Lisa is AMAZING! I emailed her for an appt and I got a confirmation same day for an appt 4 days later. She was super welcoming when I arrived. She asked me what I like/my fit/size, etc. After a brief discussion on what I was looking for, she went to the back, and came out a few minutes later with 6 dresses to try on. They were all so beautiful! I ended up falling in love with the FIRST one I tried on! Bought it then and there. Lisa followed up a few minutes after I left with all the alteration information I needed. Lisa was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and an all-around pro. I'm so happy I went here for such an important purchase. read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things aboutVanessa's Modern Bride, specifically Lisa! I had been feeling discouraged in my search for a wedding dress and was starting to think I might never have that "this is the one" moment. But then I met Lisa, and everything changed. From the moment we met, she was warm, kind, patient, and genuinely excited to help me find something that felt like me. She listened to what I liked (and what I didn't), and with her incredible eye and expertise, she helped me find the most perfect, stunning, and unique gown that was well in my humble budget. I finally felt that magical excitement I had been waiting for! Lisa made the whole experience not only easy, but truly joyful. I left feeling confident, beautiful, and so grateful. If you're lucky enough to work with her, you're in the best hands. Thank you, Lisa, for making such a special memory even more unforgettable! read more

Lisa the owner who helped me was amazing! She picked out the most perfect dresses and stayed within my budget. I couldn't ask for a better experience than the one I had here! I would recommend any bride to be to stop here and try out her dresses. They are all so gorgeous! read more

Lisa the owner was amazing and brought out perfect gowns for my daughter to try on. She was professional and experienced, great to work with! I highly recommend this shop! And it was so cute and cozy inside! The gowns were all well priced for my budget. read more

So, I just got married last week. I had an amazing time but was not happy with my dress. The store itself was good but they sent me to get my dress fitted by their seamstress, Dorina. She was nice and all, a little weird to go to her house. Would have preferred to go to the store because her husband was there. Just a little awkward. Anyway, she made my dress way too tight. She said that's how it has to be. My back fat was pouring out of my strapless dress. I feel like she could have made it just a bit looser there. I even called her the week of my wedding asking if she can loosen it but she said she wouldn't because it wouldn't fit right. She said it looked beautiful on me and it would be like that on everyone. I didn't want to question her work but at the same time I should have. On top of that, my dress was a 2 piece. The skirt always fit just right. Well, for some reason she took that in, too. Without letting me know. Thank god it still fit on my wedding day. I wish I would have taken it to a different seamstress because I feel like they would have done a better job and I would have felt even more beautiful on my wedding day. I would never go to Dorina again nor recommend her. You also have to pay her in cash, which seems kind of sketchy to me. If I would have known all of this I wouldn't have gone to her. But, you trust where you buy the dress and where they tell you to go. Shame on the store for doing that. If they're going to do that she should be working out of their boutique and not out of her house. Also, my sister bought her matron of honor dress through them, took her measurements and ordered it too small and she thinks they ordered the wrong dress. Just a bummer but at the end of the day we enjoyed ourselves. I would have felt even more beautiful on my wedding day if my dress wasn't so freaking tight, though. read more

We went to Vanessa's because we had gone to another shop that didn't carry a brand of bridesmaid dress we were looking for. Initially they were very helpful and we found a dress we fell in love with! The dress was $250 which is pretty pricey for a bridesmaids dress. We did some research online and found out the suggested retail price is $218, and House of Brides Couture has it on sale for $174. We contacted them with this info asking simply what they could do for us. We weren't expecting them to give us the $174! At the very least the $218! Mind you we have 10 bridesmaids! That's a lot of business! She rudely told us she would not price match and she would cancel our next appointment if she did not hear back from us. We replied saying we wanted to support her small business and not go to a big chain and was just hoping we could get the price down to around $200. SHE NEVER RESPONDED! We called two other small boutiques (small local businesses) both offered the same dress for $218 and 10% off because we are buying 10 dresses! We will be going with one of those small boutiques! Support small business but not a place that's going to rip you off! Do not go to this place! Price gougers!! read more

