Elegance By Roya - Old Town Alexandria

Farah, who did all my fittings and alterations, was incredible!

tive and helpful with my selections. I loved 3 of 6 dresses that she selected. I don‘t have an exact budget, however, I am a conscious shopper so I wanted something from the SAMPLE sale that was advertised, off the RACK. I‘m active duty military and was reassured that I would be given a good price. My plan is to resell the dress. I felt very pressured to finalize my decision quickly because of the anticipated increased foot traffic over the weekend and because of alterations (wedding July). I selected Dress #1, Martina Liana gown ($4000). After getting the price with an offer of 30% off, I decided not to make a decision at that time. I emailed the next day to inform Ayesha that I‘d changed my mind in favor of dress #2, Enzoani Ora 2020 ($4600) which was less bulky and better for a beach wedding. I was out of town so an electronic contract and payment link was emailed. The contract and pricing for Dress #2 also reflected 30% off. After returning from my trip, I reached out to the store because I wanted to try on dresses #2 and #3 again before taking the dress out of the store as their contract doesn’t allow for returns or exchanges. Dress #3 is Enzoani Raquel 2022 ($3400). It is very similar to Dress #2 but fits better and I was told would require “less alterations”. Okay, great! Decision made…this is it! I’m leaving the store with a beautiful dress today! Well, this is where things got dicey and shady for me. I’d already paid $2932 for Dress #2 (there was ~$390 balance remaining). However, I was now being told that I only owed an additional $53 instead of $390. Well, that’s interesting! Shouldn‘t I be getting a refund of about $500 since Dress #3 is so much less than Dress #2? Ayesha tells me that Dress #3 will only be discounted at 15% off and made up some lame excuse for the financial exploitation. I said something but decided to keep it classy rather than making a scene. I was also fully aware that I’d previously signed a contract and felt obligated to follow through. Although there was a moment during the completion of the transaction where I imagined myself having the strength of Incredible Hulk and flipping the whole damn desk over. I digress…I also calmly waited for the alterations quote to see just how greedy this business is. My alterations quote was $1750! Got it! Price gauging 101! Either you don’t want my business or your business is struggling to move inventory so willing customers are simply being ripped of…sad either way. With that, my overall experience was not good. Why do businesses resort to exploitative tactics? Price gauging is a bad business practice even in this economy. Why not sell old inventory at a consistently discounted price and write off the losses on taxes? Where’s the accountant?? Bottom line: I’m going to be cute and happy at my wedding but I would NOT recommend this store unless you’re fine with being taken advantage of. I can not condone any degree of financial exploitation especially when dealing with women who are planning and preparing for an emotionally charged experiences like weddings. I hope this review helps someone in the DMV area.

entire journey unforgettable. Each dress fitting felt like a celebration; I could hardly contain my excitement as I stepped into the elegant gown that would transform my wedding day. Farah’s expertise and eye for detail were truly exceptional—she made the dress fit like a glove, ensuring every seam was perfect. I can hardly wait to walk down the aisle in that dress, surrounded by love and joy!

e was knowledgeable and helped me prepare for my special day. I loved my experience.

ly beautiful shop setup and private space for you and your crew.

and the Elegance by Roya team in Alexandria. Both Emily and Ayesha were very attentive, patient, and gracious during my visits, and are equally gifted at helping brides look at different styles of gowns to find the gown that really helps them look and feel their best. The gown-shopping experience at Elegance by Roya was really positive, and I was really grateful for their help!

n the dress I knew I wanted from the moment I saw it. I can’t say enough good things about Farah, I literally love her and wish I could keep getting married just so so I can hang out with her!!! She’s so amazing at what she does, no detail is left behind. My alterations were perfect. When I brought my dress home, I noticed a small stain and Farah immediately helped me take care of it. She really goes above and beyond!! Thank you so much for everything!!!

