Belle Vie Bridal Couture

I have not received my gown yet but so far I have had a great experience at Belle Vie. The consultant (JC?) was really friendly and incredibly patient and not at all pushy. She followed up with me since I did not decide on my first visit and told me about their trunk show which would get me 10% off the gown I really wanted. I even got to meet the designer and she showed me some gorgeous veils and helped me complete the look. I was having some trouble deciding since the price of the dress was a lot more than I am used to spending on anything let alone one dress but the owner talked to me and worked out a great deal on alterations to help me feel a little better about the final price. Their Vera Wang and St. Pucchi selection is amazing but if you're not into those designers I can see how some people don't think they have a great selection because I wasn't really feeling anything else in the store. I also liked that they let you browse because I hate sitting there waiting for someone to guess what I might like. Plus, if you're going to drop big bucks on a designer gown you might as well get the star treatment along with it and they are awesome at making you feel like you're their #1 Bride.

I had a very good experience shopping for my dress here. When I called to make an appointment, the person I spoke with seemed positively giddy that I was coming in! They schedule their appointments for 2 hours so you can spend one hour looking at Belle Vie and one hour at Vera Wang (they are owned by the same person). You don’t have to go to Vera Wang though and I didn’t because I didn’t want to fall in love with something out of my price range. I almost didn’t come in here because I had already seen 3 other dresses I liked at other stores, but I ended up finding my dream dress here. One week before my appointment, I was under a lot of pressure to make up my mind because two of the dresses I had liked at other stores had a limited time trunk show discount going on. I called Belle Vie to see if they even carried the dress I was most interested in and that was probably the one bad experience I had with the store. The person who I spoke with said there was no way she could possibly identify the dress from the description I was giving (I knew it was a Christos with polka dots and I even pointed out what page it was on in a major bridal magazine). I think she just could not be bothered to help. Finally she suggested that I email them a picture, which I did and my very sweet consultant Jenna called to say they did have that dress and that was the dress I ended up buying. They were able to squeeze me in to try it on 2 days before my appointment after the store was officially closed so I would not miss out on the trunk show discount if I decided to go with another dress. I expected that I would just try on that one dress, but when I arrived Jenna showed me all the dresses and let me try whatever I was interested in. I ended up trying on 5 dresses in less than an hour. Out of all the stores that I went to, I felt like this one was the most focused on helping you choose the right dress. They ask more than just what shape (ballgown, a-line, mermaid) you are looking for, they also ask about the style of your wedding, the venue, etc. They also asked me what other stores I had been to and what dresses I had liked there. At first, I thought this was weird and maybe they were trying to figure out how serious I was about buying, but now I honestly think they just do this because they want to know what you like about other dresses at other stores in order to help you find something you will like even more at their store. You can even show them pictures of non-bridal clothing you like and they will try to find something that matches your style.When I went in for my actual appointment (2 days after I had first come in), we arrived about 15 minutes early, so we looked at pretty much everything that was on the racks. One nice thing about this store is that all the dresses are out for you to view, so there is no guessing about whether they have what you are really looking for in the back somewhere. Jenna’s first appointment ran long and we were getting really antsy. The store is really small and there is hardly any place to sit and wait. The very sweet and fun owner, Amanda, saw our agitation and took us into the back room (where they store the bridesmaids dresses) and helped me into the gown that I had pretty much already settled on. Amanda also suggested a veil and hair comb that I ended up buying. They are very into building the total look, so expect to be offered a lot of accessories. I didn’t find it pushy though. I also looked at bridesmaids dresses there. You get a bigger discount if you buy the bridesmaids dresses on the same day as the wedding dress, so bring your bridesmaids with you! I could not commit to the dresses without talking it over with my bridesmaids. Unfortunately, when I called to make an appointment for bridesmaids dresses, they were not able to get us in on the days my maid of honor was coming into town. They tried though and even offered to let us come in before the store opened, but in the end we found the dresses elsewhere. It is really a shame they aren’t open on Sunday! My mom looked at mother of the bride dresses there, but they are custom made creations and were out of her price range.When my dress arrived, Jenna was again very helpful in getting me in last minute to try it on because I was going out of town. It sometimes took a day for them to return my calls. Belle Vie doesn’t do alterations in house, they send you to the Dress Doctor. The alterations were expensive ($550 in my case), but Belle Vie was upfront with how much they might cost. I loved my dress and am very happy I didn’t cancel my appointment!

I absolutely loved working with the staff at Belle Vie! My dress was beautiful, and when it came time for alterations (at Dress Doctor), they were accomodating and helpful. Jenna was my salesperson, and I couldn't have asked for a better dress-buying experience.

