Simple Wedding Plans

I have heard time and again that an engagement ring should cost 2 months salary. Okay, who's salary? Anyway, I really think it is the diamond jewelers who actually came up with that idea. If you know that your man is about to pop the question, go ahead and start shopping online for a ring that "YOU would be happy with". If for some reason you are the type of person who would hold it against your future husband if he did not buy you an expensive ring, a "rock" so to speak, then please, do NOT settle for anything that might make you resentful. It is not a good way to start a new life with someone. As young women we were brought up to be "settlers". We were told that it is not lady-like to insist on wanting more than what we are offered. But think of it this way, if every time you looked at your engagement ring (or you were showing it off to your friends) and you felt that it was really not what you wanted or made you feel that your man is cheap, then you should be proactive and let him know exactly what kind of ring you want. You will be wearing that ring for a very long time, unless of course you opt for a wedding band after you are married. If it isn't important to you whether or not you have a "rock" sitting on your finger, still, be sure that you are being honest with yourself and not settling for something less than what you really want. If you search online and find the ring of your dreams - but you KNOW that it is way too expensive, bookmark that page and start looking elsewhere for the same ring or something very similar. Trust me, the less-expensive, yet just as beautiful rings are out there. And, hey! If money is no object (highly unlikely), go for it! Have your man get the ring you want!

Some men have a tendency to run out and purchase a ring without any input from their future bride. What happens then? A lot of the time the bride gladly accepts the ring, but at the same time is not satisfied with his purchase. How to prevent that from happening? If your relationship has escalated to a point where you are discussing children and growing old together, then it is also time to let that man know what kind of ring you would want, should you become engaged. Face it ladies ... some men are absolutely clueless when it comes to things like this. Good luck to those of you who will be embarking on a new journey in the near future :)

YOU'RE ENGAGED!! WOOT WOOT!!! Now it is time to share the happy news with friends and family. There are several ways that you can tell the whole world the good news. You can run an ad in the local newspaper, then buy a bunch of those newspapers and send copies to everyone you know who isn't local. You can have a BBQ if it is summertime or a dinner party if it isn't, and invite everyone who you want to know the good news. You can have a close friend videotape you and your fiancé in some of your favorite places and let everyone see for themselves just how in love you are. Or you can have a full-blown engagement party and tell everyone that way. Which ever way you choose, do it in a fashion that has your own special touch. Don't do something that is not like you. If you are an earthy person, but you feel you need to put on an elegant catered party - just because you feel it is tradition or because maybe your best friend did it, the answer is don't. Do what makes you comfortable - because it is YOUR happy news and you should share it in your own remarkable way.

Choosing the perfect wedding invitation is easier than it seems. There are so many wedding invitation companies who would be happy to send you a catalog along with some samples. Go online and Google "wedding invitations" then start looking at the places that have something that is more "your" style. Either request online for a catalog or call their toll-free number to make the request. You can also purchase Bridal magazines and find the Wedding Invitation specialists that way too.

Once you have your invitations, if you decide to address them by hand, be sure that you have good hand-writing skills, or find someone else that does. Wedding invitations are a long-time tradition that give off a sense of what people are to expect when attending a wedding. You want to show a touch of class and people actually do expect, even these days, that an invitation be addressed properly. There will be several examples of how to properly address your envelopes in the catalogs that you receive. If you know in your heart that you will not be able to address the invitations by hand in a clear and classy manner, maybe you should go ahead and purchase an inexpensive computer printer, some clear labels and using a calligraphy font, print your own labels. They will look neat, clean and classy. You can even give Kinkos a mailing list and have them print the labels if you prefer not to do it yourself.


Wedding Invitations Stationery

Times Have Changed and so Have Traditions. It used to be that the bride's family would pay for the wedding and the groom's family would pay for the reception. Then the happy couple would be left to pay for the honeymoon and whatever else their hearts desire.

