Angel Sanchez Spring 2011 on VideoFashion

We love, love, love the bridal market videos produced by VideoFashion. Check out this one on Angel Sanchez. The show is stunning and one of our favorites from the past market, but what we love the most is the direct commentary from Angel himself.

Let us know which gowns are your favorites!

ODLR: The Sample Room

We came across this amazing video on Full Frontal Fashion giving a behind the scenes look at the sample and production rooms at Oscar de la Renta. If you watch closely, you can see some bridal looks being developed. This is how true couturiers work, and how we feel bridal gowns should be made. Beautiful design must always be supported by flawless production! Enjoy the video and tune into Full Frontal Fashion for a live stream of the new ODLR Resort Runway show today at 1:00.

Mark Appearance on Let's Talk Live

Mark was featured as a guest on Lets Talk Live on DC's News Channel 8 to promote the WE TV and Wedding Central Mall Tour. Mark's first Mall stop is today in Columbia, MD. If you attend the event, send us your pics and we will post!

Top Tips from Jenny Craig and Mark on Looking and Feeling Your Best on Your Wedding Day

Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting Sara Rue, actress and Jenny Craig celebrity spokesperson, for a tea to celebrate her 40lb weight loss on the Jenny Craig program and her upcoming 2011 wedding. Sara, who most recently starred in one of my fav TV shows Eastwick, was an absolute delight! Her enthusiasm for the Jenny Craig program and her determination to look and feel her best on her wedding day was truly inspiring. After mingling with guests from the bridal industry, Sara and I got down to business and started looking at gowns. I had pre-selected a few choices for her in three categories: Destination, Formal Ballroom and Hollywood Glamour. Sara chose her favorites and is going to get busy on planning her wedding. Once she chooses a venue, she will come back and find her perfect gown.

Sara has learned so much about health and well being from the Jenny Craig program, following are our "official tips" on how to look and feel beautiful on your wedding day.

Both Mark Ingram and Sara Rue agree that it is essential to look and feel your best on what is often considered the most important day of your life! Whether your goal is fitting into the perfect wedding dress, having the ideal hairstyle, being bride buff or just wanting to strut down that aisle with poise, Sara and Mark are here to provide you their top tips on how to ensure complete bridal confidence:

Leading an active lifestyle is a vital part of feeling confident and staying fit – get moving with an activity that you enjoy and you’ll learn to look forward to physical activity rather than dread it. Since starting the Jenny Craig program, Sara Rue has taken up fun activities such as hiking, running mini marathons and walking her dog, Biscuit!

Need more motivation to work out? Have your fiancé join you! Couples jogs are perfect for getting away from all the wedding anxiety and spending some quality time together. Plus, you’ll be bonding and getting fit at the same time so you can slip into the beautiful wedding dress you’ve been dreaming of your whole life. Sara Rue and her fiancé even took up tennis to stay in shape together!

Craving comfort food? You can still eat all the foods you love leading up to the big day – the real secret to slimming down is portion control! Meals that are properly balanced with the correct serving sizes of protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates will keep you feeling fuller longer without experiencing deprivation. With Jenny Craig, Sara is able to still enjoy her favorite foods like chocolate cake and macaroni and cheese, just in the right serving size.

Plan ahead! As a bride-to-be, you are probably rushing around everywhere getting everything in tip-top shape for the big day, leaving little time to even think about eating healthy. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time – that way, there are no surprise encounters with the vending machine or drive-thru.

Stress can be dangerous to a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Be sure to have an outlet where you can unwind with and de-stress. Be it a friend or family member, it is always helpful to have someone by your side for extra motivation and support you need during this exciting time in your life.

Weight loss is about progress, not perfection! There are tons of little things you can do every day to help you take steps toward living a healthier lifestyle; it doesn’t have to be a drastic change! Change one thing each day and before you know it you’ll have easily transitioned to smarter eating and lifestyle
choices.

A faux tan is the best tan. Women everywhere agree that they feel slimmer and more confident when they have that summer glow. Scared to do it yourself? Tanning salons now offer spray tans that won’t leave you feeling orange or streaky.

Stay calm. Shopping for a bridal gown can be overwhelming! Bring tear sheets, photos and downloaded web images of styles of gowns you wish to try on. This allows those helping you to have a visual idea of what you’re looking for.

Strike a pose. The day has arrived and you’re feeling less than perfect? Don’t worry! You can still look fabulous by striking the perfect pose: stand tall and straight, as slouching adds weight to your frame. And don’t forget to gently hold your arm away from your torso – this creates a more flexed and toned shape in your biceps.