o look professionally handled and reflect the price you paid for it on your wedding day – AVOID THIS BUSINESS. Please find the pictures of my dress, the night before my wedding, attached. Background I bought my dress here in August 2023 for a September 2024 wedding. The associate was kind, and the store is obviously beautiful. It wasn’t until I put money down that the issues began. First and foremost, after paying for half the dress, I was told that alterations only occur Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. That meant that I had to take off work for every alteration appointment I had. Second, when I put the first payment down, I was told alterations started at $1,100 -$1,200. Upon arriving for my first fitting almost a year later, the starting price I was required to pay changed to $1,400. Next, moving into the alterations process, I had three requests: I wanted the dress to fit without my having to constantly pull it up; I wanted to attach the currently detached sleeves for my wedding ceremony; and I wanted to add detachable straps. All of these items were discussed with the sales associate before I bought the dress, and I was assured all of my requests could be met. At my first appointment, I told the seamstress about all of the above, to include the slight insecurity related to the sleeves. Despite this, the seamstress told me it looked fine. In fact, “bulkier women fit into the sleeves” just fine. Because the dress was too large, the seamstress also decided the dress needed to be brought up. The only way to do that was by bringing it up in the waist. This created a large bulge around my stomach, but I was assured it would lay flat after alterations and pressing. The straps, I was told, would be handled later. At my second appointment, despite maintaining weight, I needed to hold the dress up myself. Additionally, I brought in examples that I thought would fix how I felt about the sleeves. I was told the sleeves were fine as is. I was also told there was nothing to be done. She also forgot I asked for detachable straps to be added. This too prompted the response of, “you don’t need them, the dress is fine as is.” Due to my experience during this fitting, I felt compelled to email the store laying out my concerns. I requested a conversation with the manager of the store. Instead, my email was forwarded to my seamstress. However, I was assured everything would be done to my liking. At my third fitting, I brought a bridesmaid and her aunt who had experience in being a seamstress. The bodice finally fit without my holding it. Yet, the sleeves were still unattached, the straps still not done, bulge around my waist still present. As with all my other appointments, I received the same, extensive pushback, to do anything I had been asking for for months. Thankfully, with an audience there, she agreed to move forward with all the work. At the fourth and final fitting, the large the bulge around the waist was still there. The straps were asymmetrical. I wasn’t allowed to try on the sleeves because they were STILL unattached. The seamstress requested time to allow her to finish the required work. 40 minutes later, she rushed out of the back, quickly unzipped the bag for me to see only the top of the dress and hurriedly sent me on my way. I broke down again, fully exhausted and completely demoralized with how the dress turned out. When I finally was able to look at my dress thoroughly, I was appalled. It had several black marks, pearls falling off, loose strings all over and, and several places of snagged fabric. Day of my wedding, the bulge was still present, the bustle broke within the first hour, pearls continued to fall off, and the straps didn’t even snap in which required the help of my bridesmaids to superglue and sew them on. PLEASE LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE AND GO ELSEWHERE.

osphere. Crystal, the incredible employee who assisted me, truly made my experience unforgettable. Crystal took the time to understand my vision and preferences, and she brought out the perfect dress on our very first try! I was blown away by how well she understood what I was looking for. Her knowledge and enthusiasm made the whole process enjoyable and stress-free. The entire staff at Elegance By Roya was exceptionally respectful and supportive, creating an environment where I felt completely at ease. After visiting several other shops in the area, I can confidently say that this was the best experience by far. I left feeling not just like a bride, but like a cherished guest. If you're searching for the perfect wedding dress, look no further than Elegance By Roya. Thank you, Crystal, for making my bridal dreams come true!

ped me find my dream dress (even though I had no idea what I wanted!), and she was absolutely amazing with all of the alterations to make it fit absolutely perfectly and exactly how I wanted it. She even worked quickly to make a final alteration and worked with me to get it done at a time that worked for my busy schedule. I would highly recommend Elegance by Roya to anyone shopping for a wedding dress for an amazing experience!

