How to Get The Wedding Cake of Your Dreams On A Budget. There are certain things that you don’t want to settle for when planning a wedding. Settling for a wedding cake that just isn’t what you hoped for but may fit your budget just shouldn’t have to happen. There are ways to get out around spending a small fortune on your wedding cake if necessary. If your budget can accommodate any cost of a wedding cake, consider yourself lucky. Most wedding cakes are very reasonably priced unless you’re searching for something a bit more elegant and detailed than the average wedding cake. Of course, any time you are looking for more details and elegance on any cake, you’re looking at more time that it will take to make and create your cake. That, of course, will increase the costs.

Whatever your wedding theme happens to be, most couples choose their cake according to that theme. You wouldn’t want a fancy wedding and a plain cake. You don’t want to have a huge wedding and a tiny cake, nor do you want to have a tiny wedding and an oversized cake.

I’ve witnessed the bride and groom arguing over what flavor the cake should be. She wants chocolate, he wants white. I always recommend compromising. If you’re getting a cake with multiple tiers, your baker can easily make each tier a different flavor. If your baker isn’t willing to do that for you, I suggest finding someone else to make your wedding cake. Keep in mind that most people will probably prefer a white or marble flavored cake, in which case, the biggest tier should cater to that preference. If the price is a bit too much for getting a larger cake or having more tiers, consider having sheet cakes used as well. The guests won’t see the sheet cake, but it will be the same flavor and icing as your wedding cake. In fact, this has become quite a popular practice in wedding plans now. Couples are pleasantly surprised at how much money they can save by having a smaller and extravagant cake, but having guests served from sheet cakes. No one will ever be the wiser to what you’re doing and you’ll have some
extra money to spend elsewhere.

Using sheet cakes isn’t the only way to save some money on your wedding cake. Talk to your baker about your budget and what you really want. They might be able to accommodate you in some ways and make some great suggestions. Some suggestions are to have a smaller but elegant cake, don’t use exotic or expensive flowers as decorations and skip the fondant or other details that add additional costs to the price. Instead, sugared fruit such as grapes can be much less expensive but look very unique can be used. In season, chocolate covered strawberries look beautiful on various tiers.

You can have the wedding cake of your dreams and still remain within your budget. Don’t be afraid to look at how to decrease costs and ask others for assistance and suggestions.

“Save the Date Wedding Magnets”

Save the date wedding magnets. When I was planning my wedding, I found out that there were a lot of things that I did not know about. I found a good Internet site to join, and I learned a lot about planning a wedding through interactions on the message board attached to that site. One thing I had never heard of was that people send out save the date wedding announcements. This is not something I had to worry about, as I was planning my wedding within a few months, but others were planning years in advance. When this happens, you apparently need to use these cards.

Though I don’t understand planning a wedding almost two years in advance, I do understand why they used save the date wedding cards to let people know what was going on. I can’t say that I would remember a wedding that far in advance, even if I was sent a save the date wedding reminder, but it may work for some people. This is so people know when you plan to get married, and that you should not plan anything for that time if you want to attend. It’s not an invitation, but rather a nice note to say you will be invited in the future.

You don’t have to buy cards. You can also get save the date wedding magnets. These are really great because the person can hang them on their fridge and it is less likely to get lost. A card is good too, but it is more likely to be ruined or lost long before the wedding is getting close. If you really want to get creative, you could use almost anything to make your own reminders. If you can get it printed on, you can find a way to use it for this purpose, though I wouldn’t recommend t-shirts or hats.

You might want to have save the date wedding key chains made, or you might even go with a bottle opener. These aren’t entirely practical, but they may be a fun idea for you and your spouse-to-be. You can use almost anything as a save the date wedding reminder, but just make sure you include all of the relevant information.

“Personalized Wedding Favors”

 Personalized wedding favors. If you are getting married soon, you are probably trying to decide what type of favors you want to give out to your guests. Some people like to go with the traditional because these are easy to find and don’t need a lot of work. If you want something truly different, however, you might want to go in search of some unusual wedding favors to make your day a little more tailored to who you are. There are many great ideas out there, or you can come up with your own.