I got married in November 2019 and had a great experience at Vanessa's Modern Bride. I had never been dress shopping with friends and wasn't sure what to expect. Lisa and her team were so helpful - giving me lots of options in my price range and timeline (since I was getting married in exactly 6 months). I had an appointment with another dress shop afterwards but didn't need it because I found my dress on my first time looking at Vanessa's! The one I found fit so well, I ended up buying that exact dress and they gave me a discount. The decor inside is very pretty, and great pictures/viewing with friends and we even byob'd to take some of the nerves out of dress shopping. I got my alternations done there as well and everything looked great on my wedding day. read more

Vanessa's Modern Bride - Bridal Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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The big day has almost arrived, and I am SO pleased with my experience at Vanessa's. Three fittings later, my sample sale gown fits me absolutely perfectly, and Dorina - the seamstress - created the most amazing and unique bustle - I will for sure post some pics! Dorina is a real perfectionist and sweet as can be - I felt like my dress was in very good hands. During every visit to Vanessa's, they made me feel special and taken care of - the customer service here is something you certainly won't find at a larger shop. The flat fee of $375 for alterations (including pressing) is a real steal according to some other brides. My mother will be picking up the dress on the day before the wedding since I don't have anywhere to keep it without my fiance seeing it! I'm excited about so many aspects of the wedding, but wearing that amazing dress is right up at the top of the list! :) Ladies, Vanessa's is not to be missed in the great gown search. Unparalleled customer service and an excellent seamstress make for a flawless experience. This bride is so happy! read more

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Wow. Just wow. What a wonderful experience and what a gorgeous dress selection! When I got engaged, my mother and I headed over to Vanessa's to check out the selection. Prior to Vanessa's we had looked at David's Bridal and House of Brides. When we got to Vanessa's we were shocked. First of all the atmosphere itself was just lovely and quaint. Exposed brick walls and an intimate feeling. There weren't 10 other brides trying on dresses. They allow 1 bride to try on dresses at a time which made it feel that much more special. It's a very adorable shop!!! The quality of the dresses really blew us away. They weren't even comparable to those at David's and House of Brides. I *think* Allison was the lady that was helping us find/try on dresses and veils. She was amazing. We loved working with her and she really knows her stuff. We felt like we could totally trust her! I tried on lots of dresses and liked them all. Everything was gorgeous and high quality! I finally tried on a dress that was totally NOT what I had in mind and BAM! Fell in love. Didn't want to take it off. LOVE! I actually stood there on the little pedestal thing screaming and fist pumping. The dress was more beautiful than anything else I had tried on or even had in mind. I felt so beautiful. And it actually hurt my heart to have to take it off. Seriously. I fell in love. With a dress.... Alterations was actually a fun process!!! Sylvia does their alterations and wow does she do a great job. She really wanted me to be happy. I was a total pest at times, calling and leaving voicemails that the more I think about it I think I want to tweak this or that and can I squeeze in another alterations appointment? They were SO accommodating!!! We changed the neckline a little bit and had it made into more of a sweetheart. We added straps which really in my opinion made my vintage inspired dress look even better. The straps didn't look like they just stuck some random straps on the dress (which had been my fear). They looked like they were always a part of the dress. They took the dress in just as I wanted to give my butt some shape and helped me find the perfect veil. I honestly LOVED all the people at Vanessa's!!!! Sylvia truly did a FANTASTIC job with the alterations and she wasn't happy until she knew I was happy. Allison did a wonderful job of helping me to find the perfect dress and veil and even earrings to wear on my wedding day. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I LOVED my dress and I truly felt gorgeous on my wedding day! I would highly recommend Vanessa's to any bride! LOVED MY EXPERIENCE AND MY BEAUTIFUL DRESS!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! :) read more

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Disclaimer: I did not end up buying my dress here but that was due to geography (I live in a different state) This shop was willing to go above and beyond to meet my needs. As I stated, I live out of state but my wedding is in Chicago. Vanessa's was willing to have an employee come in on a day they are not scheduled to be open to accommodate my travel schedule. They were incredibly easy to get in contact with and were willing to help in anyway they could. I'm sad I wasn't able to do business with them, their costumer service was impeccable. read more

