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44 reviews for A L'Amour
Review Highlights
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"...designer Judd Waddell during his trunk show at the store." In 7 reviews -
"Also my consultant really knew her stuff." In 14 reviews -
"Rhonda was my consultant and she was AMAZING." In 5 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Maren B.
3/21/2012
I got my dress here! (pictures to follow AFTER the wedding!)
Carmel was really accommodating and worked with me to find something I loved. When I described what I wanted, she was pretty straightforward and told me they didn't have much of that style on hand.. so I was ready to be disappointed. I tried on five or six dresses that weren't it and then she asked if I would mind if she pulled something from the sample rack.
So she grabbed a couple more dresses and one of them I thought, wow, this is almost perfect... and half off to boot! There were a couple things that didn't exactly fit my vision, and one of which she insisted they wouldn't be able to alter. That kind of killed it for me, until I realized I'd probably have to compromise on something with any dress since I don't have a limitless budget. I was going to go home and think on it until one of my bridesmaids suggested trying it on with a veil... and jackpot! Seeing myself in the mirror I knew that was it! So I got myself a dress...
The only thing I didn't like was that originally I made an appointment because at a bridal expo I went to they were offering a discount if you made an appointment. Well of course that discount didn't apply to me since I was buying off the rack... which is a little shady to me since no one told me that to begin with. Tsk.
But long story short, I got a beautiful dress and can't wait to wear it down the aisle! -
Review from Julie A.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2012
This weekend I went to A L'Amour in search of my bridesmaid dresses with my mom and 2 of my maids. We had Rhonda as our consultant and she was nothing short of a delight to work with. From the moment we stepped inside the salon we had top notch service. I mean, they took our coats! Rhonda showed us the dresses and while we looked around she began to chat up my mom. We found some picks, and changed into them. Rhonda would leave us be when it was right and she was right there the second we needed her. We were never left alone, we were never in search for anyone for help, and every employee we met at A L'Amour was kind, genuine, and always put the customer first.
We finally came to a decision and Rhonda even told us that the designer could customize the dresses with a different fabric than the original design came with! Perfect! While my maids and I were hanging out and discussing options, Rhonda was showing my mom the MOB dresses, to which my mom actually walked out with ordering her dress! Rhonda to the rescue! I seriously cannot say enough about how awesome the service and overall experience was at A L'Amour. I seriously loved it there that I found a Jim Hjelm dress that they don't carry at another salon, and I'm going to call and see if they could order anyways it since A L'Amour cared for us 10x more than the other salon.
As a city bride, I could've gone to any hot-shot salon in the city to search for my bridesmaid dresses, but I chose A L'Amour for the soul reason they carried Bill Levkoff, Jim Hjelm, and Lazaro in one store. The only reason I knocked off a star was the lack of selection. I was greatly disappointed in the lack of selection. They maybe had...10 Jim Hjelm dresses (none of the one's I had my heart set on), and a handful of Bill Levkoffs. If they made the room and carried more from the designers, they would have a gold mine. Overall, I loved this salon and kinda wished I got my gown here so I can visit simply to hang out with the fabulous staff again! Thanks A L'Amour! -
Review from Julie C.
San Diego, CA
2/10/2012
As an out of town bride, I made the decision to get my wedding dress in the city I was getting married in so I wouldn't have to deal with shipping. Of course, this can be nerve-wrecking as making the cross-country trip for fittings wasn't an option. Carmel and A L'Amour made the process seamless and unforgettable.
I was the type of bride that needed to try on EVERYTHING before I made a decision. Had I come to A L'Amour first, I wouldn't have needed to go anywhere else. The service was amazing. Carmel is the absolute sweetest person, has a great eye and better yet - she's honest! The whole staff was really sweet, but if you go here - schedule an appointment with her!
They had a great selection of dresses at extremely affordable prices. Out of everything at my wedding - I got the most compliments on my dress. People came up to me asking who the designer was, sure that I paid a fortune for it. I paid $1,500 for an Essence of Australia gown. In the world of wedding dresses, I found it extremely difficult to get a great quality dress for that price. I couldn't have been happier.
