http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles en-us http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles N/A dan@weddingpartyhelp.com Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:30:20 -0600 20 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/126/1/Cake-Toppers---The-Crowning-Glory.html You’re finished sampling yummy cake and icing flavors and have picked out your wedding cake. What’s next? Well, what to put on top of the cake, of course! While an arrangement of fresh flowers is one of the most popular choices, cake topper figurines are making a huge comeback. Traditional choices are doves, hearts and a bride & groom. Who can go wrong with such romantic icons? But they aren’t the only way to top your cake. If you’re having a specific theme to your wedding, a cake topper is an excellent place to further express it. How about a snowflake figurine for a winter wedding? Perhaps pumpkins or gourds for a fall wedding – either a pretty figurine, or something yummy made out of marzipan. Dolphins or starfish would be perfect for a beach theme. Seasonal fruits and berries are a delicious, and practical choice. Bunches of gorgeous grapes, or fresh strawberries or blueberries have such beautiful colors that add a lovely rich look – so perfect for spring or summer weddings. If you’re having a winter wedding, use small sugared fruits like apples and pears. New trends in cake toppers include candles (make sure your baker reinforces the cake where the candles will be placed, so the weight of the candles don’t cause them to sink into the cake), vintage bride & groom toppers, and monograms - several companies offer silver or Swarovski crystal monogram cake toppers. And speaking of Swarovski, their wedding cake jewelry of romantic sprays of heart-shaped crystal drops adds an extra touch of glitz and glitter. The possibilities are truly endless! jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net (Jean Neuhart) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/123/1/Happy-Endings---Your-Wedding-Cake.html When you think of wedding receptions, what is the one thing that they all have? A "stately mountain of snowy frosting and royal icing blossoms," (from "The Perfect Wedding Cake" by Kate Manchester), aka the wedding cake! Not bad for a dessert which has its roots clear back to the Roman Empire. But back then, there was no beautifully decorated, sweet confection. Instead, a loaf of barley bread was broken over the bride’s head to symbolize her fertility. Can you imagine picking crumbs out of your hair? As the barley bread evolved into today’s wedding cake, the symbolism of the cake and the cake cutting ceremony evolved into your first joint act as a married couple, your commitment to provide for each other, and the sweet life you will share together. Your wedding cake should taste absolutely wonderful, however, it is not just dessert. Your wedding cake will be an integral part of the reception decor, so plan accordingly and place it in a strategic location where all of your guests can easily see it. How about in the center of the dance floor? It can be removed after the cake cutting ceremony - table and all - so you have room for your first dance as husband and wife. Just be sure that someone carefully cleans up any stray icing that may hit the floor which can be very slippery and dangerous. Or how about placing your wedding cake in a corner with pin lights or a small spotlight highlighting its glory? The Statue of Liberty has its pedestal, a queen has her throne, the cake table needs to be worthy to hold such a beautiful creation. Like a beautiful frame that surrounds a lovely painting, the cake table should be decorated to complement the wonderful confection that it holds. Decorating the cake table needn’t be time consuming nor expensive. You may already have something appropriate in your closet or on the dining room table. A lace tablecloth would be lovely draped across the cake table. A length of tulle loosely billowed on the top of the table gives the impression of your cake floating on clouds. Or, swag the table with tulle, organza, lame, or garlands of greenery and flowers. If your motto is "Life’s too short, eat dessert first," then you may want to go all out with your desserts. Have a dessert bar with trays of different scrumptious delicacies – iced cookies, brownies, mini bite-sized cheesecakes – with your wedding cake as the centerpiece. And speaking of centerpieces, if one large cake to feed hundreds of people isn’t your thing, how about a small (only big enough for two) cake which you and your new spouse get to cut and feed each other, and in place of the more traditional floral or candle centerpieces for each guest table, have a single tiered cake that serves 8-10 people. jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net (Jean Neuhart) Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/13/1/Bakeries--Wedding-Cakes.html Bakeries are an excellent source for wedding cake designs and selected pastry. The wedding cake is a very important part of the reception and is the centerpiece for the reception. Many couples opt for the traditional three tiered wedding cake while others go for more formal options, including fountains and other decorations. Wedding cakes can be designed from very casual to very extravagant depending on the wishes of the bride and groom.Much of the choices will depend on the budget. The more upscale the design, the larger the price tag. When visiting bakeries, always ask to see photos of previous wedding cakes they have designed. In addition, ask if they have any samples that you can taste in order to select a favorite cake flavor. If you are looking for a customized wedding cake, ask if they can accommodate. In many instances, bakeries offer certain designs that can be slightly customized for the ceremony. Because your wedding date will already be decided, it's very important that bakeries be able to complete the job according to your schedule. It would be disheartening to learn that, on the day of your wedding, there was no wedding cake. For this reason, be sure to get your order in early and make sure that the designers are aware of the date of your wedding.If you are concerned, ask for references and follow up with their contacts. You can also ask family and friends for referrals. If you have a friend who was recently married, ask who designed their wedding cake. If you are looking for accessories, ask bakeries if they supply such things as fountains, pillars, cake toppers, stands, cutters, etc. If they do supply them, will there be an added fee? If so, how much?When ordering a wedding cake, or other pastry, inquire about the ingredients used. Less expensive ingredients may save money, but the more expensive ingredients will taste better. Ask about icing flavors and make sure to order the exact flavor that you want. When it comes to selecting decorations, do you want icing flowers or natural petals? If you prefer natural flowers, will you need to provide them? If not, make sure that the bakery knows what type and color of flowers you will be using at the wedding so that the cake will coordinate perfectly with the theme.A final thought to consider when speaking with bakeries is regarding their delivery policy. Do they deliver and, if so, how much will they charge? You will also need to ask when the cake will be prepared. Because of their complexity, professionally designed wedding cakes take several days to prepare. With that being said, the closer to your wedding that the cake is made, the fresher it will be and the better it will taste. Without putting the bakery in a pinch for time, ask if they can prepare it as closely as possible to the ceremony so that it will be fresh. If they delivery, make sure that they have accurate information regarding the wedding, including location, time and date. If the reception is being held at another location, that is the address they will need. Article by Cynthia - Wedding Party Help This Wedding Article can be reprinted in whole. Copy and paste using the Authors name and link. Bakeries & Pastry Shops, Wedding Cakes dan@weddingpartyhelp.com (Cynthia M.) Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600