Hot New Designers

Wedding Gowns to Watch

By Tara Mandy and Meredith Levy
Editors of BFFBridal.com

So who will be the next Vera or Monique? Nobody, really. The truth is, it takes an enormous marketing budget and a vision of a lifestyle empire spanning everything from tabletop to stationery to become THAT popular.


But that said, there are some talented designers rising up the bridal ranks. And not all of them are rookies. The Bridal Atelier's Mark Ingram is keeping his eye on Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa, two veteran designers who have recently made a big push in the bridal market. "Oscar's bridal re-launch two years ago has been very successful," says Ingram. "I think his collection has a similar kind of appeal as a Vera or Monique. His gowns are feminine, luxe, and drop-dead chic." Marchesa, which is sold exclusively as a ready-to-wear product at Bergdorf Goodman, is on Ingram's radar as well. "Marchesa's high profile on the red carpet makes them a natural for the young bride who is tuned in to fashion and trends, and who wants to make a very strong fashion-forward, non-traditional statement on her wedding day." Ingram's personal of-the-moment favorites? Lela Rose and Junko Yoshioka. "They both have a definite design point of view, and their gowns look like no other."  

Gabriella Risatti, owner of Manhattan's new bridal salon, Gabriella New York, has a thing for Sassi Holford. "She's a self-taught British bridal designer who is HUGE in the UK. This is her first year in the U.S. Her lace is unlike any other that I've seen and she puts real old-school corsets in every gown to create an absolutely tiny waist!" Matthew Christopher's designs are also flying off the racks at Gabriella's salon. "He's young--only 32!--and based in New York. He is constantly creating designs that nobody has ever seen before. They have an architectural nature, but are also very romantic--an amazing combination," says Risatti.

Get more scoop on hot trends and chic wedding day details at BFFBridal.com.