How a Wedding Cake is Created

You’ve tasted dozens of samples and found your dream cake. Learn the secrets that will bring it to life.

There are several steps that will go into creating your wedding cake.

Cake
The trick to frosting a cake perfectly, without getting crumbs in it, is to place the frosting onto a frozen cake. With this in mind, the cake itself is often baked months before the wedding day and then frozen.

The cake is then frosted with a ‘crumb coat.’ This first layer of frosting goes over the frozen cake. It is often applied thickly to prevent any crumbs from getting through.

The cake will then be placed back into the freezer to allow the frosting to harden.

Fillings
Once frozen, a wide band of frosting will be placed around the top perimeter of the cake. The filling will be placed inside this band of frosting which prevents it from bleeding through to the outside of the cake.
Once the filling has been added, the next layer of cake will be stacked on top of it. When assembled, the outside layer of frosting will be added.

Fondant and Marzipan
For a fondant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fondant) or marzipan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipan) exterior, the dough is rolled out with a rolling pin and placed over each cake layer, before the cake layers are assembled.

Marzipan and fondant flowers and bows are created in advance and allowed to harden in the desired shape before being added to the cake.

Buttercream
To apply the frosting smoothly, the cake will be placed onto a wheel. Spinning the cake allows the frosting to be evenly applied. Often a wet spatula is used to prevent the frosting from sticking.

The cake will then be placed back into the freezer before the Pastry Chef applies the decorations. If you’ve selected a pattern using buttercream, the design will sometimes be drawn on with the help of stencils.

Delivery
To prevent shifting during travel, cakes are often assembled after they have arrived at their destination.

Learn more about cake design by taking a cake decorating class. http://michaels.com/art/online/static?page=wilton_cake_decorating

Wedding Insurance – A ‘Do’ or a ‘Don’t’

When contemplating whether to purchase insurance for your wedding day, it’s important to consider what you have planned.

The Venue
If your wedding will be held at a well known and long established venue, it most likely carries insurance on your behalf. This would cover guest accidents or medical issues while on site. If they are providing the caterer, their insurance will cover food poisoning. A general rule of thumb is that their insurance will cover anything that they plan for you. As each venue is unique, it’s important to ask what they cover.

Every venue wants your wedding to be a success. From a marketing standpoint, they want the positive word-of-mouth your event will generate. Consequently, many venues are more flexible than what they would have you believe. If extenuating circumstances require that your wedding be postponed for any reason, let the venue know as soon as possible. They will often switch your wedding to a new date without any penalty. They want your business and they want you to be happy.

If your wedding will be held at a small, privately owned venue, it may be wise to get event insurance. Due to the recession, some venues are going out of business. If you have paid a non-refundable deposit, you will not be reimbursed if the venue goes out of business before your wedding day.

Vendors
Most vendors guarantee their services and want to avoid negative press that could be extremely damaging to a small business. Rather than purchasing insurance to cover anything that goes awry, it’s better to have a backup plan. If you need to use your backup plan, do so. The vendor that fell through will almost certainly refund any payments received.
The best insurance for managing vendors is to hire a Wedding Coordinator. They will refer you to the most reputable and cost effective businesses. They’ll also have backup plans in place and can often fix issues before you even know there’s a problem.

Insurance provides peace of mind. Single-day event insurance can be purchased for as little as $200. If you are worried about any component of your wedding, buy insurance and walk down the aisle with a smile.

Church Weddings

Before you imagine the church bells ringing on your wedding day, there are several things that you should know.

Cost
Churches typically charge just as much in rental fees as your reception venue will. Budget accordingly! The most cost effective option is to hold the ceremony in the same location as the reception so that you are paying one rental fee, rather than two.

Décor
Churches often have strict rules about what decorations are permitted. They may not permit rose petals down the aisle or may require that alter bouquets remain at the church rather than be moved to the reception site after the ceremony. In downtown Seattle, St James Cathedral will not permit candles.
Find out about décor restrictions at your church before falling in love with a ‘look’ for your ceremony.

Pre-Marital Counseling
Many Officiants require that couples attend several counseling sessions before the big day. This is an important consideration if you are planning a last-minute wedding.

