The Running Of The Brides

It's been compared to the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

And pictures of it appear every year in newspapers and magazines across the country.

The annual wedding dress sale at Filene's Basement draws hundreds of brides-to-be who shove and elbow one another in a rush to get to the racks, where designer bridal gowns are being offered at rock-bottom prices.

Eight minutes before the doors of the Manhattan store opened at 8 a.m. ET, The Early Show's weatherman and correspondent Dave Price counted more than 100 women lined up and ready to shop.

The racks were cleared within two minutes, with several women grabbing for the same gowns. Judy Barr, store manager, told Price her main concern was safety.

"We want everybody to have a great time and everything to be safe," she said.

Some women snatched up as many as eight gowns at once. Security personnel were holding on to the racks to keep them from tumbling over in the crush. Many women tried on their gowns in the store aisles, rather than in the dressing rooms. One woman even brought a mirror from home to get the best view of her choices.

The gowns, many with brand-name or designer labels, usually sell for $3,000 and $4,000. For one day only, they are offered at $200-$300.

The sale is held annually on different dates in different stores. The sale in the Boston store, for example, is Aug. 15 and the Chicago store has a sale planned for Aug. 22.