Wedding Tactics

Every brides wants her wedding to take the cake, so to speak. One of the more fun wedding planning rituals is the tasting of the cake! Who doesn’t love walking into a bakery and being given samples of fabulous cakes, for free? Before you settle on a cake flavor and icing color, consider these important issues to discuss with the bakery.

First, ask the baker for a portfolio of previous cakes they have made for local weddings. This will give you an idea of what they are capable of making and what their style tends to be, simple cakes with lots of white decorations or way far out wacky colors, shapes and designs.

When you first identify several bakers find out if they offer group or individual tastings and ask if they will prepare different fillings as well as the basic cake flavors. Ask them for references too. Nothing speaks better than a pleased or not so pleased recent bride. If they are hesitant to provide them, be cautious, if they don’t make a habit of collecting references, ask your wedding venue if your baker is on any preferred vendor lists.

If you don’t see a cake in their portfolio that you want to order ask about custom designs and if there is a premium you will pay for that design. Have you decided what you want to have on top of your cake? A simple silver letter for your new last name, or a wacky humorous cake topper? Some bakers will provide something simple or allow you to rent or buy, be sure to ask. If you are planning to provide the cake topper, be sure to find out when then need to have it.

Find out how this baker prices their cakes. You should find that most cakes are priced by the slice. Prices range from about $2.00a slice to upwards of $8 and $10 and even more for extremely specialized cakes. Ask for an estimate or a proposal to review and keep in your files. Most bakers will deliver to the wedding site, they want you to be satisfied with the product and of course, want to protect their work. Be sure to ask what sort of coordinating they need for cake delivery.

And, finally … enjoy your cake! And don’t forget to have some, and eat it too! Consider keeping the top tier in a freezer and eating it on your one-year anniversary.

For more details visit The Knot.

It should be common knowledge now that the President’s daughter, Jenna is engaged to be married on May 10, 2008. In a recent issue of People magazine there was a one-page spread of the details they are choosing to publicize. So far, all we know is that the couple is planning a private, 200-person affair in Crawford, Texas.

I suppose Jenna has a soft spot in her heart for Texas. I do not. Had my father been the president and my wedding able to be held at the White House, I think I would have jumped at the chance for this one-of-a-kind venue. However, I’ll overlook our differences in venue to offer Jenna some wedding suggestions.

The best wedding themes debuting this season are green, as in, eco-conscious, eco-friendly, earthy and earth friendly. Even the simplest of “green” touches makes for a trendy wedding. Thus, I recommend for the most famous/infamous family in the nation right now, a “green” wedding. Of course, not every details needs to be free of chemicals, free of harm, free of animal testing, etc …

For starters, for the bride of the season I suggest a classy and traditional gown, appropriate for a country wedding at any time of day and well suited for Jenna’s curvy but fit body.

A silk satin, strapless, dropped waist, Gail Garrison gown with a semi-cathedral train.

A dominant color in this classical but earthy wedding is green. Subtle uses of the timeless color: green.

This Ann Taylor bridesmaid gown in meadow green is affordable and well tailored for the average woman’s body. Although it is a shorter length more typical of an afternoon or country-club wedding, the fabric is elegant enough for evening, especially when paired with heels and an up-do hairstyle.

I am usually a fan of a good splash of color but for a “green” wedding I really like the calla lily. In this photo the bouquet is paired with a few strands of bear grass. Bouquets of callas are best when the stems are left open and wrapped with a single strand of ribbon.

And finally, the sweetest part of the wedding, the cake!

The grass is handpainted on white fondant icing. For more detail on this cake, visit the website of the original baker, Sweet Melissa Patisserie.

I’ve just started hearing about a few engagements that took place around Valentine’s Day. If you are one of those people, a sincere congratulations to you!

One couple in particular is getting married at the end of the summer. A wedding, in exactly six months. I can hear the style guides and high-glam planners cringing with absolute fright. But I assure you, it is possible to have the wedding you want in six months or less. All it takes is some careful planning in the beginning and some diligent team work. By team work I am absolutely implying that if you have a mother or mother-in-law who wants to man the controls, by all means, this is the time they are needed. You really do need someone working on plans more than just on weekends.

Many vendors book up months and even years in advance so it may not be possible to have your choice of vendors. You do compromise some degree of choosiness but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on quality. Employ your friends and family to help you, you will need it for making phone calls and lining up vendors.

I have also written a detailed beauty checklist to follow leading up to your wedding. Many of these activities can be abbreviated when time is limited.

Here is an abbreviated to do list in you are planning to get married in less than six months:

Immediately:
Decide on your budget, color/theme, and make a thorough list of all the things you wish to incorporate into the wedding, include EVERYTHING, even things like newspaper announcement or embossed personalized napkins because for one it will help you decide what is really important to you, it will force you to prioritize and most importantly, delegate and ask for help. With this short of a time frame, you have to ask others, unless of course you don’t work and can spend forty plus hours a week planning your own wedding, in which case, you shouldn’t be reading my website.

Questions to ask yourself:
1. Will you hire a coordinator?
2. Will you have a separate ceremony/reception site, or will it be the same location?
3. Start looking for a gown, most likely, unless you buy off the rack or at a close-out sale, it will take a few months for the dress to be made and be shipped to you.
4. Create your guest list because this will determine what kind of venue size you need.
5. Register for gifts.

Vendors:
1. Book an officiant, NOW.
2. DJ or Band? You have a much better bet finding a DJ on shorter notice.
3. Caterer.
4. Florist.
5. Photographer.
6. Do them all now. Make phone calls and your first question needs to be: ARE YOU AVAILABLE ON MY WEDDING DATE? If they are, then talk specifics and decide if you want them.

