Showing posts with label winter wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter wedding. Show all posts

Teaser Tuesday

You can't find a couple more in love than Andrew and Anna and their wedding on Saturday was as beautiful as they are inside and out. I've known Anna since we first met at the University of Delaware, so it was such a joy to be a part of her wedding day and make all of her hard work become a reality. Jill Kozar of Up Your Do and Beke Beau dolled the girls up in the morning before Anna got into her gown and Andrew saw her for the first time on the Union League front steps. Though the original plan was to go around the city for photos, the decision to stay inside proved to be the better choice in the end as Anna, Andrew, and their bridal party got to explore the Union League and get photos in fun locations like the basement wine cellar. When it was time for the ceremony, Anna's cousin JP delivered a personal ceremony complete with Andrew reading to Anna in French. Then it was time to head upstairs for cocktail hour and the reception. The ballroom was decorated with large white centerpieces by Robertson's Flowers, perfect for a winter wedding, and vintage pieces including a marquee from Maggpie Vintage Rentals. CTO's Tribeca had the guests dancing all night long and Anna even surprised Andrew by having the band learn his favorite Dropkick Murphys' song. Guests took a break from dancing to take a photo in the Oh Snap Photobooth by Lindsay Docherty Photography who was there to capture the whole day as it unfolded. Thanks to Lindsay for this great sneak peek shot of Anna, Andrew, and their dogs, Jackson, and Seamus. -Caitlin

Teaser Tuesday

Corey and Nick wanted a winter wonderland wedding and boy, did they get it! The snow started in the morning while the Gloss hair and makeup team made the girls look lovely. Then, the team from Faith West showed up to start capturing the day. After arriving at Winterthur, Corey and Nick had their first look, and then a snowy photo session with their bridal party. As the sun set, their wedding ceremony, held in the Galleries, took place beneath an arch of silver branches, dripping with crystals that was created by Sweet Peas of Jennersville. The decor in the Visitors Center matched perfectly, with mini trees on each table, crystals everywhere and gorgeous uplighting, and a snowflake ceiling was by Synergetic Sound and Lighting to finish it all off! Guests had a great time dancing to the tunes spun by John from Tom Barrett DJs and eating yummy cake from The Master's Baker. Best wishes Corey and Nick! 

Wedding Cakes

Unlike the saying goes, you really can have your cake and eat it too on your wedding day! Your wedding cake is one of the sweetest (literally) aspects of your wedding, so make sure you plan ahead and do your research so you can be happy with the results and your guests can have happy taste buds. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on your wedding cake:

Flavors and Icing: Mix and Match
He loves chocolate, you love vanilla- not to worry, it's very common for different tiers of wedding cakes to be different flavors giving your guests an option. Pick at least one layer to be basic chocolate or vanilla, for those guests who may have simpler taste buds, but don't be afraid to choose another flavor out of the ordinary. For this time of year, spice cake or carrot cakes with cinnamon buttercream icings are very common, mousse cakes are common in the winter, and fruit filled cakes are common in the spring and summer. Fondant is slowly becoming a thing of the past as couples opt for the more homemade and natural flavor of buttercream icings. Make sure you also ask your bakery what their most common combinations are. 
Vicki and Brad's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Shooting Stars Photography
Tastings: Satisfy your taste buds
Warning- this may be the only thing your man might actually want to take part in, the cake tasting. Once you have done your research, contact your top one to three bakeries and set up tastings, if you do more than three, it might make your decision harder. Most cake tastings are around one hour so there is time to discuss flavors and you can often bring a total of three to four people- it never hurts to get a second, third or fourth opinion! Most bakeries suggest that couples order their wedding cake six months in advance, so don't be afraid to make contact early on.
Shante and Jason's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Sean Marshall Lin Photography
Size: Too much of a good thing is never enough
You can never have enough! But, here are some guidelines to help you decide how large of a cake you might need. It's best to speak with a professional baker first, but it's always good to go in having done your research. Don't be surprised about how many slices you can get out of one cake, traditional wedding slices are 2" x 1"- around the size of a deck of cards, which is smaller than the usual slice of birthday cake. 

