Morgan McRay shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Morgan, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One thing some people misunderstand is how different your bridal gown purchase is from any other purchase. Buying your wedding dress is unlike any purchase you’ll ever make. Finding the perfect wedding dress at a bridal boutique is an emotional and sentimental experience, it’s very different than ordering a dress online or shopping at the mall. At Magnolia Bridal, we pride ourselves on giving a 5-Star experience to every couple we have the honor of serving. Your wedding attire will hold many memories, and you’ll reflect back on your wedding photos for years to come. This is one of the most important garments you may ever wear, and you deserve to enjoy the experience and be celebrated every step of the way. It’s okay to let yourself feel the moment and take full advantage of your bride-to-be era.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! My name is Morgan McRay and I am the owner of Magnolia Bridal near Grand Rapids, MI, in Jenison.
Magnolia Bridal is committed to empowering brides through our positive environment, customizable and size inclusive gown selection, and offering our high-quality wedding dresses at an attainable price point.
Size inclusivity was ignored in the fashion world, especially the bridal side, for far too long. When I founded Magnolia Bridal, I knew I wanted my shop to be a place for ALL types of brides to feel seen and appreciated. Our shop is unique in the fact that we require all designers to offer plus sizing. We don’t believe that your size should limit the style of dress you can wear, and are passionate about curating a well-rounded, trendy collection of wedding dresses that are inclusive to all.
Being a small business, we care more than the average shop. Every bride, every mom and every customer mean A LOT to us. Most of our brides find us through a recommendation by a friend, or family member, and we feel honored every time we earn your recommendations.
We are excited to continue expanding in areas other than wedding dresses as we continue to grow. We now have one of the largest selections for Mother-of the Bride dresses in West Michigan, and recently began offering in-house bridal alterations to our customers.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I grew up with working parents, and working hard was normal in my family. Both of my parents always took pride in their work, it was more than just a job or money to them, they wanted to help people and loved what they did. That mindset instilled a lot of values that are still in place for me today and push me to always do my best.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would have told her to listen to her heart and follow her passions. It’s okay to be a dreamer, even if society tells you something different. I think if I had that advice when I was young, things would have turned out a little differently for me, but I don’t have any regrets about where I’m at today.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
EQUALITY. I didn’t grow up with a deep sense of that value, but as I grew older and rooted myself deeper into my community, I realised there was still a great imbalance of this in local areas. I think as a community we need to work even harder to ensure everyone has their basic needs met and is treated with respect.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I think I used to ‘tap dance to work’ more often when I was newer in the formalwear industry. Now that I am older, and have more responsibilities being the owner of a business as well as additional priorities like being a good mother, those days don’t come as often. But don’t get me wrong, I am still driven and 100% dedicated to my work. I love preparing myself for the day by listening to my favorite songs, it helps me center myself and reminds me how grateful I am that this is my reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magnolia-bridal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliabridalmi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnoliabridalmi
Image Credits
Morgan Jean Photography
