She Said "YES"!

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Congratulations to Kodie! 

 

Kodie's appointment with our bridal consultant Cheryl was so much fun and found the perfect gown for her May 2018 wedding to Matthew. XOXO

And she wrote a wonderful Yelp review! Love our brides!

Thank you Kodie!

Are you ready for your bridal appointment at Mira Bridal Couture?  

Call us today at 209-338-9333 or follow this link to request your appointment date and time. 

 

What It’s Really Like to Shop for a Wedding Dress as a Size 14

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By Jennie Runk via Brides.com

Shopping for a wedding dress as a size 14 is no cakewalk. Just ask model and advocate Jennie Runk, who married the love of her life, Andria, in October 2016 while wearing a stunning figure-hugging gown. But finding that perfect wedding dress was no easy feat. Here, Jennie details her own less-than-perfect experience.

 

I’m one of the most confident people I know. But I haven’t always been confident in my own skin. Growing up, I was always taller and bigger than the girls (and most of the boys) my age. I’ve been fortunate that modeling for over the past 10 years has given me the opportunity to really accept my body for everything it is: big, curvy, and beautiful.

 

However, leaving my first wedding dress appointment—preparing for one of the happiest days of my life—I’ve almost never felt worse about my body.

 

Living in New York City, I expected to have seemingly unlimited options for a wedding dress. This is one of the fashion capitals of the world, right? But in going into the first bridal boutique, I was astounded to find that they had nothing that would fit me. At a size 14 (the average size of American women, by the way), I was unable to fit into the boutique’s sample sizes of 6 or 8. The saleswoman was very sweet and tried to be accommodating—putting me in bigger skirts and holding the top of a smaller dress up to my bust to get an idea for what a larger dress might look like—but ordering a dress you’ve never tried on before for one of the biggest days of your life was something I just wasn’t ready to do.

 

The second boutique I visited in New York was an even bigger disaster. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I told the saleswoman the vision I had for my dream dress and she looked me up and down and said, "We don’t have anything like that in your size." I was floored. So I walked right out of there, thinking to myself that she’d made a big mistake in not helping me.

 

Now, I’ve never been much of a shopper. Growing up, I was always more interested in the next Stephen King novel than going to the mall. But shopping for my wedding dress was different. I was looking forward to it! As a model, I’ve learned to be comfortable and confident in my own skin. I’m a proud plus-size woman with big, beautiful curves! But leaving two appointments not only without a gown, but without being able to try anything my size on, was completely defeating. I couldn’t imagine what plus-size women with lower self-esteem than mine were experiencing.

 

I was about to resign myself to ordering a gown from the first boutique. The saleswoman was very sweet, and I liked the idea of what the gown would look like. But, of course, I couldn’t try it on in my size until after it was purchased. I just didn’t want to shop anymore. Any fun that was supposed to come from wedding dress shopping had been sucked out by stores failing to carry a wider selection of sample sizes. It’s not like they weren’t available; the stores just didn’t carry them.

 

On a trip home to Missouri, my mom and sister convinced me to try shopping again. I was not interested in putting myself in a position to feel miserable about my body again, but still wasn’t happy with the options I’d found in NYC. I finally agreed to give St. Louis shopping a try.

 

To my delight, Maiden Voyage Bridal in Manchester, Missouri, was completely different. I described my dream dress to the saleswoman and she seemed to get it instantly. The onsite seamstress was able to open up any dress I wanted so I could actually try on the dresses to see what the final product would look like. To this day, I don’t understand why every store doesn’t do this. It seemed like just part of their process to take the sample dresses apart and then sew them back together. That’s what they’re there for, right?

 

With some slight tweaking and pulling together the right accessories, I fell in love with a gown and never wanted to take it off!

I’m thrilled with my wedding dress (and even spent much less money than I expected!), but getting there was such a discouraging process. The fashion industry has done such a great job of moving toward inclusivity for all sizes, but in my experience, much of the bridal industry hasn’t caught up yet. I wish designers included a larger range of sample sizes to send to bridal shops, which would have made my experience—and that of so many other women—much more positive. Just because you’re a size 14, or 22, or even a size 2, doesn’t mean that the experience of shopping for your wedding dress should be any less special than someone who fits into the sample sizes of 6 or 8.

 

My advice? Call the boutiques before venturing out to see if the stores have wedding dress options in your size. Someday soon, I hope to see every bridal boutique carry a wider range of sample sizes. But until then, set yourself up for success by just calling ahead.