Transportation
Consider the time of day guests will be driving and try to avoid rush hour if possible. Review where guests will park during the wedding ceremony and reception. If paid parking is the only option, consider making special arrangements for guests with financial constraints. Also make arrangements for elderly guests who may feel uncomfortable driving after dark.

A church wedding is a must-have for many couples. Asking the right questions upfront can ensure that your dreams become reality.

Planning a Wedding at Home

Some of the most beautiful weddings happen at private homes. Planning a wedding in a private residence is more complex than utilizing an event venue and can be more expensive.
There are several factors to take into consideration;

Room Size & Layout
If holding the festivities indoors, you’ll need to maximize use of the available space. Plan to move out the existing furniture and rent theater-style seating for the ceremony and banquet rounds with chairs for the reception. Renting banquet furniture costs only a few hundred dollars and will help to increase the number of guests the room(s) can accommodate. Brainstorm an out-of-the-way place to store the existing furniture. A garage or extra bedroom often works well.

Cleanup
Holding an event in someone’s home is a lot of work and often causes the event host additional stress. The house will need to be deep cleaned both before and after the event. Consider hiring a maid service as a gift to your host.
In addition, all nick-knacks will need to be removed. This will make the rooms look more spacious and decrease the chance of damage or theft.
The yard needs to be in top condition, which often requires the added expense of routine maintenance that has been long overdue.
Inside the home, updates often include touch-up painting, finishing remodeling and interior design projects.

Restrooms
A general rule of thumb is to have one bathroom for every 50 guests. As most homes have only one restroom on the first floor, portable bathrooms may need to be rented and placed strategically around the property. An upscale restroom rental company is www.royalrestrooms.com

Parking
Many cities and neighborhoods have restrictions on street parking for events. Anticipate one vehicle for every two guests. If off-street parking is not available, research whether an event permit will be required to allow guests to parallel park along the road. If limited off-street parking is available, consider hiring or recruiting friends to act as valets. This will allow vehicles to maximize the space available.

Catering and Liability
If you opt to have relatives or friends do the cooking, consider liability issues. If your guests were to get food poisoning, you and your ‘chef’ would be liable for all damages. When a catering company provides the food, their insurance will cover damages. In addition, catering companies are knowledgeable about safe food handling practices.

Consider the kitchen facilities. Many private residences do not have the capacity to keep food for a large number of guests heated or cooled at the correct temperatures. It may be necessary to rent additional refrigerators or speed racks (which are portable ovens that keep food warm before serving).

Make sure there is enough staff to serve the food. For a buffet meal, plan on 1 catering staff for every 50 guests. For a plated event, schedule 1 staff member for every 30 guests. This is in addition to the kitchen staff preparing the food.

General Liability
If a guest has any type of medical issue while on the property, you or the event host will be liable for damages. Consider buying 1-day event insurance. Starting at only $200, it is definitely a smart investment. Single-event insurance may be purchased from http://www.kandkinsurance.com/EventsAttractions/Pages/EventsAttractions.aspx

Safety
Guests like to snoop and may go through closets or enter rooms of the home not being used for the event. Lock bedroom doors and any rooms that you would not want someone looking through unsupervised. Also, lock up all jewelry and valuables well in advance.

Setup/Breakdown
Parents of the bride and groom and members of the bridal party will be too busy taking photos and participating in the wedding itself to help in the event setup or breakdown. Any projects not completed within two weeks of the wedding day should be passed off too a Wedding Coordinator or trusted friend.

Logistics
Wedding Coordinators typically save events more money than it costs to hire them. As weddings at home are more complex than events held in commercial venues, hire a Wedding Coordinator to help manage logistics.

The ‘convenience’ of planning a wedding at home is typically outweighed by the logistics required to execute the event. Begin planning as early and enlist help wherever possible.
A wedding at home is sure to create happy memories for the whole family.

Welcome Bag Ideas - Seattle

If guests will be staying in a hotel while attending your wedding, consider having Welcome Bags placed into their sleeping rooms. Hotels are typically happy to provide this service free of charge.

