Great Shopping tips from Mark for The Knot!

Bridal Shopping Tips from Mark Ingram

Mark to Host Live Chat on WETV.com

Save the Date!
Join Mark Ingram and Ceci Johnson for a live chat on WEtv.com on Tuesday, July 13 from Noon - 1p ET. From choosing the perfect wedding dress to invitations and etiquette, Mark and Ceci have you covered. Get your questions ready!
http://www.wetv.com/wedding-experts

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

Mark on Wedding Central

This is one of three spots running on WE TV's Wedding Central channel featuring Mark and the Bridal Atelier. We think WE did a great job! Mark will also be featured as a bridal fashion expert for Wedding Central in the April issue of Harper's Bazzar.

Very exciting! Check out Wedding Central - For wedding information or to find them on your local cable company click here.

Martha Stewart Luxury Weddings Expo

We are preparing for our first online Weddings Expo with Martha Stewart on November 14th & 15th. The online experience recreates an actual upscale weddings expo that you can attend from the comfort of home (or work, or starbucks, or where ever you are with your computer). The Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier "booth" will be premiering a mini-documentary on the Bridal Atelier experience that features some of our favorite brides as well as top event planners Loulie Walker and Michele Rago. The booth will also feature videos showcasing our bridal and evening collections and downloadable lookbooks. Our consultants will be live at the online Expo answering questions on November 14th & 15th, although access is open to the booth through February 28, 2010.

Additionally, Mark was chosen by the editors of Martha Stewart Weddings to be a featured expert on their Weddings 101 booth at the expo. The Weddings 101 booth presents informative videos featuring experts from Martha Stewart Weddings like Editorial Director Darcy Miller and other top wedding professionals. In Mark's video, he discusses the best practices for wedding dress shopping with Darcy Miller. Mark had such a great time filming with Darcy and her team. We can't wait to see the finished video on the expo this weekend!



To register for the Martha Stewart Luxury Weddings Expo click here.

Mark's Tips for Outdoor Weddings

Wedding of Amory and Sean in the Bahamas
While most assume an outdoor or destination wedding to be a casual affair, today’s brides are proving them wrong. Many brides are finding new and unique locales to host their nuptials ranging from remote, private beaches to grand European villas. The choices are endless.

One thing all brides who choose an outdoor or seasonal wedding share is a sense of adventure and usually a naturalistic love of the outdoors. These brides all feel that the perfect spot to say I Do is not in the family church, but by sunset in Bali or on a mountaintop in Vermont. The fashion for these types of weddings can be as diverse as the locations. From working with bride’s in my Atelier, I have found the following locations to be the most popular: a beach or tropical resort, a ski resort or Mt. Lodge, in wine country or a summer mountain or farm setting, or a European location at a castle or villa.

1. For a beach or tropical wedding, which is the most popular spot for outdoor weddings, the bride is whimsical and free spirited. She may choose a more formal free flowing gown of organza or chiffon, or she may go more casual and adorn a short dress or ethnic inspired sarong. These looks are great to accessorize with organic beachy elements such as seashells, tropical flowers and pearls. Designers such as Angel Sanchez, Le Spose di Gio and Monique Lhuillier, create some spectacular tropical looks.

2. For a ski resort or Mt. Lodge the bride is normally athletic or a nature goddess. The gown is usually substantial due to the climate and may have sleeves or be paired with a coat. Satins, brocades, velvets and tulle lend themselves beautifully for this style of gown. This is also the perfect occasion to add fur trim or a grand opera style coat. My favorite designers for these looks are Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Anne Barge and Rivini.

3. Wine country or perhaps Vermont in the Summer, is a favorite of New York City brides who want to escape a city wedding. These weddings tend not to be as lavish, but focus on specific details: wonderful wines and food, beautiful nature settings. While they may not be grand in scale, they still can be very chic. The wedding gown styles favored at these affairs are more tailored, cleaner but still sophisticated. Fabrics such as satins, silk mikado and silk gazar provide great structure combined with luxury detail. New stretch chiffons, like those offered by Italian designer Spose di Gio, are the perfect understated combination of structure and style. Other
designers who offer great intellectual or 'organic couture' looks are Lela Rose and Jenny Lee.

4. If you choose a European villa or castle for your wedding, you’re in good company. These locales call for the grandest of dresses. Whether grand in a traditional sense or modern and edgy, these girls and their gowns will get noticed. Opulent duchess satins can be beaded or embroidered to create the perfect, dramatic gown. Lace is perfect in an old world setting invoking images of royalty. Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Anne Barge and Monique Lhuillier all design fabulous diva dresses.

