WEDDING CAKE The serving of wedding cake dates back to the Roman era when a bun or wheat bread would be broken over the bride’s head. The crumbs that landed were a symbol of good luck and fertility. In the seventeenth century, French bakers would stack the buns and coat them with icing, creating the first wedding cakes that were eaten by brides, grooms and guests. Today, wedding cakes are as much an art as the tradition. Your cake can say a lot about your personality and style with the design of your cake. There are so many options that it can be hard to choose just the right one. Take a look at bridal magazines, cake decorator books, photos and displays your bakery may have. Once you have in mind the design you want, it is time to find the right bakery. Check with friends, family, other brides, and your service providers (reception site, caterer, and photographer) for references. If you have a picture of the design you would like, call the bakery and make an appointment to talk with them. Have an idea of how many guests you will have, this will help determine the amount of cake you will need. When you meet with the bakery, you will need to ask some questions such as: What is the price per serving? Wedding cake? Sheet cake? (depending on your location and the bakery, serving per piece can run $1.00 per serving or more. Sheet cakes are considerably less, you may wish to consider this if your cake design will not allow for a large number of servings, or you are looking to cut costs.) What flavors of cake and icing are available? Can you sample them? Are their added costs for different or multiple flavors? When and how will the cake be delivered and set-up at the reception? Can you provide a groom’s cake? Cost? (The groom’s cake is traditionally cut and sent home with guests from the reception, it may also be served at the rehearsal dinner.) Shopping tips for your wedding cake: Contract your bakery about 6-8 months before the wedding date. Some bakeries only take a few cake orders for a weekend and you could find yourself looking for another bakery. Talk with the bakery and ask them for recommendations on types of cake, flavors and designs. He/she may have suggestions that you may not have thought of or recommendations for cake if the reception is outside or you plan to have the cake set-up for a lengthy period of time. Make sure you have provided the bakery with contact information on the reception site and information about set-up times. If the florist will be providing fresh flowers or greens for your cake, provide the bakery with contact information so they can coordinate this also. Put it all in writing, make sure the contract spells out everything from the size and design of the cake, to the delivery time and date. Preserving you cake: It is considered good luck and an omen for long life together to preserve the tope tier of your wedding cake to eat on your first anniversary. You can easily carry on the tradition by following these steps. 1.Encase the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then double rap in aluminum foil or put in a specially designed cake freezer box. 2.If you have wrapped the cake in aluminum foil, also put the cake in an airtight container to help prevent freezer burn. 3.Put the cake in a deep freeze or in the back of you freezer until time to unfreeze. 4.To unfreeze, place cake in fridge for 48 hours to thaw, then place at room temperature for 2-3 hours and serve. FLOWERS You and your bridesmaid’s bouquets will be a focal point in your wedding. You will want to have arrangements with some impact, yet not be overpowering. Here are some helpful tips and flower facts to consider: Your bridal bouquet will need to compliment your wedding style, dress design and your body size. As there are many different dress styles, there are different bouquet designs that will compliment or detract from them. For example, a sheath style gown with its long lines will look its best with a small bouquet or an elongated bouquet design. A very elaborate dress with detail on the bodice and skirt may benefit with a bouquet design that is held to the side. A very petite bride can be easily overwhelmed with a large bouquet. Talking with your florist, they will be able to make suggestions as to the design and size you will need. If possible, ask for a sample bouquet or similar to help illustrate the design. Choosing your flowers used can depend on the season, color and sizes of the blooms. Flowers that are in season are usually less expensive, look healthier and will last longer. Your florist can help you in choosing in-season blooms. Another alternative would be silks, which can sometimes be less expensive and are available all year round. The classic wedding bouquet is all white, with roses and freesia. However, wedding floral arrangements today are based on your own personal style and theme. Consider blushing pastels, vibrant reds and yellows, even a mixture of wildflower colors. Blooms such as Cala lilies can keep with the traditional white, while adding a very distinctive flair. Remember to have your florist make up a small toss bouquet that resembles your bouquet. The attendant’s bouquets are often different in size and color from the bride’s. You may even choose to have your attendants carry candles, bibles or other items decorated with flowers. Traditionally, flower girls carry baskets of loose flower petals to toss in the aisle before the bride. This tradition is to give the bride a soft bed of petals to walk upon. Check with your ceremony site, some churches do not allow toss petals as they can be messy and guests might slip on them. An alternative to loose petals can be a miniature bouquet or basket of blooms. Groom, groomsmen, fathers and other special men traditionally wear boutonnieres on the left lapel of their coats. The groom’s boutonniere should be different from the others, usually of the same bloom found in the bride’s bouquet. Men other than the bridal party that may wear a boutonniere are the officiant, musician, reader or soloist, family member and host. Corsages for