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Archive for January, 2010

Although wedding cakes are not considered a traditional part of an Asian or Eastern Indian wedding ceremony, they are becoming increasingly popular as western traditions are infused into the traditional Indian celebrations. Typically, Indian wedding cakes incorporate elaborate designs and intricate details with Henna patterns. As you can see in the montage of photos below, the Indian wedding cakes that I found online not only incorporate traditional patterns and designs, but also vivid colors that are associated with traditional Indian weddings such as red, purple, bright pink, and orange. 

Image Resources:
1. the henna wedding cake., 2. mehndi inspired cake for traditional indian themed wedding. The top layer is gluten free, 3. “Roshini” in purple and gold, 4. india wedding, 5. Henna Cake, 6. “Jani Paisley” – May 2, 2009, 7. Indian wedding cake, 8. mehendi passion (7), 9. cake at the wedding venue

When it comes to winter wedding cakes, there are many unique and unusual cake toppers that incorporate the winter wedding theme. Consider the skiing couple shown in the photo below for example. This clever cake baker used round coconut-covered cake layers to act as the “snow” for the skiing wedding couple. By tilting the final layer, it looks as though the couple is skiing down the slopes. What a cute idea!

Other options for winter wedding cake toppers include things such as snow globes, wooden or metal sleds, and even crystal winter scenes. Hand-blown crystal cake toppers and decorative snow globes are keepsakes that can be cherished by the couple for years to come.

If you are a bit more whimsical, find a cute penguin or snowman couple that could sit atop your cake….or have your baker sculpt whimsical winter characters to top your wedding cake.  Finally if the groom is a sports fan, you could consider using mix and match bride and groom cake toppers where the groom is dressed as a hockey player (like this hockey player cake topper from Wedding Favors Unlimited).  When it comes to winter wedding cakes, the possibilities are endless!

If you are having a wedding during the Autumn season, then having a wedding cake that incorporates all the fall colors is a no-brainer. The fall color palette is one of the most popular choices for color schemes this season so brides are carrying those traditional fall colors such as gold, brown, orange, reds, and bronze through to their wedding accessories and bridal flowers as well. When it comes to the cake, you can choose to incorporate these colors directly into the icing and fondant colors or you can choose to use them more subtly as accents or in the cake accessories.

 Since fall is traditionally harvest time in the United States, many cake designers will incorporate shafts of wheat, sugared apples, or pumpkins into a fall wedding cake.  However the most popular way to incorporate fall is through the use of autumn leaves constructed from fondant, sugar, marzipan or modeling chocolate.  Baking artisans have gotten so good at their craft that the leaves can look real in many instances.  You can even consider using real fall leaves on the cake table that surrounds the final masterpiece. 

In the photo below, I have presented 16 of my all-time favorite fall cake designs.  I hope that they provide you some inspiration when you are trying to decide on the color scheme and style for your seasonal wedding cake.  And don’t forget that when it comes to the cake flavor for a fall wedding, you can break from tradition and go with something more seasonal like a pumpkin or apple spice cake or a chocolate cake with caramel pecan filling.  Don’t be afraid to try something a little different!  And if you are still looking for wedding favors, check out these autumn leaf wedding cake candles….they are amazing.

Want To See These Cakes Up Close? Here are the links to the individual fall themed cakes:
1. Autumn Leaves Wedding Cake, 2. Autumn Wedding, 3. autumn fruits&folliage, 4. An Autumn Wedding Cake, 5. My Sister’s wedding cake, 6. Autumn Birthday, 7. “Ceci II” – for Nicole and John, October 25, 2008, 8. Fall Wedding Cake, 9. Leaves wedding cake, 10. Autumn Wedding Cake, 11. Wedding Cake, 12. Autumn Leaves Wedding Cake, 13. Daniels Fall wedding, 14. Fall Wedding Cake2, 15. Nicole’s Wedding Cakes, 16. Autumn Wedding Cake

Another great alternative to the traditional guest book is a photo mat where your guests leave their well wishes (be sure to check out my post about wishing trees for more ideas).  Engravable metal signature mat kits like the one shown in the photo from the Weddingstar catalog are available with the couples’ names and the wedding date inscribed.   The great thing about metal mats is that the signatures won’t fade over time like they sometimes can with the cardboard mats (if the mat and ink used weren’t archive safe).  This particular mat is available in 3 sizes and arrives with an easy-to-use engraving scribe.  Guests simply sign the mat and then the happy couple can proudly display it in their home along with your wedding photograph.  This is one keepsake that you’ll cherish forever….the well wishes of friends and family surrounding a beautiful photo of you on your wedding day!

See how great a metal photo mat can be when it is used as a wedding “guest book” on this Youtube video.   The mat can then be framed along with a photo of the bride and groom.  Display it in the home by either hanging it on the wall or on a lovely easel.

