By Wanda Lorde-Steele, Wandas Cakes
Planning a wedding
"the second time around" can be loads of fun! When my husband and I
planned our wedding, we wanted to involve our children so we had the
boys invite the guests to their parent's wedding. A niece played the
processional while another niece asked the guests to sign the guest
book. One of my sons lit the altar candles and both of my sons walked
me down the isle. Bruce's son preformed the duties of Best Man.
Scriptures were read by the children and my son played Trumpet Voluntary
at the conclusion of the service. The other son played the first dance
on his saxophone, and to this day, our friends say this was the most
memorable wedding they have ever attended.
You can meet Wanda on March 18th at the Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show!
(703) 830-3866
wandascakes.com
Friday, February 24, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
How to ask for a honeymoon instead of another toaster
By Lynn Pirozzoli, The Black Horse Inn
Have you been registering for gifts and wish that your guests would just give you money to use towards your honeymoon? Well guess what? There's a way you can get them to give you money for your honeymoon by registering for it on a website like www.thehoneymoon.com. By creating a honeymoon registry, engaged couples have a place to direct wedding guests who ask "What kind of gift would you like?"
A honeymoon registry allows you the chance to select when and where you want to honeymoon and enables your wedding guests to buy a travel experience as a gift rather than a toaster or dish set. Many couples getting married now a days are older, well established and already merging two apartments or homes. The last thing you need is yet another toaster. Signing up for a honeymoon registry could ensure you get what you really want like (airfare, hotel nights, meals, tours, sports, spa treatments, admissions, spending cash) that friends and family may buy for you in increments. So, don’t be shy--ask them for a donation toward the honeymoon!
Learn more at the March 18th Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show at the National Conference Center. HuntCountryCelebrations.com.
Have you been registering for gifts and wish that your guests would just give you money to use towards your honeymoon? Well guess what? There's a way you can get them to give you money for your honeymoon by registering for it on a website like www.thehoneymoon.com. By creating a honeymoon registry, engaged couples have a place to direct wedding guests who ask "What kind of gift would you like?"
A honeymoon registry allows you the chance to select when and where you want to honeymoon and enables your wedding guests to buy a travel experience as a gift rather than a toaster or dish set. Many couples getting married now a days are older, well established and already merging two apartments or homes. The last thing you need is yet another toaster. Signing up for a honeymoon registry could ensure you get what you really want like (airfare, hotel nights, meals, tours, sports, spa treatments, admissions, spending cash) that friends and family may buy for you in increments. So, don’t be shy--ask them for a donation toward the honeymoon!
Learn more at the March 18th Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show at the National Conference Center. HuntCountryCelebrations.com.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
A Tip from Food Network Winner Jason Reaves
Rustic Elegance
In my time designing cakes in this area, I have heard from countless brides the phrase "rustic elegance" or also "simple elegance". When I hear this I immediately think of Hunt Country, this area holds the perfect combination of the beautiful country outdoors with the refined elegance of historic venues and country manors. As a cake designer I love to design cakes that not only compliment, but also showcase this style. A wedding cake does not have to be huge and elaborate to be a show stopper, clean lines accented with fresh flowers can be just as memorable (and also easier on your budget). A great way to compliment your cake and be creative at the same is by how you display it, for an outdoor wedding try displaying the cake on a cut log with fresh flowers all around. For the winery or stable wedding, displaying the cake on a wine barrel is an excellent way to keep with the venue theme. If your cake design fits perfect with your venue your guests will remember it for a long time to come.
For more ideas, to see photos, and to taste some of my cake creations, please join us for the Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal & Special Event Expo Sunday March 18th, 2012 12 noon to 4pm, West Belmont Place
The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176; RSVP Hotline 1-877-363-3104
At the show you can enter to win a free wedding cake from Market Salamander!
In my time designing cakes in this area, I have heard from countless brides the phrase "rustic elegance" or also "simple elegance". When I hear this I immediately think of Hunt Country, this area holds the perfect combination of the beautiful country outdoors with the refined elegance of historic venues and country manors. As a cake designer I love to design cakes that not only compliment, but also showcase this style. A wedding cake does not have to be huge and elaborate to be a show stopper, clean lines accented with fresh flowers can be just as memorable (and also easier on your budget). A great way to compliment your cake and be creative at the same is by how you display it, for an outdoor wedding try displaying the cake on a cut log with fresh flowers all around. For the winery or stable wedding, displaying the cake on a wine barrel is an excellent way to keep with the venue theme. If your cake design fits perfect with your venue your guests will remember it for a long time to come.
For more ideas, to see photos, and to taste some of my cake creations, please join us for the Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal & Special Event Expo Sunday March 18th, 2012 12 noon to 4pm, West Belmont Place
The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176; RSVP Hotline 1-877-363-3104
At the show you can enter to win a free wedding cake from Market Salamander!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Decor Lighting for the Bride Tip
Lighting is one of those things that people don’t think about when they walk into a room for an event. Guests at a wedding don’t sit around talking about how pretty the lighting is. They talk about the complete package of décor: the bride’s colors, the way she has chosen to execute them, the pretty bows on the chairs or how lovely the centerpiece floral arrangements are. You’ll never hear someone say, ‘those purple lights look great!’ But what will they say without them? Depending on the room you’re in, they might notice how boxy, how cold, or how generic the room looks. They might even notice that the bride’s décor is missing something, especially if we’re talking about an event hall or hotel banquet room. Flowers and ribbons will only get you so far. If you want to create a night for your guests and family – AND YOU – to remember, what you need is lighting décor.
