Vault: The Running of The Brides

Summary

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The Bert Show – "Vault: The Running of The Brides"

Original Air Date: July 3, 2026
Summary of Main Content from 01:29–11:00

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Episode Overview

In this "Vault" episode, The Bert Show revisits one of their most high-energy, chaotic annual special segments: The Running of the Brides at Filene’s Basement. Broadcast live, the team captures the anticipation, chaos, and sheer hilarity of hundreds of women (and a few brave partners) stampeding through racks of heavily discounted wedding gowns. With live check-ins from Joanna—a petite bride-to-be who earned special early entry—the hosts give listeners a front-row seat to this legendary bridal shopping extravaganza.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pre-Event Excitement and Nerves (01:32–02:25)

• The scene is set outside Filene’s Basement with crowds gathering, some attendees anxiously stretching and warming up as if for a sporting event.
• Joanna, the featured bride, shares her anxiety:

  “I see those women... this scary little glare in their eye. And it is scary.” – Joanna (02:01)

2. Joanna’s Special Access (02:25–03:20)

• Joanna was granted early access to the sale as a reward for participating in humiliating on-air challenges and sharing personal stories.
• The hosts reflect on whether her efforts will be rewarded with a perfect dress.

3. Dress Discovery & Description (03:20–04:30)

• Joanna joyfully confirms she found her dream gown:

  "No, I found my dress!" – Joanna (03:36)

• She describes it as “more simple than I was actually looking for, but it’s beautiful. It’s form fitting. It’s kind of like the mermaid style dress... you put it on and you immediately... almost start crying.” (03:49–04:08)
• Her mother’s universal support is mentioned humorously by the hosts.

4. Countdown & The Stampede (04:53–05:54)

• As the official countdown begins, thousands of women—surrounded by their entourages and decked out in playful costumes—rush into Filene’s Basement.
• Hosts cheer on Joanna and joke about her safety as she braces for the onslaught:

  “We love you. No matter what happens, we love you very much.” – Main Show Host (05:07)

5. Chaos on the Sales Floor (05:54–07:44)

• The sale floor erupts in pandemonium as racks are stripped bare in minutes, dresses are hoarded, and some participants even get body-checked.

  "Joanna's just gotten checked. Like, it's almost—what happened?" – Main Show Host (05:46) "I think it's the low center of gravity." – Joanna (06:00)

• The hosts describe the scene: team outfits, costumes left over from holidays, crying children, and intense, strategic grabbing.

6. Bartering and Try-Ons (07:44–09:19)

• With racks emptied, the next phase is a bustling barter market; women try to trade dresses based on needed sizes using handmade signs.
• Makeshift fitting rooms form in the aisles, with brides trying on gowns in the open, surrounded by their bridal parties ‘circling the wagons.’

7. Male Participants & Social Commentary (09:19–09:33)

• The hosts joke about the awkwardness for men present, warning against “creeper” behavior during such a frenzied, undressed atmosphere.

  "You have to be very alert because there is creepers. It is a creep—potential creeper." – Main Show Host (09:23)

8. Event Logistics and Daylong Shopping (09:33–10:13)

• Despite the mayhem, the hosts remind listeners that with 2,200 dresses, the bargains last all day and crowds will rotate, restocking as needed.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the intensity of the crowd:

  “There are thousands of women lined up outside of Filene's basement and a couple of very brave people.” – Co-Host (04:58)

• On the flurry for dresses:

  “They're tearing the dresses off the racks right now.” – Co-Host (05:39)

• On tactics:

  “I see lots of poster boards with the sizes that they need because the bartering will begin here in a few minutes...” – Co-Host (06:41)

• On open try-ons:

  “You walk around the corner and they're just trying them on, like, right. They don't care. They're hiding under the escalator... putting their dress on.” – Main Show Host (09:02)

• Humorous reflection:

  “It's called radio. I mean, isn't that what we do?” – Co-Host (03:00)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Joanna expresses fear and excitement: 01:57–02:23
• Joanna’s early access & challenges: 02:25–03:09
• Dress revealed and described: 03:36–04:08
• Countdown and Running begins: 04:53–05:20
• Pandemonium erupts: 05:46–06:17
• Bartering and try-on chaos: 07:44–08:53

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Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is lively, fast-paced, and infused with humor and camaraderie. The hosts keep the energy up with playful banter and vivid descriptions, inviting listeners into the spectacle. The chaotic yet celebratory mood is captured in real-time commentary, making even those not present feel the adrenaline and excitement.

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For listeners who missed it: This episode offers a hilarious, authentic, behind-the-scenes look at one of bridal shopping’s most legendary events—complete with joy, chaos, and plenty of memorable radio moments.

Transcript

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Listen, it's the vert show.

[Main Show Host]

We are less than five minutes away from Running of the Brides 2010 in Filene's basement.