Here is a cute and “clean” favor idea for the guests at the bachelorette/stagette party.  Simply buy some large organza gift bags and fill them with things that any girl would love.  In the photo, the white bags have been filled with a tube of pink lip gloss, a heart-shaped compact mirror, and white conversation hearts with love sayings.  The package is finished off with a supersized pink (for the girls) or clear (for the bride) light-up engagement ring and a personalized hang tag that has the name of the  bride-to-be along with the party date.  The bling rings even light up so they are great when the girls are going out to a nightclub to dance the evening away.  Super cute and fun!

Just remember that bachelorette party favors don’t have to be expensive.  Things like inexpensive glow necklaces or bracelets, personalized chocolate candy bars and mint tins are great ideas for the girls too.  Of course you should consider the group when choosing your favors, penis-shaped lollipops or straws are a fun idea for wild bachelorette parties, but if the party includes mom or grandma, a more conservative favor (like the one shown in the photo from Weddingstar’s catalog) would be more appropriate.

Depending on the exact month of the big day, winter wedding couples can take advantage of several color scheme or theme options. If the wedding is in December, then a wedding cake that incorporates a red and green color scheme, Christmas tree ornaments, and cake tiers that are shaped like Christmas gifts may be entirely appropriate. However my favorite winter wedding cakes usually incorporate a icy blue and/or silver color scheme along with natural organic elements such as pine cones, berries, and “snow-covered” branches (really sugar).  You can opt to add a bit of whimsy to a winter wedding cake by incorporating snowmen, penguins, or even polar bears sculpted from modeling chocolate or colored fondant. One of my favorite winter cake accents are snowflakes.  Bakers can use royal icing to pipe snowflakes directly on the cake (or sil-pat) and add a bit of sparkle by applying edible glitter or granulated sugar before the icing dries. They could also make various-sized snowflake cut-outs using fondant. You can see in the photo below, that the style of winter wedding cakes can vary greatly. 

If you love one of these ideas, why not print it out and take a photo along with you to your cake baker? See full size images by clicking on the Winter Wedding Cake link below:
1. winter wedding cake, 2. winter wonderland (2), 3. I like this cake, 4. winter wedding, 5. christmas wedding present cake veiw #1, 6. Sarah Davis Wedding Cake, 7. Sean’s cake, 8. winter packages, 9. “Winter Flurry” – Dec. 6, 2008

Going green on your wedding can be easier than you think.  When it comes to keeping things eco-friendly at your wedding, just think about longevity and the idea of reusing and recycling when choosing accessories for your big day.  Things like the cake topper, champagne flutes, and serving sets should be selected with the future in mind….choose something that you can not only use on your wedding day, but also in your home for years to come. 

For the wedding flowers, consider growing your own or ask your friends and family members that have a green thumb to contribute some blooms from their own personal backyard gardens.  For spring time weddings, lilacs are a fragrant and lovely choice.  In the summer, many gardeners have extra large hydrangea blooms that make perfect centerpieces for the reception area. At a minimum, consider using a local garden center or florist that grows their own flowers locally.

When it comes to eco-friendly green wedding favors, choose items constructed from bamboo or give growable items such as wildflower seed favor kits, herbs (like the rosemary shown in the photo) or small trees that the guest can take home and plant in their own yard.

Create invitations, wedding programs, table number and place cards from recycled paper.  And finally if you are going green, then by all means go organic too.  Finding locally grown organic beef or chicken and vegetable selections has gotten much easier.  Just consult with your caterer and request an organic meal for your reception.

Even if you only incorporate a few of these ideas, you are taking a step in the right direction!

Photo courtesy of the 2009 Weddingstar Catalog.

Autumn is traditionally when people focus on the prosperity of the season and give thanks for all the blessings in their lives.  What better time to celebrate the union of two lives!

The magnificent colors of Autumn are inspiration enough for a fall themed wedding.  Reds, golds, oranges, browns, and greens can be incorporated in just about every aspect of the wedding including the flowers and bridesmaid dresses.  Using a harvest theme, “Fall in Love” leaf motif, or a fall fruit such as ripening apples can also provide a great base for an Autumn inspired wedding.  When it comes to the reception decorations or centerpieces, focus on nature’s abundance and utilize things like gourds, fall leaves, pumpkins, berries, apples, and corn along with candles (you can even find floating candles with a leaf shape).  

Below you will find some of my favorite colors, fashion and decorations for an Autumn-inspired wedding.  I hope that you find it useful when you are planning your own fall nuptials!

Autumn Wedding Inspiration Board by WeddingBlogger on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Ideas for an Autumn Wedding Theme: Charlotte Geary Photography
Ideas for an Autumn Wedding Theme: Charlotte Geary Photography
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