I had a wonderful experience working with Carla and absolutely loved my Vwidon wedding dress! I actually had a nightmare situation where a tailor ruined my original wedding dress that was vintage, so less than two months before my wedding I had to find a new one. I chose a sample from Vwidon and I am so grateful Carla was able to have it perfectly tailored to me within the short time frame. She even made the most gorgeous veil to go with it. I received endless compliments and felt so beautiful. I am so happy that I believe it all worked out the way it did for a reason, and this was meant to be my bridal look. Carla not only has amazing taste and is an amazing tailor, but is so professional and kind. I cannot recommend Vwidon enough! read more

Vwidon - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I found my wedding dress here and it's amazing selection and Carla takes such good care of you. Great value.

Vwidon is the best!! I came to Vwidon after going to all of the Gold Coast bridal boutiques, and Carla's intimate, clean, calm bridal atelier was a breath of fresh air! Carla designs all of her own gowns, and does a lot of custom work as well, combining elements of her original designs. I ended up deciding on a custom gown, which Carla sketched and then designed, exactly as I described it. I was amazed at my first fitting how attentive to every detail Carla was, and how she really brought my vision to life. She is a thoughtful, calming, and extremely thorough designer, and she has a great eye. I'm super happy with Vwidon, the custom dress process has been so special, and I recommend Vwidon to anyone looking for a classic, timeless, less blingy style, with beautiful fabrics. read more

Vwidon - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walking into Vwidon after visiting 3 bridal boutiques was a breathe of fresh air. The experience itself is very different - I believe it's one appointment at a time, there is a great - but manageable and uncluttered selection, no tacky dresses, it's impeccably clean (shoes off, no food/bev) and they take the time to make the sample making the sample size look it's best on you. Vwidon dresses are designed by a wife & husband team. Unless you buy a sample dress, each dress is made IN Chicago and they will customize the dresses for you to the extent possible. Adding belts, mixing tops/bottoms, changing fabrics, etc. The fabrics are amazing and the dress designs are incredible. You won't find a ton of lace or sequins. There are both classic and contemporary designs, but they are more elegant and clean than fussy. The bodices seem to be pretty structured inside (and very flattering). They have most of the dresses on their website - I recommend checking it out before going to confirm it's your style. I had 3 or 4 fittings and Carla did a great job keeping pace with my weight loss. I was so pleased with how the dress turned out and received tons of compliments about both the design and the incredible italian silk garza. The fabric was really unique and stunning in person. The only real negative was that the bustling was fairly complicated - I wish we'd had better notes and pictures. I think something written from Carla would have been best. My bridesmaid took some pictures and notes, but it still took 4 of us 15 minutes to bustle - and it was the wedding planner who came by and finally got it figured out. Thank you to Carla and Kenneth for such an amazing dress! read more

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Carla and her husband Kenneth have an incredible eye for sweeping architectural lines and refined elegance, infused with creativity. They have a range for any modern bride, and after going to multiple bridal stores in Chicago and finding some dresses that were "okay" -- I felt like Vwidon was a treasure trove for dresses that were just my taste. Carla worked with me throughout the pandemic and a long delayed wedding where I changed my mind and actually went with a second dress from their collection. They can do bespoke -- mixing and matching with any bottom or top within their collection, but I got a ton of compliments from guests and my wedding vendors on my one of a kind dress which was largely unchanged from the sample I tried on. Fittings were easy and Carla was great to work with. Highly recommend! read more

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I walk down this street a few times a week yet have never noticed this bridal store. It's funny how bridal shops seem to be on every corner ever since getting engaged a few weeks ago. And of course I feel the need to check them all out...including Vwidon this afternoon. Vwidon is located between a heart scan office and brite smile. Finding the entrance to this bridal shop proved to be very tricky- it took us about 10 minutes to discover the hidden elevator that leads up to the shop! Once inside we were told we had to make an appointment (which seems to be the case with every bridal shop). I took a few minutes to glance around and was impressed with what I saw. The owners of this store, Carla & Kenneth, design all the gowns and they are very talented! Most of the gowns I looked at were under $3000. These gowns are a bit contemporary for me (I have my heart set on the princess ballgown), but highly recommend for all those modern brides out there! read more

