Eva's Bridal Of Oak Lawn Hosts National Bridal Sale Preview

OAK LAWN, IL -- If you’re planning to go wedding dress shopping this weekend, then lace up your running shoes and head to Eva’s Bridal of Oak Lawn on Friday, July 13. Hundreds of designer wedding gowns will be on sale for as low as $199, in anticipation of the National Bridal Sale Day that kicks off next week. Brides on a budget can peruse collections from all over the world at the family-owned bridal salon that has been in Oak Lawn since 1982. The pre-national sale frenzy will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“For brides on a budget, this sale is an awesome thing for them. We have hundreds of dresses,” said Ronia Ghusein, the third generation owner of Eva’s Bridal that was started in 1964 by her grandmother Eva Sweis in Chicago. “Some of these gowns that will be on sale were originally priced between $1,000 to $7,000. We have many that start at $199 that were originally marked at $1,500. The beading alone is worth that.”

Famous bridal designers available during the preview include Allure, Casablanca, David Tutera, Enzoani, Justin Alexander, Maggie Sottero, Mon Cheri, Nicole Spose, Sophia Tolli, Stephen Yearick, Ysa Makino and many more.

Walk-ins are welcome this Friday, but if brides see something they like, Ghusein says they can set up an appointment at a later time during Eva’s two-week sale event. There will be racks of floor samples for sale, ranging in size from petite to plus-size.

“Stop by this Friday if you think you’re going to buy a dress off the floor,” Ghusein said. “If you see something you like but want more individual attention, make an appointment and we will have room available for you to try on dresses.”

The third annual National Bridal Sale Day takes place on July 21. Nearly 1,000 independent, locally-owned bridal retailers including top bridal salons in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will participate in this day meant to offer brides, bridesmaids, and wedding guests an unprecedented opportunity for substantial savings (up to 80 percent off in some salons). Many bridal shops will extend the sale through the following week until July 28.

“National Bridal Sale Day, also called Bridal Saturday, has become an annual tradition for the bridal industry similar to a Black Friday or Small Business Saturday for other retail stores,” says the event’s creator, Sue Maslowski, owner of Jay West Bridal in Haddonfield, N.J. “It is recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events and scheduled annually on the third Saturday in July.”

Ghusein says they’ll be running Eva’s sales event from July 14 through July 28. She added that it’s important for brides to make sure that they visit bridal salons that are part of the sponsored sale.

"Brides will be buying from a reputable, full-service salon where they can see and touch the gown they are getting," Ghusein added. "There won't be any unpleasant surprises from counterfeit gowns purchased online."

Brides-to-be are strongly encouraged to set up an appointment during the national sale by calling 708-422-5599. Eva's Bridal of Oak Lawn is located at 5269 W. 95th St. Parking is available in the lot behind the salon.

For a list of Chicago-area, independently owned bridal salons participating in “Bridal Saturday,” visit the National Bridal Sale Event website.