I went to a wedding once that definitely had personalized wedding favors. The couple had canned applesauce to give out to their guests. The applesauce was homemade by a family member, and was chosen because they had an October wedding. Where we live, October is a popular time for apples and other fall like items. These personalized wedding favors were absolutely perfect for their outdoor wedding high on the hill among the changing fall colors. Yet another friend gave out homemade and canned salsa.

Think of the things you love, and then do a search for favors and that hobby.  You may or may not come up with something, but it is worth a shot. Even a search for personalized wedding favors plus the season (summer, spring, etc.) might yield some interesting results. If you are still striking out, go to your local craft stores and just look at the things you can buy. Some thing may come to you while you are browsing. You may even find ideas in Spencer’s or other specialty stores.

You can also think of your own personalized wedding favors if you think hard enough. If you are into gardening, perhaps you might want to give out pots of flowers. You can buy planters, fill them with soil, and add the seeds you want. You can then give out your personalized planters with instructions on how to water and take care of the plants. The ideas you can come up with for personalized wedding favors are limitless. If you can’t seem to come up with anything, give yourself a little time. Something will probably pop into your mind when you least expect it.

“Wedding Cards Guide for Guest and Brides”

Wedding cards guide for guest and brides.We all know you have to give a gift when you attend a wedding. Even if you were invited but can’t make it, you still have to give the bride and groom something to wish them well with their new life together. I know, it’s a racket all right, but this is just the way it is and has been for a very long time. Because couples are older now when they marry, and many of them have their own households, gifts are becoming harder and harder to choose. Many people opt to simply give a wedding card with a little something tucked inside.

Most choose a wedding card based on their feelings for the couple. Close friends and family tend to buy romantic or mushy cards, while those who aren’t quite as close often chose things that are more silly or comical in nature. For the most part, as long as the wedding cards you give are from the heart, the happy couple will love and cherish them.

While a lot of people like to put cash in wedding cards, others like to put gift certificates. Cash can go for anything. It can go towards a down payment on a house, to help pay for the honeymoon, or can be just because. If you want to give a gift certificate, make sure it is for something they will love. If you get certificates for gym memberships for people who aren’t into working out, you are going to offend them. Keep their lifestyle and hobbies in mind when choosing gift certificates to include with wedding cards.

If you are the bride, you probably want to save all of your wedding cards. I have done this, and I am glad I did. Even though I have only been married for five years, I have already lost someone near and dear to me since my wedding. The shower and wedding cards she got me for my special day are still in my scrapbook, and these are memories that I cannot replace. Any time I really miss her, which is quite often, I can go back and see the wedding cards and remember what she said to me at that time, and how special she was in my life. Wedding cards are more than memories of your wedding; they may be important memories of those you love and may lose sooner than you think.

“The Wedding Dress from Sex and the City”

The wedding dress that Carrie wore in the Sex and the City Movie was eye catching and stunning.  The wedding dress was Carrie’s style with an absolutely stunning design and color mix. The wedding gown was made by designer Vivienne Westwood to showcase Carrie fashionable personality. You don’t have to wait to see the dress in the movie here is a sneak peak of the dress we all have been dying to see.

2008 Bridesmaid Dress Styles

The hottest trends in 2008 Bridesmaid Dresses. Some of the hottest styles for bridesmaid dresses this year include flowers featured on the gowns, bows around the waist, dresses featuring bubble hems are great for the summer and spring, Also try designs with halter styles and one shoulder for a fashionable look.  Colors such as pink and red are very popular for bridesmaid dress this year. View our gallery of some of different looks you can choose for your wedding.

