Vera Wang Witchcraft Bridal collection

FROM: abcnews.go.com

FROM: CakeConvention.com

The Best Wedding Cake Flavors by Season

Wedding cakes are created to look and taste fabulous, but sometimes flavor is compromised for style. When selecting a wedding cake, the perfect combination of taste and appearance should be paramount. The goal is that you and your guests admire the design of the cake just as much as they love eating it!

Wedding cakes come in a wide variety of flavors these days and couples no longer have to choose between traditional tastes like vanilla, chocolate and marble. Modern wedding cake bakers provide a wealth of flavor choices including imaginative combinations as diverse as coconut key-lime, chocolate hazelnut mocha, lemon poppy seed and orange-mango.

A good parameter to use when making your flavor selection is to coordinate it with the colors and theme of the wedding – or select the cake first and plan design details around it. Other important factors include the season and location of your wedding, so decide on your priorities before beginning the wedding cake selection and sampling process.

The simple rule is heavier chocolate cakes in the colder months/climates and airy, light cakes during the warmer months/climates.

The top wedding cake flavor suggestions for the seasons are as follows:

Fall/Winter

• Kahlua Mocha- dark liqueur cake with coffee, vanilla and chocolate liqueur and topped with fudge icing

• Mexican Chocolate Cake- moist and enhanced with three types of chocolate and a bit of cinnamon with a smooth milk-chocolate frosting

• Red Velvet Cake- traditional Southern chocolate-red cake with cream cheese frosting

• Texas Turtle- devil’s food cake with nuts and caramel filling and fudge frosting

Spring/Summer

• Princess Cake- moist, creamy white cake topped with cream cheese frosting (traditional choice)

• Orange Marmalade and Lemon Cake- tangy lemon cake made using bitter English orange marmalade and lemon zest with a lemon butter sauce poured over the cake after baking and iced with cream cheese frosting

• Fresh Strawberry Cake- chopped strawberries folded in a white cake batter topped with rich cream cheese frosting

Be sure to spend ample time seeking out a bakery that will suit all of your needs since there are plenty of options and competition for your business. You might want to start your search online or through referrals – then begin deciding which providers seem most appropriate for your needs. The more time and patience you spend selecting your cake, the happier you and your guests will be with the outcome.

There are additional cake-related decisions to consider. If you are concerned about price consider using fresh flowers and fruits in lieu of frosted ones. You can also order a beautiful cake that is a bit too small to feed the crowd and serve from less extraordinary sheet cakes that can be left out of sight and sliced and delivered by the venue staff. You also might want to consider a square cake as opposed to round being that square cakes cut more slices and will feed more people.

Of course, these are just suggestions and many wedding cake bakeries allow the happy couple to customize their cake to satisfy their palette and pricing concerns. Be sure to have an idea of how many people will be attending and ask the bakery about price per slice when considering the various flavors and shapes.

Kim Kardashian and weddin cake designed by Hansen's Cakes /Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

FROM: Bites.today.com

By Vidya Rao

While some may disagree, Kim Kardashian is living it up like American royalty – and eating like it too.  The reality star is dropping a cool $20,000 on her wedding cake, which was fashioned to look like the one that rang in the real royal couple’s nuptials back in April.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries

According to the New York Post, Kim K. and her hubby-to-be Kris Humphries settled on a 10-tier white cake with chocolate chip frosting from Los Angeles bakery Hansen’s Cakes.  Prince William and Kate Middleton dropped 80,000 on their cake, which fed 1,900 guests. No word on how many guests are attending on Kim’s big day, but the Post is reporting that 50 people have been disinvited due to space restrictions. To ease the sting, we hope they’ll at least get some conciliation cake if there’s any left over, and maybe one of the 720 bottles of wine ordered for the event.

FROM TheKnot.com

by Amy Elliott

These days, everyone seems to want relaxed, understated elegance. Do you have what it takes? We’ll show you how to pull-off a wedding that’s done to the nines … but with ease.

It’s the new obsession. As many social circles have collectively declared the traditional pomp and pageantry of workaday weddings to be too much, couples are now choosing a more laidback approach that’s elegant in essence but never stilted or overblown. It’s a beautiful breed of informality that allows for a carefree aesthetic, as well as expressions of personality, wit, and style. In rejecting cookie-cutter conventions, many brides and grooms are discovering “casual elegance.” Luxe with less is definitely more, but exactly how do you plan a played-down party? Here’s how we’d do a cool, casual wedding.

