Matching Your Couple Personality

In other words, choosing the right cake topper.

Trivial? yes.

Important none-the-less? yes.

When picking your cake topper, it's got to reflect you!

Not your mother or your grandmother or our sister or your mother-in-law.

You're putting it on your wedding cake after all.

You have to walk into the reception and see it there.

You don't want to walk in, see it, and think, "ugh! why?"

So, for Mr. GrapeJuice and I, our cake topper will reflect our playful couple personality.

We're always joking around or sneaking little love taps on each others derriere.

Meaning, floral cake toppers and monogram cake toppers are out for us!

Here's what I like...

Cheeky Couple Figurine: "My Main Squeeze"

source :: cute party supplies & elegant wedding accessories

"Romance" Kissing Couple

source :: that's my topper

"Super Sexy Dancing" Wedding Bride and Groom Cake Topper Figurine

source :: wedding collectibles

"Picture Perfect" Couple Figurine

source :: cute party supplies

Playful Football Wedding Couple Figurine

source :: online bridal store

"The Love Pinch" Bridal Couple Figurine

 sources :: kiwi cakes & jw caketops

True Romance Couple Figurine

source :: wedding favours

Wedding Fact Friday

Multiple Facts about Wedding Cakes
{yum}
The wedding cake has always played an important part in the wedding.
1. Ancient Romans broke a cake over the bride's head to symbolize fertility or abundance.
2. Many other cultures dropped wheat, flour, or cake on the bride's head, and then ate the crumbs for good luck.
3. The early British baked baskets of dry crackers, and every guest took one home after the wedding.
4. In medieval times, guests brought small cakes and piled them on a table. The bride and groom then attempted to kiss over the cakes.
5. Eventually, a young baker decided to put all the cakes together and cover them with frosting; thus, the tiered wedding cake was born.
(source)

Photo : Cake Coquette

A Great Combination

On the weekends, I tend to spend a great deal of my time on the Internet. {i know. it's sad.} But, I'm glad that I was over this past weekend because I got to see one of the greatest things ever!

I, for one, love to bake...everything! And, I love to read Bakerella. She has the cutest ideas, and every time I see a recipe, I get the urge to make it! Talk about relating to your readers. :)

{if you love mini foods like i do, bakerella is the blog for you!}

On Sunday, Bakerella focused on cake pops - one of the many popular items on her recipe blog. But, not just any cake pops. Oh no! WEDDING cake pops!!!!!

Photo : Bakerella

Don't they just look absolutely delectable? I think so! But, that's not the best part. Not by far. Because, at the end of the post, she did the following for a friend. {so sweet}

All Photos : Bakerella

{don't worry. she sad YES!}

And, that's why it is a great combination! It combines my two favorite things in life right now - weddings and baking!

Unexpected

I have something that I just HAVE to share with you.
Something very unique for a wedding!
Something you'll look at and say, "Wow. I never would have thought of that."

This California bride (Dandelion Blossom) @ Bridal Buds was having some serious cake decision problems. Her original idea was to do a collection of pies with stands decorated with barbed wire. {Also cool!} After much consideration and talking with family and friends, she decided that she might regret not having a cake after it was all said and done.

What does one do?

Her groom was also Southern - from Texas. And, you know what that means, ladies. A groom's cake!!

Not only did this bride have to come up with a cake for herself but for her groom as well. Miss Dandelion Blossom knew what she wanted. Meet her beautiful, classic cake inspiration.
But...what to do for the groom?? Something non-traditional that still managed to represent the groom. It led her to wood grain cakes. Meet the woodsy, non-traditional cake inspiration.
Now, take a moment. Think about what this could possibly mean. [...] It could mean a LOT of things!! Two cakes {one for each}. Chocolate on the inside; beautiful white, clean decorations. Multi-layered cake {one white and pretty; one chocolate and wood-grainy}.

But...

Would you expect this??

Meet the love child of the two cakes!

Was that what you pictured?

No?

Well, get this!

The round, white cake was CARVED from the square cake right next to it.

