real brides

Real Brides | Alice


[photos by A Brit & A Blonde]

We just received these gorgeous photos of our bride Alice’s Costa Rica wedding. Such a picturesque place! Alice was kind enough to send this kind note about her experience working with us. Congratulations Alice!

“Working with Alice Padrul has been a really wonderful experience.  I really feel lucky to have happened upon her studio (found her on Yelp), which is both adorable and inviting.  It was the first place I had gone to look for a wedding dress and the first dress I tried on ended up being the one!  Alice was very understanding and helpful when I asked to have the dress modified – there is nothing like working with the actual designer of your dress.  It’s been such a pleasure to work with her and she is amazing – I trust her suggestions and opinions completely.  The dress has turned out to be comfortable, gorgeous, and perfect!  I can’t wait to wear it.  I highly, highly recommend Alice Padrul for your wedding dress – she can do anything!”

Real Brides | Jessica

We just received these stunning photos from our bride Jessica of her wedding in Xcaret, Mexcio along with some sweet words about her experience working with us. Jessica came to us from British Columbia for her perfect wedding gown and we had such a wonderful time working with her. Congratulations Jessica!

“Alice was excellent from the very beginning, discussing my initial ideas with me and then proposing beautiful designs and recommendations that incorporated them. Even if you have no clear ideas of what you want, she’s quick to understand your style (as well as the style that of the event you’ll be attending) and then propose designs accordingly. She is a perfectionist at heart, and has an attention to detail, good taste and a strong commitment to delivering only the best that inspires absolute confidence in her work. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to have a special dress designed and made for them!

Her designs are unique statement pieces executed in the most beautiful and interesting fabrics. What is so special about her process is that she works with each bride to create a truly custom gown that will make you look like the most beautiful version of yourself– and not a cookie cutter bride from a magazine. Also, her gowns are truly COUTURE. This is a word that is often overused in the fashion/ bridal industry– but Alice is the real deal. During the fitting process she took a very creative approach to the pattern making and design of my gown and her additions were all spot-on. She was not satisfied until the gown was an absolutely perfect fit and executed to her high standards.

Now for the dress: All I can say is, crazy-amazing-beautiful-wow! The gown was simply elegant, but the VEIL, was absolutely unbelievable. A 2-piece masterpiece!!! From the muslin rendering, to the final dress fittings

There aren’t enough words to describe how gorgeous my dress was, how absolutely amazing Alice is, and how wonderful the entire wedding dress experience was. I loved my dress, I looked incredible.
My husband cried the entire time he saw me walk down the aisle to marry him, and that’s what mattered the most to me.

I was thrilled with the outcome. Not only was my dress beautiful, but it made me look beautiful and special. And it was comfortable as well! I danced the whole night away with my husband. If you are looking for a truly unique and custom gown that will express your personality, then I highly highly recommend working with Alice Padrul in Chicago Il. So all brides, don’t be afraid to purchase your dress from Alice Padrul. She works with brides all around the world. I’m from Canada and her service and communication is impeccable.

Jessica from Canada”

Real Brides | Wendy

Our beautiful bride Wendy sent us these photos of her stunning Costa Rica wedding along with this kind testimonial. The dress and location are just perfect for her, Congratulations Wendy!!

“Hi Alice!! I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful dress and for all your assistance in the shipping of it! Our special day was absolutely amazing and the dress was perfect for our beach wedding in Costa Rica!! I attached a few photos of the dress! Hope I did your design justice!!

Thank you again!!

Wendy”

Real Brides | Kelsey’s Wedding Video

Kelsey & Rob: A Tootsie Pop Love from Kevin Schmalandt on Vimeo.

We just received this wonderful video and testimonial from our bride Kelsey. We had such a good time working with Kelsey to make her dream wedding dress a reality. Congratulations and best of luck to you Kelsey!!

“Quit looking elsewhere and visit Alice Padrul Bridal Couture! I rarely give anyone the highest rating possible. However, I really cannot think of one negative thing about my experience with Alice and her team.

I had a very specific idea of what I wanted my wedding dress to be. After visiting what felt like every bridal shop in the Chicago area (I believe I went to 13 shops) and hearing over and over again that what I wanted did not exist, I became quite discouraged. Then I visited Alice. She was the first person who did not look at me like I had three heads when I told her that I wanted (all lace, taupe-colored silk lining, deep/open back, long sleeves). In fact, she kept saying that what I was envisioning would be beautiful! I wish that I had not wasted my time visited traditional bridal shops. Working with Alice was an incredible experience, one I looked forward to every time I flew into Chicago for a fitting. Her and her husband are the sweetest people you will ever meet and never failed to make me smile/laugh. Alice and Sviatlana adjusted my dress as per my requests, even as I went back and forth on some decisions. It was amazing to know who was making my wedding dress in a world where everything is mass-produced by people across the world (and probably under horrible conditions!). Every fitting was incredible- truly.