To give some back story about wedding dress shopping, I had gone to one other bridal salon before going to Vanessas Modern Bride and it did not go well. The first stores dress selection was sub par and left me feeling hopeless. However all of that changed once I stepped foot Into Vanessas Modern Bride. When arriving to my appointment Lisa greeted my mother and I with such kindness and warmth I couldn't help but feel comfortable around her. Her store was clean, organized, and so cute. After giving Lisa some details about my style preferences she pulled some dresses for me to try on. Let me tell you every single dress she had in the store was drop dead gorgeous. The ones I tried on matched what I had described and were above and beyond my expectations. Lisa clearly listens to her customers and is an expert at what she does. She was patient and understanding as I tried on dress after dress as I loved so many of them. Eventually I narrowed it down to 3 final dresses. She let me come back a few days later in order to FaceTime my friends in because of COVID-19. After the FaceTime call I selected my dress, and was so excited! Once my dress was selected she communicated to the designer on my behalf on some customizations I wanted done. I wanted to raise the back of the dress and line the front of the dress. I didn't have to do a single thing. She left me feeling so taken care of and all I had to do was wait for the dress to arrive. If I ever had any questions Lisa was organized, timely, and detailed oriented in her work. Every interaction I have had with Lisa has been amazing. When my dress arrived with the custom changes, which by the way were perfect, she was able to help me select a beautiful hair piece and veil as well. With her guidance and her expertise I feel as if my dress was truly made just for me and I can not wait to wear it. I can not say enough good things about my entire experience with Vanessas Modern Bride. I encourage every bride to be to stop in this wonderful store. read more

Drove 45 minutes to get to her shop. Once I get there she tells me she's been struggling to unlock the door for 30 minutes. Would've been nice if she didn't wait until I arrived to tell me. Wasted my time. read more

This quaint boutique has all the bones for a successful business: good selection, great location (with curb appeal too-- their window always looks so beautiful), and the appeal of the personalized experience of a small shop. However, it seemed as though the only way you'll get good customer care is if Vanessa so chooses. When I was in high school, I walked in to make an appointment try on a few Jovani prom dresses, and Vanessa was assisting a bride and was SO friendly and helpful, but was unbelievably rude to me (who was making an appointment... hello, future sale!!! Those dresses aren't cheap). I only then kept the appointment because I had my eye on 2 dresses in particular, and not every shop is able to sell the brand. When I came in for my appointment, the staff saw me (it's a tiny place), but I wasn't greeted. I eventually approached Vanessa, and she just walked away, grabbed her mother (who was working also) and told her to come "deal with me," just as rudely. Her mother was sweet and attentive, and I was beaming when I found the perfect dress. The excitement quickly flipped when I was changing back into my clothes and Vanessa, without any forewarning, threw open the curtains to my dressing room, exposing me to the main floor of the shop, suspecting that I was taking pictures with my phone. I could NOT believe how I was treated. I did buy the dress that very night... I called a different boutique in the area and ordered it over the phone, even though that one was twice as far from me. They seemed to appreciate the sale. read more

Although my dress was gorgeous. Unfortunately have to give 1 star due to service/experience. My dress was ordered 1 size down from my original measurements and due to that when it came in it would just barely zip- I could not even walk or move. Lisa stated that it was no issue and the Alterations lady would easily be able to take some out. The whole alterations process was by far the most challenging, stressful and difficult part of the entire wedding process. I highly recommend if you do get your dress here TAKE YOUR DRESS TO GET ALTERED ELSEWHERE! The last thing a bride needs is more dress during this time. Due to COVID alterations had to be done at the lady's house (Dorina). Dorina was a nightmare to work with. Extremely disrespectful from the start. As soon as I walked in I pulled out my phone to show her an inspiration picture of how I wanted to add cap sleeves to my dress and she sighed in disgust calling me a "millennial" and telling me to put my phone away. I told her the dress came in too tight and asked if she could let it out a bit so I can walk/sit in the dress and she basically said no she can't that's how the dress is is supposed to be form fitting. After leaving the first fitting I felt so discouraged and stressed I then went on to lose 10lbs in order to just try to fit into this dress. The second fitting I had to bring my mom along as back up and support and although I lost weight, the dress was still too tight to sit down in. After me and my mom spent 30 minutes arguing with Dorina she finally agreed to take it out a little bit. The whole payment process was very sketchy as well. She quoted me one number at the first appointment then tried to say she quoted me a different number when it came to the second appointment. Everything had to be paid in cash, no receipts or paperwork. Extremely unprofessional I wouldn't even call it a business. My dress was beautiful and after losing 15lbs I was able to fit into it perfectly however this shouldn't have to be the case when paying over $800 for alterations. I would have had a better experience at a dry cleaners and it would have been less expensive with comparable quality. Planning a wedding is stressful enough and the last thing you need is disrespectful, unprofessional vendors who won't comply with your needs. read more