Round Tiers
6"- 14
8"- 25
10"- 39
12"- 48
14"- 77
16"- 100
18"- 127

Square Tiers
6"- 18
8"- 32
10"- 50
12"- 72
14"- 98
16"-128
18"- 162
Kirsten and Matt's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Misty Dawn Photography
Inspiration: Be inspired...
You obviously want your cake to reflect your wedding theme and decor, so grab a few samples and look up designs to show your wedding cake designer so they have a better feel of what you're looking for. Inspiration can be pulled from the bride's wedding gown, the groom's tie, centerpieces, bridal party flowers, your wedding invitations, monogram, whatever it may be. You'll be surprised to see what a great cake designer can do with just a little to work with. If you're having trouble thinking of something, look to the season to decide.
Erica and Gene's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Timeline Weddings
Design: Let your imagination run wild
Gone are the days of the columned wedding cakes with ivy going up the side, couples today are sticking with either the traditional three tiered cakes, going for a topsy turvy look of a lopsided cake for a fun twist, or bagging cakes all together and doing a dessert station instead. Whatever kind of cake it may be, the designs play a huge part of the overall look of the cake. Here are some design elements to consider and discuss with your cake designer. 
Groom's Cake: Just for him
A lot of brides are doing something a little extra for their new hubby. By surprising the groom with a groom's cake, themed specifically to his style and taste, you are sure to win some new wife bonus points- which you can of course redeem later. Typically, grooms cakes are usually darker and heavier looking than traditional wedding cakes, which are often white and light. The groom's cake should be completely opposite in flavor and design of the wedding cake, but should also be his favorite flavor and highlight some of his favorite past times- sports teams or hobbies for example. It's also most often served at the rehearsal dinner to keep it separate from the wedding cake the next day. Fun fact, the groom's cake began as a tradition in the South.  
Stacey and Justin's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography
Top Tier: Save some for later
If you want to stick with tradition, save and freeze the top tier of your wedding cake to be enjoyed either on your first wedding anniversary or for the christening of your first born child. The tradition started in England- and back then many cakes were made from nuts and liquors- making them easily preserved. Today, keeping your cake tasting just as fresh may be a bit more of a challenge, especially since most couples are waiting a few years to have children. So typically, today's couples keep their cake frozen for a year and enjoy it during their first wedding anniversary. If you're trying to keep it for a year, make sure to wrap it in several layers of saran wrap and tin foil and even put it in a Tupperware container. If you get back from your honeymoon and are still dreaming about your wedding cake, don't hesitate to open it back up, after all, every day of your marriage is a celebration!
Kaylan and Dan's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Lloydlee Heite
Cake Stands: Tying it all together
Add a little something extra with a traditional, vintage, modern or unconventional cake stand. Your wedding cake designer may have stands you can use, but websites like Etsy have great cheap options that you can always reuse in your new home. Cake stands can also be used to divide up the different flavors or layers of cake, giving you a tall cake that will also be steady. The cake stand below can be found at Sarah's Stands. 
Melissa and Carl's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Childress Photography
Trends: Keeping up with the Jones'
The 2011 wedding season is almost over, so chances are, if you're reading this blog for wedding tips, your big day is sometime in 2012. Get ahead of the curve and keep in mind these new 2012 cake trends with the overall theme of 2012 being chic and romantic. 
  • Flavors- Red velvet was the top cake flavor for 2011, but couples in 2012 will look to more unique flavors to surprise their guests, try pomegranate or fig filled cakes. Other unconventional flavors lately have been chocolate hazelnut, chocolate orange, lemon, peanut butter & jelly, almond, and banana!
  • Design- Up, up and away, cakes for 2012 are getting bigger and better- not to mention higher. Think big and tall when designing your cake for 2012!
  • Simplicity- 2011 was filled with very detailed cakes- lace, ruffles, designs from brides dresses, but in 2012, the details will take a back seat and the taste will step up to the plate, literally. Picture more white or ivory cakes with hand painted elegant designs and monograms. 
  • Flowers- Always a trend, flowers are a perfect addition to any cake design. In 2012, more uncommon flowers and color combinations will be seen- think pastels with a pop of color.
Nell and Scott's Wedding
Photo courtesy of John Shetron Photography
Price: Getting the most bang for your buck
Although I am only speaking in generalizations here, the average cost of a wedding cake for around 100 people is $500- though this cost varies depending on your design, flavor choice, and the cake designers notability. Lower end cakes can cost around $2 a slice, mid-range cakes around $5-6 per slice and high end around around $10 or more per slice. Also remember to include delivery charges, cake toppers, a cake cutting knife, and possibly a cake stand into this cost as well. If you're trying to save with your cake consider these tips:
  • Use the venues preferred baker, which will often include some sort of discount
  • If you don't plan on keeping your top tier, using it to feed guests instead
  • Get a close family member or friend to make the cake for  you
  • Have one layer of the cake be real and used for the cake cutting but the rest be synthetic- but make sure you of course have a sheet cake in the back
    Casey and Will's Wedding
    Photo courtesy of 217 Photography
If you're totally lost after all these cake lessons, take this quiz, from our good friend Martha to help you get a start. 

Also be sure to check out our blogs about Cake Toppers by Nicole and Alternatives to a Traditional Wedding Cake by Amanda for more ideas!