[Co-Host]

Five minutes.

[Main Show Host]

I think people are ready. Earlier they were jumping around to keep warm, and now they're jumping around to loosen up their muscles, Right?

[Co-Host]

Yeah.

They're doing some straight stretches, some crunches, some push ups. Gotta get in there.

[Main Show Host]

Hey, Joanna, can you hear us okay?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Yes, I can hear you.

[Main Show Host]

How are you?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I'm freaking out.

[Main Show Host]

Why?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I see those women.

[ZipRecruiter Advertiser / Show Host]

Oh, my God.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

This scary little glare in their eye. And it is scary.

[Co-Host]

Joanna, how tall are you?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I am five feet tall.

[Co-Host]

Five feet tall. She's gonna get trampled.

[Main Show Host]

Yeah. And she's bouncy like she's a little five feet. Like, she's like. She's like a ping pong. She's gonna be a pinball in there.

[Co-Host]

Yeah, exactly.

She's gonna be on the ground.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

My girlfriends were like, shouldn't you be Wearing like kn. Elbow pads and a mask.

[Main Show Host]

Helmet.

[Co-Host]

A helmet.

[Main Show Host]

Joanna actually got to go in. We gave her a list of tasks earlier today. And Joanna, by the way, when you get the go ahead in there, you can just interrupt us because we're coordinate this so that everybody's carrying it live. But when Joanna got to go in early because she sang live on the air, she put humiliating pictures on the website. She did stand up comedy. She had to do all this stuff and earned the right to go in and find her wedding dress early.

[Co-Host]

Right.

[Main Show Host]

And I had the thought after we made her sing today that if she did not find her wedding dress.

[Co-Host]

Yeah.

[Main Show Host]

Then she humiliated herself for nothing.

[Co-Host]

Exactly.

It's called radio. I mean, isn't that what we do?

But she got. She got the pick and she got like time to sort of peruse the different styles and sizes and everything.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

It's still overwhelming though. There are so many dresses in here and they're all just beautiful. And I wanted to try on almost every single one of them, but it was well worth it.

[Main Show Host]

There are over 2,200 wedding dresses in there, by the way. And don't forget, you don't have to shop just this morning. You can come in all day. The wedding dresses are here all day. So, Joanna, tell us, was it a waste? Was the humiliation totally wasted? Or did you find your dream dress at Filene's basement today?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

No, I found my dress

[Co-Host]

Pretty good.

Joanna, it's so beautiful.

I got a pink.

[Main Show Host]

Will you please describe it to Melissa, Wendy, Jen, and other women listening?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

It's very. It's more simple than what I was actually looking for.

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[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

But it's beautiful. It's form fitting. It's kind of like the mermaid style dress. And it is what every bride told me. You put it on and you immediately

[Co-Host]

know that this is just start crying

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

almost, but not quite.

[Main Show Host]

And now I would say let's take a look at it, but we can't. You can't try it on for us because Jason is not. You're not allowed to see your bride in her dress.

[Co-Host]

Right.

[Main Show Host]

So we can't. We can't risk it getting videotaped or seeing it tried on. So we will have to take your word for it. And you got mom approval.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Yes, my mom, of course, she loved everything I tried on, but she really liked this one.

[Co-Host]

Good.

[Main Show Host]

Yeah. Joanna told us the other day that she has a problem with her mom not being able to say no to any wedding dress. Oh, it's beautiful. You're so beautiful. It looks great. And Joanna's like, look, we're gonna go browse in this store, and this store is more than we can afford. So don't like the dresses, right?

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And her mom's like, it's beautiful.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Hey, guys.

[Main Show Host]

Yes, Sam?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

We're ready to do the countdown.

[Main Show Host]

We're ready if you are. Are you guys ready to go?

[Co-Host]

Are you ready? Are you guys ready? All right, all right.

My gosh, there are thousands of women lined up outside of Filene's basement and a couple of very brave people.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Nine, eight.

[Main Show Host]

Good luck, Joanna.

[Co-Host]

Seven.

[Main Show Host]

We love you. No matter what happens, we love you very much.

[Co-Host]

Nice knowing you.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Four.

[Main Show Host]

We'll give your wedding dress to Jason.

[Co-Host]

Three, two, one. Here we go. It's running in the fries. 22. There they go.

They're washing.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my gosh.

Joanna's hair is blowing in the wind.

How you doing, Joanna?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I'm just still. I'm shaking. I'm shaking.

[Co-Host]

But you're still standing.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I'm going to be standing still soon. Oh, I'm still standing still.

[Co-Host]

They are pouring in.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Oh, my gosh, honey.

[Co-Host]

They're going to be coming in for a while.

Oh, my gosh. Tearing the. The dresses off the racks right now.

This is. This is getting.

Yeah.

Wow.

[Main Show Host]

Joanna's just gotten checked. Like, it's almost. What happened?

