Best Wedding Boutiques in Chicago

If you're a blushing bride-to-be, these Chicago boutiques can help you say "I Do."

Thanks to classic fairytale stories and their modern-day Disney renditions, most little girls grow up dreaming about their wedding day. Luckily, many great wedding boutiques exist to help make your dream day a reality. Whether you’re looking for the perfect vintage wedding dress, the most elegant wedding cake or the accessories to tie everything together, these Chicago wedding boutiques will have you saying “I Do” in no time.

Something Extravagant: Ultimate Bride
Known in the industry for its posh Oak Street locale and elite clientele, as well as offering gorgeous gowns by high-end designers like Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka, Ultimate Bride is the ultimate bridal boutique for Chicago brides looking for the utmost in service, selection and quality. The shop also has veil designers on staff that can create a custom veil to match your dress perfectly. If you can’t afford the designer price, no worries; Ultimate Bride periodically holds sample sales, offering couture gowns at rock-bottom prices.
Where: 106 E. Oak St., Fl. 2, Chicago, IL 60611

Something Alternative: BHLDN
From the moment you walk through the revolving antiqued brass doors and take in the elegant walnut staircase, reclaimed Parisian mirrors and 15-foot ceilings at BHLDN, it’s clear that there’s something different about this bridal boutique. It only makes sense, then, that this alternative bridal boutique (pronounced “beholden”) is backed by trendy lifestyle brand Urban Outfitters. The Chicago location, a 3,600-square-foot, two-level alternative bridal wonderland, is the second BHLDN store nationwide, and the boutique specializes in a mixture of vintage and modern design and less traditional gowns like separates and tea-length looks.
Where: 8 E. Walton St., Chicago, IL 60611

Something Borrowed: I Do Designer Bridal Consignment
If you want your dream wedding but can’t afford to break the bank, I Do Designer Bridal Consignment is here to help. You’ll find anything from one-of-a-kind vintage gowns dating from the 1930s to the 1970s to modern-day couture dresses, most in near-perfect condition and often reduced in price due to nearly unnoticeable minor flaws. The shop also has a seamstress on site to take care of any alterations you may need. So whether you’re looking for something unique or just looking to save a few dollars, make sure to check this place out.
Where: 6742 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60634

Something Dazzling: James Ciccotti Bridal Shoes and Accessories
So you’ve found the perfect dress but are still looking for the right accessories or shoes to complete your dream outfit? Look no further than James Ciccotti Bridal Shoes and Accessories. James Ciccotti takes pride in his work and stays true to his aesthetic, and it shows – chances are you won’t find a pair of better designed, better fitting and more comfortable bridal shoes anywhere in Chicago. And his collection of expertly designed jewelry and handbags will provide the perfect complement to any gorgeous gown. He’s even been known to open his boutique early, stay late and come in on holidays for customers.
Where: 2545 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614

Something Sweet: Amy Beck Cake Design
Every bride knows that a great wedding cake is almost as important as the perfect wedding dress. Specializing in crafting beautiful custom and creative cakes, Amy Beck Cake Design is a full service custom cake design business that offers a wide range of delicious cake flavors and fillings, stunning designs and an impressive attention to detail. Making her cakes with the freshest ingredients and the highest quality butter, chocolate, sugar and fruit, Amy Beck’s creations have been featured in CS Brides Magazine, Image Magazine and other media outlets. Whether you prefer a simple, elegant white cake or one bejeweled and layered with flowers and other decorative elements, Amy Beck will leave you wowed. Who said you couldn’t have your cake and eat it, too?
Where: 636 N. Racine Ave., Unit C2, Chicago, IL 60642

Photo credit: iStockphoto/sjlocke