-Caitlin

Flowers by Season

Fabulous floral arrangements are a staple in every bride’s dream wedding. With every season, there are numerous gorgeous flowers in bloom that will brighten your wedding and give you whatever look you desire. By going seasonal with flowers, you can not only cut down on your costs, but your entire wedding will reflect the season of your special day! 

Spring- We all look forward to spring as the time when nature bursts into life and we are treated to a wide variety of colors and fragrances. The most popular colors in the spring are pinks, yellows, whites, oranges, greens, violets and bright reds.
Anemones- A beautiful and modern looking flower that comes in a few different colors and really makes a statement! 
Calla Lilies- This elegant, unique flower blooms from the top of a thick stem and has an open bell shape. Calla lilies are the perfect white wedding flower and can be found in a variety of other colors. 
Forsythia- A spring time twist on branches for your centerpieces. Using forsythia branches can add height to any floral arrangement while keeping some color at the table!
Lisianthus- They look a lot like roses but their petals are a bit softer making them perfect for a bouquet that can be small but still lush!
Peony- Large, showy, often fragrant flowers that come in wonderful hues of pink. 
Ranunculus- Can be used in table centers, bouquets and boutonnieres. 
Stephanotis- A bridal bouquet favorite! You can have a whole bouquet full of stephanotis and have your florist place small rhinestones in their centers. 
Tulips- Vary greatly in heights, size and colors. Tulips are at their peak in the spring, so you can find the best choices and prices. The cup shaped blossom, works wonderfully in any arrangement.

Summer- In summer you have a large choice of very rich and beautiful flowers available. The most popular colors for summer arrangements are reds, blues, violets, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, and whites. You can still find calla lilies, carnations and lisianthus in the summer!
Allium- A great color option to use in vases as your centerpiece! 
Alstroemeria- Usually used as a filler for arrangements and bouquets and they come in a variety of colors. 
Amaranthus- Can be used to hang down from your centerpieces or even bouquets for a unique and natural look. 
Carnation- Carnations come in a wide array of colors and can be used for anything! 
Chysanthemum- Come in a wide range of colors such as fun shamrock and lime green!
Cockscomb- An ideal flower to add unique texture, and bright color to a bouquet.
Dahlia- Now in season and come in a range of colors from vibrant yellow to bright red.
Hydrangea- Produce large, circular clusters of flower heads that resemble pom-poms. They are most commonly found in whites, violets and pinks.

Autumn- have your wedding flowers in vibrant oranges and yellows, dark rich reds and luxurious greens. In fall, anemones, carnations, chysanthemums and cockscomb are still available. Don't shy away from using fall foliage or pumpkins with your centerpieces!
Gerbera Daisy- These perfectly round flowers are great for bridal bouquets and fresh fun looking arrangements. Find them in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colors. 
Orchids- Known for their dainty appearance and uncommon structure. These delicate petals are most commonly found in white and pinks and add a modern feel to your wedding. They also come in green. 
Rose- An age old favorite that can be found in a variety of colors and throughout all of the seasons. Add into any arrangement to get a plush look and fragrant result. 
Sunflower- They are the perfect statement flower and can be used in several ways.  

Winter- Not to worry winter brides! There are many winter wedding flowers for you as well as these flowers we've already talked about: alstroemeria, carnations, chyrsanthemums, gerbera daisies, orchids and roses!
Holly Berry- A perfect accent to a bridal bouquet being held around the holidays.  
Asiatic Lily- A beautiful lily that is available in a ton of colors!
Casablanca Lily- This lily has a lot of texture to it and would be beautiful in a centerpiece that is mostly green. 
Poinsettia- They are the face of flowers in the winter. You could use a poinsettia plant and easily have your guests take it home!

-Hannah

all images were found on google

Jennifer and Kevin's Wedding

Jennifer and Kevin were married in January at TRUST in Philadelphia. Jennifer and her bridesmaids started their day with hair done by Hair by Meghan and makeup done by Kelly from Face the Occasion. Jennifer and Kevin wanted a "Winter in Philadelphia" theme so when we created their invitations, we went with a silver pocket fold and created a snowflake logo that was put on all of their stationery. To match their color scheme of silver, blue and white, their florist Shannon Toal, used branches for the centerpieces that were surrounded by white hydrangea. The bridemaids bouquets were filled with blue hydrangea. All of the flowers were gorgeous! Fleur De Lys Catering did a phenomenal job with the food spread. Dinner was buffet stations representing different countries that included chinese, italian and spanish foods! Guests enjoyed cupcakes, made by Velvet Sky Bakery, instead of a traditional cake and got to enjoy the photo booth provided by Go Festive! Even Joe Paterno (the cardboard cut out) made it into the photo booth! Matt Blank from Synergetic Sounds did an amazing job getting everyone on the dance floor. It was packed all night! A big thank you to Doug from Candid Moments Photography for sending us these stunning images!

Congratulations Jennifer and Kevin!