When it comes to finding your wedding dress, you have a lot of decisions to make: tea-length or chapel train? Off-the-shoulder or plunging neckline? Should you go with a traditional look? A modern one? Or are you more of a bohemian?
We have so many new arrivals, that finding the perfect one will be a piece of cake! These are just a small sample of some of our favorite backs......
We are thrilled to host a special weekend full of curves! Thursday September 7th through Saturday September 9th we are highlighting our newest arrivals for our beautiful brides with curves.
Book your appointment today! 209.338.9333 or follow this link to request a date and time.
It’s that time of year again when all of our new gowns are arriving for 2017. We LOVE when the newest designs arrive from each designer except for one thing….we never have enough room. Guess who will be lucky enough to benefit? You! We MUST sell some of our current collections!! This is the BEST time to buy your gown off-the-rack. Our sizes range from 8-16 and some of the gowns are almost new! and everything can be altered or customized to create your PERFECT gown. Below are some tips on how to “attack” a bridal gown sample sale with success. There are some things you just don’t find out until you try on a wedding dress yourself.
By: Lauren Kay1. Breakfast actually is the most important meal of the day. Starting out “hangry” is like shopping suicide. You probably don’t need to wolf down a burger and fries moments before you step into that slinky gown, but make sure you have something to eat before getting started. Trying on gowns is emotionally and physically draining (some dresses weigh twice as much as a puppy!). You may even sweat a little, so fuel up!
2. Choose your companions wisely. Most bridal salons are happy to welcome you and a few guests (not your entire entourage). This is actually a good thing! There’s only room for a couple extra bodies and all that tulle anyway, and you’ll have fewer people weighing in on your decision. Its great to have trusted opinions, but too many and you’ll be paralyzed with fear of making the wrong choice.
3. Wear a touch more make up than usual. Buying a fancy dress is not an everyday occurrence-it’s going to be a tricky decision no matter what. Not to mention the unflattering florescent lighting typical of most fitting rooms. Do yourself a favor and wear a touch more makeup than your usual look (we’re talking some blush and eyeliner) to your appointment. You’ll look more like you will on your wedding day, which will ultimately make it easier to pull the trigger on a gown. Be cautious while trying on those pretty frocks, you don't want to spread your makeup all over either.
4. Be prepared to strip down. Truth: A veritable stranger may catch glimpses of you naked. Most consultants will give you some privacy, but because dresses can be unwieldy or delicate they’ll want to help you in and out of them. Wear undergarments that you don’t mind seeing the light of day (we recommend light-color boy shorts and a strapless bra). If you’re a modest-kind of girl, speak up from the start.
5. Trust your consultant. She may be older than your Mom or still single, but she wouldn’t be doing this if she wasn’t totally qualified. Your consultant knows the dresses and sees hundreds of brides with varying body shapes try them on every day. Make sure you share your wants (lace, a-line, sleeves) but be open to her suggestions—you may end up with one of her picks when its all said and done.
6. A bridal 8 is not a J.Crew 8. Don’t panic. You do not need to enroll in Bridal Boot Camp—wedding gown sizes are not the same as “street” clothes. If you wear an 8 in your favorite summer dress, there’s a good chance you’ll be wearing a 12 or 14 down the aisle. Focus on how great you feel in the dress, not the number on the tag.
7. Try on styles that aren’t “you.” Even if you have your heart set on a mermaid lace gown, or think you can’t wear silk, try on a variety of gowns. You’re only going to do this once and you may surprise yourself by choosing something completely different than the pins on your inspiration board. And try the dress that your mother (or grandmother or mother-in-law-to-be) is just sure is “the one”—she’s been looking forward to this day too. She’ll either see that you were right about the skirt swallowing you whole, or you may shock yourself by actually liking the dress—it’s a win-win.
8. Some “other” bride might be wearing “your” dress. Let’s get real: you’re not the only bride planning a June wedding, so its entirely possible someone else will be trying on “your” dream dress. Or, you may see someone wearing an illusion back gown that you hadn’t considered and want to try it on RIGHT. THIS. MINUTE. Play nice–share the mirrors, pedestals and even the gowns.
9. Don’t just stand there, move around! Sure, there will be moments when you’re standing still at your wedding (like when you say I do). But you’ll also be sitting and mingling and getting down on the dance floor. If you think the dress is a serious contender, take a walk around the salon, sit down, practice your “SHOUT!” technique. You may feel foolish in the moment, but you’ll be glad you gave the gown a test drive when you’re comfortable all day and night.
10. You may not cry. Maybe emotion will overcome you. Maybe your Mom will get choked up too. But it’s totally okay if no one cries. It doesn’t mean you picked the wrong gown (even if you’re the first to tear at a sappy commercial). Every bride is different so don’t put pressure on yourself to react a certain way. Also, your consultant may not pop a bottle of champagne (some can’t due to liquor laws) like you see on TV. Take your shopping companions out for a celebratory drink instead–you all deserve it!