Vwidon - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First off I want to say that Vwidon is a diamond in the rough. Its a small boutique with two in house designers that make some of the most gorgeous gowns (not over the top) I have ever seen. My sister found the shop when I told her I wanted to go dress shopping and we couldn't get some of the dress shops to return our phone calls. Carla responded to her right away and told my sister to have me pick dresses on their website I wanted to try. When we arrived she had pulled my choices already into the fitting room for me to try. She helped me into the first dress I wanted to try on and I was immediacy in tears! The dress was perfect and everything I was looking for. I wanted to add straps to the dress and Carla showed me what that would look like which was really helpful even though I hadn't decided to buy the dress yet. We went to another shop for another appointment and the whole time I could not stop thinking about that dress. My sister called Carla back and even though she had a busy day she let us come back and try it on and I put down a deposit right then. After that everything fell into place, we had my second and third fitting. Carla was very great about working around my schedule for appointments. I also had two separate pairs of shoes so she created 2 different length bustles for my dress so that I could wear either shoe which was amazing. The dress turned out so perfect, I got so many amazing complements at my wedding a few weeks ago. I am so thankful that my sister found this shop and Carla. Carla is a rockstar!!!! read more

Vwidon - January 5th wedding with Vwidon dress- Colleen D - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So happy I bought my dress here! The other reviewers are right: if you're looking for a classic but beautiful dress made with unmatchable fabric quality, this is the store for you! Carla is a genius and you can tell she really takes pride in her work. For example, I asked if I could take a picture of the dress I ended up buying, and my associate asked Carla. Not only did she allow it, she actually posed me, positioned the dress so it would look its best, and took the pictures FOR ME. Amazing service! Also, they really encourage you to buy sample dresses and accessories to save you money, something I've never encountered anywhere else. With that, I saved at least 1,000 dollars! Only thing to know: bring your own strapless bra, they don't have any for you to use at the store. GO TO VWIDON! You won't regret it. read more

Got married 3 weeks ago at a resort in Cancun in one of Vwidon's dresses. High level summary: Highly recommended. Make sure you make Vwidon a stop of your bridal dress shopping rounds - you won't regret it. The dresses: Classically gorgeous, with the highest quality materials. No beads, sparklies, or excessive ornamentations. Carla is incredibly talented, and whatever style dress suits you best will look absolutely flattering on you. The one I ended up with waves very prettily in the ocean breezes... Simply perfect. We checked it 3 other places and 20+ other dresses, and none came close to multiple dresses Carla had. The cost: Surprisingly reasonable, given how high quality the dresses are. Included in the costs are personal attention from Carla to ensure the dress fits your height and size best. The service: Amazing. Carla and her crew make you feel so special; they are very personable and truly are focused on making you look and feel the very best for your big day. I would choose Vwidon all over again if I could! These guys make your bridal dreams come true, and will absolutely put a smile on your face. Go now! read more

Vwidon - Carla's incredible dress looked amazing in the ocean breeze! - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went to several shops in Chicago for my wedding dress and was really disappointed--until I found Vwidon. Carla's dresses are stunning, the fabric is beautiful, every detail is perfectly done. My experience could not have been better. I had four months to find my dress and Carla didn't flinch about finishing it in time. Carla is one of the owners; she is the person who helped me try on dresses and she is the one who actually sewed my gown. It makes such a big difference to have a gown made specially for you and not just a made to measurements dress with alterations afterward. As Carla was sewing the dress, I would come in for fittings and she would make adjustments along the way. My dress fit like a glove, I felt beautiful in it and I would recommend Vwidon to anyone! read more

