Town & Country Weddings

We love the feature on the Bridal Atelier and Atelier2 in the new issue of Town&Country Weddings! The entire issue is divine, as always T&C produced a beautiful book that is a must read for any style savvy bride. Thank you to Anna Reyes for your kind words and to Heidi Mitchell for including us.

Marchesa

We LOVE Marchesa! We have been dying to get our hands on their bridal collection and we are counting down the days until we see it at the upcoming NYC bridal market in October. In the mean time, we got a tease by going to see the Spring '10 ready to wear presentation yesterday. It was divine! The collection was shown at the Chelsea Museum and each piece was modeled on platforms in a maze like setting. Beautiful gauze drapes divided the maze and the celebrity filled crowd wandered through to view the pieces of the collection. We loved how the editors, buyers and celebs all mingled together. Below are some of my favorite pieces. I think they all could be interpreted beautifully into bridal!

Anne Bowen Personal Appearance

We will be welcoming Anne Bowen and her new Bridal Collection to the Atelier September 21st throught the 23rd. Stop by to view Anne's acclaimed premiere collection of Bridal gowns and meet with the designer! Anne has created beautiful gowns that have been worn at the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the Cannes Film Festival. To learn more about Anne Bowen click here. Brides will have the opportunity to discuss their "red carpet ready" bridal gown with the fabulous Anne Bowen.

By appointment only.

The "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party at Bloomies

After some Fashion Week stops, we made our way over to Bloomingdale's for their "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party. Hannah Soule from Bloomingdale's put together a lovely and lively event with Martha Stewart Weddings, Monique Lhuillier, Slyvia Weinstock Cakes anf ThomJames Florals. Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings and Monique Lhuillier presented a Q&A for the attending engaged couples and friends and we had our favorite models Candy and Chandra modeling some gorgeous new Monique Lhuillier gowns. We were able to meet some brides who have visited us already and some newly engaged brides who will be shopping with us soon. Here are some pictures from the event!






Mark, Darcy, Candy, Chandra, Monique and her husband Tom







Juliette of Unison Event Planners - A fan of our blog!









Mark, Candy and Chandra

Monique Lhuillier Collection Displayed

Amy Wilkins, Publisher of Martha Stewart Weddings, Mark, Anthony Luscia of Martha Stewart Weddings, and a bride

A Great Day with Monique Lhuillier

We had a very busy, but fun filled day today to start fashion week and celebrate Fashion Night Out. First we stopped by the Monique Lhuillier Spring ready to wear presentation at Christie's Auction House. Monique was inspired by the intricate draping of the Masai Warriors and let me tell you the collection was fierce! Later on we joined Monique and Martha Stewart Editorial Director Darcy Miller at Bloomingdale's for a fabulous wedding event. More on the Bloomies event to come, but here are some pics from the Monique Lhuillier ready to wear show.





A very beautiful and pregnant
Monique in our "prom picture."






Models on the runway.






Elegant fringe gown with beaded bolero.






The lovely Rachel Leonard, fashion editor of Bride's, who is off to Africa this week for a photo shoot!

The "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party

We are thrilled to be part of the upcoming "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party at Bloomingdales in NYC this Thursday with our favorite wedding divas: Designer Monique Lhuillier and Martha Stewart Weddings Editorial Director Darcy Miller. We will be showcasing gowns from the new Monique Lhuillier Bridal Collection and discussing the latest fashion trends with all you wonderful brides to be. Please stop by and see us!

Carolina Herrera Spring 2010 Trunk Show

Carolina Herrera Trunk Show is going on now. The Spring 2010 runway presentation was a to-die-for runway show at Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue. The show, and the gowns, were spectacular. Take a look!

Anne Barge Trunk Show

Anne Barge Trunk Show August 27th, 28th and 29th

We are so excited to welcome Anne Barge and her new Spring 2010 Bridal Collection to the Atelier. Below is a sneak peak at her new ad campaign - it is gorgeous!!

Words of Wisdom from Lela Rose

We are so excited to be hosting a Lela Rose trunk show all this week! We adore Lela's fabulous gowns almost as much as we do Lela herself. Having the entire Lela Rose Bridal Collection in the Atelier all week makes us want to come to work on beautiful Summer days!

In anticipation, we asked Ms. Rose a few questions about her collection and inspiration.

Most brides shopping now are having Spring/Summer 2010 weddings. What is your favorite gown for an outdoor wedding?

"I like silk chiffon for an outdoor wedding. The fabric is light weight, has great movement in the breeze and allows the bride to be comfortable despite the temperature. I love The Loft from my Fall 2009 collection for this. You have the option of wearing the straps 4 different ways throughout the evening."







How about a formal evening affair in the city?

"The Library- this gown has the perfect amount of sparkle without being over the top."







How has your bridal collection evolved since its original inception?

"The aesthetic has remained the same. The use of cotton fabrics, tactile embroideries and appliqué laces are still the foundation of the collection. I think we have evolved in the shapes that we are offering. Now that we have more selling history, we are able to take best selling shapes and update them. In addition, we have added accessories such as beaded belts. These give brides the option of personalizing their gowns."

Now that you also design for bridesmaids, has this changed how you design your bridal gowns?

"Actually, the bridesmaid gowns are inspired by the wedding gowns. There is a wonderful synergy between the two collections. However, you will never see a bride looking like her bridesmaids!"

Lela Rose is one of the most popular lines in the Bridal Atelier. Why do you think you connect so well with Mark's brides?

"Mark and his staff have supported the Lela Rose Wedding collection since its inception. We continue each season to do what we do best but work closely with him to make sure that his store has what they need from us. This partnership has been instrumental to our success. "

Thank you Lela!!

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.