Other important things to do:
1. Order invitations.
2. Book a honeymoon.
3. Select a cake.
4. Shop for rings.

Okay! Phew! That’s the short list of what you need to think about and do RIGHT NOW if you are getting married this summer and haven’t done anything yet.

And don’t stress too much, remember, weddings are happy times and should be FUN.

The perfect cake for those who grew up in the mid-eighties and get how iconic this really is. You know, or for a groom’s cake.

Christmas is a magical time of year for many people. No wonder so many people want to get married during the month of December. It’s a time of year when people start thinking about family and celebration and being thankful.

It can be a great time of year for a wedding. If you like the decor of dark red poinsettias, holly bushes and tiny white lights, then you can definitely take advantage of the decorations already in place at many churches, restaurants and reception halls. You can save A LOT of money by using what already exists!

Just because red and green are all over doesn’t mean you have to use those colors. Consider silver and white, silver and light blue or red and gold. Typically, the white color you see this time of year is actually a cream color.

Even if you have been planning a wedding for a different time of year, you can convert the color choices into some that will work in the winter months. Click here to see an explanation.

If you are planning a wedding for this time of year, consider sending your invitations about more than the traditional six weeks in advance, rather, opt for about ten to twelve weeks in advance because people like to plan ahead and it is a popular travel time.

If you want to have a wedding this time of year but aren’t too into the actual Christmas theme and Christmas colors, consider the season and play of the idea of snow and warmth. I love this snowflake cake.

Regardless of what kind of color theme you choose, your venue can be all the inspiration you need. Think of rustic restaurants with roaring fireplaces and exposed beams. Country inns are also great places for wintertime weddings.

Cakediva.com has a great website with extensive cake galleries. The extensive press and client list includes Geraldo Rivera, Bride Magazine and MTV.

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Ruthie’s Wedding Cake’s and Desserts in Columbus, Ohio will deliver cakes anywhere in Ohio and free delivery is available in Franklin County.

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Serving Metro-Atlanta and the Southeast, Original Events and Catering makes some amazing looking groom’s cakes.

Groom’s cakes are a very important part of a real Southern wedding. You can read all about the history of the groom’s cake here.

Original’s also makes very elegant wedding cakes with amazing levels of decoration and presentation.

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I’ve posted pictures by this baker before just because I think he is amazing.

However … I found this picture under a BLUE themed link.

Cake made by Beautiful Cakes by Ron in Sarasota, Florida.

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Karsh’s Bakery in Phoenix makes very nice looking Kosher wedding cakes. Click here for more information about where they are located.

If you are planning a fall wedding and want to incorporate some of the harvest season colors, you will find yourself looking to nature for some natural hues.

Leaves and acorns are popular seasonal icons and many invitations are available with these decals and icons. Look at a leaf that has just fallen from a tree, you’ll see copper, ivory, yellows, golden browns and even some burgundy reds.

Bridesmaid gowns are available in more colors than ever before. One of my favorites, and I never thought I would like this color, but I do, is espresso, or, brown. Consider this gown from Alred Angelo, the color is seasonal and rich and the golden sash adds just a touch of femininty. Alfred Angelo is a great designer. Their dresses are suitable for many body types and they are affordable.

Deep red, which is one of my favorite leaf colors adds a touch of romanticism. Consider adding deep red roses to a bouquet or centerpiece or tie red ribbons on the the backs of the chairs. Depending on your wedding date and locale and, well, how much you like Halloween and the harvest season, pumpkins and mums make great decorations and are rather inexpensive to buy. Stepping up a little big, the picture below illustrates chairs draped in golden covers paired with tables in deep red cloths.

This cake is from Diana’s Cakes and More

You can make an elegant centerpiece by mixing fresh fruit with flowers. Consider a bowl of green and red applies surrounded by small bud vases with one rose or one hydrangea blossom. Pomogranates, peppers and dried corn also make excellent accent pieces.

Blue works with all seasons, but it has a special use in fall. When the sky is a clear, crisp dark blue and the air doesn’t get any fresher; what a magical feeling to replicate in your wedding. Deep shades of blue, navy, cobaly and sapphire are great for this coming season. Accent with lavendar and periwinkle shades and touches of sparkly silver.

One final touch, surround your tables and wedding location with candle light. It provides a warm glow.

While it is not at all required or necessary, it can be helpful if your wedding has a color scheme or a theme to work with. It gives all the vendors something to build around. It helps determine what flowers will work best; unless of course, you KNOW what you want already. It can help you look for exactly what you want, among the myriad of choices and options.

Black and white is a classic theme. It is elegant and sophisticated and can make up for a lack of that in the venue while at the same time, it can enhance an already elegant and fabulous venue. All of the wedding colors can seem intimidating and black and white actually goes with anything, anywhere and at any time of day or year.

Here are some pictures to get you thinking about a black and white theme.

Remember, touches of color are very much okay too.

Bridesmaids in black dresses:

Invitation, black ink on white paper:

Bouquet, keeping with the black and white theme:

Simple centerpieces for a black and white theme wedding:

And, finally, a wedding isn’t a wedding without the cake:
And I couldn’t choose just one!

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There is a Wedding Expo in Sacramento, California on Wednesday evening July 18, 2007 from 5pm to 9pm at the Doubletree Hotel at 2001 Point West Way.

Click here to get tickets and other info.

Click here to link to this cake.

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