If that doesn't blow your mind, then I don't know what will! It completely took me by surprise. :)

Photos at Bridal Buds

The Budget Breakdown

A couple weeks ago, I posted a budget breakdown of what the average person in TN spends on a wedding. It was heartbreaking because I know I won't be able to afford something considered "average" for a wedding in TN. However, to make the most of my budget, I have spent the entire day so far trying to maximize my budget by applying different percentage strategies to my it. On the plus side, I am getting better at percentage math. Now I can successfully pass 6th grade! Yay me!

I do have a positive note to post along with this though, courtesy of Real Simple Weddings. They have an article about how to save money while planning your wedding. It happens to be very specific too, which is something we brides definitely need in our lives!!

1.The Timeline

• Shorten the wedding-planning timeline. Don’t wait a year to get married and it will be easier to simplify the wedding. “A recent trend I’ve seen is that couples are saving money by planning a more last-minute wedding, rather than the traditional 11-month runup,” says Alan Fields, coauthor of Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget. “The shorter time horizon will force you to streamline and keep you, by necessity, from getting sucked into the vortex of elaborate weddings.”
• Or give yourself even more time. That way, you can take advantage of seasonal sales. “For example, you may be able to stock up on silver decorations at 75 percent off before the Christmas holidays, or pick up your ring bearer or flower girl’s outfit on sale at Easter,” says Sharon Naylor, author of 1001Ways to Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding (McGraw Hill, $17, amazon.com)

2. The Date

• Schedule the wedding in off-peak times. When there’s less competition for dates, you can have more negotiating power. “You can shave 20 to 30 percent off the cost of a wedding by planning it for November, or January through March―except for Valentine’s Day,” says Fields.
• Choose any day other than Saturday. "That’s the most popular day to marry," says Anna Post, author of Do I Have to Wear White? Emily Post Answers America’s Top Wedding Questions (Collins, $15, amazon.com). Ask about rates for Friday- and Sunday-night weddings. They’re becoming more common, so you won’t have to deal with quite as many guest grumbles.

3. The Venue

• Consider choosing a nontraditional venue. “Where you have the wedding often drives the cost,” says Fields. Rather than a dedicated wedding reception hall or country club, check out less expensive facilities, from city-run spaces like zoos and civic gardens to restaurants or more offbeat locations that have some meaning for you, from a beach to your parents’ yard. One caveat: If the space is not equipped to cater a party, calculate extra costs for bringing in tables, toilets, or even a kitchen.

4. The Wedding Dress

• Shop designer or sample sales. Find out the dates of well-known annual sales at places like Filene’s, where you might snag a $2,000 dress for $249, or the sample sales at Vera Wang. “You can save up to 70 percent on gowns, headpieces, veils, and shoes at a sample sale,” says Naylor. “Look for the touring list on your favorite designers’ websites, or get on the mailing list at bridal gown salons.” You may even get to shop before anyone else and have first pick.
• Consider renting or borrowing a dress. “Or buy one secondhand,” Post says. Chances are, it’s only been worn once! Look on eBay or craigslist for postings. Oftentimes, if the bride changes her mind about her dress or has to postpone the wedding, you might be able to score a deal on a never-been-worn gown.
• Or combine self-interest with philanthropy. Says Fields, "Buy at one of the sales of donated new and used gowns" staged in many U.S. cities by bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. Or look for a vintage or consignment store that carries wedding dresses. The Bridal Garden in New York City (bridalgarden.org), for example, features designer-donated dresses, and a portion of the proceeds go to charity.

5. The Food

• Make it a daytime reception. “It’s always cheaper to serve lunch or brunch than dinner,” says Fields.
• Try a combination plate. Eliminate a choice of entrée to save on your food bill. “Serve a couple of grilled shrimp with a couple of beef medallions," Naylor says. “This cuts down on the cost, since the chef doesn’t need to buy enough of all the entrées to allow for people to change their minds.” Or serve an inexpensive dish like chicken and pasta and let the chef shine by creating great sauces.
• Avoid the traditional sit-down dinner or buffet meal altogether. Instead, host a cocktail reception with cake and punch or cake and cocktails. Or have a potluck reception, which makes for a less formal, more intimate wedding with a nice feeling of community.