 

Jennie Runk, an American model represented by New York’s JAG Models, has graced the cover of fashion magazines and starred in H&M summer swimwear campaign. Born in Georgia and raised in Missouri, Jennie was discovered in a Petsmart while volunteering for a cat adoption service. A proud (and recently married!) member of the LGBTQ community, Jennie is passionate about inclusion and empowerment for all people. Considered plus-size by the fashion industry, Jennie will be starring in the Straight/Curve documentary where she’ll share her compelling perspective on the future of her industry.

5 Things Bridal Salon Owners Want You to Know Before Your Appointment

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Please, please don't bring your morning latte into the salon.by Ivy Jacobson TheKnot.com There are things you need to know before going wedding dress shopping at your local bridal salon—like limit your entourage and always make an appointment—and then there are things that you may not be aware of that bridal shop owners really want you to know as well. Follow our guide to displaying the best etiquette before and during your bridal salon appointment.

1. Be respectful of your appointment time. Many bridal salons are by appointment only or have designated walk-in times for a reason. Your bridal consultant wants to be able to completely focus on finding the perfect dress for you, but if you're late to your appointment or are a no-call no-show, this can throw things off. You may get charged a fee for not showing up, or you may have to accept a shorter appointment window and reschedule for another since consultants don't want to then have another customer's appointment time delayed. If you know you can't make your appointment, be respectful to everyone's time and call as far in advance as you can and reschedule for the next best time. 2. The salon may not be able to serve you and your squad celebratory champagne. Although lots of bridal salons do offer a glass of bubbly for you and your entourage to celebrate choosing your dress, not every salon can pop a bottle. If the owner doesn't have a permit or license to serve it (it can vary based on the county and state laws) you may have to go to a restaurant to toast after.

3. Be respectful of the bridal salon's furniture. Bridal salons often have lots of sofas and chairs to make your entourage comfortable while you try on dresses. But many shop owners see friends and family members getting a little too comfortable and putting their feet on furniture or taking their shoes off if they're there for awhile. It's important for everyone to know that they're not in their own living room, as welcoming and gracious as the bridal salon is.

4. Don't bring in food or drinks that could damage the gowns or the salon's furniture. We definitely recommend making a fun day out of dress shopping with your friends or family members, like having lunch together after dress shopping. Just don't try to combine the two activities and bring any food or beverages into the shop. Even if you think a small bag of chips is innocuous enough, shop owners are concerned about greasy fingers touching and potentially damaging fabric. Iced or hot beverages in to-go cups could spill or leave rings on furniture in the salon. Bottled water is usually fine, but leave anything else to be eaten after shopping or outside.

5. Children should never be left unsupervised in the bridal salon. Kids are adorable—but if they're left unattended in a bridal salon, you may have a higher bill on your hands than you thought. Your bridal consultant doesn't double as a babysitter, so if you bring your child to your appointment, it could be a gamble unless you know for sure that they'll sit still and behave. In that case, it's best to bring along someone who can watch them. Otherwise, you and your consultant will be too busy to make sure your child is okay and behaving while left unsupervised—so if they end up adding a little color to a wedding dress with crayons, you'll likely be purchasing an extra dress. Some bridal salons are adults-only in the first place, and will say so on their website or tell you when you book your appointment.

Bridal SalonsWedding FashionWedding DressesDressesFashionWedding Ideas + Etiquette

Now Hiring!

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When a bride finds “THE ONE,” there are often cheers, tears and applause.  Mira Bridal Couture is more than a job.  We are in the business of making people happy.  We create exceptional memories for our clients every day!

Have you ever wanted to help make dreams come true. Well here’s your chance. Mira Bridal Couture is accepting applications for a team member to join our amazing staff of dedicated and enthusiastic sales consultants. Our goal is to make our brides dreams come true.  Join our Team!  Mira Bridal Couture is seeking team members to fill the following positions:

 IMG_8711

Bridal Consultant:

Brides choose Mira Bridal Couture because of:

– The experience we create

– Our award winning customer service

– Our extensive selection

– Our charming atmosphere

Most brides learn about Mira Bridal Couture from friends, family, co-workers, and our previous brides.  This is because of the team members we select to join our family.  We hold our team members to the highest standards because our clients deserve the very best.  YOU are Mira Bridal Couture!

NOW HIRING!

We are currently interviewing Sales Professionals with open availability.

– Are you energetic and fun with a sense of humor?