mothers, grandmothers and other special women should be of colors chosen to compliment their dresses. A traditional corsage is pinned to the dress on the left shoulder, however, you may wish to consider a wrist corsage or have mothers and grandmothers carry a single rose or small bouquet of flowers. Other women who may receive a corsage include officiant, musician, reader or soloist, family member, host and personal attendants. You will also want to consider your ceremony site and have arrangements or floral decorations to accent the site. You will want to work with your florist to determine what, if any arrangements and decorations may be needed, and their size. Small arrangements can be lost in a large site, where too large of arrangements and decorations can be distracting. Work with your florist on decorating the candelabras, providing greenery for the pews and other structures such as piano, organ, and railings. If you are having a candle light ceremony, your florist might be able to provide help with placement and provision of candelabras and accessories. Remember, the idea is to enhance the site, not to overwhelm it with flowers and decorations. You or your florist must be an artist when working to develop an overall site plan. LIMOUSINE SERVICES Limousines can vary greatly in the number they can carry and their features. Be sure that the limousines you book have enough room for everyone that will be traveling in them. Where to start looking? Ask friends, family or better yet, your wedding professionals for recommendations. Depending on your budget, you may want to hire one limousine or several. You may wish them to transport you to the ceremony and reception sites. Here are some questions to ask and to look for in a limousine company: * Book your limousine 4-6 months prior to the wedding. You may want to book sooner if your wedding falls on a popular date or around major events. (Prom, concert, gala, etc.) * Use a limousine company close to your ceremony site. Many limousine companies charge add-ons or additional time for travel time and mileage. Ask about any hidden fees. * Ask to see the car(s) before booking and a list of references. * Ask if they provide special wedding packages or rates. * Ask if gratuities are included in the price. If not, it is customary to tip your driver at least 15% of the total cost. * Ask that the driver be in appropriate dress for your wedding. * Specify all details in writing and make sure to confirm all details before the wedding day. PLANNING RECEPTION Starting early in with any wedding planning is the key and carries through to the reception. Popular reception spots book up early along with caterers and DJ’s and other good service professionals. Before you start your reception planning, have a few details about your party such as: Budget: how much can you spend in each area before meeting with a service provider. Size: how many guests are you planning to have? Special Requests: do you require a certain food or music, do you want table services? Make sure the service providers you contact can provide you with your special requests before investing a lot of time or any money. Once you have this information, your next step is to compile a list of providers you would like to call and interview. Create a list with your families on what you are looking for. Then call around for availability and estimates. FINDING A RECEPTION SITE Your reception site can be a grand hall or a church meeting room, a community center or a club. Depending on what type of reception you are planning your site can be as imaginative as you wish to get. How do you find the perfect reception site? You need to focus on what the two of you want, then spend some time and view only those sites that meet you specifications. Where do you find reception sites? Check with your local chamber of commerce as well as other wedding professionals for sites. Look in the yellow pages, local bridal magazines and also check with motels and convention centers. If you are wishing a more unique reception site, check with wineries, lighthouses and historical buildings/societies. Once you think you have found the perfect site, here are a few questions to ask: Rental fee and what does it include? How much to reserve the site and what extra fees might be added? How many hours does the fee cover? How late can the event go? Are other services available and if so, what are the charges? (e.g., doorman, coat check, valet parking) Is Parking for guests easily accessible, enough space and are there any charges (e.g. meter parking, parking garage, etc.) How many people can the site hold comfortably, seating and space available for a sit-down meal or buffet? Will you have the site exclusively or do they hold more than one event at a time? If so, how are the facilities divided? How is privacy ensured? Can you decorate the night before the event? What times can you have access to the site? What restrictions, if any do they have on decorating the site? What type of restrictions does the site have? Can you use outside sources (e.g. caterers, DJ’s, bartender) or must you use their staff? Is the site air-conditioned or provide adequate heat depending on the weather? Is there a dance floor? What size? how many people can it hold at any one time? Bathrooms are adequate and clean? Is there a changing room for the wedding party? Will the site manager be on hand during the event? If not, who will be in charge? Does the site carry liability insurance in the event a guest is injured? What is the cancellation or refund policy? All these questions need to be answered before you sign any contracts or exchange any money. Make sure all requests are agreed to in writing and any uncertainties are answered and fully understood. When you are ready to “Book” the site, make sure you receive any copies of agreements. Get a date and time confirmation on the reservation, and an outline of all the details and prices. Get in writing of any security deposits paid and when they will be returned. Avoid reception rip-offs Some caterers and reception sites have been know to take your booking fees and go out of business, or book another wedding for the same day then ask you to switch. Here are some tips to avoid being ripped-off. Find out if your site will take responsibility for anyone they sub-contact. Ask for references, then call them. Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area about the business you are considering. Pay with a credit card for everything. This gives you recourse with the credit card company if the service provider does not come through and is unwilling to work with you to solve the problem. HIRING A CATERER Here is some “Food for Thought” when hiring a caterer. Just like your reception site, you will want to acquire the services of a caterer early (minimum 8-12 months prior to the event if possible). Depending on your reception site, you may work with an outside caterer or you may have to use their contract or in-house services. When working within the reception site, you may work with the banquet manager to plan out the entire reception from food and drink to decorations, tables and wait staff. The reception site may sub-contract these services or use their own staff and equipment. If your site does not provide this type of service, suddenly you find yourself contracting and working with caterers, bartenders, waiters and rental companies to supply your reception. You may wish to look for a caterer that can provide all these services for you and act as sort of a “Contractor”, some provide this service for a fee. If you are using a wedding coordinator, they can also provide this service. When checking out a caterer, you may wish to ask the following questions: What is the estimated cost per person/plate for a seated meal? Buffet? What does the meal include? Do you provide drink? Added cost? What is the wait staff-to-guest ratio? (this is very important for a seated dinner, usually one waiter for every 10-12 guests.) Is there a set menu or can it be modified? Can they accommodate special dietary restrictions for you and your guests? Has the caterer worked at the reception site before? Can you arrange to check out a food display or catering at another reception or banquet? Can I sample the foods to be on the menu at my reception? Does the caterer provide table linens, table service and clean up? If so, can you view the linens and tableware? (Make sure the patterns will work for you and that plates and silverware are in good condition) How soon before the event does the caterer need a final head count? What is the payment policy and is tipping included or additional? What types of additional charges might you expect besides those of food and beverage? Does the caterer have proper license and is state certified? If they will be providing liquor, do they have a liquor license? Does the caterer carry liability insurance? How much time does the caterer need to set-up at your reception? How long will they stay? Will food be available for late guests or throughout the reception? If food is left over, what happens to it? (you may want to keep a tray of sandwiches or salad if you are having a lunch the next day to open presents or for family) How much is overtime and what is the cancellation policy? If all these answers will work for you, check again to make sure the caterer is open for your wedding date, and secure the service. Make sure you read and understand their contract and any questions answered, and all special requests put in writing. FINDING A RECEPTION SITE Your reception site can be a grand hall or a church meeting room, a community center or a club. Depending on what type of reception you are planning your site can be as imaginative as you wish to get. How do you find the perfect reception site? You need to focus on what the two of you want, then spend some time and view only those sites that meet you specifications. Where do you find reception sites? Check with your local chamber of commerce as well as other wedding professionals for sites. Look in the yellow pages, local bridal magazines and also check with motels and convention centers. If you are wishing a more unique reception site, check with wineries, lighthouses and historical buildings/societies. Once you think you have found the perfect site, here are a few questions to ask: Rental fee and what does it include? How much to reserve the site and what extra fees might be added? How many hours does the fee cover? How late can the event go? Are other services available and if so, what are the charges? (e.g., doorman, coat check, valet parking) Is Parking for guests easily accessible, enough space and are there any charges (e.g. meter parking, parking garage, etc.) How many people can the site hold comfortably, seating and space available for a sit-down meal or buffet? Will you have the site exclusively or do they hold more than one event at a time? If so, how are the facilities divided? How is privacy ensured? Can you decorate the night before the event? What times can you have access to the site? What restrictions, if any do they have on decorating the site? What type of restrictions does the site have? Can you use outside sources (e.g. caterers, DJ’s, bartender) or must you use their staff? Is the site air-conditioned or provide adequate heat depending on the weather? Is there a dance floor? What size? how many people can it hold at any one time? Bathrooms are adequate and clean? Is there a changing room for the wedding party? Will the site manager be on hand during the event? If not, who will be in charge? Does the site carry liability insurance in the event a guest is injured? What is the cancellation or refund policy? All these questions need to be answered before you sign any contracts or exchange any money. Make sure all requests are agreed to in writing and any uncertainties are answered and fully understood. When you are ready to “Book” the site, make sure you receive any copies of agreements. Get a date and time confirmation on the reservation, and an outline of all the details and prices. Get in writing of any security deposits paid and when they will be returned. |