[Co-Host]

She just got. She just got checked.

She got checked hard.

Yes.

[Main Show Host]

I didn't think it was possible. Joanna's a petite little thing, but she has actually made herself smaller.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

I think it's the low center of gravity.

[Co-Host]

That's right. That's why she didn't fall over. That was hilarious.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

And they're still.

[Co-Host]

They're still coming in. Wow.

And there's still a long line outside.

[Main Show Host]

Do we have any estimates of how many people were in line?

[Co-Host]

I mean, it had to be at

[Main Show Host]

least a thousand people are carrying signs over their head. Signs. 8 to 14, ivory dress.

[Co-Host]

I just still a stampede out here.

And I.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Exciting and sometimes scary.

[Co-Host]

And most times, bridal parties have the same outfits on. So I see a lot of leftover St. Patrick's Day outfits. They may still be partying. And then some Easter bunny ears, Mardi Gras feathers.

I see lots of poster boards with the sizes that they need because the

bartering will begin here in a few minutes where everybody goes in there, grabs the dresses off the rack, and then they start going back and forth on who knows what size, because, again, they're not. They're not sectioned by size.

I love.

I love how the guys have the group addresses carrying them for obviously their Rides whatever in their party, carrying them over into corners. Now inside.

[Main Show Host]

Joanna, are you okay?

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

Yeah, I still there? Yeah, I stumbled because I got ran into, but I'm good.

[Main Show Host]

We lost, I lost a visual on Joanna for a minute and got worried. The signs going. And you know what I'm seeing? I've seen several signs that say 10-10-10. That's going to be a busy wedding day this year.

[Co-Host]

October 10th, does that fall on a Saturday?

A Sunday this year?

Sunday.

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[Co-Host]

And there's a girl literally laying on top of all her dresses in the corner.

[Main Show Host]

Filene's basement is. You run in and you grab the dresses and you grab as you know, as many as you can grab and you wrap your arms around him. Then you start. Who brought a child into this? There's a five year old in tears, crying.

[Co-Host]

It's a mad house in there.

Well, like Jeff was talking about. I mean, this is not like you go into a department store and you see women that are kind of thumbing through. No, they go in there and they grab a handful of dresses.

[Joanna (Bride-to-be)]

There are women walking around with just arms full of dresses right now. I mean, it looks like they're all

[Co-Host]

off the racks, right?

[Main Show Host]

Are the racks empty? Can you see back there, Joanna?

[Co-Host]

I think they are empty. Yes.

Yes.

We get indication that all the racks are now empty.

[Main Show Host]

So now what will happen inside, but people are still coming in is people will walk around, they'll hold their signs up that say what size dress they want and then they begin negotiating. So you just, because they're not organized, you grab as many dresses as you can carry. That's why people bring so many people, right? So you all grab, you know, 20 dresses, 30 dresses, and then you go through them. And if you're a size four or six, you keep all the fours and the sixes and you trade off the other ones for other people who have the sizes you need.

[Co-Host]

And then there's other sections in this, in filing's basement here in Buckhead where they are now starting to try all the dresses. So you usually, when you find dresses, then you have your bridal party kind of surround, like circle the wagons. So they're circling the wagons around you and you're trying to dress in the middle of the circle. And so they find their own dressing rooms in the aisles of the store.

[Main Show Host]

And this is where it sort of gets embarrassing for the guys because at this point the women have decided they have no shame.

[Co-Host]

Oh, of course.

It's a wedding dress.

[Main Show Host]

And you turn and you go, you walk around the corner and they're just trying them on, like, right. They don't care. They're hiding under the escalator. And well, the thing is putting their dress on.

[Co-Host]

You're potentially being a creeper now because if you're a guy here and you start staring like you're really fascinated, you're really a creeper because you're watching girls undress.

[Main Show Host]

You can't, you can't stare.

[Co-Host]

You have guys that are standing over here with us right now. I'm not calling y' all out or anything.

[Main Show Host]

You have, you have to be very alert because there is creepers. It is a creep. Potential creeper.

[Co-Host]

Well, I think this right here, we have creeper window right here where men get.

I'm just bloody.

I'm playing with you guys. I'm playing.

But yeah, so these brides know, I mean they came prepared, they wore their spandex, they've got their camisoles on so they can just like strip down and start trying on all these dresses. And like we've said a couple times this morning, this is going to go on all day long today. So as soon as this original madness sort of calms down, everybody does their bartering, the dresses will start going back up on the racks. There's 2200 of them, right? And so there's going to be plenty here to come and shop all day at Filene's Basement. We're right here in Buckhead, right across

from the plaza, the Phipps Plaza down the street from the square.

[Main Show Host]

The, the crowd is in, so we'll have to go back and look at the timing. I think it was four and a half or five minutes. Okay, everyone, into Filene's basement.

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