A good friend of mine found her dress at Vanessa's for her Oct, 2011 wedding, and has had an outstanding experience with the salon. She is about a regular size 12, and had no problem finding dresses to try on. Some people might not be used to shopping at a boutique where the salesperson brings dresses to you, but it is their job (and skill) to find the right dresses for you! This isn't David's Bridal. My friend also said that the price range was much more reasonable here than in many of the bridal boutiques she tried in the city. I ordered my bridesmaid dress about a month ago, and also enjoyed meeting with the owner. I found out I was going to be in town and could only make it in on a SATURDAY and she had no problem squeezing me in. Unfortunately, I don't think they had any bridesmaid dresses that I could actually fit into...I am a normal size 16. But I had already looked online and picked a dress that I knew would suit my body type. I just wanted to look at fabrics and colors. 4 stars for a super cute boutique with great modern dresses and entertaining service, 1 off for lack of plus sizes in bridesmaid dresses. read more

Very cute shop, and Lisa there was amazing! Super patient, sweet and no pressure. Nice selection of dresses and they were super willing to go above and beyond to find a dress 1.5 months before my wedding. A really enjoyable experience! Highly recommend! Lisa read more

Lisa was AMAZING!!! She made me feel beautiful and excited and helped me find the dress of my dreams. I was initially nervous to go wedding dress shopping because I am a curvier girl - but Lisa made me feel right at home. Definitely come here if you are in the area! read more

I can't believe this place even has 3 stars. Absolutely horrible service. First of all, you can't order a bridesmaid dress until everyone has given their measurements. You don't get to try on a dress that might fit. Just A dress. They take your measurements and you hope for the best because there are NO REFUNDS. The dresses are unreasonably expensive. It was chiffon, come on. Over $250 for a dress that DOES NOT fit but again, no refunds. I am not a size 4, if you know what I'm saying, and have serious fear about these kinds of things. The sales person was so rude and not empathetic even when she saw me crying. Instead, she yells across the shop, "I need your deposit!" Therefore embarrassing me in front of all the other customers! Now everyone noticed I was crying. Never did she she say anything comforting. This was a traumatic experience and I strongly urge you to go somewhere else. read more

I had THE BEST experience at Vanessa's Modern Bride (and I went to 5 other places). Lisa is AMAZING! Listening to what I wanted in a dress, along with her own expertise and professionalism, she picked out so many beautiful dresses that I tried on... and loved! She was so patient in my decision-making process and at no point did I feel pressure to hurry my appointment or to pick a dress (this was so important and appreciated). I also completely appreciated her thoughtfulness as we tried to stay within my budget. I have already highly recommended Vanessa's Modern Bride and Lisa to friends and co-workers and will continue to do so. Lisa's level of customer service is something I never experienced before; she really was the perfect blend of personable, yet professional. Thank you! read more

I had the most wonderful experience with Vanessa's boutique. The dress was the first one I tried on and it fit my style and budget. Vanessa was so helpful and I loved the accessories that she helped me select. I have never felt prettier!!!! Dorina, the seamstress, designed the most amazing bustle that was easy and beautiful for my reception. A friend had recommended Vanessa's and I was so glad that I followed her advice and headed to Arlington Heights. I felt so special at every visit to Vanessa's and they were so excited for my big day! Their customer service is impeccable!!!! read more

I can't say enough nice things about my stylist, Lisa, and this shop! Lisa was so nice and helpful through the whole process. I'm so glad I found my dress here! read more

