Wedding Cakes – Icing Choices Matter

As they say, it’s the icing on the cake!  And when it comes to wedding cakes, icing is very important because it will determine the look of the cake, as well as the price. Mainly, there is 3 different kinds of icings to be used on a presentation cake.

Traditional Butter Cream Wedding Cakes. The “butter cream” frosting will be slightly off-white, because it is made with “butter.” If  you see a very white butter cream frosting, it surely wasn’t made with real butter! The butter cream is usually a favorite because people like the taste of it, it is also the cheapest icing (we charge around $4.50 to $5.00 per serving for wedding cakes with butter cream icing).

Wedding Cakes with White Chocolate Icing. The “white chocolate” icing is liquid white chocolate that we pour on top of the wedding cake.  It is off-white as well, has a little shine to it, and has a smooth aspect as well.  Our charge for Wedding Cakes with White Chocolate icing run between  $5.00 and $5.50 per serving.

When it comes to wedding cakes, icing is very important because it will determine the look of the cake, as well as the price.

Fondant Wedding Cakes. Then there is the “fondant,” from the French dictionary meaning “melting.”  The fondant is made with sugar and has to be rolled “paper thin” to be the best!  If it is too thick it will not be good to taste, but if it is thinly rolled it tastes like a soft marshmallow. The fondant is the only icing to give a really “smooth” aspect to the cake.  You can also add a lot of different piping design to fondant icing, making an intricate lace design, or an abstract design or even some lettering.  It is the easiest icing to be “piping drawn” on. (For those of you who wonder what “piping drawn” means, it is the technique where the icing is put in a bag or cone and then “pressed” out to create, or “draw,” your design.)  The fondant is the only icing that can be 100% white, it can also be any color you want it to be, although if you do a black or navy blue, your guests will have black or navy blue teeth because of the large amount of colorant that needs to be used. The fondant is usually the easiest icing to achieve the “special design” the bride and groom have in mind.  It also holds better while having to sit on a warm table for a few hours as opposed to the butter cream icing. It is also usually the most expensive, starting at $6.50 per serving and can be quite more based on the difficulty of the design you pick.

Two others worth mentioning:

If you are looking for a less formal look, you could also pick a chocolate ganache icing.  For those who want a darker icing for their wedding cakes, icing made of chocolate ganache is where you’ll get the best taste for a dark color effect.

Or the Lady fingers look is also popular for a more country style cake, and it works well and looks really good with fabric ribbon and fresh flowers.

So remember, when it comes to wedding cakes, icing choices are important and it is the icing on the cake that will make your cake!

Since opening his doors in Pacific Grove back in1984, Gerard Bechler, Owner and Master Chef of Patisserie Bechler’s, has become known as “The Wedding Cake Expert.” Gerard has created over 5,000 beautiful, memorable and delicious wedding cakes for all size weddings. Located in Pacific Grove, CA, Patisserie Bechler’s is pleased and proud to be counted among the few French fine pastry shops in Central California and Monterey County. To find out more about Patisserie Bechler’s visit them at www.patisseriebechler.com

Getting Great Wedding Shots for Great Wedding Photography Portraits

Coming from a photographer you might expect this piece to be about having a great background to the photo like this one on top of Crystal Mountain, Washington, with Mt. Rainier in the distance. Or how to get people to smile with a witty joke. Instead it is about how to get the bride and groom relaxed enough that their natural smile emerges naturally.

Stressed out is how I would describe a lot of the brides and grooms that I meet at the start of their wedding day. Getting great wedding shots to make a great set of photographs of a stressed out wedding couple is a real challenge. Being tense does not make for wedding glamor. It is mostly impossible if they are stressed out over too many of the details of their wedding day.

It helps to think it through in advance and only spend time making the wedding shots you want.

One solution to reducing the stress level is to get help from a wedding-day coordinator. This can be someone hired for the task or it can be someone recruited from the ranks of friends or family. While the bride and groom may prefer to plan out all the events of the day, the coordinator is given the responsibility of all of the little details that can cause the bride and groom to get stressed out and prevent them from relaxing and enjoying their wedding day. Then they can be photographed looking their best, relaxed and not preoccupied with the goings on around them. They will smile more easily with the anxiety missing and in general the wedding shots will be better for it and the wedding “glamour” will come naturally.