– Do you naturally engage others in conversation?

– Do you adapt well to all personality types?

– Are you detail oriented?

Responsibilities include:

– Developing warm, trust based relationships with our clients

– Follow-up with clients and set appointments

– Lead clients through the decision making process and overcome objections

– Ensuring clients enjoy their MBC experience over all others by offering extraordinary customer service

– Participating in our weekly sales meeting focused on personal and professional growth

– Complete on-going sales training to keep skills fresh

Job Requirements:

– Previous high-end/luxury sales experience is preferred.

– Position is fast paced and consists of constant standing/walking and lifting up to 35 lbs.

– SATURDAYS ARE A MUST!!!!!

If you are the perfect candidate for our team, please email your resume to Mira@MiraBridal.com with the words “I love to sell” in the message section so I know you have read this posting and will take this opportunity seriously.  Remember – this position requires OPEN AVAILABILITY to work any and all hours needed. We contact job applicants via email, so please watch your inbox!

We look forward to meeting you soon, and hopefully, you are the next to join #teammirabridal!

If you are interested in joining our team of consultants, please email your resume to mira@mirabridal.com.

 

Mother of the Bride Writes Offensive Letter About Daughter's Maid of Honor

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Mother of the Bride Writes Offensive Letter About Daughter's Maid of Honor By Evelyn Wang via Brides Magazine Published on September 11, 2017 Please never do this.

Weddings have been known to compel even the sweetest, cuddliest people to say some pretty questionable things, but what one mom wrote about her daughter's maid of honor is completely unforgivable. In a Dear Prudence column from last week, the mother of a bride wrote in with a question that had us super worried for the well-being of Twitter user Nicole Cliffe, who prefaced it with, "I am no longer of this earth. This letter has killed me." The supremely unclassy and deeply (deeply!) offensive letter started off fine, and then quickly swerved into the territory of Momzilla-levels unheard of:

Luckily, Slate agony aunt Mallory Ortberg was quick to shut it down, being high in hilarity and low in B.S.-tolerance: A: I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this letter. I encourage you to reread it and to ask yourself that time-honored question, “Do I sound like a villain in a Reese Witherspoon movie?” You are, presumably, sympathetic to your own situation and are invested in making sure that you come across as reasonable and as caring as possible, and yet you have written a letter indicting yourself at every turn. This girl is “like a daughter” to you, and yet you want to shove her to the side of your other daughter’s wedding just because she walks with a limp. Your daughter’s wedding will be perfect with Katie as a full and honored member of the bridal party. A limp is not a fly in the ointment; it’s a part of Katie’s life. It is not only wrong to have asked your daughter to consider excluding her best friend over this—it is ableist, and cruel, and it speaks to a massive failure of empathy, compassion, and grace on your part. You must and should apologize to your daughter immediately, and I encourage you to profoundly reconsider the orientation of your heart. We don't blame her daughter for wanting nothing to do with her mum. Of course, the letter's ridiculousness sent several Twitter users into a spiral of rage and confusion.

Read more here http://www.brides.com/story/mother-of-the-bride-offensive-letter-maid-of-honor?mbid=social_facebook

 

 

$25 Off Bridesmaids!

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Yay! It's happening again!

$25 off bridesmaids for the month of September.*

Book your appointment today to come in and see some of our newest arrivals. Sequin, chiffon, tulle, and more. Shades of blues, pink, reds, and beige are hot, hot, hot!

Call us today 209-338-9333 or follow this link to book your appointment.

*$25 off promotion good September 1-31, 2017. Not valid on previously purchased or ordered merchandise. 60% deposit must be placed before discount is applied. See store for details. 

Take an extra 1/2 off sale event!

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THIS PROMOTION HAS BEEN EXTENDED!

DON"T MISS OUT!

Our sale is already drastically marked down,

and now you have a chance

to take an extra 1/2 off the already marked down sale price!

Call us 209.338.9333 or follow this link to book your appointment today!

All gowns are marked to their current sale price. Extra 1/2 off will be taken at the register from the marked down price. No cash value. Not valid towards previously purchased or ordered merchandise. No refunds.

September Maids!

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Join us for our September Maids Event. 

September 1st through the 30th we are offering each of your bridesmaids $25 off their special order.*

Call us today at 209.338.9333 to book your bridesmaid appointment, or follow this link to book online.

 *offer not valid towards previously ordered or purchased merchandise. No cash value. Order and 60% deposit must be completed before September 30, 2017 to receive the discount/offer. See store for further details.