Vwidon is amazing. If you want a structural, beautifully tailored wedding dress this is where you should go! I knew the second I started trying on dresses that this is where I'd purchase my dress from. Their fabrics and styling are just miles above what other places are doing, and it is so wonderful to work with the designers directly. I've had the pleasure of working with Carla and she has been nothing short of phenomenal. She asked for a list of which styles I liked in advance of my first appointment and had everything pulled and waiting for me when I walked into the store. I tried on one beautiful dress after another, but realized that none was exactly the vision I had in mind. So I showed her a few ideas and she worked with me to sketch out a custom dress that fit every single requirement I had. I put a deposit down on the spot and walked out with a huge smile on my face. I've now been working with Carla for months and am almost to my final fitting. The dress turned out beautifully and I can't wait to walk down the aisle in it. I've heard so many people complain about their dresses being too heavy and/or uncomfortable and my dress is nothing like that it. It is so light and comfortable, and will be a pleasure to wear all day at my wedding. If you live in Chicago (and even if you don't) you should definitely come see Carla at Vwidon! read more

Vwidon - Zachera Wollenberg Photography - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a vision for my wedding dress and Carla made it come true. I went to 11 different places and thought I would never get that feeling! The second I described what I envisioned, Carla brought me three dresses that were amazing. The dress I went with was strapless, I wanted sleeves and Carla made detachable sleeves for me in no time. She was patient and allowed me to come back and try on for several family members! She helped me pick out jewelry and a veil when I was indecisive. Thank you Carla! read more

I found my dress at Vwidon after a whirlwind day of dress appointments, and I knew as soon as I tried on the first dress there that I would find one at Vwidon.  Every one of the dresses is beautiful and you can see the level of thought put into each one.  I had tried on about 60 dresses elsewhere, never finding quite the right look as I wanted something that really spoke to my personality and was classic and timeless without being boring.  I found that in white silk organza dress that Carla re-imagined for me with a slight trumpet skirt and a bow in the back.  I also got my ribbon-lined veil at Vwidon, and it was the perfect complement to the dress.  Alterations with Carla were so easy and stress-free as well. I felt beautiful all day on the wedding day and am so grateful to Carla for making the process so easy and low-stress. read more

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Went to Vwidon to try on wedding gowns. A lot of people that I know purchased a dress here so I gave it a shot. Most of the dresses were about $3k. The great thing was that you were able to walk through the store and pick out dresses that you wanted to try on. While the dresses looked great on my friends, these dresses just didn't look good on my body. While the saleslady was definitely helpful in getting me in and out of the dress, the designer watched the entire time and was a bit awkward. The designer didn't say anything to us other than adding up the costs of the dress. I think it would have been easier to do the appointment without her. read more

Beautiful custom dresses!! Being very petite (just a smudge under 5 feet tall), it was soo difficult for me to find the right wedding dress. I wanted a simple, elegant design that was NOT poofy. I made the appointment to Vwidon based on a friend's recommendation and fell in love! Carla (the owner/designer) has beautiful dresses and she will custom make the dress to fit you and your style perfectly. Impeccable service and beautiful work. There is no need for seperate alterations. I even had her do my veil (she will give you a discount). Overall, I had the best experience here and would highly recommend this to any bride who wants a clean, modern, sophisticated look! No frills or poofiness here! read more

This is a TRUE couture dress, made especially for you and your measurements. All of the other dress designers claim you're getting a couture dress, but then buy a stock made dress to your largest measurements and then have to have expensive alterations to size down what is too large. So, for someone like me, I'd have to buy a size 8 for my hips and then tailor down my chest area to a size 2, which completely changes the style of the dress. But at Vwidon, they create the dress to fit your measurements from the get go! The dress is truly made for YOU! They make someone with big hips like me look slender and feminine. I don't know how she does it, but I love it! I saved 20-30% by buying a dress off the rack, which really helped my budget. Her alteration fees are very reasonable, about half the price elsewhere! Plus, the alterations were done by the same person who made the dress... unlike the other bridal shops around the city who order the dress from the manufacturer and then have some random local person size down to what they think will be appropriate. One of my girlfriends bought her dress from Vwidon about 3 years ago, which is how I found out about her. You should defintely check out her bridal showroom! I love that I can say that my dress was made just for me and that I supported a local designer (who by the way, has won several bridal fashion contests). She used to be located on Oak St., which was nice that it was near the other retailers, but now that she's on Superior, parking is SOOOOO easy and convenient right out front her door. read more