As a photographer I have found the one detail to reliably improve the process of making the posed formal portraits of the wedding party and family members is to insist that the bride and groom prepare a shot list at least a week or two before the wedding. This is simply a detailed list of everyone they want to include in the making of formal posed portraits. Listing the actual names of everyone makes it easier to work with. The shot list really eliminates all of the stress of having to decide on your wedding day who will be in which photos. It helps to think it through in advance and only spend time making the wedding shots you want. It works best when you can get the list down to about 8-12 shots. If you try, think about who would want to have these photos and what they would do with them.

It should look something like this:

1. Bride and Groom
2. Bride & Groom with Bride’s parents (with the bride’s parents names)
3. Bride & Groom with Groom’s parents (wth the groom’s parents names)
4. Bride with Bridesmaids (include their names)
5. Groom with . . . (include the names)
6. Bride and Groom with . . . (you get the picture)
7. The entire wedding party
8. Etc…. but try to keep it from going past #12.

The shot list goes to either the wedding day coordinator or a good friend or relative who already knows the majority of these folks. (It helps if they have a drill sergeant attitude. It’s funny, but in my experience it seems everyone knows just the perfect person to give it to). It functions like this:

When the photographer is making the first photo on the shot list, they are rounding up the people in shot 2. and holding them in the on deck circle. Then when the first shot is done, he says next and they proceed to the location to be photographed in their turn. Then the folks in shot #3 are gathered up to stand by. This continues until the end of the list.

This allows the bride and groom to not have to make any stressful decisions on the day of the wedding. It also helps them to know exactly who to tell to come early if the wedding shots will be taken before the ceremony. That is also a stress reducing factor in itself. Take the portraits before the wedding for a more relaxed wedding day for sure.

After 16 years of being a newspaper staff photographer, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Daniel Sheehan began photographing weddings in 1997 after a call from a desperate couple unable to find a photographer. After photographing their wedding, he made the transition from covering hard news to weddings, documenting them in the same way as his editorial assignments. 250+ weddings later, photographing weddings (including Conan O’Brien’s wedding) has become his most gratifying work. The Wedding Photojournalists Association named him an International Award Winning Photographer. View his wedding photography and learn more about Daniel at his website: ABeautifulDayPhotography.com

Making the Most Out of Your Engagement Portrait Session

Alot of photographers offer engagement portrait sessions in their wedding packages. With a tight budget, some people might choose to opt out as they think this is not necessary, or that it’s merely another opportunity for some casual shoots which could be done by amateur photographer friends. As a professional photographer, I would strongly suggest keeping the session in the package rather than opting for print credits or enlargements. Here are some good reasons for my recommendation:

The engagement portrait session is the time that you and the photographer can really get to know each other in action. It’s your first opportunity to see the photographer holding a camera while trying to engage with you. You will really get a feel what it’s like to have a camera in your face while you are trying to have some romantic moments with your loved one. Who says that’s easy to do! That’s why it’s a wonderful opportunity to communicate with the photographer about your comfort zone and expectations. A good photographer will sense what it takes to get you to feel at ease. The more comfortable you are with the photographer, the better the pictures will turn out on your wedding day. Think of it as a rehearsal where you get to practice being intimate in front of people. Wedding pictures will look great only if you are able to express yourself fully and naturally and developing a great working relationship with your photographer is the key.

When I face couples who struggle to look natural in front of the camera, I often suggest that they choose something they enjoy doing together. For an active couple, it could be a hike to the hilltop or doing some fun dance moves together; for the quiet couple, it could be about being in each other’s arms, having their eyes closed and embracing the moment with each other. I believe the best practice for photographers is to give just enough guidance to direct the couple and make them feel at ease. I also like to give praise when I catch a stunning moment to let my couple know I am capturing beauty in them. Naturally they would keep it up and the moment would only bloom more. Then I would show them the shots and let them know how lovely they turn out, which will encourage them to keep the spirit even higher. Warming up is merely a process and once you get there you will be able to be as spontaneous and passionate as you are in front of camera.

The engagement portrait session is best taken outdoors rather than in a studio-like setting. Feel free to suggest a place that meaningful to you two. Maybe it’s where the proposal took place, or a location where you two hang out all the time. Tell the story so the photographer can depict the essence for you. Engagement pictures are typically done three to six months ahead of the wedding day. It’s common for couples to use the pictures for their Save-The-Date cards or enlarge a favorite for display at the reception. I’ve recently put together my new product of using engagement pictures to create a guestbook. It’s an affordable way to present your pictures in a photo book form where guests can review the pictures and leave their words and blessings at the same time.

The engagement session is supposed to be fun-filled and stress free. Loosen up, snuggle up and be creative, and you’ll get so much more out of it.