Tips on Shopping During Mira's Sale

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We are offering a special VIB (Very Important Bride) preview Thursday July 13th and Friday July 14th. Book your bridal appointment for our special preview dates and receive an additional 10% off our sale! Call us today at 209-338-9333, follow this link, or reply to this email to book your VIB sale appointment.  Gowns by Watters, Martina Liana, Pronovias, Maggie Sottero, Sottero Midgley, Essense of Australia, Stella York, WTOO, Willowby, and more starting at $99. We must clear some of our inventory so not a single sale gown will be priced over $999.

 

Veils starting at $29        

Bridal Heels starting at $19.99          

Accessories as low as $12.99

Social, cocktails, bridesmaids, and MOB at $19.99 for knee length, $29.99 floor length.

 

Because sample sales can quickly escalate into blind, frenzied sprees, take your time figuring out what you want before you get there. No point in ripping through racks for a drop-waist only to realize it does nothing for your already disproportionately long torso. Take note of prices as you do the prelim legwork, so if and when you find a $10,000 gown for $1,000, you can yell cha-ching—that’s six months’ rent!

Manage your expectations about the level of service you will receive at a sample sale. Don’t confuse this with a real bridal appointment. You can still celebrate and pop some bubbly when you get home but since the gowns are so deeply discounted and you are shopping without an appointment during a special event, you can’t expect the same service you would typically receive if you were shopping during a scheduled appointment. You may be shopping at the same time as 5 to 30 brides all at once, and looking for the same amazing bargain. No matter what, your experience at Mira's will exciting and once you find your gown we will help book future appointments for your wedding party dresses and tuxedos.

Be very picky about who you bring with you to the sale: We do not recommend bringing more than one guest, as your own opinion matters the most. Bring a friend that is honest and decisive. After all, purchasing a gown at a sample sale is not a decision that you can sleep on. Brides who bring an entourage, thinking each friend can grab several dresses at the same time, end up being frustrated. We try to limit how many dresses are in a room at once, too many in one room will only confuse the process and possibly damage gowns. Moreover, in such a crowded and hectic environment, having so many people there with you can end up being distracting and counterproductive. With that, don't forget to get a sitter for the kiddos. 

Only buy a dress if it can realistically be altered to your size: You want to make sure the dress you get can be altered to fit you, because once you leave the store, you are on your own. These events are final sales. Remember, shoppers: At just about every sample sale, the stores will not provide alterations. Even if you swear you’re going to lose weight before the wedding, if you have a certain build and your ribcage is a certain size, you will never fit in certain dresses. How do you make sure you end up with a gown that look fabulous on you? Ask lots of questions at the sale.

 

 

NATIONAL BRIDAL SALE DAY!

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Welcome to the annual National Bridal Sale Day. This day was born out of a collective desire from bridal salons nationally to help brides find their dream dress at a fraction of the price.

at Mira Bridal Couture, brides will find gowns by Watters, Maggie Sottero, Sottero Midgley, Martina Liana, Essense, Stella York, and more marked down as low as $99.*

 

No appointment required. First come, first serve. Doors open at 9am, Saturday July 15, 2017.

 

*All merchandise marked as is. All sales final. Cash, visa, mastercard accepted. No layaways or holds.  

WITH OVER 850 STORES PARTICIPATING AND REPRESENTATION IN NEARLY EVERY STATE PLUS CANADA, WE ARE THRILLED THAT BRIDES EVERYWHERE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE GOWN OF THEIR DREAMS AT A PRICE THAT THEY LOVE.

 

SPECIAL OFFER

The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists has generously provided this gift certificate to any bride purchasing a gown during the National Bridal Sale Day. To take advantage of this special offer, download this coupon by clicking here and bring it with your gown to the nearest participating Certified Wedding Gown Specialist. To find the nearest location, please click here.

 

HIRING –STORE MANAGER

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HIRING –STORE MANAGER 

A Career That’s Meant to Be

At Mira Bridal Couture, we empower our customers and our employees to stay true to their dreams and find the one, whether that means the wedding dress that matches her personal style—or the career that’s a perfect fit.

We’re looking for leaders with diverse backgrounds and fresh ideas to help create a uniquely personal retail experience.

Now Accepting Applications for Store Manager

The store manager manages, and is responsible for, all aspects of running a retail store. The store manager is responsible for the overall Brand Standards, product inventory, visual merchandising, recruitment, hiring, training, and scheduling of all store personnel and protecting Company assets. The store manager is accountable for the store sales performance and that our associates are following service and selling guidelines, thereby ensuring that all of our customers have an excellent shopping experience with us.