However, in these changing times, weddings are very expensive and sometimes this large expense forces families to take out a second mortgage on their home. The best thing to do is sit down, make out a budget, discuss with both families what is doable and what isn't and then decide what it is that you and your fiancé will need to be responsible for. If there is any financial commitment made by either the bride's family or the groom's family, try to gently get it in writing what they plan to pay. Why? Because often-times families want so badly to help pay for the wedding, but they aren't financially capable of it - but unfortunately, you would never even know. If a commitment is made in writing - not necessarily a signed legal document, but in writing to the effect that they understand what they have committed to, maybe this would prevent anyone from making promises they know they can't keep. You really need to know right up front what you and your fiancé are going to be responsible for so that you can plan ahead - and possibly move the date out a bit and postpone the wedding if it is going to be a heavy financial burden. A wedding is supposed to be the biggest day in a woman's life, and you certainly don't want it to be spoiled because you were hit with some extra costs that you weren't expecting.

When a woman gives birth to a son, there is a special bond that takes place. Some women actually live their lives through their sons and find it very difficult to accept them being in love with "another woman". There is a tendency for a woman to feel that no woman is good enough for her son. However on the flip side of that coin, when a father is about to give his daughter away to her future husband, there are a lot of the same emotions that take place.

Keeping these things in mind, when meeting your fiancé's parents for the first time, be sure to let them know that you are not taking over where they left off, but are adding to and enhancing their son's happiness and future. This will help to prevent any misunderstanding that you are trying to push them out of their child's life completely.

Ahhhh the Wedding Dress!! You want it to be so perfect! Here's the scoop... you want your dress to fit, right? Okay then. Whatever you do, do not buy a wedding dress that doesn't fit "yet" and try to make yourself fit into the dress. A wedding dress should look like it is part of you - not too big and not too small. If you are planning to lose a large amount of weight, then do not go out impulse shopping and buy the wrong dress. You will only cause yourself grief and possibly end up having to purchase a second dress. If you feel that you are at a good weight and even if you might lose just a "few" pounds because of nerves and excitement, then go ahead and purchase your dress as far in advance as you want. If you know that you have 15 or more pounds that you feel you "need" to lose before the wedding and you have a lot of time before the big day, then whatever you do, don't purchase that dress! So often, women will buy a dress 2 sizes too small knowing that they have some weight they want to shed, but because of all the excitement, parties, stress and what-not, they never manage to lose the weight. It is easier to take a dress in than it is to let it out. If you insist on purchasing a dress right away, even though you have some time on your hands, be sure to buy one that fits and ask a seamstress if it can easily be taken in if need be.

So what kind of wedding dress have you always dreamed of? Is it something that would be easy to find, or is it exotic and EXPENSIVE. Your best bet is to look online, but BUYER BEWARE if you do find one online, be sure to find out if the dress will be shipped from the same country as you. If not, be sure to allow plenty of time for delivery and alterations. You can also find beautiful dresses online, print a picture of them and pay the same amount of money to have that same dress made right here in the states. Be sure to find a dress that YOU feel beautiful in and that it fits your body shape. It is no fun wearing something that just does not work well with your body type. I guess one example of that would be if your bust line was not ample enough to hold up a strapless dress, you would be spending much of your time during the ceremony and reception worrying about whether it is slipping down or not. Or if you are well endowed, you would be worrying that maybe TOO MUCH is showing! Either way, be sure that you are comfortable in your dress and that it makes YOU feel pretty!

Stressed out? Too many decisions to make? Kick back and play this fun online bridal game!!

Help this blushing bride pick out the perfect wedding ensemble for her magical wedding. First, choose from one of the beautiful wedding gowns on the rack. After you have chosen the perfect dress, find a veil that matches beautifully. Finally choose some fabulous accessories and a pretty bouquet.

Bride Dress Up Game

Having a bad hair day, causes you to have a bad day - am I right? With that being said, if you are not inclined to be the type of person who can make your hair look glamorous on your own, get a professional to help you. You and your "do" will be in your wedding pictures forever. There are so many salons these days that are quite capable of creating a beautiful and trendy hair style. Or, you may know of someone who can do your hair for you - but make sure well in advance that they will be available to you on your big day. Think of it this way, if you go early enough in the day to the salon, it will give you a much needed rest before you have to move on to the rest of your preparations. If you can afford it, do a trial run a week or so before the wedding with your hairstylist just to be sure you like what he or she is going to be doing with your hair.

