It's All About the Cake!

CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING CAKE

Whether you choose a traditional white tiered cake decorated with handmade sugar flowers, natural flowers  or a more comtemporary design in a bright color made from your favorite cake flavor, what is certain is that after the bride, your cake will be the focus of attention at your wedding reception.

Choosing your wedding cake can seem like a daunting task.  I hope you find these words of wisdom helpful in finding your perfect wedding cake.

CHOOSING A CAKE DESIGNER

When choosing a cake designer, ask to see examples of their cakes.  Not only will this inspire you, but it will showcase their skill and expertise.  A gifted cake designer can replicate any picture you bring them.

Have a tasting before ordering your cake.  Many cake designers will have a range of exquisite flavors, different fillings, and are often able to design a cake that incorporates more than one flavor.



ORDERING YOUR CAKE

When you meet wth your cake designer, take along any pictures, inspiration, or swatches of material you have for your dress, color schemes, flowers, venue, etc.  This will inspire them and make sure they make your cake so it matches the design and feel of your reception.

The best cake designers can get booked  up to a year in advance.  If you have your heart set on  particular designer, make sure you contact them in plenty of time.  For most cake designers, though, order your cake around 6 to 7 months in advanc.e  Once you have booked your cake designer, you will be asked to confirm the date of delivery and pay a deposit so you will need to have secured your venue and get an idea of your budget before you book.

When thinking about the size of cake you need, consider the number of guests who will be attending and whether you will be serving the cake as dessert or as part of a dessert table.  This will affect the number of slices you will be serving. 

Confirm with your cake designer whether you will be providing any flowers for decoration or if you would prefer edible sugar flowers - and of course, don't forget the cake stand.  Some reception venues will have cake stands for you to rent.  Ask to see pictures and check the sizing.  You may want to rent your cake stand from the cake designer if they offer them.

Make sure you advise the designer if they need to make allowances for guests with nut or other allegies.

Your cake designer will offer a delivery and setup service.  These details will be worked out with your event planner, Dream Wedding and Event  Planners.

CUTTING YOUR CAKE

Believe it or not, wedding cakes are a long and ancient tradition dating back to the Roman Empire.  In those days, the Groom would break a loaf of bread over the head of his new bride as a symbol of dominance.  Thankfully, times have changed, and the meaning behind the cutting of the cake has evolved into a joyful celebration representing the start of the couple's life together.

The cake can be cut after your Grand Announcement or after dinner, and can be served later in the evening with coffee, summer fruits or ice cream.

Hot Wedding Trends for 2013

The latest wedding trends can be predicted as a result of home decor, movies and the Stars that are in them, as well as the creations of popular designers within the fashion world.  Here are just a few:

MINT:

 

Mint will be a popular color choice for Brides in the year 2013 for their reception decor, invitations and all paper products.  Brides are steering away from the dark jewel tones this year.

 

 

BIRDS:

 

Birds are seen in home decor lately, and this is predicted to carry over into wedding decor in the year 2013.

 



 

PAPER LANTERNS

 

Paper Lanterns are a colorful, inexpensive wedding decor that come in a variety of shapes and colors.  They can be lighted accents over the dance floor, behind the wedding party table, throughout the ceiling at the cocktail hour or under a wedding tent.

 

BRAIDS
 

Braids have been seen in all of the hot movies, and this trend is already catching on for wedding hair styles in 2013.


 

 

LASER CUT DESIGNS

Eye-catching cut-out designs will be seen on wedding dresses, invitations, lanterns for the guest tables, and above the dance floor decor.




 
 
Watch our blog for more trends as the wedding season draws near.  Perhaps you can be a trendsetter for next year!!

 

Vow Renewals are Special

We previously mentioned Burma and Carlos and their amazing vow renewal this past summer.  We received some additional beautiful pictures from Blaine Siesser, their talented wedding photographer.  It was quite the celebration of a wonderful couple.  Enjoy!

 

Specialty Lighting added that Special Touch

Katy and Jon held their wedding reception in a gorgeous Grand Ballroom.  The table decor, specialty lighting and cuisine were amazing.  The nine crystal chandeliers were programmed to change colors subtly throughout the evening.  It was wonderful night for the Bride and Groom, their families and friends.  Photos are courtesy of Blaine Siesser Photography.

Your Wedding pictures can actually move!!

Although this is not a new photography trick, it is new to me.  I found this example on a blog put out by Jeffrey Lewis Bennett, a local Michigan photographer.  I think it would be so fun to have a picture like this one:

You can also have a rice throwing picture that moves a bit more like the one below done by Blaine Siesser of Blaine Siesser Photography:

You will need to ask your photographer if he knows how to do this .GIF style picture, and you wouldn't want them all to move like or this you could get dizzy!  One or two are certainly a novelty that you can share with friends and family online.

Tented Wedding Theme: Around The World

We assisted Michael and Andrea in the planning and coordination of their Tented Outdoor Wedding this past August 2012 in South Lyon, Michigan.  The theme was "Around The World", and it was reflected in their wedding invitations that were Passports for the Guests to arrive.

The card box was an old-fashioned, worn suitcase left open on the Gift Table to hold the cards, and the Seating Chart was designed by the Groom to look like a map of the world with everyone's names assigned to a different country at each table.  The Cuisine was Food Stations from the four corners of the world, located in the four corners of the tent.  There was food from Poland, Italy, America and China.  The Guests traveled from food station to food station filling up on delicacies from each country.

For entertainment there was a Steel Drum Band, Flair Bartenders juggling the bottles while serving at the bar (not to mention blowing flames from their mouths!), fireworks and the most magical display of over 100 Chinese lanterns that floated up into the night sky looking like stars the further away they went.  The Guests had the time of their lives with so many "fun" and entertaining things to do and watch.  The DJ was great and got everyone up and dancing into the "wee hours of the evening"....  The Pictures are courtesy of Blaine Siesser Photography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Vow Renewal

Burma and Carlos renewed their wedding vows with an absolutely amazing celebration.  We assisted them with the entire planning process as well as full service coordination on the wedding day.  The historic feel of the ballroom set the mood for their guests along with some cultural entertainment from Jose Bueno's Mariachi Band.  They traveled from table to table during the dinner hour providing music from the six piece group throughout the formal dinner service.  For the first time in the history of wedding receptions in the Ballroom, Burma's garter got caught in the crystal chandelier when Carlos tossed it for the guys. Sorry guys!! All in all, everyone had a great time.  The pictures below are courtesy of Blaine Siesser Photography.