6. The Liquor

• Serve signature cocktails. “Alcohol is one of the biggest expenses of a wedding and can burn a hole in your budget fast,” says Fields. Since most reception sites charge for every bottle opened, even if it was for just one drink, consider offering a limited bar. Choose a signature cocktail (or a series of signature cocktails) that use one type of liquor. Then, ask to stock a few other bottles based on the wedding party’s preferences (i.e., if your dad drinks only scotch). Another option is to serve just beer, wine, and enough champagne for toasts.

7. The Wedding Cake

• Add finishing touches yourself. “The cost of a wedding cake is all about the labor,” says Naylor, “so forget sugar-paste flowers or matching the lace from your gown in fondant.” Instead, try using real lace or satin ribbon wrapped around each layer. It costs almost nothing; just pin it on and it looks lovely. Or use a few real flowers here and there, scattered artistically. Also, go low, says Fields: “The more height, the more money―it takes more labor to build a taller cake.”
• Have a small cake. You can have a wonderfully decorated, yet smaller cake on display that’s used for cutting, and then have a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving.

8. The Flowers

• Make your own centerpieces. This is definitely a time commitment, so consider making the centerpieces for the cocktail tables or the rehearsal dinner. “A lot of people are using freshroses.com and other websites to order wholesale flowers to make their own centerpieces,” says Fields. “You can order enough flowers to do 15 for about $300, then check out how-to sites for DIY instructions.” (See Turn Supermarket Flowers Into Beautiful Bouquets) Or go online to check out the wedding flower packages from Costco―have bouquets and centerpieces shipped to you for huge savings.
• Choose seasonal and local flowers for your reception. “This not only brings the season into your event but it also cuts costs, because your florist won’t have to import any exotic or out-of-season blooms,” says David Tutera, an event planner. (Learn what will be blossoming on your big day with the Wedding Flower Finder Tool.)
• Use one kind of flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. It’s a budget-friendly move because your florist will need to place only one bulk order. “This brings a chic monochromatic look to your event,” adds Tutera.
• Avoid cascades. Like cakes, the hidden cost of flowers is the labor. “Order or make small, hand-tied bouquets for the bride and attendants―cascades require a lot of wiring, and more labor means higher cost,” says Naylor.

9. The Photographer and Videographer

• Try a less-expensive package. "Photographers usually offer packages based on the hours they’ll work," says Naylor. To buy a less expensive (shorter) package, she suggests, “do your at-home, getting-ready pictures as candids. Cut the cake early so you can release the on-the-clock shooters, and let your guests supplement your album with candids.”
• Talk to former brides. To help you decide whether you’re really going to need the 1,000-picture package or whether 500 will do, find people “with similar sensibilities to yours and see what their experience was,” says Naylor.
• Consider hiring a photography-school student. Make sure you check out his or her portfolio, with examples of portraits. Though, Fields says, “it can cut the bill in half,” it’s not worth the savings if photos aren’t in focus.

10. The Invitations, Programs, and Favors

• Take advantage of the talents of the bridal party and other friends and family. Anything you can make yourself becomes a fun shared effort and can save a lot. “My aunt did her own invitations and program for her wedding because she wanted the personal touch,” says Post.
• Make some items do double duty. To save the cost of printed place cards, add guests’ names to the favors and set one at each place, or print the names at the top of your menu cards.
• Make your own favors. If you have time, whip up your grandma’s famous macaroons or make your own chocolate-covered almonds. “Edibles are the most appreciated,” says Naylor. “Especially for nighttime weddings―a bag of cookies will be gone before the guests hit the car.”
• Skip favors. Place a bowl of candies on the cake table with a note saying, “Please enjoy these candies. In lieu of favors we’ve made a donation to charity.”

(source)

*~Sassy Bride~*