i personally hated House of Brides, both the shaumburg location and the downtown chicago location. horrible service at both places.
i would HIGHLY recommend going to Veiled in Elegance in Geneva, IL. that's where i got my dress and they are just awesome there.
the only other shop i went to in the burbs was Brides by Demetrious and i wasn't thrilled. the people were very nice, i just didn't like their dresses.
I actually liked Brides by Demetrios (well, I found my dress there so I'm biased). House of Brides was okay, but I went on a Saturday afternoon and I wish I had gone at a different time. The woman who helped me was nice, but the dress selection was horrible. I had found a lot of styles online (around 10) that I wanted to try and they didn't have any of them! ("oh, our online selection is much better" grrrr) I think a lot of dresses were hidden away in other bride's rooms, so maybe going on a less busy day would have resulted in a better search. GL
I actually bought my dress in Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg - not only do they have a Jessica McClintock store in there, but mine was called "Modern Bride" and I found my bridesmaids dresses there too!
There are a few great sample shops, too. I loved Wedding Belles in Barrington and A Joyful Occasion in Naperville. The customer service wasn't great, but I love Melissa Sweet so I would also recommend Priscilla of Boston in Oak Brook.
I had a nice experience at House of Brides, but it's true -- most of what they have on their web site is not in the store. Eva's Bridal has a lot of Watters gowns, but they keep them tucked away so you have to ask for the ones you're looking for otherwise you just get what they think you want (based off what dresses you choose out on the showroom floor).
I'd say at least an hour at each place. It's a little tricky getting into some of the dresses, and then you have to get it tugged and pinned to make it look like it fits you.
Maybe also check out the Brides Room, which also carries Watters. I've heard good things about them, though I've never been. Yelp has some reviews on these bridal salons, too.
I second Wedding Belles in Barrington. I got my dress there! :) They sell mostly sample dresses that are well-maintained and, of course, at a discount. Their stock is in constant rotation because of that. The shop itself is in an old Victorian house. And the staff is super nice.
I THIRD Wedding Belles in Barrington...I just bought my dress there TODAY.
They were so kind and let me stop by without an appointment (which usually isnt cool).
I also checked out dresses in the last couple days at L'Amour in Barrington and The Brides Room in Wheeling. Both had lots of variety, could easily work within my budget (1500-2000, which i came way under at), and were really nice to work with. I'm probably going back to one of those places to order my bridesmaid dresses! Â
From what I heard yesterday and today at these places, L'Amour and the Brides Room has Watters dresses. Â
I bought my dress at Catherine Simm's in Naperville (<span class="a">www.catherinesimmsbridal.com). i can't recommend them enough. They had beautiful dresses, were very reasonable, and the staff was super nice and helpful. I worked with Karen and she was wonderful.
I went to House of Brides in Schaumburg and found them ok. I think i called a different one before that and they were rather rude.
Other places to consider: The Bridal Mansion in Lisle I've heard from several people is awesome! Here Comes the Bride (www.herecomesthebride.com) in Addison is a good source for getting a designer dress for less (lots of samples etc..)
I went to Eva's Bridal in Orland Park because they had a certain dress I wanted to try on. Selection was great, but they were very "salesman fake" to me. I also found their pricing varied from store to store.
I found a great Bridal resourse is to pick up the Knot's yearly magazine of all the top vendors. I think it just came out for this year a month or so ago. It's like $10 and you can find it at most stores (I got mine at Walmart). There you can go by the state and see what other brides have used and liked. It helped me out a lot of for the Chicagoland area.
I second Catherine Simms, at least for bridesmaid dresses. They were very nice, accommodating, and even let us negotiate price (I have 7 BMs and we found the dress cheaper online so we used that as negotiation)
I got my dress at Wolsfelt's Victorian Bridal in Aurora and they were so great! The store has a huge selection, and the salespeople were very helpful. It's family owned and has been in business for 30 years, so they have a pretty good reputation.
I also shopped at Priscilla of Boston in Oakbrook, and when I went with my mom and sis shopping for my dress (with an appointment) they were very helpful and nice; however, I came back with BMs to look for their dresses and we were treated kind of rudely. We didn't have an appointment, but the place was empty so I think it was mostly a matter of age discrimination or they didn't think we were serious buyers (we were until they treated us like lepers)
Kourtann, I'm not sure if it's too late, but I wanted to second PurpleTulips' suggestion of Wolsfelt's Victorian Bridal. That's where my dress is coming from and I've really loved my experience with them so far.
Hello bees!! I live in central Illinois and am getting ready to look at dresses. I need some recommendations on some great bridal shops in the burbs!!
Has anyone been to house of brides in schaumburg? they have some Watters dresses I want to try on and was wondering what it's like.