On your wedding day, before going to the salon, be sure to wear a shirt that either unbuttons or unzips completely so that you don't mess up your hair pulling your shirt over your head.

Long veil, short veil, mid-veil - no veil? Did you know that wearing a wedding veil in olden days was a sign of purity? These days, I don't think it really matters. If you think wearing a veil is beautiful, then you should wear one. Otherwise, if you choose not to wear one, there are so many other headpiece choices out there. You can find a tiara rather inexpensive at a craft store believe it or not. In fact, many franchise craft stores carry just about anything you need to make a headpiece or a silk bouquet. Just be sure that whatever you choose to wear on your head, that it goes along with the overall look - the dress, the jewelry, the hair and the theme.

Your shoes should be an expression of who you are. I have known tom-boyish girls to wear hi-top sneakers under their wedding dress. My daughter-in-law wore Cinderella glass slippers under her dress (they were really acrylic, not glass). Whatever you choose to wear, let it be an expression of yourself. Think about how long you will need to be on your feet in the receiving line and the reception, and how much dancing you plan to do. Just in case you decide to go with the the more glamorous and uncomfortable shoes, you should maybe bring some pretty satin or dance/ballet slippers along with you to give your feet some relief. Just one thing more, if you do decide to wear hi-top sneakers under your dress, be sure that your dress is actually long enough to cover them so that ONLY YOU KNOW what you are wearing :)

Flowers are one of God's most beautiful contributions to the earth. It is no wonder that a bride will carry varieties of these creations on her wedding day. Not only do the flowers make a bride look more beautiful, but also each flower has its own special meaning. Flowers are used to adorn the church or area where the wedding is taking place; they are used as centerpieces at the reception and most often, match the attire that the wedding party is wearing.

Here are some suggestions that will give you an idea of the types of flowers that are popular, the meaning of the flowers and ways you can incorporate them into your theme:

Roses in the past were the most popular wedding flower. Each color of the rose has its own special meaning. A white rose represents purity, innocence, cleanliness, and virtue, and the wedding dress is also usually white. The red rose symbolizes blood circulation and excitement, therefore meaning love and passion. When combining the two colors white and red, you get the color pink. This color represents harmony, and fidelity. Pink roses are meant to be an expression of happiness uniting a couple on this special occasion.

In recent years, the Calla Lilies have increasingly been the more popular flower in wedding bouquets; often bunched together and bound with thick silk or satin ribbons. The Calla Lily's name came from the Greek word Kallos, which means beauty or beautiful. This flower for generations has been associated with the words elegance and charm. If you were looking to add sophistication, charm and elegance to your wedding, using Calla Lilies as your main flower would be a very logical choice.

Although Daisies are often considered a common flower, they definitely brighten up a wedding. The most popular, are the ones with white petals and a yellow center. Although they are a popular flower, daisies are rarely used in a formal wedding theme. Daisies symbolize innocence and romance. If you are planning an informal summer wedding, daisies would be an ideal choice - as long as you incorporate other cheerful flowers into the arrangements such as wildflowers or carnations. If you really love daisies and want a cheerful bouquet, you can bunch the daisies together along with some baby's breath and satin ribbon, and you will have a wonderful summer wedding bouquet.

No matter what flowers you choose, be sure that they are fresh, that they match your wedding colors and that they enhance the bride's overall look. If you decide to go with roses and they don't necessarily match your wedding colors, try wrapping them in some colored tulle and ribbons that match your wedding theme. This will give them the added touch that you were looking for.

If you are marrying a "manly-man", I can almost assure you that if you have chosen any shade of pink for your wedding colors, he will put up a fight about wearing any matching vest or cummerbund. Anyway, traditionally, the groom wears shades of black, white and gray, so if you must have shades of pink in your wedding, you might want to have the groom wear neutral colors and have the best man and groomsmen wear the pink shades. But then again, like I said before, if your man is a manly-man, he might not put up with that either. The next best thing is to opt for boutonnières that have a pink flower in them.

