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I rarely leave reviews, but as a bride, my experience with Zakaa Couture was so disappointing that I feel the need to share. When I first visited in November, my appointment with Zakaa, the designer and owner, went wonderfully. I found the perfect dress and even a simple veil I loved for $200. Zakaa told me she would note the veil in my account so I could purchase it later, and she also assured me that alterations would not exceed $1,000, recommending I have them done in-house. At that point, I felt confident in my decision.
Unfortunately, everything after that was a letdown. I had to reach out myself to schedule my first fitting because no one from the store ever contacted me. When I finally came in, the front desk employee simply told me, "Your dress is in the back," and left my mom to help me put it on. For such a high-end boutique, this felt extremely unprofessional. Then, the seamstress, who admitted she had only been working there a few months, never measured my waist, bust, or hips, and seemed unfamiliar with basics like a bustle.
On top of that, the $200 veil I had chosen months earlier was never documented in my account. When I asked for it, I was told the cheapest veil was $500 and offered a "custom" option at the same price, which felt dishonest. The alterations process was equally frustrating. My hemming appointment lasted only 30 minutes, yet I was immediately asked to pay $1,300 in full before any alterations had even been completed. When I expressed discomfort, I was told I had to at least pay half upfront, and I was pressured about a 3% credit card fee. When I asked about Zelle or Venmo to avoid the fee, they said no, they didn't accept that. I then asked if my debit card would avoid the fee, and they told me it would not. Finally, the front desk girl said, "I'm not allowed to do this, but I'll remove the fee for you."
To make matters worse, after I requested that Zakaa personally be present at my next fitting, I received an email later that night telling me they no longer wished to work with me and that I needed to pick up my dress immediately. I was shocked and heartbroken, especially after investing so much money here. While I truly love my gown, the lack of professionalism, transparency, and care throughout this process was unacceptable. Brides deserve better.