We'll see you at the March 18th Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show!
We'll see you at the March 18th Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Bridal Tip: Choosing Wedding Favors
By Sweet Memories Heirloom Pastries
Wedding favors can be traced back for centuries and across cultures. Until recently, in the United States, brides (and grooms) would give a special gift of appreciation to their parents, and their wedding party; now the tradition has grown, once again, to include the entire guest list. Wedding favors have been given throughout the centuries by the Bride after the wedding ceremony, to her guests as a gesture of appreciation and hospitality. Now, it is the bridal couple, who give the gift. Typically these tokens are placed at the seats of their guests, if a meal is being served, or they are displayed on a table for the guests to pick up as they leave to take home.
The gift of choice given by those early brides up through the early 1900's were edible confections such as sugared almonds, fine chocolate, special cookies (this is where Mexican, Danish and many other wedding cookie variations originated), or some other specially created delicacy. They were carefully wrapped and always well received. In the early twentieth century wedding cakes became 'white', replacing the centuries old tradition of some sort of fruit and nut cake, which represented good fortune and prosperity. The fruit and nut cake became the grooms cake which was cut and wrapped for each guest in an elegant manner. The gift was supposed to be put under the pillow that night, and according to lore, ensured the guest would have sweet dreams and a blessing of joy.
So where does this leave you? First: know your budget and stick with it. $3.00 per guest doesn't seem like much until you multiply it by your guest list, add tax and possibly shipping…. the budget can be blown before you blink. The point of the favor, throughout time, is to be a little token; a ''thank you for sharing in our day." The good news is you have affordable, budget friendly, alternatives to the over given candles, picture frames and many other "cute" items which guests often wonder what they will do with.
Early brides had the right idea; an edible delicacy. Sweet treats can be personalized or customized for your guests, can be very budget friendly, and you will be appreciated for your thoughtfulness. Current, popular edible wedding favors include cake pops, monogrammed cake truffles, a hand decorated cookie, heart cut-out shortbread cookie with decorative detail, two or three small wedding type cookies, mini cupcake or petit fours, to name a few. Typically these are individually packaged, further coordinating with your wedding vision and adding very little, if any, extra cost. Concerned for a gluten-free or vegan guest? You can easily have theirs adapted to meet their dietary needs.
Keep your wedding favors simple, you have history to back you up. Don't break the bank, your guests want to share in your joy, not in your despair over all the bills left to be paid. Wedding favors should embody the joy of your special day and what says that better than a fabulous bite of something delicious? As the incredible flavor takes hold, a smile will bloom on their face and a Sweet Memory will have been created! And that is perfect.
See you at the Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show & Expo on March 18th!
Wedding favors can be traced back for centuries and across cultures. Until recently, in the United States, brides (and grooms) would give a special gift of appreciation to their parents, and their wedding party; now the tradition has grown, once again, to include the entire guest list. Wedding favors have been given throughout the centuries by the Bride after the wedding ceremony, to her guests as a gesture of appreciation and hospitality. Now, it is the bridal couple, who give the gift. Typically these tokens are placed at the seats of their guests, if a meal is being served, or they are displayed on a table for the guests to pick up as they leave to take home.
The gift of choice given by those early brides up through the early 1900's were edible confections such as sugared almonds, fine chocolate, special cookies (this is where Mexican, Danish and many other wedding cookie variations originated), or some other specially created delicacy. They were carefully wrapped and always well received. In the early twentieth century wedding cakes became 'white', replacing the centuries old tradition of some sort of fruit and nut cake, which represented good fortune and prosperity. The fruit and nut cake became the grooms cake which was cut and wrapped for each guest in an elegant manner. The gift was supposed to be put under the pillow that night, and according to lore, ensured the guest would have sweet dreams and a blessing of joy.
So where does this leave you? First: know your budget and stick with it. $3.00 per guest doesn't seem like much until you multiply it by your guest list, add tax and possibly shipping…. the budget can be blown before you blink. The point of the favor, throughout time, is to be a little token; a ''thank you for sharing in our day." The good news is you have affordable, budget friendly, alternatives to the over given candles, picture frames and many other "cute" items which guests often wonder what they will do with.
Early brides had the right idea; an edible delicacy. Sweet treats can be personalized or customized for your guests, can be very budget friendly, and you will be appreciated for your thoughtfulness. Current, popular edible wedding favors include cake pops, monogrammed cake truffles, a hand decorated cookie, heart cut-out shortbread cookie with decorative detail, two or three small wedding type cookies, mini cupcake or petit fours, to name a few. Typically these are individually packaged, further coordinating with your wedding vision and adding very little, if any, extra cost. Concerned for a gluten-free or vegan guest? You can easily have theirs adapted to meet their dietary needs.
Keep your wedding favors simple, you have history to back you up. Don't break the bank, your guests want to share in your joy, not in your despair over all the bills left to be paid. Wedding favors should embody the joy of your special day and what says that better than a fabulous bite of something delicious? As the incredible flavor takes hold, a smile will bloom on their face and a Sweet Memory will have been created! And that is perfect.
See you at the Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show & Expo on March 18th!
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