I came back to Chicago 4 days before my wedding, had 2 fittings back to back and my dress was perfect by Saturday. Even if you live in the city - it's worth the trip to the suburbs for the service and quality of dress you'll find at A L'Amour. -
Review from Holly S.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
I went here on my second attempt at a wedding dress (first was Kathryn's). It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and VERY busy! My appointment started late, and after I changed into a robe Susan (I believe this was her name) disappeared to pull dresses for me - apparently this store does not allow you to search through them yourself like everywhere else. I was left to sit there or to browse through the trunk show on display, which were far smaller than what I wear. I did anyway, out of boredom. When I went back into my dressing room, still waiting, the Asian woman that works there started talking shit about me looking at dresses too small for me to another bride's mom - like I can't hear through the curtain!!! Like I'm not allowed to touch things in a size 4! It was embarrassing.
The consultant did not get my style although I told her what I was looking for - all lace, little to no beading. She kept pulling very princess-y gowns with satin and heavy beading. I only tried on three or four before she said they had nothing for me there. I brought up a gown by a designer they carry, but did not have in stock. She said she'd call the designer that Monday to see if they have a sample to loan, and would get back to me by Wednesday.
Of course, Wednesday comes and goes. I sent her an email on Friday, as she specifically gave me her email address. No response! There is nothing worse in business than giving your email and then NOT CHECKING IT. I called the next Monday and left a message for her with another employee. I called again on Wednesday (a full week after she said I'd hear back by) and she answered, saying she "just heard back" from them this morning. I doubt this is true but even so, you must keep a customer informed when you say you will. She couldn't get the sample and I am kind of glad - I found it somewhere else and now I don't have to deal with that store again.
Other cons of the store - dressing room curtains totally don't close on the sides and people are constantly walking past your door. It feels awkward when you're in your underwear! The inside is also pretty dated looking. -
Review from Alissa G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/27/2012
My mom went to the new l'amour in northbrook to get a dress for my wedding. She found a dress and was told it would be easy to alter. Now the alterations are going to be more expensive than the dress. The saleswoman clearly did not know what she was talking about and just wanted to make the sale. Pretty dishonest.
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Review from Stephanie S.
Des Plaines, IL
11/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I used A L'Amour when shopping for my girl's bridesmaid dresses. Carin, is very organized and friendly. She took the time to work with my vision of the 'day-of" look all while keeping in mind the bridesmaid's body types and personalities.
The best part was we were able to help my girls get 20 percent off. This was a special promotion they were running. Who doesn't like to save a little money?
Hopefully the ordering and alterations process will go as smoothly! -
Review from AJ H.
Arlington Heights, IL
4/19/2012
I really enjoyed my experience at A L'Amour. I worked with Rhonda, who listened to exactly what I wanted, looked at the pics I brought in, and brought me dresses that met my criteria (lace and v-neck or at least straps). I liked them, but didn't love them. Then I told her to bring in a couple that she thought would work for my body type and style. Even though I told her I didn't want a strapless gown, she decided to have me try a strapless lace gown, and I ended up loving it and purchasing it. When the gown came in, it was not the right dress, but was a variation of it. Rhonda felt horrible and worked hard to get the right dress rushed in time for the wedding, which was done successfully. I really appreciated her working so hard to make things right and easing my mind in the process. She also checked in on me during my fittings later on and requested wedding pics to see how everything came together.
When the right dress did come in, we only had a couple of weeks to get the alterations done, and the staff made sure to fit my into the schedule. The seamstress was very talented and also assured me everything would be fine, and two days before my wedding my dress was completed and fit like a dream. I know some reviewers have had an issue with the seamstress, and after seeing how some brides were treating her poorly, I think it is more of their personal issues and stress with getting close to the wedding. I never had a problem in dealing with her because I was always respectful and appreciative of her hard work.
I did take down a star because the shop itself is so small that it often feels like you are in everybody's way, and they were usually behind schedule. Also, it would really be helpful if the were open on Sundays and/or later some evenings. It was often hard to get there in time after work. -
Review from Michelle G.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
I had been dress shopping for about 6 months...multiple shops, probably around 50 dresses were crossed off the list. I was beginning to doubt whether I was going to have "that" moment when I just "knew" it was the one. Then I went to L'Amour. At first I have to admit I was a bit put off...the front room has what seems like a million poofy, electric colored prom dresses. I was kinda ready to walk out at that moment. But then I continued to the back where the wedding dresses are - a little oasis.
I had Rhonda as my consultant, and she was amazing. My mom and I went with a list of Watters dresses we wanted to see. Rhonda brought me the ones they had, and then brought one or two of her own choices based on my preferences. None of the Watters that my mom and I chose worked. Then I tried on an Augusta Jones dress that Rhonda brought me. And I had "that" moment...and it was amazing.