Store manager must be a self-motivated individual with an upbeat, outgoing personality and excellent communication skills, capable of serving our internal and external customers in a sincere, thoughtful, and encouraging way each and every time.

If you would like to be part of a dynamic team; can manage, recruit, lead, and coach a sales oriented team in a positive professional environment, we would love to discuss your future at Mira Bridal Couture.

Store Manager Responsibilities:

Required Experience: Minimum of 2 years prior retail management

• Lead the store to make sales plan consistently

• Develop and manage customer service strategies to deliver an A+ customer experience by ensuring active floor management at all times

• Achieve all expenses budgets including payroll

• Utilize effective scheduling practices to maximize sales while delivering A+ customer service

• Meet or exceed daily, weekly, monthly and annual sales plans

• Ensure flawless execution of all promotions, sales visual merchandising standards and strategies to maximize sales

• Build, develop and retain the entire team by providing continual coaching and follow up  through various communication tools, such as weekly management meetings, developmental conversations and in-the-moment coaching

• Build the capability and routines of all associates to improve performance and productivity

• Recruit and interview all candidates and make the final decision on all staff hires

• Provide a positive working environment and address associate issues in a timely manner

• Supervise Performance Management consistently for all associates and manages under-performers monthly through coaching and counseling or disciplinary action when appropriate

• Meet or exceed goals and objectives for store payroll management Review schedule compliance weekly to ensure accuracy

• Manage and ensure accurate daily bank deposits and store compliance with banking policy

• Monitor training of new associates in all roles within the store and determine when it is appropriate to assign other members of the management team to provide further training

• Perform all human resources duties, including I-9 compliance, personnel records, and timely communication and management of associate medical issues with Owner

• Assess and resolve customer service issues promptly, ensuring root causes are addressed, partnering with Owner

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Interpret, communicate, and manage visual merchandising standards and throughout the store

• Maintain the stability and reputation of the Company and the store by complying with all legal requirements  

• Write and conduct all annual performance reviews with input from other members of the management team, and by monitoring and appraising key job results and behavioral issues

• Ensure associate awareness of safety and emergency procedures

Now that we’ve popped the question, please say “I do”. Please send your resume to Mira@MiraBridal.com. 

m a i d s & m o m s e v e n t ! s a v e $ 2 5 !

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For the month of May we are offering each of your bridesmaids and your MOB & MOG $25 off their order!*

We have so many styles to browse through.

From chic boho and mismatched vintage, to jaw-dropping formals.

New fabrics, updated colors, and fresh looks will make selecting your wedding party style simple.

Book your appointment today.

Give us a call at 209.338.9333 or follow this link to book your appointment online at mirabridal.com.

**Discount valid May 1-31, 2017. No cash value. $25 discount valid on new wedding party purchases and/or orders on registered Mother of the Bride and Groom, and bridesmaids. Not good towards previously placed orders or purchases. See store for further details.

New Arrival!

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Shimmering beaded lace appliqués and crosshatching add luster and dimension to this glamorous sheath, highlighting the waistline, illusion halter over V-neck, and illusion open back. Embellished lace hem completes the gown‘s striking lines. Finished with crystal buttons over zipper closure.

Ivory/Pewter Accent, Pearl/Pewter Accent (pictured)

Available in Sizes 0-28

Maggie Sottero Spring 2017 Trunk Show

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January 13th-15th, 2017 By appointment. Request your appointment date and time by following this link...

-->My Maggie Sottero appointment.

The Maggie Sottero trunk show is the best time to get Maggie Sottero dresses. Maggie Sottero dresses are almost never ever discounted, and if you see a bridal shop advertising “Discount Maggie Sottero Wedding Dresses,” they might be  counterfeit gowns and/or the discount probably isn’t authorized by Maggie Sottero – but for this event only, Maggie Sottero and Mira Bridal Couture are giving you the amazing opportunity to take advantage of extra-special, one-time-only promotions on the über-desirable Maggie Sottero dresses.

 

As a Maggie Sottero Premier Retailer, Mira Bridal Couture has the opportunity to give you exclusive access to in-store Maggie Sottero trunk show promotions. With over 40 different Maggie Sottero wedding dress styles available in-store, you’re sure to find the perfect Maggie Sottero dress.