before we would have gotten to the sale, but that happened anyway and we stood in line for three hours. Do yourself and your helpers a favor—sleep in, come later in the day, and enjoy a more relaxed dress-shopping experience.
• Treat your helpers to a nice hotel. Days Inn was…well, Days Inn. I should have shelled out the extra money for a nicer place. ‘Cause it’s the little things.
• Don’t set your expectations unreasonably high. There are many beautiful dresses at the sale, but the chances of finding a Monique Lhuillier for $249 are slim. If you go in with an open mind, you’ll have no problem finding lots of beautiful options for your wedding dress.
• Remember, this should be a fun event to share with family and friends! I was sad that I didn’t find a dress at ROTB, but it was a great experience and it really was a fun day to spend with my ladies!

If you’re interested in attending Running of the Brides, you can find upcoming dates and additional information here.