Anyway, go to L'amour, and don't be put off by the front room! -
Review from Courtney W.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2011
I went to Fremd High School in Palatine and this was the go-to shop for any school function, especially prom. They have a wonderful selection of dresses in all styles, colors, and sizes. I was very impressed because as a 5'11" basketball player, it is impossible to find a dress that is long enough but also the right size. At A L'More this is not an issue. It is a bit pricey but that's to be expected for the giant selection and quality. They have excellent sales people who make great recommendations that fit your body perfectly, they also have an amazing seamstress who gets the job done right the first time. They sometimes have a 20% special going on so be sure to hit them during off periods. They even carry garters that will match your dress perfectly and other accessories.
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Review from Jen D.
Arlington, VA
1/10/2012
I'm totally a fan. Rhonda was a fantastic consultant who listened to what I wanted, pulled some beautiful dresses and was overall friendly and lovely. The only thing that keeps the salon from 5 stars is the fairly dated decor, although the wonderful staff and gorgeous gowns basically make up for it. :)
Unfortunately, I'd just come from an appointment at another salon where I'd found "the dress" - we kept the A L'Amour one in case they had something that beat it. They didn't, but they did come awfully close! Rhonda was incredibly gracious about the whole thing and I would recommend her and the salon for any bride. -
Review from Maggie C.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2011
I bought my dress at A L'Amour for our June 2011 wedding.
I LOVED my dress so it makes it easy to give them an A. I worked with Carmel and she was always so great. It was easy to get evening appointments. The seamstress did a fabulous job making my dress fit me like glove. I only had to go for 3 fittings - the first to try it on and make sure it was the right dress, the 2nd for alterations, and 3rd final fitting was it! I think their prices are great and they have really nice people working there. -
Review from banana l.
Chicago, IL
2/17/2009
Eh...
Dress shopping for my mom started off really bad. The consultant didn't listen to what my mom said, something short, something that completely covers her back, and something she can wear again. She brought out 6 dresses, none of which worked. And she was huffy when my mom said that none of them will work because they all showed her back or she didn't like them. We followed our huffy consultant upstairs to check out special occasion dresses for my mom and she let me try on bridesmaids dresses.
We ended up finding a dress for my mom which is really great but needs to be shortened. And we found a dress for me, but also needs shortening. Only thing is, my dress would take at the very least 2 months to arrive, there was no way for it to come faster or to purchase it off the rack. If we could have taken the dress I tried on, we most likely would have bought it.
They also have a large selection of prom dress...lots of ugly going on there. Some cute stuff, but most ugly and cheap looking. -
Review from Katie D.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
I have yet to purchase my wedding dress, but have a sneaking feeling I will be purchasing from A L'Amour :) Susan was my consultant and she was so sweet and helpful. She took the time to listen to what I want and also pulled dresses that she thought would look good on me. After trying on 4 or 5 dresses I found one that I fell in love with, but since it was my first shopping experience I decided to keep looking. I haven't found anything I like more than the one I tried on here so I may be returning to Susan at A L'Amour soon; but even if I don't I would recommend this bridal salon to anyone.
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Review from Misse D.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2007
I've heard great things about A L'amour. When I walked in, I was greeted by someone at the front counter. My sales associate was Jessica. She was very nice. Before looking to find my dresses, we discussed what type of dress I was looking for.
During the 90 minute appointment, she bought me some lovely dresses. I really liked the first dress. I was told that if I purchased the dress today, I could get a 10% discount. Since I had one more appointment, I asked if I could wait until the end of the day to make a decision.
This is why I gave the store only 3 stars: the sales associate said that the store doesn't really have a great selection and that I won't find anyting there.
If she really felt that I wouldn't find anything at the other store, then why was did she feel necessary to tell me? I loathe when businesses bad mouth the competition. It's completely unnecessary and makes me uncomfortable.Listed in: Finding the Perfect Bridal…
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Review from Risa P.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2009
I went here in mid search of my dress. I was really pleased with the store and the service. The consultant I worked with was really sweet and nice. She listened to what I wanted and helped me find it. She did not pressure me at all and in fact, let us take all the time in the world to try on dresses. We went on a Friday morning so the store was not packed. I didn't feel rushed or pressured to purchase that day at all.