Wherever you may chose to host your wedding, remember to pick a gown that flatters the location, the season and your personality.

Best,
-Mark





Photos of Amory and Sean by Jake McBride for Christian Oth Studio
Gown by Monique Lhuillier.

A Great Way to Personalize Your Wedding Gown

The classic satin ribbon sash with gown, "Jaqueline" by Monique Lhuillier

One aspect of the Bridal Atelier that I am most proud of is the personal service that my wonderful consultants strive to provide to each and every bride who enters our doors. They truly work with each bride to help them create a look that is uniquely their own. Lately, I have been noticing accessories playing a larger part in the styling process, most noticably belts.

Belts and sashes are not new to bridal. But they became increasingly popular in the past few years as designers began to show more natural waisted styles. Monique Lhuillier re-introduced the satin ribbon sash in her 2003 collection. She encouraged brides to try different sashes with many different styles of her gowns......full ballgowns, narrow A-lines, and everything LACE!!! Eventually, her sashes became available in several shades of whites and ivories, as well as vibrant and rich hues like teal, Victorian Rose & plum. Her styles influenced the entire bridal market!

Today's top designers offer sahses and belts in a multitude of fabrics with various beading and embellishments. I love that my staff can read a bride who loves a gown by one designer and but thinks it needs a "little something." They add a belt, possibly from a different designer, and it adds exactly what the bride was looking for! A unique gown that is a look all their own.

Belts and sashes are also great for drawing attention to some areas of the figure and de-emphasizing other areas. A girl with a pear shape may feel her hips look big in a gown, but when a beatiful belt is added, attention is brought to her waist and the hips de-emphasized. The same is especially true for a girl with a boy shape, even a simple organza sash can suggest a shaped waistline.

Here are some of the most popular belts at the Atelier right now:
#1 by Monique Lhuillier, #2 by Carolina Herrera, #'s 3-5 by Lela Rose



Here is a fabulous belted look, The Willow gown by Lela Rose:


Here's to tying one on!

Best,
Mark

My Friend and Atelier Bride Vanessa Rissetto

I wanted to try something a little different today and blog about my dear friend Vanessa Rissetto. Vanessa is a fabulous nutritionist who we recommend on our vendor page to brides for nutritional counseling.

Fate brought Vanessa and I together. We met when I was a featured guest on the Martha show in the Fall of 2005. The Martha team had asked me to help "save" three brides who had not been successful in their gown search. We had each of the three lovely brides to my Atelier and helped them find and style the best look for their wedding day. We then appeared with the girls on Martha for a fashion runway segment of their new wedding day looks. At the end of the segment, Martha and I surprised each of the girls by telling them their gown was a gift from me! To view a clip of the show on the Bridal Atelier website, click here.

As Vanessa returned to the Atelier to finalize the details of her gown and have her fittings, we got to know each other better. She invited me to her beautiful wedding at Fordham University and gorgeous reception overlooking the New York skyline and Hudson River. I felt like part of the wedding party; helping Vanessa into her dress and partying with her and her bridesmaids before the ceremony. I was even priviledged to ride with her to the church! I felt very special and blessed to be part of her big day. We all danced the night away and I truly felt I had known Vanessa's family and friends forever!

Since her wedding, Vanessa and I get together frequently. I am the godfather to her Yorkie "Marley"!!!! She has also helped me with my daily diet and meal planning. She has taught me so much about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating. So many of my brides come in for fittings and are losing weight incorrectly. It only adds more stress to this happy time in their life! Seeking the advice of a nutritional counselor, like Vanessa, is the right way to go!

For more info on Vanessa, check out her blog!

Best,
Mark

What style gown is best for a fall wedding?

From Brides.com:

What style gown is best for a fall wedding?
Mark Ingram gives his advice on how to choose the right dress for your autumn celebration

Instead of white, think seasonal and shop for an ivory or off-white dress. A sash in chocolate brown, plum or navy adds an autumnal accent to your gown. It may be nippy, so stick to heavy fabrics like guipure lace or silk mikado. For a formal celebration, consider a fabric with a shine or luster such as satin or silk velvet. "Traditionally you would not wear an organza or organdy dress," says Mark Ingram, owner of the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in New York City. "These fabrics are fine for summer or spring weddings, but they are too sheer for fall." To stay toasty during the ceremony, wear a stole or matching bolero.

photo by Dan Lecca
gown by Jenny Packham

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