The only thing consistent about the process was Elena's lack of professionalism and condescending…read morecommunication
Elena doesn't sew the gowns--she designs a sketch and sends it to a production team overseas. Her job was design and communication, and she failed at both. The dress looks nothing like the sketch, and every time I followed up (always politely, always days after she said she'd update me), I was treated like a burden. She made it seem like my dress was some grand exception--like she was doing me a favor. But custom design was what I paid for. I had no time to find a backup. I was almost turned away for the alterations needed to make the dress resemble the sketch. I stayed respectful and gave her grace for months, but what I got was a cold, dismissive, and careless experience that left me stressed, disappointed, and robbed of the excitement I should've felt. One star is generous--I wouldn't wish this process on anyone.
I reached out to Elena of My Amazing Wedding Dress in July 2024 for my May 2025 wedding--giving 10 months. What followed was an incredibly stressful, disorganized, and cold experience. Her Instagram and reviews portray luxury, care, and clear timelines, but that wasn't my reality.
I was never given a timeline unless I asked. Even then, her responses were vague ("we're still in early production" or "later"), or passive-aggressive. I was always professional and patient--waiting days or weeks past her promised updates before gently checking in. Still, I was scolded with "be patient" and told other brides with closer wedding dates were more of a priority. Even as my wedding was rapidly approaching. Imagine being told that after paying a 50% deposit and waiting months without clear answers.
At one point, she sent me a photo of a completely different dress (pink camo) with no context. When I replied, "Yikes, that's not my dress. Thanks," she snapped back that my response "was not okay with her" and demanded a phone call--for the first time ever--just to scold me. That was the tone throughout: cold, defensive, dismissive. Every time I followed up, I felt like I had to walk on eggshells.
She told me the lace appliqué would come "later." I'd had questions about it since my initial inquiry, but when it finally appeared in photos in March 2025 and looked off, she gave no clarification--just another abrupt shutdown.
On March 4, she said something would be done "by the end of the week." When I followed up on March 11, I was told to "be patient" and that she was on vacation until March 17--something never mentioned ahead of time. I was apparently expected to wait nearly two weeks in silence with no update, as my May 5 wedding neared.
On March 24, she said the sleeves were "finished." On March 31, she said they weren't. Then the gown was sent from production without showing me a final photo--no approval, no input. I was told I'd see a picture once she received it. But what good does that do? It's too late for adjustments. She doesn't offer alterations.
I picked it up on April 8--less than a month before my wedding. She handed it to me with a snarky "See? Just in time," no congratulations, no warmth. I declined to try it on in front of her. At a bridal shop the next day, I found the corset extended past my butt, the pattern was inconsistent, and the sleeves were majorly oversized. The dress fit, technically--but it didn't match the sketch and didn't feel like the dream gown I thought I was designing.
Since I didn't see the dress until 3 weeks before the wedding, I had to rush to get a veil, shoes, and finalize my hairstyle. Elena never checked in after pickup. No "How did it fit?" No excitement. Nothing.
---- fast forward to her response to my sharing my honest experience.. these are direct messages from instagram sent from Elena.
"Did not expect anything more than this from u.
The dress was delivered based on the date that was given when I took you measurements.
I'm not the one who waited until December to get measured. Sorry for your experience.
I can share my thoughts and feelings in private with you. It was my first and the worst experience with the bride in 13 years!
Yes, my dresses are Amazing!"
I replied with
"Thank you for confirming exactly why I wrote the review I did. You've been so rude throughout this entire process.
If this is how you treat a bride after 13 years in business, maybe it's time you sincerely reconsider whether you're actually cut out for this profession--because after this experience, it's clear you're not."
Although the dress I received was pretty, it was nothing like the sketch--the proportions were off, it needed major alterations just to get closer to the design, and the process made me feel like a burden every step of the way.
This response only solidified exactly why I felt compelled to share my experience in the first place. I was polite and patient throughout the entire process despite the many red flags, and her dismissive and rude attitude.