Elley Ho prides herself as a creative artist, blending art with the most advances in the photography field. Focused on editorial style photography, Elley captures the souls of those she photographs, and documents the world as it exists. Pursuing absolute excellence in each wedding, she spends time developing a relationship with each couple she works with. She strongly believes having an emotional engagement is a necessary part of her work. Elley is always striving for a new way to portray events and imagery and have them reflect her own unique style. Find out more at www.elleyphotography.com. Elley Photography is based out of San Francisco Bay Area and travels worldwide and is a proud member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI).

Destination Bride Finds Perfect Wedding Photographer

Finding a photographer can be a daunting task OR a treasure hunt. If you will not be able to visit with the photographers of your final choice before you book, you will rely heavily on your email, phone and pictures of the photographer’s website, plus testimonials (! ).

You should look for testimonials of destination brides as one of your best indicators that the wedding photographer was what was expected by the couple.  Ask the photographer(s) you are interested for the email or phone number of one of their previous destination brides.   Then you can ask that couple how their perception of the photographer jived with their true experience.  (To find a photographer for your area try Google Local, and of course keyword in your location area.)

Also, consider narrowing down your photographer possibilities by choosing someone less than an hour of travel time (not miles) to your site.  The reason for this is traffic.  If you choose a popular destination, and your photographer is two hours away, if there are road problems on your wedding day, you could be WITHOUT a photographer, or at a minimum — have a LATE photographer.

Email is a good indicator of a personality match as you often can feel the personality by how your questions are addressed.  First of all, set up a good relationship by telling the photographer you love her/his work.  Be specific and mention a few of the favorite images that you would like for your own collection of wedding day shots.  As a photographer, I particularly like this as it gives me a quick look into my couple’s taste.  We all like to hear that our work is valued, and will be apt to be more responsive to you than if someone emails and says they “just want someone to take snapshots of the day for a certain number of hours”.  This implies the photographer doesn’t really matter and that they are only looking for the cheapest price.  While there ARE photographers that actually “don’t like photographing weddings” and they do it “for the money” (charging a cheap price), most photographers that shoot weddings really do love what they do and treat it as a serious work of art to create beautiful memories for their couple.  You will want to feel this in the email responses you get from your photographer.

Ask the photographer about their Package Pricing or Ala Carte price of wedding photography and albums to see if it is in your ballpark.  This is a good place to start because if you love the photography, but it is way beyond your price point, there is no sense in taking either yours or the photographer’s time.  Make sure they issue you a contract, and are professionally insured and belong to a photographer’s association such as PPA or WPPI (they have a code of ethics and conduct).

After you have decided that you like the price and email tone of the photographer, you should call them and talk more at length. This is where you can feel from their voice and way of speaking with you if you will be comfortable talking with them your wedding day.  Ask how they see your wedding day, and what they will do for you (this is all about them), and then tell the photographer what you want (this is all about you).

If you like the way that photographer sounds, let them know you need to talk with your fiancé, and will call or email back in a couple of days to book. Ask what the retainer cost is, and sign a contract!  Remember to communicate with your photographer at least a few weeks before your wedding to review what you expect and email a schedule of your day.  This will be appreciated.

You’ve done your best, so now look forward to a wonderful day with your perfect choice photographer!

Nanci Kerby loves her weddings. She is easy to communicate with and has a calming essence that is very helpful on the busy wedding day. Nanci’s years of photography, professional modeling, television shows and film give her a unique approach to her wedding couples’ posing since she has been on both sides of the camera.The seamless attention to detail while comfortably posing her bridal parties so that everyone looks great is just one of the compliments she receives from her brides. They also love that she makes them look like they belong on a magazine cover and feel like it as well. Find out more about Nanci and her work at www.nancikerby.com.

7 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Wedding Florist

Now that you’re engaged, planning your perfect wedding should be exciting, fun and give you a chance to put your unique signature on this big day. All the details can seem overwhelming at first but when you work with professional, experienced vendors that you feel a rapport with, all the details fall in place so you can enjoy every minute. You can make meeting and working with your potential florist much easier if you keep in mind a few of these tips.

A good florist should be able to give you alternatives that keep the feel and color you are wanting from your Bridal Bouquet Design to the Boutonnières all while remaining within your budget.