Popular items to include in Welcome Bags are;
• A walking map of the area.
To print a free Downtown Seattle Walking Map, visit http://downtownseattleevents.com/tips/maps/Icons%20of%20Seattle.pdf • Brochures for popular area attractions.
• A Calendar of activities for guests to attend
• Local Food Samples
o Starbucks and/or Seattle’s Best coffee samples
o Aplets & Cotlets http://www.libertyorchards.com/
o Smoked salmon
• Beer Samples from a local brewery
o Hood Canal Brewery http://www.hoodcanalbrewery.com/beers.html • Wine or juice from a local vineyard
o Flying Fish Merlot http://www.northwest-wine.com/Flying-Fish-Merlot.html
• An ornament or small souvenir reminiscent of the area.
o A mini ferry boat
o An ornament in the shape of the Space Needle
o Seattle Sounders, Mariners or Seahawks sports souvenirs
o Mount St Helen’s glass
o Seattle Magazine
• Use a postcard of the area to write a welcome message

For more gift ideas that are unique to the Northwest, visit http://www.madeinwashington.com/

Activities For Out-of-Town Guests

If a large percentage of your guests will be traveling from out-of-town, recognize that they are spending a lot of time and money. Many may be taking rare vacation days off work.
As a thank you, consider scheduling activities for them to participate in throughout the week.

Site Seeing Adventures
If guests are new to the area, provide them with a list of popular local attractions. Create a calendar of when they should attend certain activities so wedding guests will bump into each other throughout the week. The benefit to this is that they’ll have people to socialize with while allowing you free time to finalize last minute wedding details.

Delegate to Relatives
Aunts & Uncles, the Father of the Bride and other relatives who are involved with the wedding but have free time throughout the week may be happy to attend an activity with out-of-town guests. For example, the Father of the Bride might take guests golfing. An Aunt may lead guests on a wine tasting excursion or schedule a day at the local spa for female guests. As each guest would pay their own way, this is an opportunity to entertain them without a financial obligation.

Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally out-of-town guests are invited to the Rehearsal Dinner as a thank you for traveling to the wedding (They aren’t invited to the actual Rehearsal itself and its not necessary to buy them a gift).

Wedding Brunch
The Mother of the Bride typically hosts a Brunch on the morning after the wedding for out-of-town guests. It can be a casual affair at her home or held in a restaurant. The Bride and Groom may or may not attend depending on their honeymoon travel plans.

The week of your wedding will be a busy time. By pre-planning activities to keep guest occupied you’ll cut down on your stress by knowing that they happy and being entertained.

Inexpensive Reception Venues

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There are many cost effective local wedding venues. The secret is in knowing where to look.
Typically owned by the State and/or Parks Department, they are available for a fraction of what privately owned venues charge.

Heritage Hall
Located in the heart of Kirkland, Heritage Hall’s beautiful columns make a classic backdrop for wedding photos. Wedding ceremonies may be held in the Gazebo in the park across the street or in the private rose garden behind the Hall. Prices start at just $60/hour. For more information visit http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/parks/Facility_Rentals/Heritage_Hall.htm

Marina Park Pavilion
Located on the water in downtown Kirkland, the Marina Park Pavilion is a large gazebo. Able to accommodate up to 100 guests, prices start at just $35/hour. For more information, visit http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/parks/Facility_Rentals/Marina_Park_Pavilion.htm

Alki Beach Bathhouse
Located right on the beach, the Alki Bathhouse has panoramic views of the water and the Olympic Mountains. With accommodations for up to 100 guests, prices start at only $50/hour. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Reservations/Alki.htm

Golden Gardens Bathhouse
Located on the sandy beach at Golden Gardens, this Bathhouse has westward views that capture the sunset looking over the water. With accommodations for up to 295 guests prices start at only $150/hour. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Reservations/GoldenGardens.htm

Point Defiance Rose Garden
The lush gardens at Point Defiance Park offer two wedding ceremony locations, the classic Rose Garden and the Gazebo.
The Rose Garden is available for only $400 and includes seating for up to 100 guests. The Gazebo can accommodate up to 50 guests standing and is also $400.
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=180

Point Defiance Lodge
Located next to the Point Defiance Rose Garden, the Point Defiance Lodge holds up to 100 guests. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=178

Point Defiance Pagoda
Located in the Japanese Garden, the Pagoda is a replica of a 17th century Japanese Lodge. To view pictures and more information, visit http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=240