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I tried Vwidon in search of the perfect wedding dress after a friend recommended them to me. I liked the idea that my dress would be specially made just for me, in whatever style or fabric my heart desired (based on their designs, of course). At first glance, I thought that I would fall in love with every dress in the store - exactly my style with lots of fabric detail and no beading. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. I probably tried on 15 dresses and wasn't happy with any of them - maybe I would have tried harder if they weren't $3000+, but for that price, the dress needed to make me feel like a super model. It's definitely worth a stop in if you're into fabric detail, but be prepared to spend some hefty bucks. I never met Carla or Kenneth, but the salesperson was really nice and as helpful as she could be. You have to make an appointment and you have to take your shoes off, so wear clean socks :). read more

These dresses are all stunning and very fairly priced. I was obsessed with Jenny Lee dresses but couldnt stomach the price. The dresses are very similar at Vwidon (modern and many have a fit and flare/mermaid cut) but with the convenience of having the designer there to fit it precisely to your measurements AND with a much more reasonable price tag. The service was also great. You can pick out the dresses you want to try on instead of having the saleslady guess your tastes. Plus, they actually encouraged me to buy the sample, which saved me an extra 20%! I would encourage any bride to check this place out soon! read more

Vwidon was my 3rd appointment after going to two pretty traditional salons in the Gold Coast. The other salons really didn't have what I was looking for within my budget, if they had it at all. I don't want lace or beading or anything else that can hide sub-par fabrics or poor construction. I want a very clean gown with an interesting design, and that exactly what Vwidon offered. Plus they are local designers! Their brides aren't wearing the same dress old dress being worn in New York or LA or Miami or any other city.They have a lot of beautiful, elegant, couture gowns. Carla (one of the designers) was also extremely helpful and attentive. Ultimately, I did not buy my gown here because I simply can't bring myself to spend $3500 on a dress for one day. I do however recommend this store to any bride who considers herself nontraditional and can spends a couple thousand on a dress. Vwidon will make her look amazing on her big day. read more

These are the most beautiful wedding dresses I have seen in Chicago. It is important to realize that appointment making is how they can deliver the best service possible These dresses exude class and sophistication and quality is everything. This is not your run of the mill bridal boutique. Handmade is why it is handmade! read more

I absolutely loved the dresses, the service, and the designer! Vwidon was the first dress shop I visited while looking for my bridal gown. I fell in love with one dress, but decided to look at several other dress shops to see if something better would crop up. It never happened, and I went back to purchase the dress I originally fell for. All of the gowns are made from high quality fabric. No beads, crystals, or ornaments; the focus is more on lines, creases, and artfully shaped fabrics. As a customer, you get the movie star treatment -- the original designer does both of your fittings, and tailors your dress to your body and height, while preserving the dress's original fashion statement. I bought the sample dress and a matching veil at a discount. Given the style and quality of the dress and veil, I felt that they were reasonably priced. I loved my dress, and couldn't have picked a better designer! read more

I went to this store because it was characterized as "modern". However, if I could attach any description of their selection, I would call it "simple." Generally speaking, I am your typical modern bride who is looking for something out of the ordinary. However, with all due respect, Vwidon just does not deliver. It does not deliver in either style, nor execution. If one believes that "modern" gown is the gown with a straight silhouette, made out of sparkly silk material with no beading or lace, then, I suppose, Vwidon is "modern." At the same time, if you expect to get a wow effect in your bridal gown, Vwidon's dresses will never deliver that. They are more suitable for a destination bride who is interested in having a fairly modest ceremony having no more than 30 people. In spite of the fairly simple styles Vwidon offers, their prices are not cheap. They are not super expensive either but one should expect to drop at least $ 2500 for a half decent gown. I personally believe that you can do much better for this money even in Chicago. read more