1. It’s best to wait until you’ve chosen your wedding and reception venues before meeting with your florist. Each location has specific needs and you’ll want the designer to be familiar with your venues.
2. Call and make an appointment a few weeks ahead so the designer can set aside time just for you. Remember that most florists are busy designing and setting up weddings on weekends so try to find a weekday that will work.
3. As with any vendor, it’s a good idea to meet with at least two florists. Take a look at their websites before meeting with them to see if their style compliments yours. Get a written proposal from your potential vendors before making a decision and certainly before putting down a deposit.
4. Your florist will ask you all the possible places you may want flowers, all the people you may want to include and all the details you haven’t thought of. They will want to know what color palette you are working with, how casual or formal your event will be and what your personal style is. It will be helpful to both you and your florist if you spend a little time perusing Bridal magazines and websites to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Bring in some pictures or send ahead some photos via email. You might be drawn to the shape in one bridal bouquet design, to the colors in another and particular blossoms from several others. Your florist can meld those together to create a unique bridal bouquet design that reflects all the various aspects you desire.
5. It’s a good idea to be a bit flexible, especially if you are on a limited budget. The bridal bouquet design you loved from a magazine may contain blossoms that are out of season, hard to obtain or extremely expensive. Your florist should be able to give you alternatives that keep the feel and color you are wanting while remaining within your budget. If you’re set on one particular bridal bouquet design for yourself, and the flowers are available, then think about using less expensive blossoms for your Attendants and the reception. After all, this is the one chance to have the bridal bouquet design of your dreams.
6. When going over proposals from possible vendors, make sure to ask if there are additional set up and/or delivery fees. Find out if they expect the containers or vases to be returned to them after your event, if they intend to pick them up or if they are included in the cost. You may be able to save on your cost by providing vases to your florist; ask if that is a possibility. If you are having a Sunday going away brunch the table arrangements from a Saturday wedding can be used again there. It’s often a shame when your beautiful arrangements are left after your reception as guests are heading out of town. If this is the case, ask your florist if they can deliver them to a local hospital or nursing home. Not only will you bring joy to the homebound but you can also take a tax deduction of your gift.
7. Finally, while reviewing the various proposals from florists, the bottom line is important but confidence and rapport should weigh equally in your decision making. You’ll want to feel that the designer you choose understands your vision, is detailed and organized, responds in a timely manner, is flexible and makes you feel at ease. Most florists will be happy to provide you with a list of Brides they have worked with in the past and you can also speak with other vendors: photographers, bakers, caterers etc. for recommendations.

As a final recommendation, once you decide on a florist, make your deposit to hold the date. The details can always be finalized as the date gets closer but designers can only do so many weddings in a weekend and you’ll want to be sure they can do yours.

Margaret Bost is the owner and designer of Santa Fe Floral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Specializing exclusively in weddings, parties and special events, Margaret and her staff focus all their attention on making each Bride’s vision a reality. With over 30 years in the floral industry, Margaret has been honored with numerous awards for her innovative designs and featured in many local and national Bridal publications. To learn more about Margaret and see the work of Santa Fe Floral, please visit www.santafefloral.com.

How to Get More Bang for Your Wedding Buck

I may be a photographer, but I have money saving ideas for you to consider for every aspect involved with your wedding. Read on…

Let’s start with the venue.  Is your wedding in a Church or Temple?  Do you want your wedding and reception in the same place? If you can pick a day or evening other than Saturday, your venue is much more likely to be available, and much more likely to offer you a lower price. Even if it needs to be a weekend because so many of your guests work, you can book a Friday night, or Sunday lunch, and hopefully it will still work for most of your guests and you could save a couple of thousand dollars.

Now that you’ve settled on a venue that fits your budget, you have to pick a meal that won’t be too expensive. Steak and lobster is definitely out, and chicken is boring. How about Mexican food, served by a real Mexican Restaurant, who might be able to put on a show by making tortillas right there on the spot. Ask your venue what their specialty is. They might offer you a lower priced meal that you didn’t think of. And don’t forget the champagne toast. Will your venue allow you to buy your own Champagne? – even if they charge you $1 or $2 per person to serve your beverages, you can save another bundle.

Wedding Cake – Tell your venue you want to supply it, and you’ll pay them to cut and serve it. Go to a store, get a small to medium sized wedding cake that you love, and get 2 or 3 sheet cakes from Costco to serve to everyone.  You cut the prize cake, and the sheet cakes are for the guest. Again a savings of hundreds of dollars.

Cameras on the table – Not any more – everyone has their own digital camera, and those that don’t, aren’t taking photos anyway.