Jenna was outstanding to work with in helping me find a gown for my destination wedding that was going to be elegant, comfortable, and would pack well. I knew I could not have anything overly poofy and I was aware I was going to have to get my gown pressed after making 2 flights to our destination. Some of the other bridal boutiques were condescending but not Belle Vie!

i had a great experience when looking for my dress at belle vie, but once i found it, there were a few things that left me with a bad taste in my mouth.this started when i went to purchase my dress and was given a price that was over $100 more than what i had been told before. this wasn't a huge deal because it was just $100, but i felt like i was being cheap when i brought it up to them. also, i saw the same price that i was first given in a magazine, but when i asked about it i was told by belle vie that they don't honor editorial pricing. they also kindly reminded me that i received a discount on my dress (some thanksgiving promotion or something) which i was very aware of and appreciated but again felt cheap for bringing this up. not a huge deal, i just didn't feel like it was handled that well especially with all the money i was spending on the dress.next, belle vie doesn't do alterations or pressing but they are also not upfront about how expensive these two elements could be. when i gave them my budget at the beginning, i meant for it to include everything related to the dress. this may have been my fault for not being clear, but part of good customer service is being communicative and upfront about how much things are going to cost so customers aren't surprised in the end. belle vie recommends the dress doctor for alterations. my dress is not complex, no beading or lace at all. fairly straightforward. i went in for my first fitting and they said it was going to be $590 not including the bustier they recommended. i thought it seemed really high but i also didn't think there was an alternative so i paid the deposit. after having a minor breakdown when i got home and doing some extensive internet research, i found that $300-$400 was considered high for alterations, so the dress doctor price was exorbitant. and then, i found out that neither belle vie nor dress doctor press the dress and there was no way i could wear it without getting it pressed because it had been wrinkled in shipping. the place belle vie recommends for pressing charges $350! i realize that the pressing and alterations pricing are not belle vie's fault but they should give some sort of range so people know what they are getting into or provide alternative recommendations. the cost for alterations and pressing amounted to almost $950... craziness! i ended up taking my dress home and getting my alterations deposit back (thanks, dress doctor). i took it to a place in my hometown where my wedding is and a very experienced wedding dress seamstress is charging me less than $100 for alterations and pressing. it's a small town, so i know that you can't compare to chicago pricing, but the prices the two belle vie recommendations quoted were ridiculous.i know that belle vie prides themselves on customer service, but i actually felt that it seemed forced and disingenous most times i went in. and the fact that i had no idea that i would be charged close to a grand for alterations and pressing (two required processes) is a problem.i will be giving some serious tips and warnings to anyone i know who is considering dress shopping at belle vie in the future.

this is where you want to go for the experience. jenna was lovely and professional. i felt special and pampered after going into it feeling a little awkward. i wasn't feeling too pretty that weekend but by the time i left i felt like a princess. its the perfect mix of professionalism and a dream/spa like experience. it's what wedding dress shopping should be... no pressure, enjoyable... in short heavenly.

I had a wonderful experience with this store. Although my dress was very expensive it was absolutely worth every penny. I had excellent service every step of the way!

Belle Vie was truly the best bridal shop I had ever been to! They are so friendly and accommodating at this very stylish and chic boutique and treat each customer so nicely! I bought my gorgeous Reem Acra gown there and we also got my mother's Amsale gown, all of the bridesmaid Amsale dresses and the oh so cute flower girl dresses. They all turned out soo elegant and sophisticated! I would honestly recommend this shop to anyone, my sister, cousins, friends, everyone! It is worth a stop for sure!!! It was so convenient too because I got my shoes, veils, jewelry and head piece all there, as well! It was like a one stop shop!! They even celebrate with you when you buy your dress and offer you champagne to toast!! So great! I worked with Kate D. and she took down all of the bridesmaid info and contacted them all directly so that I wouldn't have to! She handled all the dirty work and made sure everyone came in for a fitting or sent their measurements in! She was sooo great!! It was truly a pleasure working with all of the wonderful ladies at Belle Vie, even the owner is so nice to work with and very personable with all of her brides!

The service I received at Belle Vie was outstanding, both during my dress search and afterwards. I absolutely loved the gown I chose, and I would not have even thought to try it on. The ladies helping me had a good eye for what would look good, and listened to me when I told them what I wanted. Then when I found a gown I loved, they took digital photos of me in it and gave them to me so I could use the photos to help me decide. Once I decided on the gown, they gave me a trunk show discount about a week earlier than the actual trunk show because I didn't have time to wait to order the gown if I wanted to avoid rush fees. Overall--very accomodating! They are affiliated with a great tailor, and met me at the tailor for my first fitting. I could not have been happier with the final product. The gown was more expensive than I had planned (by about double!), but I don't regret it at all.