Choosing the right tuxedo, depends on your dress and what time of the day the wedding will take place. If you are having an evening wedding and reception, formal long tails would be splendid. If you are having a daytime affair, then you might want to opt for the shorter more casual tuxedo. Either way, be sure that the tux fits and that the groom has shoes that fit well and look good with the tux. Some tuxedo shops rent out shoes... but beware - they have been known to rent the shoes out that you reserved to someone else without even giving it a second thought.

If you and your fiancé are both of the same Christian faith, both Jewish or both any other religion, the decision of where the ceremony should take place is pretty simple. However, let's say, for example that you are Christian and your fiancé is Jewish or does not believe in God, or refuses to partake in a religious ceremony, then you have a bit of a situation on your hands. Or the situation could be the other way around. Granted, when two people do not share the same beliefs, they are already at a disadvantage. Somewhere down the line this could become a huge issue in the marriage. However, if you decide that you still want to spend the rest of your life with this man regardless of f religious incompatibility, then you will need to find a neutral place to have your ceremony. I really love the internet. You can find just about anything you are looking for online with just a few key words. However, be prepared that if you do find a wedding chapel, an outdoor gazebo or hall where you can have your ceremony, they will most certainly be booked well in advance. Sometimes even a year or two in advance. So if you want to get married somewhere other than a church, you really need to plan well in advance. Even churches have a waiting period, but not usually as lengthy as the other options.

Choosing your maid or matron of honor is not always the easiest decision to make. Sometimes there are more than one close friend or sister who has always been there for you and you almost feel obligated to choose the one who will make you feel the worst if you don't choose them. If that is the case and you have a sister that you are close to, then I would say choose your sister because most people will understand why you chose her. However, if you do not have a sister and you have more than one friend that you absolutely love and adore, have them draw straws or have some kind of lottery. Just keep in mind, that no matter who you choose, that person should be somebody you trust and can count on to do the little things that you don't have time to do, and to be there to support you especially when things get a bit stressful.

I would say that if you have to have a flower girl, choose one that is well-behaved. If you choose someone who is too young and doesn't follow directions very well, you may be sorry that you even made the decision to have a flower girl. Flower girls younger than 5 years old, unless they are more on the mature side, will probably give you a run for your money - that is unless they are easily bribed. If you do decide to have a really young girl stand in as a flower girl, be sure that once the wedding party is ready to proceed with the ceremony, that a relative or another adult takes her to be seated with either the bride or groom's family.

Where the maid/matron of honor and bridesmaid's dresses have a look of their own, the flower girl's dress often resemble the bride's dress. It is usually as formal as the bride's dress and sometimes trimmed in lace or satin that matches the other girl's dresses. Just be sure that the dress isn't too long to prevent her from tripping over it.

Not so many brides these days have a ring bearer in the wedding party. However, if you do decide to have a flower girl and a ring bearer, make sure that the two of them can get along for more than an hour at a time. Whatever you do, do NOT put the real wedding rings on the ring bearer's pillow. Have the best man hold onto the rings until they are needed in the ceremony.

Whatever you do, be sure not to give either the flower girl or the ring bearer any sugar before the ceremony - and make sure that you have another adult supervising them as they walk down the isle. Also, see to it that someone has taken them both to the restroom before the ceremony begins.

Some weddings have the flower girl and ring bearer walking side by side, but if you have 2 children who are either fussy or won't get along with the other, have the ring bearer come down the isle first with the flower girl in tow - keeping the distance between the two far enough that there are no mishaps. Be sure to have someone responsible sitting near the isle just in case there are any unforeseen problems.

Ok, here's the scoop: You just booked a huge church and you only have 2 attendants in your wedding, the Maid of Honor and the Best Man. If you are planning a wedding that is big enough to be held in such a large church, then your wedding party should consist of at least the following: Maid/Matron of Honor, Best Man, 2 Bridesmaids and 2 Groomsmen (Flower Girl and Ring Bearer optional).

If you plan to marry in a small to medium church or hall (beach, park... whatever) your wedding party should consist of at least the following: Maid/Matron of Honor, Best Man, 1 Bridesmaid and 1 Groomsman (Again: Flower Girl and Ring Bearer optional).