The Litmus Test

First things first: Ask yourself, do you really want a casual wedding? The term speaks to simplicity and a dressed-down ambience. For some, informal means stripping the wedding of all the bells and whistles in favor of more free-spirited fancies: “We envisioned something out of a Robert Louis Stevenson poem,” described a bride who married in Sonoma County. Or, as a bride who married amidst a copse on a Colorado mountaintop put it: “It was as if Gatsby had set up a tea party in the forest.” Sometimes “simple elegance” conjures up a sophisticated, understated soiree, probably set in a chic hotel ballroom, but with a minimalist, less-is-more theme driving the decor. We think contrast is key — tuxedoes and bare feet; beach grass in cut-crystal vases; Texas-style barbecue served on luxurious white linens….

Whatever your interpretation, committing to casual usually means forgoing the voluminous gown, the dramatic ice sculptures, the sprawling buffet, and towering centerpieces. That said, you never want to be in the position of having to reject certain details or concepts that are important to you in an effort to appear stylish, or because someone tells you they aren’t in good taste. Many wedding consultants tell their couples to close their eyes, imagine the scene of their wedding, and then describe the specifics as best they can. In fact, this is how you’ll find the answers to all of your vibe and formality issues.

The Invitations

The look and language of your invitations typically prescribe the degree of your wedding’s formality, cluing guests in as to what to wear, the mood of your celebration, and who you are as a couple. While the classic ecru, engraved invitation is straightforward and elegant, we prefer the use of handmade papers with soft, sumptuous surfaces, textured or detailed ribbons, echoed motifs (bumble bees, butterflies, snazzy monograms), and imagery for a casual wedding. Color also helps to create an evocative picture of the fun to come: for ink, instead of black, think copper or burgundy. Or, better yet, incorporate unexpected color combos — lime with raspberry or hunter-green with burnt orange — into the design scheme. Personal, imaginative wording is another way to flaunt your casual style. Hip invitation designers urge their clients to compose the text of the invitation in their own voice, as if they were writing a letter to their guests. Your own handwriting might work well; otherwise, ask your designer to see samples of type styles that are not too flourished.

The Setting

Basically, you want a location that allows for stretching legs, letting down hair, and leisurely, unpretentious partying. You want a place where guests can feel free to throw a Frisbee after dinner, or where children could comfortably set up a picnic on the grass. Meanwhile, just as easily, other guests could be twirling parasols or sampling oysters from a nearby display. Frolicking dogs are charming, too. Rustic but refined is a good rule of thumb: a meadow, a ranch in the desert, a white tent on the beach, a clearing in the forest…all of these settings will provide a fitting and welcome sense of informality. City slickers might head for a small town in the country, appropriately equipped with pared-down peace and quiet. Likewise, pastoral bed-and-breakfasts offer unbeatable seclusion and intimacy. Still, such venues don’t mandate a rough-around-the-edges kind of revelry. For instance, no aspect of the decor should look styled; instead, the scene should seem spontaneously decorated. For table linens, ditch the demure ivory damask and go for heirloom lace tablecloths, toile, plaids, Provencal patterns, or cheery checked cloths.

Flowers — Gerbera daisies, sunflowers, or gathered wildflowers — can be displayed in eclectic containers like jars and pitchers. The lighting’s as au naturel as possible, subtly illuminating the fete in the form of clean, white candles, antique candelabra, or rustic metal railroad lanterns.

The Look

Simply put, a casual-but-elegant bride may wear whatever she likes. It might be a streamlined sheath with crisp, columnar lines, a strapless sundress with a straw hat, or a smart, retro pantsuit. While plush and princess-like are never entirely out of place, the wear-again potential is often a priority. We love the idea of revamping a vintage gown, transforming a lace-heaped creation with multi-tiered petticoats into something more runway-worthy: maybe a fresh, flirty, above-the-knee masterpiece. Her relaxed groom can sport an East Coast ensemble: tan trousers with a navy blazer, perhaps, with a colorful grosgrain belt and bow tie. A jacket might not even be necessary — we love un-tucked white dress shirts worn with neckties partly pulled undone. As far as wedding party attire, abandon the matchy-matchy urge. Let the guys get gussied up in their own gear, and dress the girls in flowery “summer-at-the-seashore” cotton frocks. Bouquets have only to show some stem, while stalks of wheat or sprigs of rosemary make beautiful boutonnieres.