“Las Vegas Outdoor Weddings”

Las Vegas outdoor weddings. Everything you need to know to plan a Las Vegas outdoor wedding. What could be more romantic than a marriage ceremony in Sin City? A Las Vegas outdoor wedding could be more romantic. Many couples entertain the idea of eloping to the famous city but some of these couples want to do something a little more original than the over visited traditional halls and drive through cathedrals. These couples may want to look into a Las Vegas outdoor wedding ceremony instead.

When we think of eloping we automatically picture an Elvis imitator standing in front of a couple in last-minute marriage gear. Although the very thought of any union can be quite romantic no matter how spur-of-the-moment it is, some couple may want to look into a Las Vegas outdoor wedding instead of the tried and tired indoor ceremonies.

There are great benefits to the great outdoors especially in such a beautiful town. You can arrange your ceremony to accommodate your love for being outside in the clean, fresh air while still feeling the excitement of last-minute nuptials. A Las Vegas outdoor wedding can be arranged in no time at all but some couples like to plan the event anyway.

Planning ahead is usually the best approach to marriage. It may not be the most romantic but it is good practice at least for the first time around. Planning a Las Vegas outdoor wedding can help you combine the appeal of freedom by being outside in the open with traditional elements as well.

I recently attended a Las Vegas outdoor wedding that was the perfect combination of modern free spirits and traditional ceremonial practice. This was not your run of the mill Sin City marriage ceremony. The couple planned their special day for a long time. In fact, I know couples who spent less time planning for a traditional wedding in their hometown.

First of all the couple had to arrange a date that was suitable for 40 friends and family to fly from Pennsylvania to the nuptial destination. The Las Vegas outdoor wedding was organized with the 40 guests in mind. Even though we had to find our own accommodations and we had to make our own flight arrangements all 40 of us attended the Las Vegas outdoor wedding.

I have to admit that it was one of the most impressive ceremonies I have ever attended and we had plenty to do after the reception. This couple managed to turn the celebration of their union into a vacation for their friends and family. The only complaint I have about the Las Vegas outdoor wedding is that Elvis didn’t attend.

“Cookie Cutter Wedding Favors”

Easy cookie cutter wedding favors and ideas. Throwing a wedding is becoming a really expensive undertaking. Every bride and groom wants to make their day special. There certainly are ways of cutting costs in your wedding preparations without sacrificing on quality. One fun way to make your wedding day memorable without having to invest a great deal of time or money is by giving your guests cookie cutter wedding favors.

Many guests who attend a wedding want to take something more than a small piece of the wedding cake home with them. They want a small keepsake that they can remember the wedding by. With cookie cutter wedding favors they are not only receiving something memorable but they are useful as well.

These types of items are really inexpensive and can easily be personalized without much added cost. A nice idea is to purchase cookie cutter wedding favors in the shape of a heart. Then you can use your home computer to print out small, attachable cards that contain a greeting from the happy couple, the wedding date and a sugar cookie recipe. With some pink or red ribbon, these cards can be tied to the cookie cutters and placed on each of the tables before dinner.

Another fun and affordable idea is to include a photo of the wedding couple. This can also be done easily with a home computer and a good quality printer. A small image of the couple from their engagement can be placed in the corner of the recipe card. Whenever someone looks at the cookie cutter wedding favors, they’ll be reminded of the special celebration they attended.

If you have children in your family who have been asking for a way to participate in the wedding, this is a perfect way. Ask them to help assemble the cookie cutter wedding favors and if there isn’t a dinner following the ceremony have them hold baskets filled with them for the guests to take upon leaving. This will help make the youngsters feel responsible and helpful and again your guests will welcome the small item they get to take with them.

Many local wedding supply shops will carry many different designs in these. If you don’t find the heart shaped cookie cutter wedding favors appealing, you can certainly choose another. Butterflies, daisies and leaves are a few of the other options. You can also purchase small gift bags to place these in if you want to add to the look of the favor.

Overall it’s a fun and economical way to add a special and personalized tough to your wedding guest’s experience. Be certain to buy an extra one so you can keep it for yourself.