This was the second bridal store I visited in my search for a perfect gown. If it was all about customer service, this shop would have gotten 5 stars from me. However, once I factored in selection and prices, it had to be brought down to three.

This store offers almost no variety. All of the gown are super old fashioned ball gowns. Nothing is unique. Their most unique designer is Amsale which is famous for huge ball gowns and, quite frankly, is far from being unique.

If you want to get your typical rich princess look with plenty of beading and heavy skirt, go ahead to Belle Vie. It caters to a very traditional bride. However, if you want to get a runaway look and be able to dance at your own wedding, then Belle Vie is not the right place for you.

Moreover, even if you are a traditional bride interested in heavy gowns with lots of beading and lace, the prices at Belle Vie are so high that it is not justified going there for a traditional dress from a decent bridal designer. You should go to White Chicago which has many traditional gowns from Anne Barge, Christos, Demetrios and other designers who work with classical styles for a fraction of the cost. Being not a fan of White Chicago myself (my taste is more avant garde than their selection), I can easily see how this store can have something for a traditional Belle Vie customer.

While being extra critical of their selection, I can't say enough good things about Belle Vie's customer service. The girl who worked with me was nice and helpful from start to finish, followed-up with me in a week, and sent me a "thank you" card just recently. In other words, I received the treatment that should be expected when one thinks of dropping major bucks for a gown.

The prices of Belle Vie are similar to those of Ultimate Bride, i.e., the highest in the business. I believe that they start from $ 3,000 and go all the way into the sky.

Again, in summary, I would recommend going to Belle Vie if you are 1) a traditional bride with a very traditional taste, 2) looking for luxury more than style or even glamor, 3) opposed to wearing a gown that was previously owned (like those sold at White Chicago), and 4) capable of spending major $$$ for a gown and alterations.

First of all, I found my dream dress here, so that's that. But, for the price I payed for my dress, I thought I would be getting a more custom-fitted dress or at least basic alterations for free. For such a well-off, high-end store, you would think that free alterations would make sense. Also, if they knew the dress would be made in only a B-Cup, then looking at my size, wouldn't they know to tell me that I would need extra alterations for my dress? I may have re-considered the dress if I knew that I had to alter the bust.. In addition, the lady that was assigned to me originally ended up moving, which was not conveyed to me, so as a customer, I felt that they under-communicated with me. They were flexible, however, with the cost. They offered me a deal where I payed full price in cash, and they gave me credit toward my veil, which was worth it. The veil was gorgeous and perfect for my dress. The site says that you get all sorts of goodies when you buy your dress, but all they ever offered me was a spritzer and a large bag with one magazine and some emergency supplies (mints, on-the-spot cleaner). I didn't feel like I got the customer service that they tout. Their customer service felt very conditional upon many factors (even a bit upon my size. But to end on a good note, they were very flexible. When we could go in only on a Sunday, they let us come in still to try on my dress.

My initial appointment was great and the staff at Belle Vie helped me get a dress that I had tried on at a trunk show for a 2nd appointment to help me make my final decision. However after that it all went down hill...they were very hard to get a hold of questions, I had to ask several times for my dress swatch and were not flexibile about storing my gown.

I bought an Anne Barge gown from Belle Vie, and the experience was wonderful. Jessica, our sales person, was incredibly professional, and we were treated like royalty. They even brought out champagne when we decided to buy the gown. The gown was ready in a timely manner, and there were no issues to speak.

I would not recommend getting your dress or veil from Belle Vie. Ordered me the wrong veil twice then tried to place blame on others. Not to mention my veil was a month and a half late to arrive. Gave me my veil all wrinkled and folded in a ball. Contracted with me to steam my dress and then tried to get out of it and have me pay for it to be pressed else where after I had already paid for the service in my contract. The staff is too young and few to none have ever been married themselves so they are not understanding of the stress that comes along with planning a wedding. Overall a horrible experience. Go to one of the numerous other bridal stores on Oak. And the dresses are over priced.

Wow!!! we went to a ton of places and the girls would get annoied when I didn't like anthing they would bring out... BUT at Belle Vie they were great. The girls were young, vibrant, and very friendly... They were the ONLY bridal salon that complemented me on my engagement ring... There was a lot to choose from but they made it very easy to narrow my search and not become overwhelmed by the sea of white dresses. The gown was made by Larzaro and the quality is above and beyond what I could have expecet... They were great...

The ladies of Belle Vie were amazing! They were so helpful and patient. I had to make appointments at short notice, and they were as accomodating as their schedule would allow. I found my dress the first time I was there.

Great to work with. They gave me a discount for the trunk show and another discount for being too tall. Designer's make you pay for extra length.