The Menu

In the midst of multiple toasts and other blissfully unstructured reception moments, guests can enjoy a grand gourmet feast or a pleasant picnic repast — both are fair game. We envision guests dining family-style at long wooden tables, passing stoneware platters piled with oak-smoked meats and aromatic grilled vegetables back and forth. Anything you can eat with your fingers is appropriate. Think olives, ripe raspberries, imported cheeses. Rustic loaves of bread served with sweet butter and an assortment of homemade preserves are ideal accompaniments. Pitchers of ice water, lemonade, or sangria might grace the tables, along with carafes filled with wine from local vineyards.

The Parting Gesture

Say goodbye graciously: Give out thoughtfully chosen favors, modest and meaningful. How about a perfect pear, apple, or white peach? An assortment of penny candy makes a kitschy keepsake, while indigenous delights like wax-sealed jars of honey from a local farm are deliciously quaint. Making a donation to a local charity or historic property is yet another way to show good taste. Finally, a few words about presentation: Think twice about tulle pouches and pearl-edged ribbons. Instead, look to the powers of antique handkerchiefs, dried herbs and flowers, raffia, burlap, and other unexpected materials.

how to cue the reception end

Your easy-breezy, informal wedding still needs formal closure. If you let the reception run too long, your band and venue might slap you with steep overtime fees. Adhere to the timeframes and then conclude the night by inviting everyone back to the bridal suite or hotel bar for an after party.

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-styles/articles/casual-weddings.aspx

Top tips to ensure that everything is illuminated on your big day

FROM: Brides.com

By Cristi L. Hansen

Choose Your Mood

“We use our artistic design to translate the emotions each couple comes to us with,” says New York City–based lighting expert Bentley Meeker, who was responsible for shedding light on the weddings of celeb couples like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, and has also lent his expertise to White House events. Whether you’re planning a romantic evening or a sultry affair, it’s important that you communicate to your planner or lighting team the exact look and vibe you want. To change the energy in the room during the night, Meeker employs a system called intelligent lighting: He creates customized assortments of light, or light palettes, that alternate throughout the night. Options include an “excitement” palette of reds and oranges, to energize your guests, or a calming “in-between-courses” palette of blues and purples, which can soothe guests and facilitate conversation.

Use Flattering Hues

Golden and amber tones allow you and your guests to look their best, according to Meeker. Josh Brooks, of New York City–based wedding-planning company Fête, agrees: “Warm colors, such as gold, flatter everyone and highlight decor beautifully.” Shades of pink are also complimentary. Meeker often uses these shades to color an entire space and invoke a sense of warmth and comfort.

Light to Enhance

To highlight centerpieces and food displays, Meeker employs a technique called pinspotting, in which a tightly focused light makes decorative touches shine. Gobo lights—a special projector with an etched metal template (the gobo)—can be used to wash the walls with the lines of your favorite poem or to shine a pretty pattern on the dance floor.

Gorgeous light isn’t relegated to reception space only. Hallways and courtyards can, and should, be embellished. If your party is a subdued one, Meeker may choose to illuminate these areas to complement your reception lighting and decor. If you opt for a funkier vibe, however, Meeker can change the colors and moods of each area. One rule he always follows: “The powder room should be enhanced with pink lights,” says Meeker. “Every woman—especially the bride—should feel her best.”

A wonderfully lit space is sure to create a desirable ambience and enhance your reception decor. “When your guests walk into a room that is lit properly,” says Meeker, “they will not only look good, but feel great too.”

This is one of those Wedding Cakes you’ll actually want to eat!

Which one is YOUR favorite?

From MuscleManMusic.com

Is setup time included in your price?

Some DJ’s charge for setup or teardown.  A good DJ will be on site at least an hour before your event or sooner depending on the situation.

Can we choose the music to be played at our event?

The answer should be “Yes”.  This can be a list of songs that you would like to hear for cocktail hour, dinner and dancing.  Your DJ should be happy to take guest requests and fill in the rest with DJ selections.  You may want to put together a “Do Not Play” list.

How loud do you play the music?

For cocktail hour and dinner the volume should be set at a comfortable level. Guests enjoy conversing during these times and shouldn’t have to shout over the music to do so.  As for dancing, the volume typically is turned up but the speakers should be directed more toward the dance floor. 

Do you carry back up equipment?