ths and found one my first fitting there. They had great communication regarding payments, Fittings and appointments. The only negative I would say about the boutique . Is that their alteration prices or high. If you’re able to find somewhere else to get your dress altered, that would be great. They do a great job with alterations if you are willing to pay the price.

ue designs in different colors and fabrics. My consultant was very patient and took my opinions into account to pick out dresses to try on. I'm so happy with my dress and my experience :)

ding it here. Farah went on to tailor it to absolute perfection, making the most thoughtful and intricate details (including a how to video for bustling my dress). I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you so much, Elegance by Roya Alexandria!

communicator. She was flexible and accommodating of my schedule, not to mention warm and fun to be around. The woman who did the alterations did such an incredible job with a complex, multi-layered dress. Will recommend Elegance by Roya to all my friends looking for a wedding dress.

went above and beyond to help me. My dream dress was the first one I tried on! Highly recommend Elegance by Roya!

ir expert opinions felt like they cared about me and how I wanted to look. I found my perfect dress and the veil to match! They even cinched this weight in! I was able to show up as myself owning my weight and found the perfect dress!

ell in love with, Farah was there helping to make sure I had the perfect veil to go along with it. She always made me feel comfortable. She oversaw the alterations and paid such close attention to detail to make sure my dress fit perfectly before I went home. I would absolutely recommend Elegance by Roya to anyone and everyone!!

y knows what they're doing, won't pressure you, won't rush you, and truly cares- RUN don't walk to schedule an appointment with Farrah at old town!

ile searching for my dress. Zoe listened to everything I was looking for and paid attention to what I liked and didn't like in each dress to pick out better dresses for the next round. I also super appreciated that they kept my budget in mind and didn't pull any dresses that were out of budget without double checking first. Definitely recommend looking there!

ow lovely and clean the salon was. They had reached out beforehand to find out if I knew any features I was looking for in a dress (shape, neckline, etc.) and pulled a nice variety for me to try on day-of. After purchasing my dress, I had alterations done through the salon. Setting up these appointments was very easy, and when I had to reschedule somewhat last-minute due to illness, they accommodated it very well. The seamstress was very nice and professional and did a beautiful job. At my final fitting appointment, she even made a video to demonstrate and explain how to do the bustle, which was so so helpful to my bridesmaids later on. When I picked up my dress the week before my wedding, they walked me through its care and gave me wedding-day tips and made me feel very prepared to walk out of the store with it. They gave me the chance to ask any questions I had and were happy to answer them. Throughout the process of choosing, altering, and ultimately wearing the most important dress of my life, this shop provided wonderful, happy, and professional expertise and support every step of the way. I am so thankful for them!

feedback and coming up with humorous quips throughout our time there. My sisters and I had three other stops that day - and Saddia was so kind in getting us out the door and providing help in what to look for/ask for at other bridal boutiques - which we found SO professional. At the end of our day, I had narrowed it down to two dresses. We made a second look appointment for the following day and Saddia worked with me to squeeze me in between clients. During that time, she pulled out all of the stops - bouquets, veils, you name it - so I would know for sure it was my dress. Ultimately, as she predicted, I ended up saying yes to the very first dress I tried on!. I cannot recommend Elegance by Roya - and Saddia - more!

he perfect dress for me when I didn't think it was possible. She was very thoughtful, listened to my feedback on what I did and didn't like at our first appointment and came back with jaw-dropping options for my second. It was almost difficult to decide which would be the one! Saddia is an 11/10 and would highly recommend her and this beautiful bridal shop. Their options were amazing and perfect for a glamourous and over the top bride like myself. Run to this bridal boutique and ask for Saddia, she really made the experience magical.

