Who's Ready for Some Cake?

Feature Article

by Tracey Baxter




Ahhhh -the wedding cake! Few wedding elements are as anticipated! Even those who won’t eat any will still marvel at it! So of course you’re going to look at photos and pick a super design and taste the finest cakes in town right? But do you need to spend a fortune on a cake? No. Here are some ways to make sure you get the most bang for your frosted sugarlicious buck:



Know who is cutting your cake! Of course I am aware that by the time it’s to be cut, you’ll have already paid for your cake, but you don’t want that money wasted. Cake slices are typically 1 inch wide by 2.5 inches long. Bakers will use that as the guide when planning the tier sizes and number of tiers needed. If the person cutting the cake varies greatly from that standard slice, some of your guests may not receive a slice of cake. In effect you just increased your cost per slice. So proper cake cutting is a must! If you don’t have an event-day coordinator, just be sure your caterer does not pass the cake cutting off to an untrained intern! Unfortunately, I have seen this happen at all wedding price points and have had to offer 'on the job training' and have even taken the reins myself when I was just supposed to be a guest!






Don’t plan for extra slices so guests can have seconds.  Bakeries charge “by the slice” so definitely use an accurate guest count when you tell them how many guests you’ll serve. Few guests want a second piece of cake and fewer will be bold enough to ask. In fact, some don’t eat cake at all; especially if they have been provided a full meal at the reception. Nor should you think about giving a bigger slice for all guests. Properly cut, a standard 1 x 2.5 inch cake slice is a generous portion at 5 inches tall.






No cake will taste good after a year in the freezer. Not even a cake from the best bakery and covered with industrial foil wrapping will taste good after 12 months in a freezer! So instead of saving it for your anniversary, plan to cut and serve that top tier. 6 inch round cakes serve 12 guests. At $4 per slice or more, you’ve just saved at least $48! A larger top tier would be even bigger savings. To celebrate your anniversary with your wedding cake, order a small cake in the same flavors from your baker in a year. If your baker offers a free top tier, ask if you can have a certificate to be redeemed for a fresh anniversary cake instead. Trust me; you’ll want a fresh anniversary cake in a year!




Fondant is smooth and elegant but always additional per slice. Not to mention it's a rare baker that makes fondant yummy. Most bakers offer butter crème frosting with piped butter crème decoration in their base per slice fee. A professional wedding cake decorator actually can create a smooth butter crème frosting that is almost as flawless as fondant. I know this because I can do it and I’m not even a cake pro! So just ask to see photos of their butter crème covered wedding cakes specifically. That way so you can compare their work to the other decorators’ frosting smoothing capabilities. You’ll probably be surprised at how smooth butter crème really is!





Brides often ask, “What about sheet cakes in the kitchen and a dummy cake just for pictures?” Well, I didn’t want to go here but… there is a reason these things are called ‘dummy cakes’! Dummy cakes are not free. “Dummy” cake forms are made of Styrofoam and still must be decorated. Styrofoam forms are not cheap so to the cake form price, add the decoration costs, the decorator’s time plus the real sheet cakes you still have to purchase; added up dummy cake is not a money saving option. Oh yeah… and then what do you do with the dummy cake? Put it on your mantle? Toss it in the trash? Nope, not such a wise investment after all. I guess if you are enterprising, you could rent it to others. Which leads me to – can you rent a dummy cake? Yes. They are usually around $150 to rent. That’s One Hundred Fifty Dollars…. to rent….a cake…. that isn’t real … that you have to return … because it will be rented to others again. ...just like it was rented to others before it was yours. Yuck. Yes, I’ve seen them cheaper. Yes, they look cheaper too.






Your Wedding Planning Homework!


It's time to taste some cake! Cake tastings in most bakeries are free. Take advantage and schedule one ...or two ...today! Bring pictures but until you've tasted their cake, don't show them. They'll always tell you " Yes, of course we can do that lovely design". The question you need to aske yourself is - do you like the taste of their cake enough that you actually want them to?














Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:


Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com 

Whimsical Wednesday!

What could be better than wedding cake bling?  Chocolate wedding cake bling of course!  Check out this simple wedding cake design that's made simply spectacular with the addition of Bedazzle My Bonbons. 







The twin packs make great favors for your guests, top your wedding attendants gift with a box of 6 or 8, garnish a cocktail with a single bonbon, or use them in your candy or dessert buffet.

There are so many ways you can add some dazzle to your event with these sparkle-luscious goodies!!

Orders can be any mixture of the 24 colors and 6 flavors available.  Yes, you read that right, you can mix colors and flavors- at no extra charge.  That is a pretty sweet deal!  But even sweeter than that, if you provide a swatch, the chocolatiers at Bedazzle My Bonbons  will create the custom special color you need for your event - complimentary! 

Now that's the kind of real service we like at Aisle Do and we look forward to incorporating these into an event soon! 