Many DJ’s carry an assortment of backup parts and gear to keep the event running smoothly.

Are you insured?

Some DJ’s are insured and now many venues now require vendors to have insurance.

Can we meet prior to booking with you?

The answer should be “Yes”.  Meeting face to face can often ease many concerns that you may have.  

Do you offer a contract or written agreement?

Again the answer should be “Yes”. The contract should be straight forward and simple to understand.  The signed contract and deposit officially reserves your date.  Also, you should get a signed copy of the contract for your records.

Is tipping/gratuity expected?

Tipping/gratuity is not required.  If at the end of the night you feel that the DJ has surpassed your expectations and you want to provide a tip, then feel free.

How early should we book?

Simply put…the sooner the better!  Some of the most popular dates can and do book as early as a year in advance.

Wedding Toasts

Some basic tips to follow when giving a traditional wedding toast, with samples.

Speeches are one of the most widely celebrated wedding traditions. Toasting is often part of both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception, and toasts are given by various people, including but not limited to, the bride, the groom, the best man, the maid of honor, the bride or groom’s mother or father, or a member of the wedding party. Here are some possible scenarios:

- The bride toasts her groom at the rehearsal or at the reception.

- The groom toasts his bride at the rehearsal or at the reception.

- The bride or groom toasts their parents and the wedding party at the rehearsal or reception.

- The father-of-the-groom toasts the couple at the rehearsal dinner (when the rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom’s parents).

- The father-of-the-bride toasts the couple and thanks the guests at the reception.

- The best man toasts the couple at the reception (this is the most widely recognized toast).

- The maid or matron of honor toasts the couple at the reception.

Here are some pointers that apply to any speaker:

- Keep it short, about two minutes. If you go much longer than that, you are going to lose the crowd’s attention, and the message will lose its intended impact. Short and sweet is the way to go.

- Keep it clean. There should be absolutely no profanity in your speech because you run the risk of offending people, and that can make the evening very uncomfortable for everyone involved. What might be hilarious to your friend could be perceived as raunchy and vulgar by your fiancé’s great aunt. Don’t tell inappropriate stories about past relationships or out-of-control college parties.

- Don’t be a tipsy toaster. The drinks are usually flowing freely during wedding festivities, but there is really nothing worse than a drunken toast. You will ramble, and you certainly run the risk of saying something that will either embarrass you, the newlyweds, or the guests. Hold the wine until after the speech, for everyone’s sake.

- Be loudly, clearly, and slowly. Public speaking makes many people very uneasy and nervous, which can result in an inaudible and way-too-speedy speech. Just focus, take a deep breathe, and remember that this is a celebration — not a test!

- Practice makes perfect. Run over your speech out loud a few times, and make a mental run-down just before you are going to give the toast. You will have more confidence of you are prepared.

- At the end of a toast, the toast-maker raises his/her glass, but do not drink. The toast-recipient(s) also do not drink right away; they just nod appreciatively and smile.

If you and your fiancé want to toast each other, keep the following tips in mind:

- Recall how you met, or what you did on your first date. Think about special moments that the two of you have shared, like when you realized that you were in love, or how you got engaged.

- Tell your fiancé what you love about them, and how they make you feel.

- Talk about your future together, and what hopes and dreams you share.

- When you are making your toast, make eye contact with your fiancé. This will be a very touching moment for both of you. If you cry, just take a breath, and continue. There is nothing wrong with tears of joy at a time like this!

Here is a sample of what a man could say to the woman he is about to marry:

I remember the first time I saw you, Janie. You were jogging on the treadmill at our gym, singing along to whatever was playing in your headset. Our eyes locked, and it was like magic. I knew that there was something so special about this woman, and now I know that I was right. You have brought so much joy and laughter into my life. I love our scary movie nights, and our day trips to the lake. When I asked you to marry me, I wanted to do it in the most beautiful place I could imagine. I wanted everything to be just right. We went to Niagara Falls, and I knelt in front of you in the moonlight, and then I realized something: all of the beauty around us on this night seemed like nothing compared to the beauty in your eyes and the beauty of your love. Thank you for being my best friend and confidant. Thank you for making me laugh so hard that I cry. Thank you for saying yes. I am so proud to become your husband, and when I think of our future, and of the family that we will build together, and the memories we will share throughout our lives, I am filled with the deepest sense of happiness I have ever known. Janie, my sweet angel, I love you.