ry personable and I had so much fun working with her finding my dream dress! I had heard of so many friends who spent hours and hours looking for dresses all over the country. I also read a lot of reviews where brides said they finally found their dress at their last stop- Elegance By Roya. I joked with Saddia that I just chose "to cut out the middleman," going to Elegance By Roya at the start, and I was so glad I did! I never felt pressured by Saddia to purchase any particular dress, and appreciated all of her helpful feedback. She was also conscientious about any potential budget limitations and was very tactful in front of my family. She also took the time to ask what specific things I liked and did not like about each dress I tried, which helped to pick other dresses, and ultimately my dream dress. I cannot wait to marry my fiancé in my absolutely stunning wedding dress!

nd found a dress that was literally my dream dress. she made suggestions without being pushy and allowed me to do what I thought was best. she was so knowledgeable and recommended veils. jewelry. hairstyles. all.kinds of things! the shop is clean. stylish and well lit. it felt very intimate and I loved that the appointments were so personal.

uestioning whether I even need to go but figured since I already paid the $50 fee I might as well go try on more dresses just in case. Farah helped me pick out two dresses of a style I hadn’t tried on before just to see what it would look like and the first one I put on I looked at my mom and said “….uh oh I really like this one!!” Farah knew we had just come from an appointment and had found a dress i really liked but never pressured me into buying a dress from her. She made me feel beautiful in the dress and gave me her opinion when I asked for it but was never pushy or opinionated at all. She let me decide what I wanted and I really appreciated that. And she was genuinely excited for me when I said “Yes” to the dress. Overall we had a wonderful experience at Elegance by Roya with Farah and I would recommend them to any bride.

ess with her. They have a very large selection of gowns and after trying on almost 40 dresses at various stores, I came back to my favorite one here at Elegance by Roya Old Town. Would highly recommend!

g and buying a dress is a financial and emotional investment. Your time is also incredibly valuable. As such, I'd argue that it is important to trust the person pulling dresses for you and helping you behind the curtain. If you want to work with a consultant who genuinely cares that you buy the right dress for you, not someone who is simply trying to make a sale, then you'll love Ayesha. I had the privilege to work with Ayesha & bump today. I'd give her 10 stars if I could. She was genuine, knowledgable, patient, and was a great listener. We laughed the entire time but she efficient and professional. She never made me reel rushed. She pointed me towards dresses she knew would be ready for my timeline. She also knew the price points, fabrics, and which were able to be customized by heart. She gave me honest and constructive feedback when appropriate. She helped me feel comfortable and relaxed. I've run past their store for years and always enjoyed looking in their display window. I also love them because they carry dress sizes for ALL WOMEN!! I'm really glad I was able to buy my dress from them.

ght the process would be overwhelming but it was incredibly fun!! Absolutely recommend Kimmie to help you with your fabulous wedding look.

e same, I knew I had to go here first and make the process as painless as possible. Farah was the stylist who assisted me during my visit. What was so special about his was that she had also helped my sister about 5 years ago and fully remembered her as soon as she entered the store. This shows you how much they really care about the brides that come in and individualize each appointment. Farah was so kind and calming and asked me about my style and budget. I really appreciated her commitment to sticking to my number and being so transparent about any additional costs I should account for. She led me through various different styles and was so respectful and kind throughout the entire day. She put me in my perfect dress towards the end of my very first wedding dress shopping appointment and I walked out of the store buying my dress. She scheduled my alterations appointment at the right times and worked so hard to make sure my dress fit perfectly. Each dress fitting appointment, she would take photos for me and give me such sweet feedback. I felt like a princess on my wedding day and the dress fit like a glove. I would recommend Elegance by Roya- Old Town to everyone and can’t thank Farah enough for her help!

made sure I was going to find something at my price point, making sure I only tried on dresses within my budget. Their gown selection is amazing! I did not have a huge budget, but I still found something simply stunning. The staff made it so fun while they helped me find the perfect dress. They allowed me to take my time while I decided which dress styles I liked and took the time to ask me detailed questions to help me better narrow my options! The staff was courteous and easy to work with during the initial trial and while scheduling appointments for fittings. I would recommend Elegance By Roya time and time again!