Centerpieces can be a glass bowl with a fancy fish and colored marbles – sitting on top of a mirror. Total price per table – probably $10 or $15 at the most. A florist will charge you hundreds for table décor. Save it for your fancy bridal bouquet design.

DJ – I’m not for skimping on the music, especially if you have a dancing crowd, but if it’s not a Saturday, you’ll save hundreds on a wonderful DJ – who might not even be available if you wanted him for a Saturday.

Back to liquor. If you’re keen on paying for everyone, be aware that it’s very common these days for the host to pay for the first hour, and then it’s a no-host bar. For those weekend cowboys who don’t know when to stop, paying for it themselves will slow them down, and that’s good for you too. We certainly don’t want to turn your celebration day into a tragedy.

Gifts for your guests and bridal party.  Years ago you could give a pack of matches with the bride and groom’s name and date, and that was OK – Now it’s politically not correct, and so maybe a little sweet, engraved, or a little frame, and you can put a cute little saying in there, or a bride and groom photo (from your engagement shoot). For the bridal party, I think you need to spend a little more than you would for guest favors, but again, a nice silver-plated frame – maybe a higher end frame with a photo of you and them, which you will take when the photographer does your family and group photos.

Lastly, the transportation. Limos are fun – but expensive – especially on Saturdays. You can wheel and deal with them very effectively if it’s not a Saturday.

For enlargements of your photos, especially quantities more than 2 or 3 of the same photo, talk to your photographer. We do earn money by photo-shopping the photos, but when we make multiple copies of the same photo, we happily offer discounts.

As a husband-wife team, Bette & George have been capturing moments for couples for 25 years and were selected as one of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in San Diego. They pride themselves on their sytle, professionalism and quality, and they work hard to satisfy every bride and groom — treating you like family. For Wedding Photography in San Diego, please visit George & Bette at www.photographybygeorge.com where you will find photos and packages for virtually every budget.

6 Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Photography

Your wedding day – the day you have dreamt of, planned for and anticipated for a year, or a lifetime.  This is an event that takes up a finite amount of time, yet holds infinite memories. To honor the day and create a lasting tribute, you need professional photography services. There is no way around that, and like most brides these days, you may be concerned about sticking to a budget. As you explore ways to keep costs low, consider this article a primer to finding the right photographer for your needs and saving money on wedding photography.

First things first – this article will not tell you to forgo professional photography. It will not advise the hiring of a friend’s cousin’s sister who wants to get into wedding photography, nor will it recommend letting guests use disposable cameras to document the entire day. With that out of the way, let’s get started. Here are the top 6 things you can do to save money on your wedding photography.

1.      Be realistic. Sure, it would be great to be a ‘platinum bride’, but do you really have that money to spend and does the glitz of a diamond-encrusted cake really matter? No, what matters is that you have a celebration of your love surrounded by those who mean the most to you and will support your marriage. Besides, no marriage should stand the strain of paying off a credit card wedding.

2.      Get your priorities in order. What is most important to you? Will it be serving coq au vin or lobster to your 110 guests?  Maybe having an open bar with top shelf liquor? Or maybe it is professional photography by someone who will spend time getting to know you and will create images that document the love, laughter and emotion of your wedding day. There is no right or wrong answer here, but do spend time making sure you and your future spouse have the same ideas when it comes to wedding spending. After all, compromise is the cornerstone of marriage.

3.      Do your research. There are thousands of photographers out there, a lot of good ones and a few great ones. If photography is your priority do your research. Visit LOTS of web sites to find a style you like and develop a ’short-list’ of photographers to call.  When your list is compiled start calling them to learn more. The initial telephone conversation will tell you a lot. Are they available for your wedding day? How responsive is this person? Did they rush me? What questions did they ask about me/my wedding? Do everyone a favor and don’t start the conversation with “How much is your wedding photography?” While that is an important question, it is secondary to other factors, described below. In short, determine if the photographer is available and get a ballpark rate for coverage.

4.      Kiss some frogs! You know the old adage of kissing lots of frogs to meet your prince? The same thing applies to finding your photographer. Once you have done your phone screens, set up face-to-face consultations with your top choices.  Don’t assume that photographers with studios are the best option. They may be, but there are a lot of great photographers who prefer NOT to have the expense of a brick-and-mortar studio. When you meet with these photographers, have a list of questions to ask. Here are some to get you started:

1. How would you describe your shooting style? This should be closely aligned with your personal style – traditional vs. modern, etc.
2. Do you have liability insurance? If you book them, your venue may want a certificate of liability. This protects the photographer, the client and the venue should any accidents happen.
3. What back up equipment do you have? A pro should ALWAYS have back-up bodies, lenses and lighting!
4. Do you have full weddings you can show me? It is important to see full weddings they have photographed to get a sense of their style and coverage.

