It took me a while to decide to write this review because I hoped I would eventually move past my…read moreexperience, but every time I think about my Dina Hawidi wedding dress, it brings up negative feelings. I'm sharing this so other brides can make an informed decision and avoid a similar experience.
I flew across the country with family for a 90-minute appointment, which required a significant investment of time and money. 90 minutes was the only appointment time offered, and extending it required booking and paying for a second appointment. Since they do not take appointments on Sundays and mine was scheduled for a Saturday, that was not an option.
The staff selected a few dresses for me to try, none of which I liked. There was one specific dress I traveled there to see, and when I tried it on, I wasn't completely sold. One of the employees (not Dina) said, "Well what is it that you want then?" in a way that felt dismissive. I had only tried on five dresses total, yet I felt pressured to make a decision due to the limited time and the staff appearing visibly frustrated.
The shop advertises itself as a customizable dress studio, but based on my experience, the only customization offered was the shape of the neckline. During try-ons, I was asked to stand on a platform, which made the dress appear to be the correct length. In reality, the final dress was much too long, requiring an additional $1,000 in alterations.
The sample dresses I tried on had a more modest neckline, which is what I wanted. However, when I picked up my finished dress, the neckline was significantly lower and could not be corrected. This affected many of my wedding photos, and throughout my wedding day I felt uncomfortable and was constantly adjusting a very heavy dress.
During checkout, the next appointment arrived and the employee completing my purchase rushed through the process and provided minimal explanation. Only one measurement was taken (shoulder to waist), which I later realized should have raised concerns. At the time, everything felt very rushed, and I did not recognize this until after paying the deposit.
In total, I spent approximately $10,000 on the dress and subsequent alterations, and I was extremely unhappy with both the final result and the overall experience. Based on the way this business is presented on Instagram and TikTok, my expectations were very different. I recommend other brides carefully consider their options and choose a place where they feel fully supported and valued throughout the process.