Weddings in a small, more confined space should not consist of more than who I just mentioned above.

Choosing the right people to attend in your wedding can be a real chore if you let it be. The best way to keep things from getting out of hand or to prevent anyone from hurt feelings, I strongly suggest that the Bride choose her own attendants and the Groom make choices of his own. After all, a marriage is a 50/50 partnership, and if you can't get past something this simple without it putting a wrinkle in the wedding, you may have other issues at hand. When choosing your attendants, the Bride AND the Groom should both be considerate of each other and not ask anyone to attend who could be a potential problem. Anyway, you should only be asking people who are important in your life, to take part in this very special and forever life altering romantic event.

Have you ever been to a wedding and enjoyed the beautiful ceremony, watching two people so in love that they are willing to commit to spending the rest of their lives together - they jump through all the hoops and spend tons of money (their family's and their own) and when they are pronounced "man and wife" and the preacher says, "you may now kiss the bride" ... they give each other a quick little peck on the lips ... WHAT IS THAT? If you are going to spend all that money to have a real wedding, then GIVE EACH OTHER A REAL KISS! I don't mean X-Rated, or even R-Rated... but kiss each other like you mean it. Your first kiss as man and wife should have an extraordinary meaning. It is the promise that seals the vows that you have just given to one another. Although nobody is going to speak up and say "wow, what a whimpy kiss" they are surely going to think it. Besides, don't you want that one seal of commitment to be something you can look back on and treasure for the rest of your life? Talk it over ahead of time how you plan to kiss one another, and discuss the importance of that first kiss - and heck do a little practicing ... it won't hurt, and you might actually like it!

Back in the day, people used to throw rice at the newly married couple as they were departing from the church - symbolically wishing them a lifetime full of blessings. Then it seems that out of nowhere it was said that the old tradition of throwing rice at a departing wedding couple should be avoided because if any birds eat the rice, it expands in their stomachs; and some people have even gone as far as stating that the birds can even explode! The truth is, that this is an urban legend that some say got started when Ann Landers gave advice in her column somewhere in the mid-sixties that the rice was harmful to birds.

Most wedding planners nowadays advise that the main reason for not using rice is because there is too much of a risk of people slipping on the rice and falling. If you decide not to use rice, there are other options such as little vials of bubbles you can pass out to your guests or even confetti would do the trick - but keep in mind that if you use confetti, you will need to make sure that someone will clean it up after the ceremony.

A lot of newly married couples use either a white or black car to exit the church - and a lot of times it is a limo. Limos are really expensive and if you don't have other people chipping in to help pay for it, it can be an unnecessary expense. What do you think of the idea of using a car that goes along with your wedding color scheme? Let's say you aren't using only one color, but the colors you are using are pastels... One idea is to rent or borrow a mid to full-size car that is pastel in color, have it washed and waxed, then it can be your chariot to whisk you away from the church to the reception. One really cool thing you can do is have the wedding party gather around the car during picture time and the car itself will be a welcome addition to the party. If you don't know anyone who has a car that matches your colors, call around to your local car rental lots and see if they have a car that is the right color and ask them if they would be willing to hold that particular car for you.

First of all, where you have your reception will depend on the amount of guests invited and the size of your budget. If you have a small budget and only have 50 guests or less, you can probably get away with having your reception at the church, in a hall (VFW Halls a lot of times are available for wedding receptions) or even a community clubhouse if you can find one available.

If you have more than 50 guests coming to the reception, you may not be able to get away with the previous choices. Now you will want to be looking for some type of hall. Check out the local hotels to see if they have any banquet rooms available; or you can call (or check online) historical sites, country clubs and wedding banquet halls. Some of the larger restaurants have facilities for wedding receptions as well.

When inquiring about a facility, ask if they have a wedding coordinator. It seems that many facilities will have a Wedding Day Coordinator on staff and usually at no extra charge. The main role of the Wedding Day Coordinator is to make sure that everything runs smoothly on your wedding day!