Thanks ladies!
posted by kourtann 84 posts 6 months agoi personally hated House of Brides, both the shaumburg location and the downtown chicago location. horrible service at both places.
i would HIGHLY recommend going to Veiled in Elegance in Geneva, IL. that's where i got my dress and they are just awesome there.
the only other shop i went to in the burbs was Brides by Demetrious and i wasn't thrilled. the people were very nice, i just didn't like their dresses.
are you planning on coming into the city at all?
posted by radish 156 posts 6 months agoI actually liked Brides by Demetrios (well, I found my dress there so I'm biased). House of Brides was okay, but I went on a Saturday afternoon and I wish I had gone at a different time. The woman who helped me was nice, but the dress selection was horrible. I had found a lot of styles online (around 10) that I wanted to try and they didn't have any of them! ("oh, our online selection is much better" grrrr) I think a lot of dresses were hidden away in other bride's rooms, so maybe going on a less busy day would have resulted in a better search. GL
posted by taytayalis 18 posts 6 months agoI think for right now I'm just coming to the burbs. If I can't find anything I like, I will probably make the trip into the city.
Thanks for the info, keep em coming!!
posted by kourtann 84 posts 6 months agotaytayalis---hmmm...maybe i should call house of brides before I go to make sure the store actually has the dresses I want to try on!
posted by kourtann 84 posts 6 months agoKourtann,
I actually bought my dress in Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg - not only do they have a Jessica McClintock store in there, but mine was called "Modern Bride" and I found my bridesmaids dresses there too!
posted by ladysu 88 posts 6 months agoSkip House of Brides- they don't have a good rep. Or, at least don't buy there.
If you are going out to Geneva- go to The Crystal Bride. That's where I bought my dress, and I've been thrilled.
Make appointments! They are all busy, everywhere in the suburbs.
posted by goteamgo 63 posts 6 months agoI have one more question: How long should I allot to spend at each place...on average??
posted by kourtann 84 posts 6 months agoI spent an hour at each place I went to. And I could only handle two places a day because I'm a shopping wimp...I really hate trying on clothes.
posted by taytayalis 18 posts 6 months agoThere are a few great sample shops, too. I loved Wedding Belles in Barrington and A Joyful Occasion in Naperville. The customer service wasn't great, but I love Melissa Sweet so I would also recommend Priscilla of Boston in Oak Brook.
posted by peacock 24 posts 6 months agoI had a nice experience at House of Brides, but it's true -- most of what they have on their web site is not in the store. Eva's Bridal has a lot of Watters gowns, but they keep them tucked away so you have to ask for the ones you're looking for otherwise you just get what they think you want (based off what dresses you choose out on the showroom floor).
I'd say at least an hour at each place. It's a little tricky getting into some of the dresses, and then you have to get it tugged and pinned to make it look like it fits you.
Maybe also check out the Brides Room, which also carries Watters. I've heard good things about them, though I've never been. Yelp has some reviews on these bridal salons, too.
posted by mochiko 13 posts 6 months agoI second Wedding Belles in Barrington. I got my dress there! :) They sell mostly sample dresses that are well-maintained and, of course, at a discount. Their stock is in constant rotation because of that. The shop itself is in an old Victorian house. And the staff is super nice.
posted by cuddlebug910 5 posts 6 months agoI THIRD Wedding Belles in Barrington...I just bought my dress there TODAY.
I bought my dress at Catherine Simm's in Naperville (<span class="a">www.catherinesimmsbridal.com). i can't recommend them enough. They had beautiful dresses, were very reasonable, and the staff was super nice and helpful. I worked with Karen and she was wonderful.
I went to House of Brides in Schaumburg and found them ok. I think i called a different one before that and they were rather rude.
Other places to consider: The Bridal Mansion in Lisle I've heard from several people is awesome! Here Comes the Bride (www.herecomesthebride.com) in Addison is a good source for getting a designer dress for less (lots of samples etc..)
I went to Eva's Bridal in Orland Park because they had a certain dress I wanted to try on. Selection was great, but they were very "salesman fake" to me. I also found their pricing varied from store to store.
I found a great Bridal resourse is to pick up the Knot's yearly magazine of all the top vendors. I think it just came out for this year a month or so ago. It's like $10 and you can find it at most stores (I got mine at Walmart). There you can go by the state and see what other brides have used and liked. It helped me out a lot of for the Chicagoland area.
posted by designgirl13 12 posts 6 months agoI got my dress at Wolsfelt's Victorian Bridal in Aurora and they were so great! The store has a huge selection, and the salespeople were very helpful. It's family owned and has been in business for 30 years, so they have a pretty good reputation.
I also shopped at Priscilla of Boston in Oakbrook, and when I went with my mom and sis shopping for my dress (with an appointment) they were very helpful and nice; however, I came back with BMs to look for their dresses and we were treated kind of rudely. We didn't have an appointment, but the place was empty so I think it was mostly a matter of age discrimination or they didn't think we were serious buyers (we were until they treated us like lepers)
posted by PurpleTulips 15 posts 6 months agoThanks for all the great info ladies!
posted by kourtann 84 posts 6 months agoKourtann, I'm not sure if it's too late, but I wanted to second PurpleTulips' suggestion of Wolsfelt's Victorian Bridal. That's where my dress is coming from and I've really loved my experience with them so far.
posted by chickadee 33 posts 5 months ago