While in Chicago, I decided to check out the bridal shops there. I had the best experience at Jenny Yoo, followed by the worst experience at this place. The dress selection here is very limited, they don't allow you to take any pictures, customer service is non-existent and you may walk out of the store feeling very violated! After I arrived at my appointment, the associate (or owner?) Carla had me fill out a form. While I'm doing that, she started firing all these none wedding dress related questions like where do I live and what ethnicity am I. Then she told me to start picking out dresses to try and left the room. The dress selection is quite limited with little variations, so I was done in a few minutes. But I had to wait a long time for Carla to return. She did pass through the room I was in once to go into another room. I tried to catch her and ask questions, but she was really impatient and pretty much brushed me off. Then my experience went from not great to nightmare-ish once we moved on to the dressing room. Carla started knocking on the dressing room door right after I stripped naked, and started pushing the door open before I could even reply. When I told her I'm not ready yet, she waited about 30 seconds before starting to pushing really hard and basically forced her way into the dressing room. When I told her I would prefer some privacy, she scolded me by saying "this must be your first time, you just need to get used to this." I have visited 5+ bridal shops before this one and have never had anyone force their way into the dressing room. I have had associates helping me get into dresses before, and don't mind showing some skin during the process, but I feel really violated when an associate just barge into the room like that. While she's "helping" me into the dress, she proceeded to ask more personal questions. Again, nothing related to the dress, or what style of dresses I preferred etc. After I finally got dressed, Carla led me to a different room with mirrors. The room was dingy and the mirror is angles weird. It was really hard to see the dress well. When I asked if I can take some pictures to show my mom and friends, she told me no pictures are allowed. Then we went back to the dressing room, and Carla stood in the dressing room, waiting for me to undress, not even pretending to offer any privacy this time. In the end, I found THE dress at another place and can't be happier. But I want to write about my experience so others don't have to go through what I've been through. Wedding planning is stressful enough. No one needs to be treated this way on top of that! read more

When it comes to dress shopping for special occasions, I have always been a difficult customer. From homecoming, to prom, to formals, and graduations; I know what I'm looking for, I can't describe it, but I'll know it when I see it. So naturally, I had high expectations for my wedding dress. I went into wedding dress shopping with an open mind, but was discouraged after the first three boutiques I went to did not impress. I felt as though I would have to settle on a dress, and that my dream dress wasn't out there. I had a great feeling when I walked into Vwidon - the cleanliness, calming atmosphere (a nice change from the crowded and loud groups of women in other boutiques), and the high-quality/couture look of all the dresses on display. There is nothing better or that makes you feel more special than being able to work with the designer herself, Carla. Vwidon customizes the dress to your specifications. You can mix and match the bodice with the skirt or add sleeves/straps on any of the dresses. Their attention to detail is impeccable. For example, during one of my fittings, the hem was about 1/4 an inch too long so they decided it needed to be redone. They also calmed me down when I had mini panic attack and a last minute change a week before the wedding, and fixed it without hesitation. Vwidon prides themselves in their craftsmanship; making sure the dress is perfectly fitted and made specifically to your body type. Most importantly, during the entire process, the Vwidon staff makes you feel so special and comfortable, which gained my trust and allowed me to relax knowing I was in great hands! read more

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I had a wonderful experience with Vwidon. After shopping everywhere from David's to Gold Coast boutiques, Vwidon was a breath of fresh air. The showroom is quiet and very clean. The designer, Cala, and her team are helpful but give you plenty of space as you look. Other places pressured me to choose a favorite dress quickly, come back for another visit, or make a snap decision. Carla was in the store and helped me narrow down which dresses fit my style and price range. She even suggested the sample dresses as an option to make them more affordable. It was such a difference shopping there than everywhere else I looked! Carla is clearly an artist. The way she looked at me in the dress made me decide to buy from Vwidon. She looked at the dresses on me and gave me her honest opinion about how different fabrics looked on my skin tone, etc. I bought a sample / floor display dress in March. I went back for fittings 3 times, but I felt like the 3rd wasn't really necessary since the hem and fit were spot on the 2nd fitting. Vwidon shipped my dress for me. The dress was by far the easiest and most stress-free part of my wedding! I highly recommend Carla and Vwidon! read more