If you and your fiancé would like to make a toast to your parents and the wedding party, take this advice:

- Thank your parents not only for their financial contributions to the wedding, but for the support and love that they have showed you throughout your lives. Thank your fiancé’s parents for raising him/her to be such a wonderful person. Tell your fiancé’s parents how happy you are to join their family.

- Thank your wedding party for their help with the wedding, such as throwing a bridal shower or bachelor and bachelorette party. Thank them for traveling (if applicable) to be a part of your wedding, and for helping with the wedding plans. Also, thank them for their friendship, and tell them how much it means to you both to be able to share this occasion with such wonderful and supportive friends.

Here is some advice for the best man:

- Toast the couple, not just the groom. Make sure that you include the bride in your speech. You may have formed more memories with the groom, but try to stick to memories that have to do with both of them. For example, if you remember the groom telling you excitedly about their first meeting, tell that story. If you don’t have any stories to tell about both of them, try to talk about love and marriage, and how happy you are to see your friend with such an incredible woman.

- The best man is usually the toastmaster at the wedding, so if there are other people giving toasts after yours, make sure you introduce and announce them to the crowd.

Source(s) essortment.com

Bridesmaid Dresses

Advice on choosing bridesmaid dresses – letting your attendants pick, finding the right style to fit different body types, and discussing cost and payment.

Being chosen to represent the bride on her wedding day is an honor. If you’re chosen to be a bridesmaid, you must truly be a special person in her life. In addition to standing up for the bride, you get to help plan the shower, assist with the invitations and other activities and walk down the aisle in a beautiful dress.

When it comes to bridesmaids dresses, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In fact, anyone who has ever walked down an aisle in front of the bride has a bad bridesmaid dress story to tell: either the color is wrong or the style isn’t right, the sleeves are too puffy, or the dress is just plain ugly. There are theories that the bride chooses dresses that are all wrong for her bridal party, purposely, to avoid having any one show up looking more beautiful on her special day. There’s also speculation that the bride is so blinded by love, she can’t tell the dress she picked is all wrong for the women she chose to represent her. Since, in most cases, the bridesmaids pay for the dresses themselves and will end up keeping them, shouldn’t they have, at least, a little say in the matter?

The bride has much to gain by allowing her bridesmaids to assist in the choosing of their dresses. Happier bridesmaids are productive bridesmaids and will do all they can to help in the planning of the wedding. Photographs will also be nicer because the bridesmaids will feel more comfortable in their clothing. Plus, there will be no bad feelings. So, how does a bride keep everyone happy, especially since weddings these days can have up to a dozen bridesmaids? Easy, let everyone have a say. This way a dress will be chosen that flatters all involved.

One of the bridesmaids can host an informal get together for the bride and bridal party to discuss those styles they like. Each woman should show up for the gathering with samples gathered from websites and bridal magazines of those dresses they like best. Make it an enjoyable occasion with food, drinks and music. Keep it light and jovial. Allow spirited discussions but no fighting. If there’s a disagreement on a certain dress, take that dress out of the running until the field has been narrowed to two or three dresses on which all can agree. From there, everyone should choose a color. Because of different skin tones and complexions, shades should be chosen that not only agree with all types, but should fit in with the bride’s decorating scheme as well. Price range should also be discussed, as some of the women may not be able to afford a pricey designer frock.

Once you have a short list of dresses and favorite colors, an appointment should be made for all the bridesmaids to pick out the dress together. Since the bride has already approved of the dress styles and colors, it’s not necessary for her to go along if she’s busy, but she may want to do so to make sure all goes well. Have each of the ladies try on the different styles of dresses to see which dress works best on everyone. When everyone is happy, the dress is chosen.

This may seem like a lot of work. Let’s face it, it’s much easier for a bride to pick out a dress in a magazine or from a website and say, “this is what I’d like to see my girls wear.” The truth is, it’s not that simple, not if you want the women in your wedding party to look good and be happy with the chosen dress. When the bride chooses the dress without input from the rest of the party, she runs the risk of dressing someone in something that’s absolutely not suited to her skin type, figure or personality.

When it comes to the big day, most brides want to spare no expense, or at least, they try to make sure every detail is perfect. This should be the case with the bridesmaid’s dresses as well. Don’t ruin a special day by running the risk of alienating special people. When the bridesmaids look good, the bride looks good and that, in itself, is worth the extra time it takes to make everyone happy.

Source(s) essortment.com