Seymour Conservatory
The Seymour Conservatory is one of only three Victorian-style conservatories on the West Coast.
The Conservatory Gazebo can accommodate up to 100 guests with prices starting at $175/hour. The Conservatory itself holds up to 50 guests with prices beginning at $250/hour.
For more information visit http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=195

Titlow Lodge
This craftsman style manor can accommodate up to 220 guests. Peak-season prices start at only $200/hour. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=194

For an extensive list of additional government owned venues throughout the Seattle area, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/ceremonies.asp

How to Include Children in Your Wedding

Children add whimsy and innocence to wedding celebrations. There are several ways to incorporate a child’s personality and charm into the festivities;

Wedding Artist
Younger children may enjoy being assigned the task of coloring pictures of the wedding. Set up a small table in the reception site with paper, crayons or watercolor paints. Tell the child that she is in charge of paining everything that happens during the reception. After she finishes each portrait, have an adult write a description of what it portrays on the back of the painting. By the end of the evening you’ll have a charming depiction of your wedding day as seen through the eyes of a child.

Favor Host
If the wedding reception will have fewer than 60 guests, ask a child to deliver wedding favors to each guest personally. Handing out ‘presents’ is fun for kids and will make them feel important.

Guest Book Greeter
Welcoming guests as they arrive at the wedding ceremony, the Guest Book Greeter invites everyone to sign the Guest Book. Best for children age 12 and up.

Program Attendant
A good project for outgoing children from age 12 and up, the Program Attendant greets every guest and hands them a Program as they enter the ceremony site.

Performer
If a child has fun performing in front of large groups, they may enjoy singing a special song or reading a poem during the wedding ceremony.

Coin Bearer
A coin bearer carries a pillow with 13 gold and silver coins down the aisle during the wedding ceremony. The wedding coins symbolize prosperity and harmony for the Bridal Couple. For more information visit http://lovelywed.com/blog/2006/12/coin-bearer-explained.html

Ringbearer
A traditional role for young boys, the ringbearer participates in the wedding ceremony and carries a pillow bearing a (faux) wedding ring.

Flower girl
The Flower Girl’s walk down the aisle is one of the most charming parts of the wedding ceremony. If she is old enough, the Flower Girl may scatter rose petals. Younger Flower Girls may be pulled in a wagon or simply walk down the aisle carrying a basket of flowers or wearing a garland of flowers in her hair.

Junior Bridesmaid
Pre-teen and teenage girls enjoy being included in the bridal party as Junior Bridesmaids. With dresses that compliment that of the Bridesmaids, they carry bouquets and participate in the ceremony. To learn more about this role, visit http://www.pashweddings.com/content/articles/104/1/Junior-Bridesmaid-Roles-and-Responsibilities/Page1.html

Junior Groomsmen
Pre-teen and teenage boys may be included in the wedding ceremony as Junior Groomsmen. Dressed to match the Groomsmen, Junior Groomsmen may assist the ushers in seating guests and later stand with the Groomsmen for the ceremony.

Bubble Manager
At the end of the reception, have a child pass out bubbles or confetti to guests prior to the departure of the Bride and Groom.

Children will remember being included in your wedding for years. To make them feel special, consider each child’s personality and how it will best be incorporated into the celebration.

Duties of the Maid of Honor

While coveted, the position of Maid of Honor carries a lot of responsibility. In addition to her time, there’s also a large financial commitment.

The Maid of Honor typically;

• Plans the Bachelorette Party
• Hosts a Bridal Shower
• Assists the Bride with wedding details prior to the wedding day
• Purchases her Bridesmaid Dress
• Buys a Wedding Gift
• Buys a Shower Gift
• Takes Off Work For the Rehearsal
• Is responsible for managing the Wedding Emergency Kit
• Provides Emotional support for the Bride
• Signs the Marriage License
• Holds the Bride’s bouquet during the ceremony
• Carries the Groom’s ring during the wedding ceremony
• Gives a Toast

It’s easy for the Maid of Honor to feel obligated to spend hundreds of dollars on the wedding. Be proactive in talking with her about how much time and money she can comfortably provide. Then ask the other bridesmaids to support her where possible.

Ensure that everyone has joyful memories of your wedding, including the friend you want to Honor most.