Of course, there are a million questions you can ask, but those will open a discussion and help you learn more about the photographer. You want to be comfortable with her. She will be your shadow on your wedding day, witnessing some serious emotion and it is vital that she is easy to be around.

Spend some time with your top choices and it will be easy to see who you want to photograph your wedding. It may not be the cheapest photographer and it may not be the ‘artiste’. The right choice will be easy to be around, make you feel relaxed and confident in your choice.

5.      Respect the Photographer! If you are getting married on a peak day during wedding season, don’t insult the photographer by asking for a discount.  You don’t walk into Tiffany & Co. and ask for a discount on the 1 carat diamond studs, right? Nor would you eat at McCormick & Schmick’s and ask if the 9 ounce Filet Mignon is on sale. The same rule applies to professional photographers. These are artists who run businesses with all the associated costs, not hobbyists making extra money.

6.      Get alternative! Keeping the above in mind, realize there is nothing wrong with getting married during alternate seasons or taking advantage of any rate reductions the photographer does offer. Many photographers offer lower rates if the wedding is during a typically slow season or on an off-day, like a Wednesday. Additionally, some photographers will offer discounts to military personnel on active duty. Off-season weddings are a good idea across the board, as venues and other wedding vendors may offer similar cost savings during the off-season.

Another option is to ask if the photographer offers abbreviated coverage. If you are planning a wedding breakfast, or intimate celebration, this may be the perfect choice as you can still get the professional photography you want for a lower cost by reducing the coverage.

Wedding photography is an investment and like all investments it bears some thoughtful preparation, research and insight.  Spend some time deciding what you like, what is most important to you and what you can really afford. If photography is your priority, interview several candidates and make the choice based upon personality first, style next then affordability.  While there is a price associated with wedding photography, the emotional value of it is priceless.

Marnie McCown-Guard is a professional photographer based in Chandler, Arizona and available for travel. Her wedding photography has allowed her to document local and destination weddings throughout the United States and Mexico. She blends traditional and journalistic coverage with her passion for people to create images that truly reflect each individual wedding day. Known for her boundless enthusiasm and energy it is not uncommon to see Marnie on chairs, under tables or even on the dance floor, just so she can get the shot! She has photographed fashion, commercial and corporate work for clients across the United States, but nothing brings her greater joy than to witness the first hours of a new marriage. To view her work or learn more about Marnie, visit www.CrescendoPhoto.com.

Your Wedding Ceremony: 5 Best Tips For Creating A Personalized, Fun & Memorable Ceremony!

So, you are getting married! Not only do you have a wonderful celebration to plan but you also have a wedding ceremony to ponder and think about.

Wedding ceremonies are changing.  Big time.  Today, couples are shaking up the traditional wedding ceremony by contemporizing key elements within a ceremony and making the moment truly their own.

As a non-Denominational Wedding Officiant and Minister, I work with couples of all faiths, traditions and beliefs to craft/create and deliver a personalized, meaningful and joyful ceremony. And here is what I know for sure in doing this work:  if you keep your ceremony “real” and “authentic,” you are setting the stage for a beautiful and poignant ceremony and post-ceremony celebration!

As you work with your Officiant or Minister to create and deliver your ceremony, I offer these top tips to help you work your way through the wedding ceremony maze:

• HAVE FUN - Yes, it’s true.  No matter if your ceremony is religious, spiritual or secular, your wedding ceremony is not only a sacred joining but it is a joyful and uplifting celebration of your love story.  Humor is very, very good – use it!
• DOGS & KIDS – A beloved dog walking down the aisle or a little person zig zagging down the aisle with a pile of petals brings such joy to your wedding party and guests.  Have “Boomer” strut his canine stuff down the aisle as the “ring bearer” and let little petal girl Cara boomerang those petals for all to see.  Joy – it’s all about joy.
• PERSONALIZE YOUR VOWS- Vows are not “I promise this,” “I promise that.” Vows are your statement of commitment to your partner and to yourself – what you offer to your relationship, what your partner can expect from you (how you’ll show up), what you admire/respect about your partner  – i.e., vows are more of a personal statement than a litany of promises.  Personalize, personalize, personalie…
• CREATE A MEMENTO - Within your ceremony, you have the lovely opportunity to create a memento to take home from your ceremony.   When I work with a couple, I look for something unique.  Last night, I wrote a ceremony in which the bride/groom would write short notes to their three children (second marriage) and the notes would be given to the children on their wedding day.  Just an idea…go for it and create something that is uniquely your own.
• GRATITUDE - Your ceremony is a moment to recognize and authentically honor your parents, family and friends.  Consider a contemporary “blessing of support” from both parents/families or perhaps offering surprise roses and note cards to your parent(s) at processional.  An attitude of gratitude is classy, thoughtful and kind – and when well done, creates sweet memories.