Vwidon - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a spectacular atelier with exquisite gowns! I purchased my wedding dress from Vwidon in the summer of 2018 and I actually had narrowed it down to about 5 dresses I really loved, but ultimately purchased one of them (only!:(( ). The decision was very hard, because the designs were all really, really good and the fabrics were amazing. People reading my review should know that I had spent almost a full year and had gone to a large number of wedding dress shops in downtown Chicago, and still could not find a great design made out of an equally great fabric until Vwidon. I wish I had found them earlier! And the atelier itself is spotless! Future brides and guests are asked to take their shoes off at the door and for a very good reason! The floors are clean which translates into spotless dresses! I had been to shops where the bottoms of all dresses were literally the color of mud! To have such a clean environment, just as Carla maintains hers, is a must! And Carla is an amazing, talented designer with such an impeccable feel for fabrics, designs and simply the geometrical flow of the gowns created with aesthetic balance between clean forms and accent elements. I just can't praise her enough! Highly recommend Vwidon! read more

After looking at virtually every bridal boutique in Chicago, I found Vwidon and it was honestly the best decision I made. She can custom make any dress using the highest quality fabrics at a very reasonable price. She is such a lovely person and truly cares about each one of her clients. If you are looking for a classic gown that will never go out of style, look no further. I will continue to recommend her to anyone and everyone looking for their dream wedding dress! Thank you, Carla! read more

Loved Vwidon! Loved Carla! Loved my wedding gown! It took me a few months to get to Vwidon after starting the search for my wedding dress. Once I got there...I was done. I really loved the more simplistic, yet elegant styles. Plus, I felt like I was wearing a couture gown made just for me (rather than a cookie cutter dress that was ordered in a size based on my largest measurement and then tailored from there). Vwidon was great to work with. She gives you a lot of personal attention and will make any adjustments you want (or need). She also helped deign a veil and shrug for my dress that I loved! My particular dress didn't have a lot of bedazzlement which tends to be her aesthetic. However, I felt like this achieved a more timeless look. I did dress up the dress with a bedazzled belt which gave me a little "pop" on the day of my wedding. Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Carla at Vwidon any day! She's such a calm and friendly person...which you need as you get close to the day of your wedding! read more

One of the most unique bridal boutiques I've ever been to! Vwidon is located on Walton street, away from the more commonly known boutiques on Oak Street, and is far more unique. Carla, the owner, is extremely nice, and makes gorgeous dresses. Very unique and very pretty. I would say this is geared towards the more 'contemporary' bride - one that does not want a big poufy frilly dress. So if you are looking for more modern dresses, give this place a try! read more

Carla did not just make my perfect wedding gown, she MADE my wedding day. I remember the first time I walked into her studio. There was no pressure, just sweet Carla and her hospitality. The first time I put on one of her gowns, it just FELT good. The way you always dream gowns should fit. As we talked about my vision she began building pieces of my dream dress with fabric before my eyes. I watched her talent come to life and she was so easy to trust. It was not about a sale or an order date, or what was trending. She listened and sketched my wedding gown in my presence. It was such a happy day. We chatted about different fabrics and she told me about her times at market all over the world. She's been doing this for nearly 20 years! Every time I visited her for a fitting, it was a happy day. I was never anxious because I had so much faith in Carla and her incredible gift. We made changes together, we added features together. We discussed the lines of the dress, how to care for it on the big day ... ways for the dress to change throughout my day to keep things REALLY interesting. She was such a wonderful listener as well. She'd give input and advise professionally with such taste and kindness. On our big day, I thought of Carla all day and had my phone been in my hand, I would have texted her all day - because she was that considerate. To open the lines of communication with her brides. Every bride should have the Vwidon experience. It was once in a lifetime! Simple, elegant and ONE-OF-A-KIND original gowns. read more