so accommodating to everything I've asked/needed. She transformed my moms 80s veil into something so beautiful and amazing. I trust her completely and I cannot recommend her enough!!

d made the process seamless. I ended up buying the curveball dress!

onsultant in the DC metro. Thank you Farah!

onderful and so easy and sweet to work with. She made me feel confident and beautiful and knew exactly what to show us and what I wanted. She was very respectful of the budget as well! The dress I ultimately fell in love with and said yes to she even knew I was going to choose. Highly recommend Elegance and it was such an incredible experience!

ice & an amazing selection and choices of dresses! I believe i tried on 11 dresses & was there almost 3 hours & I never once felt rushed out of the salon . Wonderful place 🥰

g to postpone our wedding multiple times because of COVID. The Elegance by Roya team was understanding and communicative throughout. They made not just the initial selection process so fun and easy, but they made all the subsequent transitions and necessary alterations a truly seamless process. I ended up with a beautiful dress I loved and felt beautiful in, but was also lucky enough to work with a talented team that was able to work with me through all the difficulties and obstacles!

tments and not only was she so sweet and easy to get along with, she made great suggestions. She made sure that I established what I wanted with my dress as well as give honest practical feedback that I needed to hear. I got very lucky working with her. Great place to find a dress!

o my feedback, and didn’t make me feel pressured or uncomfortable in the slightest. She helped me find the perfect dress for me (which was not what I had originally expected I wanted) and I couldn’t be happier! The shop is excellent and offers dresses at a great price point. The alterations are on the more expensive end but not totally out of the range of what’s to be expected especially in the area.

s if I was interested. in the end, hilariously, everything I didn't want ended up being my perfect gown. kudos to the sales associate for having a great eye, keeping me in my budget, and encouraging me to take a chance on a dress type I was hesitant about. I looked amazing and the dress was everything I wanted it to be.

of. The bridal associates, including Paola, were helpful, patient and kind throughout the process. Unlike other shops, there is also a nice array of sizes to try on, which really helps envision what will look great on you. It's not just "sample size or (literal) bust" like at other shops. I can't tell you how helpful that was during the process. I would highly recommend this luxury bridal shop to anyone looking for a gorgeous dress at a fair price point. Thank you!

00 would likely be hard to meet and I should book an appointment for their exclusive Black Friday sale. They wouldn’t refund me for my first appointment so I ended up keeping both thinking I could use both days to really decide on which dress I loved. The first appointment was a relatively good experience. I worked with Abby and she was very attentive. She spent the entire hour assisting me and made the entire process a really nice time for my friends and I. I ended up finding a dress I really loved and considered buying it but remembered I had my non-refundable appointment the next week. The thing that annoyed me about my first appointment was their Black Friday sale was already happening that entire week - not just Black Friday! If the sale was going to already be happening during my initial appointment, I don’t see why they felt the need to embarrass me into booking a second appointment because of my preferred budget. The second appointment is what really upset me. I arrived early and waited off to the side until my appointment time. The woman who was appointed to help me ended up staying with another customer until close to 30 minutes into my appointment time - which normally I wouldn’t mind but I paid $50 to be here! They still ended up having me leave at my end time after I tried on a few dresses. I originally planned to buy the dress I really loved from my first appointment but decided I wouldn’t give this place any more of my time or money after this experience. The only reason I’m giving three stars is because of how kind Abby was and that their dresses are beautiful.

nd how I could make the dress perfect for me. I was also able to get the same dress at half the price in MD. This bride is all about service and price.

dress the customer service was amazing. When I went to look for a wedding dress, Farah was wonderful!! She picked out a dress that went perfectly with my venue and stayed with in my price range for both the dress and the vail. Even the fittings were great and they really take the time to make sure the dress fits the bride perfectly. I have recommended Elegance by Roya to my other friends who are engaged, as my experience was great! I have nothing but good things to say about this store!!