The store was clean and the lightening was nice...there was a large mirror in the back part of the store that had not too harsh lights above and some natural light coming from the window next door. They had a good assortment of veils and accessories. I was there for a trunk show, but was also able to try on some sample sized dresses.
Also my consultant really knew her stuff. She had suggestions on how to bustle a dress, or how to add a sash for extra flair. One dress I had tried on was pretty simple, but she brought out different sashes and bows to make it unique. I liked how in one moment, the dress was jazzed up with some bling, but in the next moment, it could be made more romantic with a flowered sash, or even the addition of an one armed sleeve. She really knew what looked good on my body type and didn't try to put me into anything that I said that I didn't like or that just wouldn't look good--simply to make the sale. I appreciated that.
It was clean, comfortable and great. That was just the experience I was looking for when trying on dresses! -
Review from Laura M.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2008
I actually had a bad experience here. It is one of the shops where you tell them what you are looking for and they bring you the dresses (they don't let you browse). the consultant didn't seem to figure out what we were looking for (although every other bridal shop in chicago had it figured out)...and I know this is specific to the consultant that you got, but the shop wasn't inviting. Oh, and I gave them a budget and brought me dresses 3 times that much..in fact when I asked the price of the dress I liked the best the woman giggled and said, "this is the most expensive dress in the store"...REALLY?? then why did you bring it out to me when I gave you a budget.
Oh, and I searched for some of the dresses online afterwards and they were from the designers '05 lines?? that's like 3 years old and I found the same dresses other places as samples, or could find for half priced used.
It is right up the street from Wedding Belles (which I would recommend)..so it might be worth a stop, but I wouldn't go back!!! -
Review from Laura L.
2/16/2010
I went here with 5 of my 8 bridesmaids. We all live in the city, but we all schlepped out to Barrington because they claimed to have a huge selection of bridesmaid dresses. I called about a specific dress and they let me know that they had it.
So we get there and before anything they made me get on their laptop to becoming a "fan" of theirs on facebook....before even seeing a single dress. Why would I want to be a "fan" if I haven't even gone through the whole appointment yet? I "un-fanned" them right when I got home!
A girl then led us upstairs and gave us our own little room with 2 racks of dresses for us to look through and try on in the big room. This worked for my friends because they are all skinny and not body conscious, but for anyone body conscious, this would be their nightmare!
It worked out well though because with 5 people trying on dresses in the same room, it went really quickly. However, there wasn't a huge selection the way they claimed there was AND the dress that I specifically called about wasn't part of the rack. I asked the lady (who was non-existent during our appointment) and she said "I mean, I guess I can look, but we probably don't have it." Well, she came back in 5 minutes with the dress that I was looking for.
This was our first place, and when we went to others, we realized how marked up the prices were. When asked if they would discount the dresses because we had 8 bridemaids, they said they would discount 5%....um, no thank you!
It was definitely not worth driving all the way out there as other places were better.
PS Bridemaid shopping was SO fun! Make a day of it! :) -
Review from Tara J.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2011
I bought my dress at A L'Amour this past Saturday! It was such a great experience. Rhonda was my consultant and she was AMAZING! she pulled nothing, but perfect dresses for me. She really listened to what I said I liked and disliked and in the end found me the PERFECT dress!!! I still can't believe I found it after only trying on a few dresses. She was so amazing to my mom and MOH too! We even found a dress for my mom and also now have a contender for my MOH's dress. I can't say enough good things about my experience there last Saturday. They even kept the store open for us even though they were technically closed. All I can say is Thank you Rhonda and A' L'Amour brides for an amazing experience and dress!
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Review from Christine L.
Chicago, IL
4/8/2010
The. Dress.
You know it, I know it. This decision is a BIG one!! Six dress shops left me with only one contender and one good experience. The rest were...well, forgettable. That is until I found A L'amour and Rhonda.
I came in on a Thursday afternoon and the staff was immediately very friendly and welcoming before introducing me to Rhonda, my new dress guru. I had come in because they were the only store in IL that carried the Alvina Valenta I was hunting for and luckily enough they were having a trunk show! Rhonda did bring a couple more dresses out in the same style but as my eyes fell upon ze dress, I could feel myelf getting excited.
I had found THE dress. I didn't want to take it off and after 20 minutes (okay, more like 35) of walking around and gazing at myself in the array of mirrors in the showroom, I did. And then I hugged it. Rhonda was great sharing in my excitement and so patient too. No rushing me through the motions to get to the next bride in line.