Magnificent custom wedding dresses. Designer Carla Hwang's brings attention to unique Bridal designs by using unique quality fabrics, and her skilled dressmakers delivers unparalleled service and design expertise in this speciality garment business! Truly her bridal gowns are each a work of art! read more

This was my first experience bridal gown shopping since I got engaged and it was a perfect start. Although I told them upfront that my budget was under their gowns (most dresses are around $2500-$3500) they were still completely helpful. Natalie was so nice and so great at suggesting different dress options. And there are many beautiful dresses in pristine condition that can be bought at 20-40% off (sample dresses). I tried on about ten dresses and really loved about three of those. They are great quality with interesting and unique styles. Highly recommend for an enjoyable experience for any budget. read more

Carla is my fairy godmother. Thank goodness for VWIDON! When I initially started my hunt for a wedding dress, my expectations were low at best. I wasn't going to be able to spend a lot on a dress, and even thought I'd have to end up with just simple white dress rather than a wedding dress. My best friend was just married last Fall so I knew the wedding scene in Chicago and how much I could expect to spend in order to get a dress that I would truly love. Unfortunately, I have expensive taste and new my pocketbook couldn't compete, so I just set my sights very, very low. Upon my MOH's insistence, I decided to go to a few bridal salons just to see what was out there. We found VWIDON on Yelp and decided to check it out hoping I might fit into a sample dress. At many salons, as soon as you breath the word "sample" the mood changes as though you've said something unforgivable. That was not the case at VWIDON. My best friend and I were treated so well by the staff. We had two very nice women helping me in and out of dresses and we were the only girls in the salon. I was very open about my budget limitations and that didn't impact the service that I received one bit. I was really given the bridal experience you see in the movies. And let me tell you...it is NOT that way at so many other salons. After trying on a several dresses, Carla (the designer) seemed to appear out of nowhere with a dress in hand. She had seen me try on another dress that was similar. She asked the attendants to help me into the dress and then appeared once again with a set of pins and silently went about adjusting the dress so it fit just right. She knew what she was doing in bringing out that option because the dress fit like a glove and was PERFECT! AND it was a newly finished sample! So, the girl that thought she'd end up with a plain ol' white dress, ended up with a stunning (I'm biased) and unique wedding gown that seems as though it was designed for me. It is elegantly simple, sexy and romantic. The cut is amazing and the details are in the draping. If you want a bedazzled dress or princess ball gown, this is not the shop for you. But if you want draping or fabric detail, a dress that feels as amazing as it looks, excellent service and a pleasant experience you must visit this salon! read more

I got married in my Vwidon gown in September. It fit me like a glove and looked much more expensive than it really was. I got so many compliments on it because it was so unique. Carla was fantastic to work with and even scheduled a last minute fitting 5 days before my wedding (stress got the best of me and my weight dropped). My only regret about the wedding being over is that I can't wear my beautiful dress again. read more

I found my wedding gown here and couldn't be more happy about it! I went to 14 (yes, I said 14!!!) places before finding my perfect gown here. I really didn't have high hopes for this place, it was out of the way where most of the other bridal stores are clustered together but I am so glad I made the trip! I didn't think the gowns were that exceptional just looking at them on the hangers, they are definitely more on the simple side which was not what I was originally after, but it was once I tried the first one on that I knew i had found the place! Carla really knows how to drape fabric just so to showcase your assets and make you look slim and feel truly beautiful. The fabrics were so more more luxurious than all the other stores I had visited and the dresses were soft and light. I loved how their sample size is a size 6 (I think this is really like a typical size 8 in wedding gowns). I am not super thin or anything but am pretty petite at 5'2'' and I was drowning in samples in other stores and those ugly clips could only do so much to help me envision what a dress could look like in my size. These samples ended up fitting perfectly. Yes Carla can be a little awkward but she is very nice and was willing to work with me to be able to buy a new gown rather than a sample gown and still stay within my budget. It was nice to have the actual designer doing my alternations and having the gown custom made to my measurements. She is more than willing to make adjustments to the gown as well. I had her add more tulle to the skirt and make a sweetheart neckline so it's really a custom gown just for me and for a really great price. We had some back and forth with the alterations but in the end, the gown fit me perfectly and I was really happy. I'm so glad I didn't settle for any of the other dresses. I know it's stressful to go to so many stores and you feel like you should just pick something already but you don't want to regret your choice so take your time and don't feel pressured by salespeople because it's not returnable! I didn't feel any pressure here and that made me comfortable to think about it and make sure this was the ONE (well, i found THE one, but the dress is pretty important too)! Good luck! read more

