A Summer Salon with Style

Recently, we hosted A Summer Salon with Style with our dear friends Michelle Rago, Sylvia Weinstock, Ellen Weldon, Brian Dorsey and Town & Country Weddings. We created the Summer Salon with Style so that brides would have an opportunity to meet and personally speak with some of the best creative minds in the bridal industry. The event was a smashing success! All of the brides who attended loved the individual attention and advice from the vendors as well as from Town&Country Editor in Chief Pamela Fiore, Town&Country Weddings Editor in Chief Heidi Mitchell and Town&Country Weddings Fashion Editor Anna Reyes.

The theme of the evening was "Town" and "Country" showcasing gowns, decor and invitations appropriate for either locale. See the beautiful photos below from photographer Brian Dorsey and look for more Salon with Style events at the Atelier!


Mark and his mother, Naomi Ingram, admire designer Lela Rose's necklace

Designer Angel Sanchez, Town&Country Editor in Chief Pamela Fiore, Mark Ingram and Sylvia Weinstock

Divine Invitations and Stationary by Ellen Weldon Design

Gorgeous Gardenia decor by Michelle Rago

Breathtaking and delicious cake by the Queen of Cakes Sylvia Weinstock

Carolina Herrera Special Spring 2010 Preview Week!

Modern Bride's Project Bridesmaids

This is a recap of the Project Bridesmaids event held by Modern Bride Magazine this past Spring. I attended the kick-off cocktail party which benefited Planet Hope. I am pictured here with my friend and Gossip Girl co-star (we shared a scene in the Atelier together) Kelly Rutherford and Lipstick Jungle star Kim Raver. Two seriously fabulous actresses!

Thanks for including me Modern Bride! I hope Project Bridesmaids 2010 will be another success!

The Bridal Atelier Welcomes Anne Bowen

The Bridal Atelier is adding talented ready to wear designer Anne Bowen to its roster of bridal designers. Below is a clip of her first bridal collection shown at the recent New York Bridal market in the fabulous Plaza hotel. We think Ms. Bowen will be a great addition!

Elizabeth Fillmore Trunk Show

My dear friend Elizabeth Fillmore creates the most breathtaking wedding gowns. She is a favorite of my sophisticated brides who are looking for a fashion forward gown that is still feminine and romantic. The Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal collection will be at the Atelier today through Saturday and Elizabeth herself will be stopping by on Saturday to work with brides.

Click here to see some great editorial shots of Elizabeth Fillmore gowns from Bride's, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride.

photo courtesy of Elizabeth Fillmore

Special Oscar de la Renta Spring 2010 Preview

By appointment only.

Tune in to TNT'S The Wedding Day

The Wedding Day premieres tomorrow at 7pm on TNT. This is a wonderful new show that helps engaged couples who have faced unfortunate circumstances while planning their weddings. We were happy to work with Badgley Mischka and The Wedding Day to help one couple realize their dream of a perfect wedding. Take a look at a sneak peek and tune in to TNT tomorrow night for the episode!

To view the sneak peek click here.

Tips for Mom from Mark and InStyle Weddings

From a recent issue of InStyle Weddings:

The Mom's Dress Code

N.Y.C. Bridal Atelier owner Mark Ingram, creator of Mark Ingram Atelier 2, for moms, explains how to avoid a MOB (mother-of-the-bride) scene
Tell them what you're wearing. The moms should take cues from you. "Let them know the shape, fabric and level of ornamentation of your dress so they can look for outfits that are in keeping with the tone," says Ingram.

Send your mom shopping first. "Traditionally, the mother of the bride buys her dress and then describes it to the mother of the groom," says Ingram. "Communication is key." Send his mother a photo, or tell her the color, style and designer so she can be careful not to outshine your mom—or dress as though she belongs at a different event.

Give them guidelines. It's well within your rights to steer both moms toward specific colors or styles (and away from others). How much influence you'll have depends on their personalities; but in a perfect world, they should follow these rules:

• Keep it in the (color) family. Choosing varying shades of your wedding palette makes things cohesive without looking too matchy-matchy.

• Nothing overly sexy. Even if Mom has been living at the gym, ask her to keep the hemline at the knee or below and the neckline on the conservative side.

• Their drama level should be below yours. If your dress has sleeves, theirs shouldn't be strapless; if you're wearing a sheath, they shouldn't be in ball gowns.

• No white. You'd be surprised at how many moms and mothers-in-law convince themselves that a "cream" dress is appropriate.

Mark's Shopping Tips for Brides

One of the most common questions I am asked is "Can you give us some bridal gown shopping tips?" Below are my top 5:

1. It is very important to have an actual wedding date and venue. The Bridal Atelier Sales consultants will help you select a gown that is perfect for your setting.

2. Bring tear sheet, photos and downloaded web images of styles of gowns you wish to try on. Bridal Atelier consultants will make additional style recommendations based on your initial conversation.

3. Before scheduling an appointment, make sure the salons you have selected feature gowns in your price range.

4. In general, limit your shopping companions to the one or two persons whose opinions mean the most. You don't need to be pulled in several directions.

5. Wear proper undergarments. You will want to see how the gowns look with good support.

Good Luck!

- Mark

UPTOWN Magazine

We love the new feature on Mark in UPTOWN Magazine!

Mark's photo by Christian Lantry
Article by Keija Minor

Junko Yoshioka Trunk Show

We are having a Junko Yoshioka trunk show this week at the atelier. Here are two of our favorite styles from market. To see Junko's beautiful bridal collection in its entirety, please call for an appointment!

Lela Rose

One of my favorite things is the New York Bridal Market. Not only is it a thrill for me to view the beautiful new bridal collections, but it's a great time for me to catch up with all my friends in the industry. Above is a pic from this past market held in April with Lela Rose. Lela's designs are a favorite of my brides. When she burst onto the bridal scene from ready-to-wear, she started the whole "organic couture" trend in bridal. And no one does it as well!!! Below are a few shots of my favorite looks from the new line. Enjoy!

- Mark

Mark Ingram Atelier 2

Mark Ingram Atelier 2 is an appointment only salon that focuses solely on mothers of the bride and groom and special occasion dressing. Much like Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier, Atelier 2 offers a high level of personalized service with a full time seamstress on site to customize orders and provide a perfect fit for every garment. The salon only allocates one appointment at a time to insure privacy and allow each client to receive their consultant's full attention. A key component in Mr. Ingram opening this second, separate location was so that this clientele could receive the highest level of service and style. He has personally worked with a select group of designers to choose an elegant array of sophisticated and fashionable gowns perfect for any special occasion.

To schedule an appointment for Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier 2 call (212) 319-6778.

photo by Christian Oth Studio

Our New Blog!!

Welcome to Notes from the Atelier, our new blog from Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier. The staff and I are so excited to finally be blogging! Notes from the Atelier will be posted by myself, the consultants and some of our friends in the industry. We plan to share with you our editorial eye, creative inspiration and trustworthy advice and in return we hope to aid all brides in their search for the perfect bridal gown. We at Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier truly believe that finding your wedding gown should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, a time you should warmly reflect upon in the years to come. Now that we have a medium to connect with you directly, we can share with you all of our experiences and offer you an insider’s eye into the world of luxury bridal design.

From hot-off-the runway reports from the front rows at bridal market to secret tricks of the trade from our consultants and fitters to special event listings and sample sales, we have a lot to start blogging about!

Best,

Mark