After two years I am finally getting around to rating my wedding vendors! I purchased my wedding dress at Vanessa's in winter 2006 (maybe it was early 2007), and worked with Lisa initially and later Vanessa. Lisa was an absolute pleasure to work with and made dress shopping a great experience. She listened to my vision (a simple lace dress) and helped me achieve that look: I got a beautiful, "me" dress within my budget. I appreciate the accommodations Vanessa made for me (I had surgery and started alterations really late) and was always impressed with their professionalism. I love the store, love the selection and love the staff -- all around wonderful! read more

I had such a great visit at Vanessa's! Lisa was absolutely amazing and the rest of the staff was so welcoming :) she gave me a great deal on the dress and it was such a perfect experience! The ambience is so dreamy and exactly what you picture when you think of trying on dresses! I definitely recommend you make an appointment!! read more

This boutique is nice, but their selection is really slim. Vanessa was the person that assisted me and she was super friendly until a ton of people came in without an appt., and I could tell she was really frustrated. I had asked who the designer was of a headpiece and she said she couldn't tell me unless I purchased it. I thought wow, if I was thinking of buying my dress there, I definitely wouldn't be buying one anymore. If someone wants to buy a headpiece off the internet, they'll find a way. And not telling them the designer isn't going to defer them. read more

BRIDES BEWARE!! Avoid this terrible store even though it's cute from the outside. They are just out to make money and do NOT care about happy brides. I've seen it first hand-- they are pushy and uncooperative. The tears aren't worth it ladies and sadly Sophia D. Is in denial. Steeeeer Cleeear my fellow yelpers!! read more

Vanessa's had great dress, but my experience there was not great. I felt like Vanessa was not listening to what I wanted in a dress. I told her I did not want specific styles, but she brought them out anyway. I tired them on to give it a chance. I did not like the styles and told her and she brought out more dressed just like them. It was so frustrating and I could not wait to get out of there. She also only carries dresses in really small sizes. I wear a size 8 in wedding dresses and she did not show me one dress that actually fit me. most dresses we couldn't even get over my hips. I left almost in tears. read more

Upon entering this boutique my daughter and I were excited in that we believed we would have great unique selections and some personalized service. UNTIL we ordered the dress, the same evening, only to get a call several weeks later informing us that the fabric and color of the dress that we ordered was no longer available and that we could take a chance order and see if we could still get it!!! WHAT???Order a dress and take a chance to see if they could still get the color and the fabric???????????Unbelievable It only proceeded to get uglier when they simply REFUSED a refund. The gentleman that claims to be a bus partner not only speaks very little English, however, what he was able to spit out very well, was NO REFUND!!! He continued to hang up on me 3 times as I explained to him i need my money back until we could make a decision. He continued with NO REFUND and hung up again. I am out $1200.00 and they simply won't budge. How does someone do business with an owner that has no intention of even attempting to accept responsibility and refuses to make things right!!! BEWARE GIRLS NO REFUNDS ...EVER read more

Horrible, horrible experience. This was suppose to be one of the best times for me and it was horrible! I guess since Im not a size 2 the worker didn't think she had to help me. I tried a dress on and she sat behind her desk drinking her coffee. I stood there with holding my dress up and she didn't help me at all. I ended up leaving after 2 dresses since she refused to help. I wouldn't buy anything from this store. read more

I tried on wedding dresses here and had a really positive experience. The staff was friendly and pulled many different styles for me. I did not end up getting my dress from here, but I thought the selection was good and the personal service was great. They also made sure my sister who was with me, feel a part of the day and asked for her input on dress styles. It was really nice. read more

I went to Vanessa's Modern Bride because I recently got engaged and live in the area. My mom and maid of honor were out together, so we thought we would stop by. The store is very cute, and you come out of the dressing rooms and show off the dresses in the store. It makes you feel special and the pictures look great because it's in a store (and not a small dressing room). The lady who helped me also went above and beyond letting me try on any dress I wanted - she picked out headpieces, veils and different sashes to go with all of the gowns. The selection isn't big, however, and they seem to have a lot of older dresses. I was disappointed that there weren't a lot of dresses in my budget (~$2000), and that the person working with us didn't know the designers. If the dresses are that expensive because they are designer - you should know what they are. They were really rude to my maid of honor who was helping to ask questions about the dresses and write down what we thought. At one point she dropped her pen and the lady snapped at her. Overall, a good experience - but I am definitely not going back. I would still suggest brides check it out if they have extra time. You might find a dress there you haven't seen elsewhere, and the seamstress they had at the store seemed really good at making alterations to dresses to get a different look. They had a whole book of pictures of the different modifications brides made with their designer dresses (such as shifting the sleeves, taking in/out the pick ups, etc). read more

