Running of the brides

February 16, 2007 was a day hundreds if not thousands of brides were waiting for. It was the day Filene's Basement in downtown Boston was having it's annual bridal gown sale. Brides everywhere look forward to this event. They start lining up outside the doors at 5 A.M. with dreams of finding that perfect dress. I decided I would go but figured I would be safe lining up at 7 A.M. since the doors didn't open until 8. I had my helpers with me, Brian's Aunt Jean and Aunt Eileen. We braved the cold blustery wind and enjoyed the wondrous freebies from Au Bon Pain.

We were excited when we saw Steven Schirripa from the Sopranos doing interviews for The Tonight Show. When he was finished, he started taking pictures with some of the brides who were waiting in line. Not wanting to miss such an opportunity, Jean and I headed up to him as he started to walk away. I lightly tapped on his shoulder praying he wouldn't get mad. He turned around and I asked, "could I get a picture with you?" He very warmly said sure. I turned to hand my camera over to Jean when Steven's handler said "No, he doesn't have time." Steven sadly turned to go. Oh well. I understand, these guys are on a very tight schedule. I returned to where Eileen was saving our spots and continued to enjoy the anticipation that just maybe the dress of my dreams was just inside.

At about quarter to eight, they started letting people go inside but not to where the dresses were. Filene's basement management wanted to make sure everyone got down the stairs in a safe manner. Before I knew it, it was 8 am and whistles were blowing. There was a sudden rush forward and everyone headed for the basement to the wondrous bridal gown lair.

Jean, Eileen, and I made it through the store. As we descended down the escalator, we approached a scene that could very well have come from Apocalypse Now. Bride's were running everywhere grabbing everything they could get there hands on. Their helpers were piling the dresses on the floor and guarding them with their lives. Jean, Eileen, and I went in three different directions hoping to get our hands on a single dress to no avail.

The three of us found each other again near a bride already trying on dresses. All around her were numerous dresses that her entourage had gathered for her. She was trying on a beautiful halter top style dress that I had seen in one of the many magazines I have gathered. She pointed to Eileen who was watching is amazement as was I and said "I have my eye on you." I said to her, "We are only looking for your discards. We'll take any you don't like". The blond bride to be replied, "Sure, sure." She proceeded to take off the dress saying, "I don't like it" and handed it off to a member of her group to trade for something else. My heart fell. It was obvious the brides who were here were not generous in the least.

I turned to Eileen and Jean and said, "let's go to breakfast." They agreed and were disappointed. I knew if I was meant to get a dress today, I would. We headed to Avenue One in the Hyatt since we had received a coupon for 20% off. We arrived and were escorted to a table. All of us had decided to take advantage of the wonderful buffet. We looked at the pictures of dresses I had brought and talked about possible locations for Brian and I to be married. We had just started our second course then who should walk in but Stephen Schirripa. We decided it would be in bad taste to interrupt him while he was eating and left him in peace. He kept looking over at our table and I wonder if he recognized me from outside. He and his entourage got up and left. Shortly afterwards so did we.

Eileen, Jean, and I decided it was time to head back and see if there was anything left. We walked all the back to Filene's, went down the stairs, through the store, and back down the escalator. The sight we saw was miraculous. As far as the eye could see, there were dresses. Racks and racks of dresses. We each grabbed 4-5 dresses each and then found ourselves a corner near the couture gowns where another bride was trying on a dress. Some dresses where No's right away but most were going into the maybe pile. I had made a resolution that unless I absolutely fell in love with a gown, I was not going to buy one. I'm not getting married until March, 2008. I had time.

The girl next to me was trying on a gown that was gorgeous. I let her know what I thought. She looked fabulous in it. She turned to me and said, "I don't like it, would you like to try it on?" I was flabbergasted. I said "Sure, I would love to." I stepped into it and pulled it up. I took the straps and pulled them onto my shoulders and I knew something magical was happening. I got zipped up and felt beautiful. Eileen and Jean both started oohing and awing. I walked to a mirror. As I gazed upon my reflection, my breath was taken away. I was near tears, I felt so beautiful. I knew this was the dress. It was going to need alterations to change it from a size 12 to a size 10 but that didn't matter. This was my dress. We talked to a tailor and he agreed it would be a simple alteration. A Filene's basement employee was next to him agreeing that this dress was beautiful. She asked my what size it was. I told her a 12. I decided to try on more dresses to make sure. My entire maybe pile was released to the other brides who were waiting for them. I tried on about five more dresses. After those, I put the dress back on. None of them came close. The employee from earlier came back with the same exact dress but it was a ten. Who would have thought such generosity would abound after the wretches we had seen this morning. I tried it on and it fit perfectly. Again, I tried on a few more dresses but I just had to have this dress. Jean took a picture of it with her phone and we went upstairs to call my mom.

When she got the picture, she wasn't crazy about it. She actually didn't like it at all. I was disheartened. I couldn't believe it. She didn't like my dream dress. I decided to go back down and try it on again. I tried on a few other dresses but none gave me the feeling as that dress. I decided this it. I'm going to get it. For $250, I could afford to get another dress if I didn't end up liking this one. I paid the cashier and Jean offered to drive me home so I wouldn't have to take the dress onto the T. We stopped at Camille's for ice cream and then they dropped me off at home.

The next day I brought the dress home. I did not let Brian see it at all. When I got to my parent's house, I brought the dress inside to show my mom. As soon as she saw it, she fell in love with it as well. When she had gotten the pic message, she thought the front had a big puffy bow on it. That was the reason she didn't like. When I tried it on for her, she knew I made the right decision. The dress is now safely at my parent's house where they can show it off to everyone. I'm looking forward to going and visiting it now and again. Now, I just need to find the perfect beach location for our ceremony and reception.