I bought my wedding dress here and everytime I see it I get butterflies. At first glance when I walked into the store, I thought the dresses looked a little plain. But there were a lot of selections (keep going towards the back) and there were enough different styles, colors and fabrics that I was able to pull a diverse set of dresses to try on. Once I started trying on dresses, I was in awe. They look so beautiful, classy, elegant and modern. The quality in the design and in the fabrics there really come out. Handmade at its best! I found THE dress, which I would have never thought would be the one. It fits me like a glove, makes me look beautiful and is made of Italian-imported satin. Ladies, add Vwidon to your list and make sure to make an appointment. They won't disappoint! read more

I found my wedding gown here... and I loved it so much I wore it twice! (we had 2 ceremonies.) We had appointments at a few other bridal boutiques, but after going to Vwidon first, we canceled everything else. Their dresses are gorgeous. I ended up purchasing the third dress I tried on. The service was extremely personal, but not intrusive. Carla let me really ponder and comment on each dress, without feeling like I needed to be nice to the designer (her). My dress was probably one of the more structured styles... strapless, modified a-line, satin silk. (it was about $3k, but no buyers' remorse!) read more

I cannot say enough great things about Carla (dress designer and owner of Vwidon). Vwidon was the first place I went to for dress shopping, and I fell in love with one of the dresses in the window. But wanting to make sure I didn't make an impulse decision, I proceeded to try on about 50 dresses at other bridal boutiques (yup, I was THAT girl). In the end, I came back to Vwidon and got an amazing deal on the sample for the dress of my dreams. Because it was a sample, I had to tailor the dress down several sizes, which proved challenging at first. That is why I'm so glad that I had Carla, the actual designer of the dress, handling my fittings. She was so patient with me as I tried to make decisions and make very subtle changes that I bet nobody else noticed except me. She even allowed me to come in for extra fittings to make sure that I was happy. In the end, I absolutely LOVED my dress and only regret that I can't wear it again! Even when I look at dresses at significantly higher price points, I think the end product of Carla's design and custom tailoring made her dress the best. I would not pick another dress, even if I had a limitless budget -- that's how much I loved it. THANK YOU, CARLA! (Also, the quality of the fabrics that Carla uses is AMAZING. If you look at dresses at a lower price point, you WILL notice a significant drop in material quality. The silk and organza that Vwidon uses is so fabulous and a great deal compared to how much other places charge for similar quality dresses). read more

I used Vwidon for my wedding dress last May. Not only are the prices reasonable compared to other downtown Chicago dress stores, but they design and produce their own dresses. Plus the quality of the fabrics is remarkable. I was able to design my dress based on some of the model dresses I saw in store. Carla and her crew are so talented, friendly, calm and inviting, it was such a pleasant experience. Their show room is very clean and open, and they only have one person fitting at a time so it is very personal. So happy to have purchased my dress from this wonderful dress maker! read more

I actually was going to buy my wedding dress from another boutique, but then went to Vwidon last minute. Thank goodness I found Carla and her wonderful, out of this world dresses! (Attention brides - if you want a truly elegant silk dress made in the US at about $3,000, look no further!). I went to 10 or so stores before Vwidon, including stores in West suburbs. They also have very clean, completely new-looking floor samples. The store is very large with 100's of wedding dresses to choose from. Carla is a gifted artist! My wedding was "last minute" at Trump Hotel (May 2016) and she made my gorgeous custom silk tulle / lace dress in 2 months. I received hundreds of compliments about my dress, and will have unforgettable memories! read more