Annemarie Juhlian is a Seattle-based Non-Denominational Wedding Officiant & Minister, working with couples of all faiths/beliefs and traditions.  For more information:  www.annemariejuhlian.com or 425.922.1325

Wedding Ideas on a Budget for Creating a Stylish Wedding

As mentioned in the first part of this series on Ideas for Creating a Stylish Wedding even when on a budget, couples often fear that a “low-cost wedding” is a “sad-looking wedding”. Well, it is far from it! You can achieve a stylish look without borrowing money from friends, family, and your bank, so you don’t start your marriage in debt. So, let’s put wedding ideas on a budget in perspective and look at more great suggestions for staying within your wedding budget that are primarily focused around the flowers and décor portion of your wedding planning.

• While most popular bridal flowers are available year-round, some traditional ones – for example, peonies and lily-of-the-valley – can be difficult to find and expensive out of season. Choose blooms that are locally available, rather than ones that must be shipped in from afar. Just ask your florist for help choosing blooms
• Keep in mind that approximately half of your florist’s bill will be for labor: try to select bridal bouquet ideas that are hand-tied (wrapped at the base with a ribbon matching your color scheme). Elaborate, cascading bridal bouquet designs will cost significantly more because they take more time to make
• For great bridal bouquet ideas without flowers, consider carrying candles, books, bibles, a rosary (like Melania Knauss-Trump did at her wedding), a single flower trimmed with ribbon streamers, wicker baskets or a decorated fan
• Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost, you will save a lot of money. Just make sure that your styles match
• Make floral arrangements do double duty. If ceremony flowers are an appropriate size, they can serve as centerpieces on your reception tables; otherwise you can use them to decorate guest-book, seating-card, and favor tables. Bridesmaids’ bouquets will be perfect on the cake table
• Instead of decorating tables with large arrangements, float a few flowers in a variety of shallow bowls or glass cylinders filled halfway with water
• Reuse your pew markers to decorate doorknobs or other areas of your reception site
• Bowls or containers filled with seasonal fruits or vegetables can replace expensive floral presentations at a garden-style wedding
• For a winter wedding, mix berries, pine cones, and other economical non-floral embellishments with costlier blooms to fill out bridal bouquets and table arrangements
• As an alternative to traditional flower centerpieces, group favors together on the table. Wrap them with a paper matching your color palette or some of your stationery pieces (use a rubber stamp with your monogram, for instance)
• Flowering bulbs, such as amaryllis, narcissus, and hyacinth, often cost less than regular flowers and look great rising from a layer of stones set in clear containers
• Your florist won’t have to supply (and charge for) vases for your centerpieces if you have a collection of containers, such as urns that belonged to your grandmother, jelly jars or milk jugs. Filled with flowers, such vessels make pretty displays that tell about you and your family
• Consider renting large potted plants such as tropical palms or ficus: it is definitely less expensive than buying large flower arrangements. They visually fill a lot of space, and will enhance the setting at your ceremony site or warm up your reception. If you decide to purchase these large plants, you can use them in your backyard afterwards.
• Instead of costly escort cards, print a list of guests’ names and table assignments on elegant papers and display them in embellished frames, matching your color scheme
• Votives, tapers and lanterns are inexpensive, particularly when purchased in bulk, and they have an exciting effect on party décor. Place votives alongside your centerpieces to cast a soft glow, and add tapers to give the arrangements greater height. Rows of hanging lanterns are ideal for dramatically illuminating any outdoor path or walkway
• You don’t have to use those white tablecloths that come with your reception site. Some venues offer options: explore them and, if possible, select linens in a bright hue or with plenty of texture (stitching, beading and so on) to create a personalized look
• Raid stores like IKEA, Pier One and Cost Plus for things like candle holders and charger plates. It is cheaper than renting them, and then you can sell them online after your wedding
• Colored ribbons, tied around wine and champagne glasses and cake serving set for accent, add a distinctive touch without a greatly added expense
• Have a calligrapher letter only the cover of the ceremony program; print the interior pages using favorite fonts on your own computer. Consider creating menus, seating cards, and place cards with your computer as well

As you can see there are many ways to look at things for Wedding Ideas on a Budget and still create a stylish wedding. Check back for Part III where we go over money saving tips for the catering portion of your wedding plans, or better yet subscribe to YourWeddingDollars.com so you will be notified when Part III is published.