Films and popular media always portray the wedding dress experience as one that moves every woman to tears when she finds “the” dress. Let it be known that I shed only two tears during my dress search- and they were not a result of the dress itself (this is not to say that my dress was not perfect…I was/am obsessed with my dress- it was everything I wanted and a whole lot more; I am just not one to be moved to tears from a dress experience). Rather, I shed tears when I had to say goodbye to Alice and her husband Gene, for my mom and I will truly miss them (and their kind souls) dearly.”

Real Brides | Julia W.

We just received these beautiful photos and kind testimonial from our bride Julia W. It was such a pleasure to work with her, congratulations Julia!

“I never dreamed that picking out a wedding dress could be such a special and enjoyable experience, and I feel like such a lucky bride that I found you and your wonderful studio! Your dresses are works of art and I’m so grateful that you were able to work with me, despite my budgetary concerns and time constraints! As you said, you want to help all of your brides, and I’m so glad you were able to fit me in and make me one of your brides.

I started out with a very specific idea of what I wanted, and found a “perfect” dress shortly after becoming engaged. Months before the wedding I started feeling hesitant about the dress style (tea length), and decided to take one last look at dresses on The Knot. I broadened my search to full length dresses and very quickly found a picture of your Sofia dress. I was blown away! I knew immediately that I wanted one of your dresses, and as luck would have it, I discovered that you’re based out of my hometown, Chicago! Your space is so beautiful, warm, welcoming, and removed from the typical chaos that is wedding dress shopping. You were so patient and helpful while I was trying on dresses, and gave me your honest opinion about each one, helping me find the perfect, most flattering dress (The Anita!). Your creativity really comes through in your unique, romantic designs. I love that you customized my dress to make it more my style, and created the most beautiful, over the top veil! Your dresses are not only beautifully detailed, they are superbly made. I can honestly say that I did not see a dress similar to yours anywhere else in my search. Also, the gorgeous fabrics are the highest quality, which makes them SO comfortable!

Throughout my planning, I tried to work with as many local businesses as possible, and I love that you’re here in Chicago making beautiful dresses! I also sincerely appreciate your help in guiding me to other fantastic vendors for my bridal jewelry and shoes, which in turn led me to my wonderful florist! I would recommend your studio to any bride looking for a personal experience and something a little different from the usual wedding fashion suspects.

I felt like the most beautiful girl in the city on my wedding day, and I have you to thank for that!”

Real Brides | Genevieve


[Photography by Jennifer Driscoll]

We just received these gorgeous photos of our bride Genevieve from her photographer Jennifer Driscoll. We were lucky to meet Jennifer when she stopped by our studio recently, she is such a charming and talented lady. She did an outstanding job on these photos and we are excited to work with her in the future! As for the bride, Genevieve was such a pleasure to work with and we had a wonderful time turning her ideas for her dream dress into a reality. Her dress is completely custom and is not part of our regular line, doesn’t she look stunning in it?! Genevieve was kind enough to send us an incredibly sweet note about her experience working with us and we were equally as thrilled to be working with her. Congratulations Genevieve!

“I, like many brides, went to every store in Chicago searching for the perfect dress. I always found something that just wasn’t perfect. After talking to Alice, and seeing her beautifully made dresses, I knew I felt comfortable having her create the dress of my dreams! Her studio is gorgeous and Alice and her husband AND Svetlana are so sweet and so professional. Today was the first fitting after the muslin and my dress is becoming EXACTLY what I was looking for. It’s absolutely stunning. I FINALLY put on what made me feel like a bride. Alice helps tweak everything and puts her creative touch on to help create exactly what I’m asking for. She made the dress I had in my mind even BETTER! The fit is perfect, the fabric is perfect, I cannot say enough! I truely cannot wait until my wedding day! Thank you so much Alice, I will always send future brides your way!” -Genevieve

Real Brides | Yuko

Our lovely bride Yuko recently sent us these photos of her Hawaiian wedding. We were blown away by how gorgeous her photos are, the Daphne dress, Sasha headpiece and Victoria veil look wonderful with the light and airy backdrop of her Hawaiian location. Congratulations Yuko!