Here are some more questions that you can ask when inquiring:

THE DATE, THE SIZE AND THE COST:
~ Is the date you want available?
~ Are there any other events or weddings booked for that same day?
~ Most receptions last between 5-7 hours. Ask how many hours you will have for your reception. Some facilities will give you four hours and charge you extra (sometimes another $500) for every additional hour.
~ How much is the total rental fee and specifically, what does the price include?
~ Find out how much the deposit is and when is the balance due?
~ Ask them if they have any "Wedding Packages". There are some facilities that will offer a wedding package that includes food, flowers, wedding cake and even a limo. Going this route may limit some of your choices, but it sure can save you time and money in the long run!
~ Can the facility comfortably accommodate the size of your wedding and the number of guests you are planning to invite?

THE FACILITIES:
~ Do they have handicap access?
~ Are the facilities air conditioned?
~ If it is an option, could you have your ceremony in the facility, and if so where will it be?
~ If allowed to have the ceremony at the facility, what would the cost be for setting up the seating for the ceremony?
~ Is there a room available for the bride to use during the reception, to freshen up or to change clothes?
~ Ask if the facility has overnight accommodations for your out-of-town guests.
~ If the facility is a hotel, can you reserve a block of rooms at a discount?

THE ISSUE OF FOOD:
~ If you plan to use a hotel or restaurant to have your wedding reception, and they will be providing the food, make sure that you've had an opportunity to discuss the menu choices and possibly even sample the food.
~ If you end up choosing a location that requires the use of an outside caterer, be sure to ask if you're required to choose from their approved list or will you be able to choose any caterer?

If you are on a strict budget, you will need to keep the amount of guests at your reception at a minimum because your food budget dictates the size of your wedding reception. Keeping this in mind, try to invite only the most important people in your life. If your food budget is a little larger, then begin adding the next group of people who have played an important part in your lives. If you do have to exclude some people, maybe later on after the wedding, you could have a party for the people that you were unable to invite.

The time of the day when you have the wedding reception plays a role in the cost. Some different types of receptions can actually save you a lot of money. If you really want to save even more money, you can pitch in and do some things for yourself. I am sure there are other people in your life who wouldn't mind helping out as well.

The following, are times of the day that are common for having a wedding reception, along with some food ideas:

~BRUNCH RECEPTION: This would take place around 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. This selection is rather inexpensive because breakfast foods such as muffins, fruit, breads and other breakfast foods could be served. Keep in mind that you would have to be up at the crack of dawn to pull this type of reception off!

~LUNCHEON WEDDING RECEPTION: Would take place after a late morning wedding. Sandwiches, various salads, pasta dishes, fruits, breads and a wide variety of condiments and garnishes would even be easy to throw together on your own. Hiring a caterer would not be too costly for this type of reception (depending upon the amount of guests of course).

~DESSERT RECEPTION: This is the most inexpensive type of wedding reception food. If you have a lot of people to invite - in spite of your budget, this would be your best way to go. Usually held between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The guests would not need to be served, but can go about choosing from a variety of sweets. You can even whip up some of your own favorite desserts!

~COCKTAIL PARTY WEDDING RECEPTION: Not nearly as expensive as a Dinner Reception, it is usually held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. You would serve hors d'ouvres, have a cash bar (alcohol can be very costly) and provide some nice background music, and you will be set. Although grocery stores offer inexpensive hors d'ouvres trays, if you don't have the time or help with setting up the food trays, there should be caterers in your area that do not cost an arm and a leg.

~DINNER WEDDING RECEPTION: The most expensive of them all... If you have the money to have it catered, it would be in your best interest to do so. If not, be sure to have a lot of people willing to help pull this off. Another thing you can do is purchase only the entrées from a caterer or your favorite restaurant and provide the rest of the meal on your own. If presented properly, you can have a reception that looks like you spent a fortune! When serving dinner, it is usually customary to provide the following choices: 1 beef main course, 1 poultry main course and 1 pasta main course. A tossed salad with a variety of dressings and toppings is always good - along with a couple of vegetable and side dish choices.