Weddings that tell a beautiful story: Yours. This is what Sabrina Cadini, Professional Bridal Consultant^TM, and owner of La Dolce Idea in San Diego, California, is passionate about. Each wedding should reflect the couple’s personality, and Sabrina adds that magic touch to make it an event that couples and their guests will always remember. By offering truly personalized service and money-saving solutions for every budget, she fuses creativity, Italian-style (where she’s from) and professionalism into impeccably planned celebrations. Find out more about Sabrina at www.ladolceidea.us

Proper Techniques for Carrying your Bridal Bouquets

On your wedding day, you’ll be the center of attention. As you walk down the aisle on the most important walk of your life, all eyes will be fixed upon you. Of course you want to be an elegant bride who makes a smooth entrance and gracefully glides down the aisle without looking uncomfortable, feeling awkward, or dropping your bouquet.

To feel confident and self-assured, you’ll want to make sure you are holding and carrying your bouquet appropriately. Not every bouquet is carried the same way. Typically, the type of bouquet and features of your gown will determine the way your bouquet should be carried.

Not all bouquets are carried alike! Determine the proper technique for carrying bridal bouquets based on the style, shape, and size of your bouquet and the features of your wedding gown.

Round, heart, cascade, and crescent bouquets are normally held and carried in front. These types of bouquets should be low enough to reveal the details on the neckline and bodice of your gown and are held with both hands as if your arms are resting on your hips. Although the natural tendency when excited or nervous is to bring the bouquet to your waist, chest, or even higher, try to avoid this so your arms are not held in an awkward, uncomfortably position and so everyone can see the beautiful details of your gown.

Small, lightweight and delicate bouquets, such as nosegays, clutch bouquets or single blossoms, can be carried to your side with one hand and are generally held at the same level as a bouquet held in front. If your nosegay is mounted in an elaborate or family heirloom tussy mussy (a small, Victorian style, metal or glass, cone-shaped holder), you may choose to proudly display it by holding and carrying your bouquet in the front instead of the side. If you choose a tussy mussy holder for your bouquet, you’ll notice that there is generally only enough room to hold it securely with one hand. For proper positioning, carry the tussy mussy upwards in your hand with your forearm bent slightly so it is horizontal (parallel to the floor) while your elbow rests comfortably on your hip.

Floral pomanders (bloom-covered balls or cones suspended from a ribbon) can be carried to the side in the same manner as a nosegay or in front in the same manner as a round bouquet. Typically, adult attendants carry pomanders to the side with one hand while children carry them in the front with both hands.

Arm bouquets feature long floral stems and should rest naturally and comfortably across the inner bend of your elbow so that the bouquet is cradled in your arms with the blossom end of the flowers facing away from your body. This holding and carrying technique is not only comfortable, but it also allows guests on one side to see the open blossoms as you walk down the aisle and guests on the other side to see the open blossoms as you walk back up the aisle.

Specialty bouquets such as fans, baskets, and prayer books should be carried according to their size and proportion. Smaller specialty bouquets can be carried to either your front or side, while larger baskets should be carried down and to your side.

Whatever style you choose, it’s always best to hold and carry your bouquet in the most appropriate and natural way. You will not only look regal and confident as you walk down the aisle, but you will also avoid disappointment with your wedding portraits by ensuring that all photographs capture you holding your bouquet comfortably without raising it too high and covering portions of your neck, face, or the exquisite details of your gown.

Kim McMullen is the owner and lead designer of Something Floral and Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design, both based in the metro Detroit area. Formally educated in fine/visual art, floral design, interior design, and communications, she is best known as “The Picky Bride’s Florist™” and “The Premier Silk Floral Designer™”. Specializing in weddings and special events, Kim creates award-winning floral artistry, in both fresh and silk/artificial mediums, for clients across the United States and Canada. Her designs have been published most recently in Florists’ Review, Woman’s World, and The Bridal Bouquet Book. For local or out-of-area special event floral design services, visit www.SomethingFloral.com and www.SomethingSpectacular.com

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