Purchasing was great, 1/2 down when you order, 1/2 when the dress arrives. I received 10% for purchasing it the same day I tried it on and an additional 5% for coming in during the trunk show. Woo-hoo!
I also had the dress altered here by their in-house seamstress. She did a great job with my bustle and minor bust alterations but the hem at the bottom was just a hair too long and caused people to step on the bustled dress, tearing the bustle ties. Thankfully happening at the end of the night and with only minor damage, its not enough to cause a downgrade in stars..
All in all, I had a fab experience over the course of 9 months leading up to my big day. I highly suggest starting here, you may save yourself a lot of dress shop duds. -
Review from Service P.
Bartlett, IL
6/27/2011
I made an appointment to look for bridesmaids dresses. The lady that helped me was more concerned with her previous party (which went over their time, by the way). Plus, this place only had 2 racks of Short Dresses to choose from and 5 racks of long dresses. So if you're looking for knee-length (or higher) dresses for your girls, I would NOT recommend this place. Service and Selection did not meet my expectations.
Listed in: Bridal
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Review from Robyn S.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2008
I came to A L'amour after a very disappointing experience with House of Brides. We made an appointment on a Saturday late afternoon , near their closing time, to place orders for 6 of our 7 bridesmaid dresses. Rhonda helped us, and she was fantastic in every respect. We carefully went over all the measurements, she made sizing recommendations. She also explained all the store policies, which was my sticking point with HOB. (See my prior review for the full story.) A L'Amour only required 50% down to place the order, then will have me inspect the dresses upon arrival to ensure no discrepancies. They even suggested that, given the number of out-of-town bridesmaid dresses I have that I send them out myself rather than paying their $25 shipping fee per dress. I found their advice to be genuine, rather than just in it for every nickel and dime like most other bridesmaid dress stores.
One bridesmaid had to phone in her measurements to complete our order. Rhonda called me at 9 pm, after the store had closed, to let me know the order was complete because she knew I was anxious about it. Attention to detail and excellent customer service.
I would definitely recommend A L'Amour to someone looking for a bridesmaid dress boutique, particularly if (like me) you know the dress you want and can confirm on the designer's web site that they carry it. It'll save you the trouble of browsing through the racks.
Also, my mom found her MOB dress there while we were sorting out sizes. She found a great deal on a beautiful design. Most of the dresses hanging there were hideous, yes, but have you perused the MOB sections in most stores? They look like the floor of a 1970s Vegas dressing room. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2009
This place is outstanding!!!! Carmel was my consultant and within a few minutes she had a great grasp of my style and what looks good on my body. The very first dress she picked was perfect! There were a few other brides in the store with me, but I never felt like I wasn't getting all the help and I needed. All the staff was so friendly and helpful!!!!! When the dress I loved, but still hadn't decided it was "the one", Carmel contacted the designer, found a similar dress, and is working on getting it shipped out so I can try it on.
On top of phenomenal service, the dresses are gorgeous!!!! And the styles are endless! I have a more retro and vintage style and they had so many gowns in my style. The girl in the dressing room like more princess style dresses and she tried on so many beautiful gowns. It is incredible that they can have so many different gowns for so many different styles!!!!!! -
Review from Celina M.
Schaumburg, IL
6/30/2010
Love this place! They were so accommodating and patient with me and my 5 guests. I may be a little biased since I found my wedding dress here but I'm not the only one because my close friend and sister in law also found their dress here. Rhonda helped me and my dress was the 3rd one I tried on! She was great. I didn't even know they were having a trunk show when I was there but got 20% off my dress. They also have bridesmaid dresses and dresses for moms. I also attended a "mother of the bride" fashion show soon to come back and find a my mother in law a dress.
If you sign up on their email list they'll tell you when they're have a sale, usually 20% off any item. This is when I came back for my veil and ribbon. -
Review from Meribeth K.
Chicago, IL
3/20/2011
I am thrilled with the experience I have had at A L'Amour! I found a dress (the Angel by Angel Sanchez line) online and they were so gracious about returning emails when I asked if the dress had been received by the shop. Upon going to the boutique to try on "the dress" I was warmly greeted by Carmel, who was kind, patient and very professional. The customer service did not end when I left the shop either. She has been in touch about the dress and a fabric swatch (for my shoes). Much like finding my fiance, when you 'know you know.' I love the dress, the fabulous Carmel, and the experience I have had thus far at A L'Amour!