I have been going here for about five years for dresses for occasions ranging from prom, formals, cocktail dresses and most recently with a friend for bridesmaids dresses. service is always great as long as you have an appointment and know what the price range is before going. most of the dresses are not on display so being specific and doing your homework before you go will save a lot of time! read more

I searched all over for my wedding dress, and I found it at Vanessa's! Vanessa and her mom run the shop, so, no matter what, you are getting the very best service! The selection of dresses was phenominal, and the prices of the dresses were very reasonable! We had even seen some of the same dresses at other boutiques in the area for a higher prices than the ones that were listed at Vanessa's! I was also able to order my bridesmaid dresses through the shop, even though I found the dresses elsewhere, Vanessa gave us the best price around! I cannot stop raving about how great of an experience it has been to shop at Vanessa's! She makes looking for, and finding a dress a fun and easy going experience! read more

I went to Vanessa's because my step-sister got her dress there and highly recommended it. That was back in 2008 and they had a much larger selection than they do now. Also, the dresses were quite dirty and ripped. I was disappointed in the limited selection, especially for girls who are not a size 6. read more

Great experience! Great customer service. Store was clean and ascetically pleasing. The bride loved her dress and I love my bridesmaid dress. read more

I'm just going to state the facts: you make up your own mind. On March 26th I ordered a dress and gave Vanessa's a $300.00 deposit. In June I started calling asking where the dress was. My name and number was taken, they said they would call back and look into it. Two days later, no call. Called again. Got the same line. No call back. Called a 3rd time and got the same line, "call you in 10 minutes." No Call. Went in the next day and found out my dress was never ordered until 5 weeks after I gave them a check to do so. Had to resort to buying another dress somewhere else and was told I couldn't have my money back!! Now do you really want to deal with crooks who make mistakes and won't own up to them? Wedding dresses are a very costly, time sensitive venture. It's best to deal with people who are honest. read more

Working with Vanessa and her staff was a wonderful experience! So friendly, professional and helped me find exactly what I was looking for. The selection is smaller but very beautiful and unique. You won't see the same dresses that every other store carries. The seamstress is extremely talented and takes a lot of care in each of the dresses she works on. read more

My mom and sister-in-law (one of my bridesmaids) made an appointment to go look at bridesmaid dresses for my upcoming wedding. I couldn't go, because I had to work. We all thought the dresses were beautiful both online and in-person. First of all, while sitting they overheard a conversation where the sales person told the other woman on the phone to call back when she planned to "double " her expense for the dress she was interested in. Not very well received and it came off as very abrupt. Then, after trying dresses they loved they wanted me to come see the dresses so I could make a decision between their two favorites. When my mother called back to come in again to show them to me (with the thought of making a purchase between the two) she was told we could only come in on a Saturday IF we purchased. My mom stated that she thought we had come to a decision between the two, but it was dependent on what I (the bride) thought. In response, she was told that I had to come in on a Tues or Thurs between 6 and 8pm. There was NO getting around it, even though the weekend was the only time we, the customers could come in. I felt, as we all did, that we loved what we saw, but hated the attitude. We will go to Oakbrook and purchase our dresses. Too bad the customer comes last. They lost our business. read more

Dresses start at $1500. Service was friendly/helpful. Uncomfortable with the fact that they do NOT tell you who the maker is untl you've purchased the dress, and that they bring the dress to you instead of you seeing all that's available. read more

I would never recommend this place to anyone looking for any wedding/bridesmaid/prom dress. They did not have a large variety of dresses and were extremely over priced. The sales women are pushy and not kind to plus size women. read more

Bride beware! This was the worst experience of my life! I had an appointment with a lady named Lisa. She was absolutely terrible, extremely insulting and totally unprofessional. Also her attire was totally inappropriate for her age. I can't believe they would hire her to be a bridal consultant. Stay away! read more