Bonus: When you’ve found the dress, most salons require you to sign a contract and put down a deposit on the spot (read more about that here). You may have to commit to things like a size and any customizations (adding sleeves, dropping the waist) you and your consultant discussed. Ask about alteration costs, which can add up.
We have all heard of over-bearing relatives or friends attending a bridal
shopping appointment and causing chaos with their own opinions. Sometimes it is
a close relative, a close friend, and yes, sometimes a mother.....Well, now we
see it via reality TV on last night's episode of RHOBH.
Paris Hilton’s mother could not keep her thoughts to herself as she went
wedding dress shopping with her niece Brooke.
While Brooke’s mother Kim Richards and aunt Kyle Richards got teary-eyed over the
pretty blonde during their shopping trip, Kathy was less accommodating.
‘It’s very pretty, but I don’t see it as the wedding dress,’ she said when she saw
Brooke in her first dress.‘It looks more like black tie.’
Brooke, her mother and aunt looked stunned by the remarks and explained that
the wedding was supposed to be beach-themed.
Kathy acknowledged that her niece was unlikely to want anything formal with lace or a high neck,
but would not let her thoughts on the dress go unheard.
Speaking her mind: ‘It’s very pretty, but I don’t see it as the wedding dress,’
Kathy said when she saw Brooke in her first dress. ‘It looks more like black tie’
Critical eye: Paris Hilton’s mother, stood front and center
as she eschewed her opinions on Brooke’s wedding gowns
‘It’s very pretty but I don’t like it for you,’ she insisted.
‘There’s something that looks like a cocktail waitress.’
If I could send one reminder out there.....
This is the brides day, let her wear what she wants.
Brides, limit the amount of friends and family you want
to take with you. Once you purchase your gown we recommend a
'reveal bridal appointment'. Then you can invite your close friends
and family in to see your gown before your big day.
If you're like us, you've probably spent one too many Friday nights watching TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" marathons with a glass of wine and a fistful of tissues. Thousands of brides — approximately 17,000 a year, to get specific — strut through Kleinfeld's doors in search of their perfect dress, which is why when had a few questions about potential shopping pitfalls, we took them straight to Kleinfeld's Fashion Director Terry Hall. Here is his expert take on what not to do on your wedding dress journey.
1. Don't Shop Before You've Set the Date
"Whenever a bride comes in and she doesn't have the date and the venue, we really don't know where to begin because we don't know what the time frame is, and it really is all about the time frame," Hall says. "Many designers take four to even eight months to make a gown," he elaborates, so if you're not sure what timeline you're working with, consultants won't know what dresses to show you.
2. Don't Bring Too Many People "More people equals more opinions and most of the time you're not always going to agree so it's really important that the bride chooses only those whose opinions she really values," Hall suggests.
See More: 5 People You Should Not Go Wedding Dress Shopping WIth You
3. Don't Forget to Factor Alterations Into Your Budget To keep expectations in check, be sure to set a budget that includes alteration costs. "Alterations can be several hundred dollars and if there are any changes that need to be made to the dress, those all have costs involved and really can significantly add to the budget," Hall explains. 4. Don't Forsake Trendy Dresses "Oftentimes I hear brides say, 'I love this dress, but I know it's kind of a hot trend right now so I think I should wear something a bit more classic because what am I going to say about this picture in 20 years?' What I say to that is: 'You're not getting married 20 years from now, you're getting married right now.' It's not about whether or not that dress is timeless or not, it's about that day, and that picture should be frozen in time," Hall notes.
5. Don't Get Camera Happy "I understand brides want to take pictures of their dress, and a lot of times family members or friends can't make it to the appointment. But I always discourage them from taking photos, mainly because most of the photos today are taken with a cell phone and oftentimes the way the dress photographs, isn't the way it really looks in person. So the person that's receiving the photo on the other end is seeing something different than what the bride is seeing, and she may not get the answer that she wants. Also, I've seen emailed pictures of the dress accidentally be posted, or shared with people that weren't supposed to see it," Hall warns. "When it's absolutely necessary, I encourage them to either Facetime or Skype in real time, because you can actually speak to any of the differences, and those images aren't going to be saved."
See More: FAQ for Wedding Gown Shopping
Mira Bridal Couture offers a contemporary boutique, nestled in downtown Modesto, CA. Locally owned and operated, we offer exquisite designer gowns, at surprisingly delightful prices. We think shopping for your dress should be an experience you’ll never forget, and our team of bridal stylists are there for you every step of the way!
1201 J Street
Modesto, CA 95354
209-338-9333
Special Events:
Be the first to order from our new 2024 collections! Special incentives in place during these events.
July 17-31, 2024 NATIONAL BRIDAL SALE Gowns up to 70% off starting at $299. Over 200 gowns are available to purchase and take home same-day, sizes 8-24!
Special Events:
Be the first to order from our new 2024 collections! Special incentives in place during these events.
Bridal Appointment Hours:
Sunday - By Request
Monday - 1pm - 6pm
Tuesday - 1pm - 6pm
Wednesday - 11am - 6pm
Thursday - 11am - 7pm
Friday - 11am - 6pm
Saturday - 9:30am - 4:30pm
