Whew. It’s been an exhilarating (read: kind of crazy) couple of months, what with working on soon-to-be-launched redesigns of the Weddings in Houston website and this here blog, not to mention putting together the big, beautiful, bursting-with-inspiration January print issue of Weddings in Houston.

Of course, in the midst of this delightful madness, the New York bridal market just wrapped, and we are so excited to treat you to a preview of our favorite fall 2011 collections, straight from the market runways.

So let’s just start with a bang shall we? Bridal couture darling Rivini staged its show at the Alvin Ailey Theater, home of the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Which would have been cool enough. But then there were the gowns—oh, what gowns. Inspired by the French impressionist Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny, designer Rita Vinieris created a magnificently textured collection featuring extraordinary pleating, layering, tufting and draping—in other words, lots of working of fabric that somehow never looked overworked.

We checked in with Emily Sutton of Mia Bridal Couture for her take on the Rivini fall 2011 collection, and here’s what she told us: “Seeing these gowns on the runway whisks you away to [Monet’s gardens]. Rita manipulated the structural details to provide strong silhouettes with effortless movement.” Sutton says she loves how the collection’s bold lines “were softened by floral motifs and organic draping.”

Plus, we LOVE Rivini’s use of black and blingy belts, and chunky jewelry, as edgy counterpoints to these romantic gowns.

Check out our favorite designs from the Rivini collection—and check baclk over the next few weeks (or better yet subscribe to WIH and let US come to YOU) for more fall 2011 previews!