Hair not cooperating? Dress it up with some flowers! Especially in springtime, bridal updos that incorporate floral accents are sure to draw attention away from the simple bun and toward the bright accessories.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water not only helps you stay slim by flushing out excess salt, but it also keeps your skin glowing and clear.

The right fit. When choosing your wedding gown, look for silhouettes and styles that flatter your best figure features. Don't get too caught up on the hot trends of the moment. Focus on what is best suited for you! Entrust the bridal experts to help you with your decision.

Finally, RELAX! This is your big day and if you are at ease and comfortable in your own skin, your whole demeanor will reflect the same, ensuring that everyone will remember you as a happy, carefree bride.

With these simple tips, Sara and Mark are sure you will not only look glamorous but will feel it too.



Mark and Sara with a Rivini gown

Mark and Sara look at a Jenny Packham gown

Mark, Sara and Bridal Guide Magazine Editor in Chief Diane Forden

photos by Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

Join Us at The Bride's Newlywed Nest on Thursday

Come out to Bride's Newlywed Nest on Thursday evening to share a cocktail and personally chat with Mark and Bride's Fashion Editor Rachel Leonard about bridal and mother of the bride/groom fashion. We will be showing some great new gowns!

All brides and moms who attend the event and make a future purchase at Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier will receive a special discount. Plus, for each sale we will make a special donation to the Lower East Side Girls Club.

Mark Joins WE TV's Distinguished Group of "Wedding Experts"

I am so excited to be joining WE TV and Wedding Central! The sister networks have chosen myself, Ron Ben-Israel, Lisa Hoffman of Ceci New York, Diann Valentine and David Tutera as their in-house team of "Wedding Experts." Together, this distinguished team will help educate and advise brides through on-air and online programming and fantastic events to be held across the country. I am thrilled to be working alongside my friends and fellow industry experts and am especially looking forward to meeting with brides outside my little nook of NYC.

Below is a copy of a WE Promo in the latest issue of Harper's Bazzar. Look for more of these great spots to come and check back for updates on what I will be doing with WE and Wedding Central.

Best,
Mark

Bride's Newlywed Nest

Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier is VERY excited to participate in Bride's Magazine and Brides.com's Newlywed Nest in New York City. Bride's and interior designer Inson Dubois Wood have "transformed an eco-luxury two-bedroom triplex apartment into a stylish, attainable and sustainably-chic space." The apartment will be hosting bridal events for the next month and proceeds raised will benefit the Lower East Side Girls Club. We plan on visiting the on-site "Girls Club's Sweet Things Pop-up Bake Shop" many, many times!

We will be co-hosting a special Mother/Daughter cocktail party at the Newlywed Nest on May 13th, just in time for Mother's Day! Mark is picking out some of our best Mother of the Occasion gowns and of course, a few show stopping bridal gowns as well, for an informal fashion presentation. Brides and Moms can speak with Mark and our evening wear specialist Alene, on what styles could work best for themselves. Best of all, any one who attends the event will receive a special discount off the purchase of a wedding or evening gown and a portion of each sale will be donated to the Lower East Side Girls Club.

For more information, or to register for the event visit Bridesfirstlook.com.

Bling on the Bride

As we review the new trends from the recent Bridal Market, let us not forget a classic trend that is always re-inventing itself: Bling! Take a look at this classic clip from mark on WE's "Bling on the Bride."

Bridal Market Sees an Uptick - Fashion Markets News - WWD.com

“It was like happy days are here again.”

That was the takeaway from last week’s run of bridal shows, according to Mark Ingram, whose signature New York boutique is a favorite haunt of fashion-minded brides.


So starts WWD's Bridal market Coverage Report, which included more insights from Mark, industry leaders and top designers. To read more, click here.

Bridal Market Sees an Uptick -









Fashion Markets News - WWD.com

Oscar, Oscar Oscar!!

Mark and Bridal Atelier Managing Consultant Indira Rivera pose for a celebratory picture with Mr. De la Renta and Event Planner Marcy Blum after the Oscar De la Renta Bridal Runway Show at the recent NYC Bridal market.

Once a year, we are treated to one of the best displays of exquisite bridal fashion at the Oscar De la Renta Bridal Runway Show. Held at the ODLR showroom, the show is intimate, elegant and breathtakingly beautiful. The atmosphere, the styling, and most importantly the gowns are perfect down to the last detail.

After the excitement of the show, it is hard for us to imagine we will not have the collection in the Atelier until Fall. However, we are so happy to announce we will have the new Spring 2011 collection at a special Trunk Show May 6 -8!

To experience the ODLR Spring 2011 Runway Show for yourself, click here for The Knot's LIVE coverage. Let us know what your favorites are!
Oscar De La Renta Live