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Review from Alison M.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2010
This isn't a place to get a discount, it isn't a place to get a simple dress, but, if you're looking for a big poofy dress, you might be able to find it here. My consultant was more than happy to spend time showing me a wide array of dresses. However, none of them were really my style though, and the longer we stayed, the less the dresses resembled what I was looking for.
Listed in: Saying Yes To The Dress
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Review from yvette c.
Streamwood, IL
5/21/2009
I truly loved my experience here at A L'amour. The girls were so friendly and upbeat, I loved each and every one of them, well almost. The lady who helped me try on dresses knew exactly what I needed. After telling her we were doing a destination wedding she brought the most wonderful dresses out. We had so much fun! After a good handful we finally found "The One". Now the whole reason of doing the destination wedding was to save money since we were paying for the majority of everything ourselves. After the shock of the price (which I'm sure happens to every bride, right?) I was torn on what to do. She was so understanding & and offered to sell me the sample dress I had on at an outstanding discount! After looking over the dress again and again there wasn't anything wrong with it. Just needed a good dry cleaning & hem and we were set to go! Sold!!!
From previous weddings that I have been in I had a bad experience trying to save money and getting my dress taken in somewhere else from where I originally bought my dress. So since this was my wedding dress I opted to get all the hemming done by their seamstress. God was she rude! I don't know if she really meant to be or if it was just the generation gap showing, I'm not sure. Let's see where do I start, I told her I just wanted the dress to be cut evenly all the way around because we were getting married on a beach and I don't want it to drag. She kept trying to talk me into bustling it, which was not what I wanted. Then she said with the layers my dress had it would look funny the way I wanted it and said we should cut a design into it, whatever that means! And to make matters even worse she would not let up on the comments about my tattoos. Ok lady not to be all bridezilla on your ass but who is paying who here!? Enough comments from the peanut gallery & just do what I asked! In the end, she did what I wanted and it looked perfect!Listed in: Paradise Nuptials
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Review from Kasia R.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2006
I went here back in October... the website is very nice, upon entering the shop... they have some ugly bridesmaid dresses hanging around, but once you get past that, it's a cute little bridal shop. I think they only have 2 fitting rooms though, so you are probably better off having an appointment, which they suggest on their website.
Anyway.... the woman that was helping me was very nice,( i think her name was Marge, not sure though) I showed her the gowns that I was interested in, I brought some photos w/ me and she went to the back and brought them out for me.
It's a good idea to know what you are looking for before going to this place, they don't have any gowns out, except for a few that are up for show. I personally, did not like that, I would have liked to view more dresses.
Yes, they are very attentive to your needs, but I wanted some privacy, I felt like I was in and out of the dresses without really enjoying the whole experience. She stayed in the dressing room w/ me and my mom and I would have liked it better if she just went away.. hahha
I don't like when people are on my ass watching me the whole time.
They are on the expansive side, the allure dress that I am purchasing was over $200 more than another bridal shop I saw it in.
She wrote down the three dresses that I liked and didn't pressure me into buying right away, which was nice.
They do carry a lot of the high end bridal gowns though, so it's worth checking out if that is what you are looking for.
My suggestion is to call ahead to make sure they have your style of dress before going in.
Overall, they were very nice and I would recommend them to the brides that like a lot of attention during their appointment. -
Review from Molly A.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2011
A L'Amour was my last stop on my wedding dress hunt where I found the PERFECT dress, and I almost didn't end up going!
Mind you, this was my SIXTH bridal store (over the course of two days) I was agitated and frustrated after the fifth store and not finding anything after five stores..c'mon.. a friend of mine also had a bad experience with a consultant at A L'Amor (Renae) and recommended me not going at all, but I decided to go anyway (and I was pleased when I didn't get Renae), but Rhonda made it all worth my while!! :)
Rhonda is patient, pleasant and honest. She didn't tell me things just because they were things that she thought I may want to hear, and she made the process very comfortable. Rhonda explained to me that she would be by my side through alterations until I walk out of the store with the dress, which put me very much at ease. I can't wait to work with her again soon! -
Review from Jamie r.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2011
i found it to be very expensive. you told them a price range and that would be all they brought out..nothing lower.
super small selection for bridesmaids and moms. my mom found nothing she liked there -
Review from Candyce P.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2008
It's been almost a year since my wedding day but I have not forgotten one bit of its details.