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Brainstorming how to plan your dream wedding on a budget can be fun.
Utilize these insider tips to create a high-end event on a shoestring budget;

Venue Selection
Look for venues that are owned by the State and/or Parks Department. These are often thousands of dollars less than privately owned venues.
Try to stay away from venues with food and beverage minimums. One of the most expensive components of a wedding, this is also one of the easiest areas in which creative brainstorming can save you money.

Flowers
Work with a Floral Designer rather than a Florist. Utilize flowers that will be in-season during your wedding. Also, plan to use ceremony decorations again at the reception site.

Beverages
It is typically more cost effective to bring in your own wine and pay a corkage fee than to purchase wine through your venue.
Pete’s Wine Shop in Bellevue has the best prices in the Northwest. They offer additional discounts to weddings, for buying in bulk and can order in almost any type of wine for your event. For more information, visit http://www.peteswineshop.com/

Limit the variety of drink options available to guests. Having fewer items to ‘try’ will decrease overall consumption. A classy way to do this is to offer only sparkling wine during the reception. Another fun option is to offer only a signature drink during the cocktail hour. If possible, try to wait until after dinner to have an Open Bar.

Bartenders will be logging the number of drinks consumed throughout your event. To guarantee you stay on budget, authorize them to serve drinks until you’ve reached your budgeted amount. After that time, they can close the bar, switch to a No-Host Bar (where guests pay for their own drinks) or check with you to see if you want the bar to remain open longer.

Hors d’oeuvres
Cocktail hours often double the price of the reception. To decrease the quantity of hors d’oeuvres consumed, limit variety. Instead of having 5-8 options, select 3. Guests will typically sample one of each and then stop eating. Another option is to have a wine and cheese cocktail hour. Realistically, guests may have a bite of cheese but wont plan on filling up.

Dinner Menu
If you are planning a plated meal, condense the number of courses served. A summer wedding can offer an Entrée Salad which successfully combines the first and second courses. Guests typically eat less when there is warm weather anyway.
Pasta is typically one of the most cost-effective entrée selections.

Cake
If your venue charges a cake cutting fee, ask if they’ll waive it if you purchase the wedding cake through their in-house Caterer.

Challenge yourself to dream big and then research ways to create the look you want on a small budget. Receive personalized advice by calling the Free Bridal Hotline at 415-458-4411.

Warning Signs: How to Protect Your Wedding During the Recession

With the recession still in full-force and experts speculating that it may get worse before it gets better, many of the vendors you consider hiring may be out of business before your wedding day.

The following guidelines will help to safeguard your event;

Always Require a Contract
While having a contract with a wedding vendor won’t guarantee that they will still in business by the time your wedding occurs, it will help you to retrieve any deposits paid. Be sure the contract clearly outlines the cancellation policy. If the deposit is noted as non-refundable, you won’t get your money back even if the vendor goes out of business.

Watch out for ‘Sales’
If a venue or vendor asks you to pay in full upfront, they could be struggling to stay in business.
When businesses are on shaky financial ground, they may begin offering discounts. While sounding like a bargain, there is often little recourse should the venue go out of business before your wedding day. Instead, wait as long as possible before paying for services.
Also, if the price seems too low for what you’re getting, the vendor may be trying to close the sale but will then have difficulty fulfilling their obligation.

Are They Advertising
Ironically, when businesses run into financial trouble, one of the first things they cut out is advertising. Financially strong businesses are taking advantage of the discounts available and are marketing more, not less.

Are they Organized
If your Contact seems unorganized and scattered, most likely the company’s finances are too. The businesses that will be stable enough to ride out the recession are the ones that are very organized and keep an eye on their books.

Consider Event Insurance
With so many businesses fighting for survival, Event Insurance is a must-have and can often be purchased for under $200. For more information, visit http://www.wedsafe.com/wedding-insurance/index.jsp and http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-problems/articles/wedding-insurance-101.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Hire a Wedding Coordinator
An event professional will often hear industry gossip long before it becomes known by the public. They will be better able to guide you to quality vendors that are more financially stable.
Also, in the event that a vendor is unable to perform a service, they will be able to assist you in swiftly finding a reputable alternative.

Planning a wedding is an exciting and fun time. Ensure your wedding remains seamless by being aware of the recession and making smart, well researched decisions.