Other alternatives to a reception if your wedding is informal:

*Dessert Reception at your church after the wedding
*Picnic at a local state park or beach
*BBQ at someone's home, at the beach or in a park

Whatever you decide to do, just be sure to make a list of everything needed for each type of reception and figure out what the cost will be. Try to take the simplest, most economical and stress free style that you will still feel good about. Best Wishes to you!!!

Whatever you do, make sure that the person who is giving the wedding toast is 1). sober 2). not upset with you or your future spouse and 3). has tact. Have you ever seen the movie The Wedding Singer? If so, do you remember the part when Steve Buscemi stood up to make a toast to his brother (the groom) and his new wife? He was drunk and spewed his guts out to the bride about her new husband's past infidelities. Sure, you might want to know what your husband had done in the past (well, maybe you do), but not on your wedding day and especially not in public!

So there you have it!! My best advice to you is to let someone you trust (usually the best man) give the the toast, but ask him to PLEASE write down what he is planning to say - and run it past someone (that you trust of course) before the wedding day arrives. Having a second opinion will help to squash any ill attempts at humor - that maybe only the toast-giver might find to be funny.

Ahhhh... The Grand Finale!! Yes! The Wedding Cake! Wedding cakes can be beautiful and still be simple and inexpensive. If you are the type that has to have the most prestigious of anything that you want, this article may not be for you. I believe that as long as something looks exquisite... then it IS EXQUISITE!! Of course it has to taste good too! To search for a good baker who will make your wedding cake, I would suggest going to www.Craigslist.com and search online for a local baker. Then you can Google that baker to check and see if there is any negative feedback - and hopefully you will find some positive feedback from previous clients instead.

Once you have selected 2-4 bakers in your area, call each one to see if they have a tasting in the near future that you can attend and try various kinds of wedding cake and cake fillings. Just remember, you cannot please all of the people all of the time, so be sure to choose a cake that is to you and your fiancé's liking and not worry if a few guests may not like your choice. Of course, if you want to please more people, you can always opt to have a different flavor for each tier of your wedding cake.

When visiting the bakers, be sure to ask to see a portfolio of previous wedding cakes they've made; and also ask if they can supply references. Another question: How adaptable are wedding cake designs, especially due to budget concerns? Be sure to ask if you can rent items like cake toppers, stands, tiers, fountains, and cutters. Will you be billed extra? Keep in mind that craft stores such as Michael's usually have really nice cake toppers - not real elaborate, but pretty and not too costly. If you want fresh flowers on the cake, be sure to ask what the cost is for those as well. Other adornments can include: fruit, ribbon and/or marzipan sculpted into flowers and figurines.

Here are the cakes sizes :
The following chart can be used as a guide to help you select the proper size and configuration of your cake according to the amount of guests you are inviting. Because it is often the custom for the bride and groom to keep the top tier, these yields exclude the top tier.

Tier Sizes~~~~~~~~~~Servings
8-6-----------------------------16 - 19
10-6---------------------------26 - 29
10-8---------------------------23 - 30
12-8-6-------------------------56 - 64
12-9-6-------------------------56 - 99
14-10-6-----------------------76 - 89
14-10-8-----------------------78 - 90
14-10-8-6-------------------96 - 109
16-12-8--------------------103 - 125
16-12-8-6------------------121 - 144
16-12-9-6------------------126 - 144
18-12-10-6-----------------146 - 184
18-14-10-6-----------------161 - 189
20-16-12-8-----------------198 - 230
20-16-12-9-6--------------231 - 274
20-18-16-12-8-------------293 - 350
24-20-16-12-9-6----------381 - 449

The old tradition would be to freeze the top tier of your wedding cake to enjoy again on your first anniversary. However, these days, more people suggest to freeze the top tier of cake and eat it upon returning from your honeymoon. This way you are assured of its freshness (no freezer burn - or worrying about power outages) and naturally, it would simply taste a whole lot better than it would in a year. If you want cake on your first wedding anniversary, you can get a new cake that only the two of you can appreciate!

It's not the same old song and dance anymore! Looks like the traditional wedding dances have been tossed out the window when it comes to your first dance as man and wife. Check out the videos below and see what the latest wedding dance trends are!!