Technical Tuesday... Wedding Colors

What colors are you using for your wedding decor? How did you choose them?



There are lots of 'rules' to follow or to break depending on your bent for drama ;) ... and of course some colors will blend well and others...well, not so much! ("Oh yeah, you blend"...Mona Lisa Vito played by Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny, circa 1992)





Naturally you want your wedding colors to be unique. But it's understandable that you can't add a degree in design to the wedding budget. So how can you be sure that your personalized color scheme isn't a personalized hot mess?


Here are a few great tools. No DIY bride should be without these! Visit Kuler and Color Scheme Designer for shades, monochromatic, and more!




Oh, and did I mention it's free to use these tools? That's right! Aren't free tools great!? No excuses! You can create a spectacular color palette for your wedding that is not a carbon copy of all that you find online!

Manic Mondays First Installment!

It's been a long time coming and not without some bumps in the road but without further ado - welcome to the first official Manic Mondays post! 

Want to try something delicious -try Orange Ginger Creme Brulee!  Where can you find such a treat you ask? I found it at Eez Fusion & Sushi in Huntersville, NC, in the Birkdale Village near the movie theater.

Oooo MMmmm Gosh!!! Can you say Yum?? I think I need to go there right now.  Everything I have had at Eez has been fabulous but the Orange Ginger Creme Brulee was the best dessert I have had in a long time.

So what does this have to do with weddings? Eez will cater! YES! I'm very excited about this!!  If you are looking for an interesting late night snack for your reception guests, why not California rolls? Light, yummy and hits the spot after a full night of wedding festivities!  Bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, the list is endless.  But they are always packed so plan in advance!  See their website for booking catering or have your wedding planner do it for you!    

Will You Even Remember You Got Married?

Feature Article 
by Tracey Baxter


At the end of your wedding day, your marriage has already begun but the wedding will already be just a memory. How well, and an in many cases if you remember all the intricate details you created or exactly how uncle Sal looked in his groovy rust colored tux will depend entirely on your photographer. Capturing your event on film –or in modern terms, digitally, your photographer has the ability to keep your memories vibrant and alive. It’s important to know the difference between features and results when choosing a wedding photographer. And features do not necessarily achieve the expected result. For example, the feature would be a state of the art digital camera that only 10 people in the world own. A result would be eliciting the kind of memories you desire. But that state of the art camera may or may not get that result you desire depending on which of the 10 people are using it!


Your wedding photography begins with the results!


Do you long for traditional portraits or your story in a journalistic montage? Or maybe blending these styles is more your goal? Photographers will present you with their best work samples in a consultation so before you scout out photographers to interview; it’s helpful to know your preferences because this is the result you are looking for! Look for photographers who capture the emotion you want to feel when you look at these pictures in three years… 10 years… 25 years and more from now. Some couples want to feel reverent and others glee when reflecting on their wedding photos. Whatever that feeling is you desire, it is critical to pinpoint. Until you know this first, you will not be able to find a photographer that is able produce that result for you.


What features are important to you?


Once you have narrowed down photographers by the style and feeling they can evoke in their photos of you in your price range, it’s time to determine what features are relevant to your needs. Not every photographer offers the same features even if within the same price range. What features you need and what can you do without depends again on your style and personality. There is not necessarily one right feature set for everyone. Here are some features to consider when choosing your photographer:


1. Do they have a second photographer shooting the event?


2. Will there be a time limit or is service for the full event day?


3. Will the photographer(s) travel to locations other than your ceremony and reception sites on your wedding day?


4. Is there a limit to the number of photos they will take? Some photographers still set a limit on the number of shots taken.


5. Do packages in your price range contain more than 2 elements that you don’t want? And if so, can you negotiate trading for something else. For example, if you don’t want a 4x5 album for your parents, can you trade that for additional hours, an engagement shoot or something else?


6. How much does it cost for prints?


7. Who gets the copy rights?? In other words, must you order prints through the photographer?


8. Will you see actual printed proofs or will only online viewing be available?


9. Does the photographer touch up the photos in any way?


10. How long will it take to see proofs and then get finished products?



Your Wedding Planning Homework:


Knowing your style and desires for how you want to reflect on your wedding is the key!  No other photo album will be as emotionally charged as your wedding album or scrapbook.  Take time to really ponder how you want to feel when you look at your wedding photos in the years to come.                  .

  

Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:


Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com

"The Most Common Mistake Made by Newly Engaged Couples"

Feature Article


"The most common mistake made by newly engaged couples!"

by Tracey Baxter



This major mistake can be costly in many ways. Whether you are dreaming of a very intimate gathering or a bash that rivals New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve, the most important factor to consider is creating your wedding guest list. Most brides and mothers of these brides estimate that they will host a certain number, say 135 guests, and jump right into booking venues and dress shopping. Unfortunately, what they think will be 135 guests actually tallies to something quite different when they finally sit down and make a list of who they really would like to invite. Let’s examine a couple examples of how guessing your guest list total sabotages your wedding planning before you get started.







