Dar-Lynn's Bridal & Formal Wear — Local services in Indian Trail

I really tried to like this place…but you have to have service for one to review your service (i.e. 0 Stars). No one greets you at any point, which is just so rude and cold on so many levels.

I bought the dress a few weeks ago and long story short: they forgot to give me the $100 towards my dress when they charged me so I had to remind them they gave me that. I also had to remind her she said I would get $150 towards any veil, but I decided to purchase my veil elsewhere anyway. I made sure that was in writing on my invoice.

We went back for alterations and I never thought something so simple could end so poorly. When we purchased the dress, we decided only to do the arm-area. When we arrived, the lady hands me push up padding. I was so confused, but assumed it was for making sure the fit was right if I put a bra on. Nope, this was like 3 cups bigger than what I really am. I told her I didn’t need them and she comes back with a slightly smaller size. I love how I am being passive aggressively insulted for my small chest before I am ever even greeted, congratulated, or asked how I am doing on this raining day? I am happy with my chest and told her that I didn’t want it, as it looked ridiculously fake.

She pinned up the arms at the top and I liked it. She came back and did it again to get more of the exact measurements, but this time pinned it at the bottom (where your bra strap would be?). Rather than shortening it where the strap thins and would be easily hidden with my hair, she wants to add a seem in the middle of my back! I asked her to pin it back the other way on my one arm so I could see the difference between the two. It was $135 for the complicated, dress-ruining way and $165 for the practical, easily hidden way. I told her I wanted it the practical way as long as they remember to cut the slit under the arm a little (because now the arm eye is smaller, too). They also wanted to shorten my dress 2 inches. The detail on this dress – there is NO way they would have been able to keep the beauty in the lace pattern without ruining it and making it obvious where all the seems are. They kept telling me to change the back/arms and the length (two of the reasons I actually bought this specific dress). There was clearly an attitude present and it made the entire experience awkward and unpleasant. I told them to just give me my dress as is I was going elsewhere. I don't trust my dress even being stored there at this point.

They tried to charge me $175 after telling me $165. He was nice enough to go confirm this with her but she hesitated and denied it. A $10 difference isn’t the reason I left. The terrible customer service, poor judgment call by the ‘seamstress’ on where to alter the lace, the changing and denial of the price, and the constant dumbfounded look I probably had on my face after half the stuff that was being said is why. It’s one thing to forget; people make mistakes, so I understand that it happens. It’s another to have such inconsistent pricing strategies that you can’t even remember what your quotes are. My dress had two of the additions they wanted to add (so, I was going to be charged for something the dress already had? They had to 'be right back' to get us our first quotes, yet gave us random ones off the top of their head during the consultation and forgot what they were went I went to check out so they made up another one…sketchy on so many levels.

I would highly recommend, suggest, and beg you to go somewhere else. Even if they offered to pay for 100% of my dress and my alterations I wouldn’t do it because I guarantee you they would have damaged the beauty of this dress. They couldn't even pay me to do business...

Original Review 3/1/2024 - 5 stars - Pam & the ladies of Dar-Lynn’s were so sweet & welcoming during my bridal appointment. This was my first shopping experience and it was everything I dreamed of. Pam was so attentive and helpful in picking out dresses based on my thoughts as well as helping my family pick out dresses for me to try. Being a plus-size bride it was very important to me to try on dresses in my size range and they have a lovely selection of dresses in the curvier sizes. I am also a shorter-timeline bride (6months to the day) and it was nice to hear that ordering wouldn’t be a problem at all and my beautiful dress & gorgeous veil should be here in plenty of time for the big day. I never felt rushed or pressured during my appointment and am so excited to have my dream dress from Dar-Lynn’s for my big day. Updated Review 7/2/2024 - 4 stars - Lack of direct communication has been frustrating awaiting my dress to be delivered, please see photos for conversations with Dar-Lynn’s. I was originally quoted about 12 weeks at time of purchase for dress arrival. When I then questioned after that date range passed I was quoted a longer wait. When that time came & went I questioned again and was finally told that dress was to ship 6/24/2024, only after quoting directly from their website that date of shipping was to have been given to them by the manufacturer at time of purchase. At no time prior to being called on 6/27/2024 to be told that the dress had finally arrived was I contacted first by Dar-Lynn’s staff to be given any of this information or any updates. And at the time of that call I was then told that upon pickup if alterations were needed we would need to do that on our own as they no longer offer in-house alterations. Was also told via email at time of original review that I was to be offered a gift from the salon in exchange for my review. When I went 6/28/2024 to pick up my dress, when questioned neither the staff at location that day, nor their social media person who was there, seemed to know anything. I was called 7/1/2024 regarding that a package containing said gift was being held at the store for me. So I made a second trip this afternoon 7/2/2024 to retrieve the package. I am slightly disappointed in that said ‘gift’ was a simple ‘hold-all’ makeup bag that was clearly marked for someone other than me, as the bride, please see final pictures. Overall I can recommend Dar-Lynn’s for their selection of dresses but I truly feel as their customer service & communication with bride’s could use a...

RUDE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE I like to support local family owned businesses. I went dress shopping with my teen for Prom as this place was recommended on Nextdoor. We had a wonderful experience on Tuesday I did not get the name of the sweet lady who helped us as we were in a time crunch. Like many teens mine was indecisive and wanted to check another nearby local shop. We returned yesterday as she had her heart set on a dress she tried on.The two women who were in there were absolutely not welcoming . We tried the dress on once again to ensure she was certain I discovered two rips at the bottom of the dress and asked if they could order a new one. After all if I’m paying $500 for a dress I would like it to be undamaged and free of lint and glitter. One lady says I’ve never had anyone examine a dress like this. I ignored her comment as my teen had her heart set on this dress. She seemed annoyed by the other woman working I want to say she’s was the owner as she wanted to show her the dress before they ordered another. As she was on the phone she stated the wrong color and the woman helping us rudely corrected her again I ignored her people are entitled to have an off day BUT still no excuse for rude customer service. I was told the dress will take 7 days to arrive at the store. The other woman proceeds to ring me up however at this point I’m uncomfortable paying in full for a dress that was not at the store for several reasons 1 by the comment the first woman made about me examining the dress my fear was they would try and sell me the one in the store 2. The one they ordered would also be damaged in some way and my hands would be tied because I paid for the dress in full. The woman proceeds with her condescending remarks about the process of placing orders. RUDE and...