My entire bridal party and I shopped and bought our gowns from Alamour. I had done my research on everything and knew exactly what I wanted and what I did not want. While I worked with almost all of the consultants for various things, my primary bridal consultant was Carmel. She also knew exactly what I wanted.
I ended up purchasing my absolute dream gown from designer Judd Waddell during his trunk show at the store. I got try on my entire "look" that day... from the shoes I ordered, to jewelry, to veils. The designer even sketched ME in my gown! Talk about a bonus!
It was only on that day (almost 9 months after already choosing a different dress) that I cried when I looked in the mirror. I finally felt like a real bride, and Alamour had everything to do with that feeling for me.
My bridesmaids and I had a blast picking out their gowns, and ended up with a beautiful Lazaro gown in Auburgine. Lovely fall color.
My flower girls got their dresses from Alamour, as did my Mum, and 2 grandma's.
We all had a wonderful time and experience at Alamour. They have the best selection by far, and a great variety of styles and price-ranges for every bride.
It's definitely worth a drive out to Barrington. You'll leave feeling like a bride on clouds! -
Review from Huicha K.
Wheeling, IL
10/21/2009
I went in hopeful due to all the reviews and things i've heard about this place but sadly i was disappointed. i told the consultant my budget and she didn't seem happy. next, she leaves me alone to pull dresses that i might like off the sale rack. then, she brings in dresses that are NOTHING like what I told her I was looking for. I mean, i said strapless and she brought me straps. i said, no ballgowns and she brings me a ballgown. WTF?! i made up an excuse and left the appt before the hour ended. shortest bridal appt EVER...in and out in 15 minutes.
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Review from Julia K.
IL
7/20/2009
Meh. I came here because I really like Pronovias dresses. Despite having a Pronovias trunk show that weekend, they had none of the dresses I liked at this store. I was very detailed in what I wanted when I talked to my bridal consultant, and it became obvious very quickly that they didn't have that type of dress in this store. However, she kept bringing dresses for me to try on. She was super friendly and patient, but I think she should've quit when she could tell that I wasn't interested in anything instead of bringing out dresses I didn't like that were $1000 over my budget.
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Review from Amanda A.
Evanston, IL
12/11/2007
The nice thing about A L'Amour is that they have a great selection - but you definitely feel when you are there as if the sale is more important than your happiness. I think it's great when places ask your budget but then it's really disappointing when they bring you dresses that are above that - people usually have a budget for a reason. They had the most options of any place I've been but I didn't leave with any strong feeling about my experience other than what I expected - they were helpful, but not overly accomodating to my actual needs and restrictions. They are a busy place - so definitely expect to be held to your time limit.
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Review from Jennifer F.
Highland Park, IL
8/11/2011
I love this shop! I got my wedding dress, veil, bridesmaids dresses and mother of the bride dress here. My consultant, Emmy, was extremely helpful. She found the perfect bridesmaid dress and went out of her way to help in any way she could. The seamstress was easy to work with and made my fittings a painless process. Thanks to the entire staff for making this part of the wedding a very easy thing!
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Review from Elise K.
South Bend, IN
9/8/2008
Best service by far of all the bridal shops I visited. I described what I liked to the consultant, and she brought three dresses out. One of them was exactly what I wanted, and is what I ended up buying. They offer a small discount (I think it was 10%) if you buy the day you come in to try. Dresses here start at $1500 and go up to $7000 or something extravagant like that. Also have a good selection of shoes and accessories. And they have bridesmaid dresses upstairs (you need to make a separate appointment to see them) and they give you a discount on them if you also get your dress there.
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Review from Cat H.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2008
This was the first bridal shop I went to when looking for my dress - and it was great. Emmy was my saleslady and was really good about spending time talking to me about the various styles of dresses and explaining why certain dresses looked better on me than others. She even walked me through the various lengths of veils.
When you find a dress you like, they take you to a bigger mirror in natural light and do the whole veil and jewelry and shoe thing so you can really see what it all looks like.
I found their prices to be good - not great, but not bad.
They seemed to have a really good selection of a bunch of different styles/types of dresses. You got some pressure at the end (if you purchased by the end of the day, 10% off), but that was mentioned to me more in passing than really trying to give me the sale. -
Review from Maria G.
Cook, IL
10/30/2009
What a wonderful experience!