“Bridal Party Gifts”

When planning a wedding, one of the things that can sneak up on you is finding bridal party gifts.  Once the photographer, reception site and flowers have been chosen, you begin to realize that you have not yet decided what you will purchase as a thank you gift for your attendants.  There are now so many options that it really becomes overwhelming trying to find the perfect bridal party gifts.

The main problem that people tend to have is that they overanalyze the gift.  They tend to think that it has to be just perfect, and feel that nothing will express how much they are grateful for the participation.  This may be true, but bridal party gifts are not meant to meet that feeling, rather give a token of appreciation.  Your friendship is what is meant to be the expression of how much you appreciate the person as they are.

There are some wonderful gift options available that meet these criteria wonderfully.  Many women and men have decided to take the entire bridal party to the spa for a day of relaxation.  Unfortunately, this can easily become very expensive, but if you can afford it the spa is one of the most fantastic bridal party gifts.  Some other nice bridal party gifts that are given are bottles of wine with personalized labels, monogrammed key chains or jewelry, monogrammed cigar humidors, or even flowers.  The trend lately seems to be to give something personalized, yet get everyone in the bridal party matching gifts.

If you want to go outside of the box with your bridal party gifts, you can choose a specified amount of money to spend and purchase each member a different gift.  I have even seen where each person has gotten a different themed gift basket full of their favorite things.  These bridal party gifts are fabulous, but you need to make sure you have enough time to truly pull this off and aren’t making much more work for yourself that you are unable to handle.  If you have an especially large wedding party, this route may not be the best idea.  However, if you only have a few people involved, this may be the perfect way to say thank you.

Again, bridal party gifts are simply tokens of appreciation and are not meant to be the epitome of a gift.  Generally the bridal party understands that you have just spent a lot of money on your wedding and will not be expecting a lot in terms of a present.  Take some time and make your bridal party gifts meaningful, and that is all that matters.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Styles and looks of bridesmaid dresses. How to find the best bridesmaid dresses for your bridesmaids. A wedding is a special occasion that will be remembered by you and your friends and family forever. It doesn’t matter if you are planning a small simple affair, or if you are having the most grand of events, the choosing of bridesmaid dresses can be challenging. There are a number of styles to choose from as well as colors, fabrics, and coordinated accessories. Weddings in general are becoming less traditional in the sense that the bride chooses to only stay with two specific colors. Wedding attire should reflect the personalities of the bride and her groom, and not be limited to include only the same old thing that has been done before. After all, isn’t a wedding ideally only supposed to occur once in a lifetime, and if this is the one, don’t you want it to be as unique and special as it can be?

For lots of ideas, begin to peruse bride magazines and online catalogs for ideas for bridesmaid dresses and your bridal gown. There are hundreds of bridesmaid dresses to choose from in a multitude of sizes including maternity sizes and styles. You can mix and match your dresses, and doesn’t have to be limited by the number of bridesmaids you will have. You can have ten bridesmaids and they can all be wearing bridesmaid dresses that are unique from one another, yet have a coordinating color theme and style to accentuate each other. By looking at various styles, fabrics, and color combinations online you can see quit a bit all in one sitting without ever having to leave your home. This can help you get ideas for just what you want and help you narrow down your choices.

I think as well as taking the personality and personal tastes of the bride into consideration when choosing bridesmaid dresses, the same should be considered of the women who will be actually wearing the ensemble. You may have a vibrant color chosen that you like, and your bridesmaid hates it because it makes her look like a tropical fruit. Especially if your bridesmaids are incurring the costs of the bridesmaid dresses and accessories, you should let them have an equal say in the decision. Of course, if you are planning on paying for everything, you can do pretty much any thing you want, but it would be nice if you chose bridesmaid dresses than could be worn again for another occasion. You can spend as much or as little as you want, and make it as casual or elegant as you want too. This should be a fun time, so don’t get too stressed out over this entire decision making. Plan an outing for just the girls and go shopping for bridesmaid dresses. Go out for lunch or dinner, sip some wine; after all, like I said, isn’t this only supposed to happen once?