About this vendor
Doina Alexei Custom Bridal is a wedding attire studio serving the DC/MD/VA area in Sterling, VA. This design studio creates bespoke garments for each client’s special day. From the very first sketch to the final product, this team ensures that each gown is exquisitely yours, fits like a glove, and has no seamline out of place.
Doina Alexei learned how to sew and design from her mother and grandmother. She later studied fashion design before founding her own brand. Her intent was to create a line of bespoke garments that are uniquely designed to fit individual needs while also being simultaneously comfortable and durable.
Doina Alexei is involved throughout the process to ensure the final product is elegant and tailored to the perfect fit. From extravagant one-of-a-kind gowns to classic and sophisticated silhouettes, this talented team is delighted to take on new projects. They create custom dresses and attire for wedding clients who are looking for a unique style and a memory-building experience.
Details
Accessories
- Cover Ups
- Jackets
- Wraps
- Sashes & Belts
- Veils
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Dresses
- Bridesmaid Dresses
- Flower Girl Dresses
- Mother of the Bride Dresses
- Shower & Party Dresses
- Wedding Dresses
Fashion Services
- Alterations
- Bridal Stylists
- Custom Designs
- Online Ordering
- Private Appointments Available
Awards and Affiliations
2021 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.09 reviews
Review photos
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I have never felt so beautiful as I did on my wedding day. I knew I wanted a custom dress and am so grateful I found Doina. She listened to my ideas, suggested some of her own, and...
made everything come to life exactly as I envisioned. She was super easy to work with, so kind, really attentive to detail, and fitted everything perfectly. The back details, which was her own design, were to die for. I felt like a real princess and, more importantly, I felt like myself. You won't find anyone better than Doina.
I am so grateful to have met and worked with Doina. She made it possible to have a piece of my mom and grandmother with me on my wedding day. She was willing to clean the discolore...
d lace, she's a miracle worker, I never thought we could get it back to white! The lace my grandma made was very very delicate. I was blown away by Doina's professionalism and honesty. She used great care when taking apart my mothers wedding dress, which my mom kept commenting on her respect for a hard moment of taking apart my mom's dress.
Doina is the best designer I have worked with and she is worth every dollar!
I approached wedding dress shopping with an open mind and after going to several boutiques in the DMV I figured out what I was looking for but could not find a dress the encapsulat...
ed everything I was looking for. I decided to take another pass at the Knot’s mass message feature and heard back from the wonderful Doina Alexei very quickly. She said she could make a custom wedding dress and incorporate everything I wanted. She drafted several beautiful sketches for me to choose from at two very reasonable price points based on how detailed I wanted the design. Doina quickly got to work making a mock dress for my first fitting. She is very responsive, professional, and has an incredible eye for design. She is a truly gifted artist and businesswoman. She was easy to reach and seamlessly adapted the design as needed. I trusted her expertise in crafting my dream gown and veil after providing her with my ideas and to say they came out incredibly well would be a massive understatement. My dress was a dream. It was comfortable, elegant, and exceeded all of my expectations. I loved working with Doina and I would recommend her to anyone. As a young artist and businesswoman she is incredibly accomplished and I cannot wait to see where her business goes from here. I will definitely be buying more Doina Alexei designs in the future!
Doina was an absolute dream come true to work with! She was professional and dedicated to ensuring my custom dress was exactly what I envisioned it to be. She works with you to s...
ource fabrics that fit your budget while maintaining a quality product. The experience was one-of-kind and one of my favorite memories from wedding planning!
Doina was an absolute dream to work with. I needed a bridesmaid's dress altered and it turned out fantastic. She was able to fix an unshapely bust issue that seemed unfixable. She ...
has also done alterations for some ill-fitting clothing items of mine that have been collecting dust in my closet. The actual fitting was a breeze and I felt very comfortable throughout the process. I now have some fantastic high quality, custom-fitted pieces that look much more expensive than the items I originally purchased. I already have plans for her to make my wedding dress, although I'm not anywhere near being engaged, so this is more of just a distant dream of mine. I can't recommend enough that you go to Doina Alexei Custom Bridal & Alterations for your custom clothing needs!
*** UPDATE 11/29/2020****
I used to go to Doina for alterations, but decided to go with her for my custom wedding dress. Let me just say, it was PERFECT.
To start, I sent her insp...
iration photos of certain aspects I wanted for the dress. She sketched out my vision and got started. During the process, she would constantly keep me updated of the progress or any hiccups that occurred and her suggested resolutions. We also had frequent fittings. When I came in to try the dress for the final fitting I was blown away. The dress felt like it melted onto my skin like butter, it fit so perfectly. And it was exactly how I had envisioned!! I love showing off my wedding photos and always get compliments on the dress!
If you are looking to make your wedding dress dreams a reality, I HIGHLY suggest booking Doina!!!
***** ORIGINAL REVIEW ****
I always need alterations done because I'm short and have an unusually high waist, but it was becoming too expensive for me. I complained to my friend and she referred me to Doina! I'm so happy to have met her. She takes her time with me and finishes the job quickly. Every few months I drop off a bulk of clothes, wait a few days, and done! Best part is she charges almost half of what my previous tailor charged. I will definitely be a lifelong customer!
What a gem, having Doina design a dress for you is a one of a kind experience. Her attention to detail, knowledge, and personalized service is outstanding! She makes you feel so ve...
ry special --- like you are her absolute favorite client 😊. I recommend her to all my friends and family. It is wonderful to have my very own, on call designer!!
I needed a major alteration for my wedding dress and reached out to Doina in desperation after getting alteration quotes costing almost as much as my wedding dress itself. I am so ...
glad I found her!! She is a hidden gem in the DMV area for alterations and for custom dresses! She did an amazing job with my dress in as little as a week and at almost half the cost! And let me say that the changes needed were really extensive… She travels to your house for fittings which makes everything so much more comfortable. Much better than dragging a big dress around with you and having to rush getting dressed in a dressing room and doing a fitting surrounded by strangers. What I enjoyed about working with Doina is her warmth and easy going personality! I have her number in my cell and now text her anytime I need last minute alterations for literally anything. She will jump on the task immediately and makes you feel valued despite how busy she is with other big custom projects! I am definitely a client for life.
My wedding dress was absolutely stunning! From the beginning, Doina worked tirelessly to customize every aspect of the dress. I showed her some pictures of wedding dresses I like, ...
and she had design pictures done, which I approved. Accurate measurements were taken to ensure my dress fit me perfectly, and I got to choose the beautiful fabrics. Doina made a mock dress to be sure everything would fit perfectly and to make sure I am happy with the fit. My dress ended up being a gorgeous beaded lace over silk backless dress that was made only for me! My wedding day was made truly special and everyone was stunned by the beauty of my bespoke wedding dress. Even now, after almost 3 years of marriage, people still comment that my dress was one of the most beautiful dresses they have ever seen! Thank you, Doina! Your talent, attention to detail, and excellent customer service is amazing!
Contact
Sterling, VA
Doina Alexei Custom Wedding Dresses