I can not believe the reviews that dis A L'amour but maybe they didn't work with Carmel. I called A L'amour because my little sister had purchased her prom dress from them and it was beautiful. The day I called they happened to have a Martina Liana trunk show and I decided to check it out. I was able to look at whatever dresses I wanted to look at and also rummage throughout the other racks as well. No one gave me any problems with it; in fact they encouraged it.
Carmel choose dresses she knew would highlight my assets and conceal the worst. I had been insulted and embarrassed at my last two appointments, so this experience blew everyone out of the water! It may be a little more than what you wanted to spend but it is abesolutly worth taking the trip out to Barrington to see the dresses. -
Review from Erica H.
Chicago, IL
3/1/2011
I specifically went to L'Amour because they were the only salon in the Chicago area that carried Martina Liana dresses and there was one specifically I wanted to try on. It just happened the day I went was also the day of the Watters trunk show so I ended up finding my dream dress (the Austin) sort of by accident. My friends and I saw the dress on the mannequin and I told my sales lady, Margie, that I wanted to try it on. As soon as I put it on and found out it was within my price range, that was it. So- I can't really say there was much involvement on Margie's part. It seemed like she thought I had already found THE dress at that point so she didn't really bring me anything else that was close to being a contender. I'm not sure I would have had any luck there if not for the trunk show. You are really at the mercy of the salesperson since none of the designer dresses are out on the floor, so if they don't understand exactly what you are looking for you might not get the best selection to try on. One comment on the customer service- when it came time for my dress to come in, I called the shop to check in and they told me it would still be a few more weeks. Then I got a message from them a few weeks later basically saying "we have your dress here- are you planning on coming to pick it up??", acting as though I was a deadbeat and hadn't come to get it. When I called back and said this is the first I had heard that it had come in, they said that they had left me a few messages which was a total lie- I have Caller ID on my phone and did not receive any calls from them. I think it was just miscommunication that someone didn't call me- which wasn't really a big deal since I had 6 months until the wedding. I just would have appreciated them owning up to it.
Listed in: Wedded Bliss
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Review from Lizzie H.
Crystal Lake, IL
8/5/2008
I am still in the midst of looking for the perfect dress. And I may have found it at A L'amour. So far I have been to several boutiques in Chicago and the suburbs. This place had the best service by far. Renee took her time with me and spent over two hours with me trying to find the perfect dress. And I think that she may have found it for me. Basically, A L'amour knows how to make a bride feel special!
Note: There are plenty of dresses under $1500, although they say that they start at $1500. -
Review from Susie J.
Schaumburg, IL
2/15/2010
YES! Ok, bridal shops can be crazy. There are deadlines, bridezillas, it's probably the most $ a girl will ever spend on a dress, you name it...
I shopped around by car and online. Next to this "Mercedes" dress I wanted terribly at HOB, I found one here at A L'amour Bridal Shop. It's less hectic cause it's smaller thus private. My consultant was flattering me which helped me get in the mood to find my dress. They have many styles and excellent couture labels. She let me browse with her and let my sis tag along. I wish I remembered her name...she has a lot of experience with bridal gowns and actually gets excited with you.
I purchased the one and only dream wedding dress, that beat the other slightly trendy dream dress on so many levels, and felt and looked absolutely stunning and timeless on the day of my wedding. I am so glad I fell upon this place and highly recommend you give it a try when looking for a gown.
They have accessories, prom dresses/evening gowns and flower girl dresses also.
Quick nightmare gone good: Upon a serious last minute alteration, A L'amour gave me this private number to this woman who's been altering dresses since 1964. I drove to her house in Long Grove and she cancelled some of her appointments to work on my dress since we only had two weeks left. She worked day and night, surgically taking apart and redoing a part of the dress that would not zip up. It had lots of lace, embroidery and beading in which it took an expert to accomplish this alteration without ruining it. I don't know how she did it but the dress fit like a glove!
This (alteration) woman's house is so cool, half of it's a bridal shop. She even has fitting rooms, swarovski and other jewelry display, and there's just lots of white everywhere. She sells, alters, and even makes her own wedding gowns. Definately paid her what she asked for, yikes, and considering the night and day work she had to do at the last minute, I didn't complain and even tipped her for a job well-done.
Tip: I didn't see bridesmaids dresses so call incase they got some "treasures" in. Make your appointment first thing in the morning when the consultants' energy levels are up, and haven't helped many before you.