Some brides justify procrastinating creating an accurate guest list thinking there will be a large number of guests that will be unable to attend. This is not usually the case. Inviting more than 10 guests over what your venue will safely accommodate is not a gamble worth taking. You will be in a world of hurt much too late in the game to change the location and your venue will have no choice but to force you (or your family or wedding planner) to turn guests away at the door because they take fire code violations very seriously. This would be more horrific than not inviting some people to begin with don’t you think?






When you over estimate your guest list and choose a venue scaled for well over your actual needs, you’re still not making the most informed decision. Hosting a small event in a massive space is not the end of the world but you will still have only two options if you don’t care for the idea of your intimate event getting lost in the expanse of the ballroom. And your options could be expensive. You will need to either increase your budget to make the space feel more intimate by adding fabric, tents or other large scale décor or forfeit the deposit so you can find a venue elsewhere that is more appropriately sized for your event.






The guest list, particularly the trimming of the guest list, has more potential for prickly discussions than any other wedding planning category. When brides immediately start searching venues and caterers, they often choose a site that is too small because they underestimated their guest list. This creates unnecessary stress as the guest list has to be reduced. Traditionally, the guest list size is determined by the host and is divided in half for each family to select their share of the guests. But if the reserved venue is much smaller than the guest list needs, there are only two options. You must either trim the guest list or lose your deposit and booking somewhere that safely accommodates all of your invited guests.






Guest list size makes the financial impact. If you have a large reception in mind, say 300 guests, allotting $65 per person will total $19,500. The same reception for 200 guests drops to $13,000 and for 100 guests to just $6500. This example of $65 per person included bar service, cake, décor in addition to a plated meal. If you selected a menu that alone is $65 per person, revisit the numbers above and add to them at least 50% for the addition of décor, bar service and cake. You can easily see the financial significance of accurately figuring out the guest list right from the start.






Communication is key!  Regardless of if you go with the traditional guest list allocation, tally based on who is contributing to the budget, or some other formula, clear and compassionate communication between you, your fiancé, and both of your families is important. Not only are you more likely to create an event that you truly desire, it will also set the standard for a future of good communication between you all.

Your Wedding Planning Homework!

It's time to make that guest list! Don't procrastinate! I like to use a spreadsheet and make columns at the top for the guest first name, last name, their spouse or guest's name, names of children, total guests in the party etc. The auto tally feature also helps so you don't have to count them up when you are done. If you already have a gotten started on your guest list, have you considered a column for how the invitations outer and inner envelops should be written?


If you're closer to the wedding then sending invitations, on your guest list spreadsheet, don't forget a column for how the escort or seating cards should be written and recording the date when you wrote a thank-you card!

Feature Article

“Manage Your Motif So You Don't Make a Mess”


By Tracey Baxter

Managing your motif means prioritizing your spending. Never before has DIY wedding planning been so easy to do. The web has numerous wedding websites, blogs and professional design boards just a click away. With so many inspirations, it’s also easy to get carried away and attempt to pull too many elements into one wedding. I’ve heard it before, “I just want this one last thing to pull it together…” Meanwhile, this bride had to increase her budget to accomplish this. Prioritizing from the beginning, this bride would have kept the budget in check and clearly communicated her wedding style without needing a single thing to pull it together. And really, will that one last thing pull it together? Not likely!


So many elements, where to begin? Bengaline, damask and pin tuck – Oh My! A Candy Buffet or a dessert buffet ...or both – but why? Using a notebook to collect and file ideas is an easy way to remember what you like. But pulling it together should not be an afterthought. It really should be the very next thing you do after determining your total wedding budget and guest list. Does having both a candy buffet and a dessert buffet even make sense? Maybe, if your overall theme is inspired by a sweet shop. Do you need trinket favors and a candy buffet? Again, this depends on the overall style of your wedding. But rather than taking on all the latest trends, let your personal style influence your décor and menu choices. This is your day so begin by examining who you are and what you love.


My advice to brides is regularly examine what you have collected in your notebook. While you are in the early planning stages you should weed your notebook regularly. Some ideas might have been added in the impulse of the moment. And some are truly things you will want to include in your wedding décor. Invest in the areas that make you say “Oh yes, I need this” and minimize or eliminate everything else. Carefully choosing elements you want most and doing them exceptionally well will be more appreciated by your guests. More importantly, you and your fiancé will be happier with the polished end result!

Your Wedding Planning Homework:
Start your wedding planning by figuring out who you are.  How do you really want to celebrate your wedding?  What elements are the most important?  Let the answers to these questions be your guiding light.


Want to use this article in your E-zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:

Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com