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Linda Kevich Interview with In a three part interview with Alabama Weddings Magazine, Linda Kevich recently disucussed some of the fine details involved with choosing a caterer, cake, and flowers for a wedding. Published here are all three installments of the complete interview, unedited. Part 1 of 3 - Topic: Catering -What it is you do? I'm the creator and editor of SuperWeddings.com - a internet wedding resource which has been online since 1999. -How long you've been working in the business? I've been a professional wedding consultant for the past ten years, and have focused much of my career specializing in showing couples how to have the weddings of their dreams - without breaking the bank to do it! -Any other special career highlights you might be proud of ? As the developer of one of only a handful of training programs in the world for professional wedding consultants, I now teach career courses in wedding consulting via distance education, and have trained and assisted wedding consultants internationally in launching their careers. -Let's talk about wedding catering: Do you always have to use the on-site caterer that is provided?
-Are there pros or cons to using more than one caterer? I rarely encounter a scenerio where more than one caterer would be reqiured. Unless it is absolutely unavoidable, it's best to stick to one caterer to avoid unnecessary complications, and to simplify the planning and organzing processes. -Signs of good/bad caterer? Take a look at the caterer's kitchen facility and consultantion area - they should be clean, neat, and well organized. Is the caterer on time for your meeting and responsive to you? Are your phone calls returned promptly? Are they courteous to you, and do they come across as highly professional? If they aren't putting their best foot forward when they are trying to win your business, you have reason to question how well they will perform once they DO have your business. Are they very open about providing references? Beware of anyone who seems even slightly unwilling to do so. Are the references up to date? Anything older than 6 months is too old to be considered a valid reference. A good caterer should have no difficulty at all in putting you in touch with recent clients who were satisfied with their service. If they can't do that, it might be a red flag. -How does one deal with picky guests when deciding what to serve? Stay away from anything too exotic. It's often a good idea to offer your guests their choice of two to three different menu items. The response cards which you send out with your wedding invitations can list the meal options, and guests can simply check off their preference. Once all of your responses are in, you can let your caterer know how many of each meal to prepare. Keep in mind that as a gracious host, you must be sensitive to guests with special needs. Some guests may have dietary restrictions because of health problems or religious reasons. If this should come to your attention, advise your caterer that special meals will need to be prepared for these individuals. Generally, there will be very few guests who have special requirements, so accomodating those who do normally does not present a problem. -Questions to ask when shopping around for a caterer?
-Tips on finding a good caterer? What to know, what to avoid...? Ask friends and family for referrals to caterers they have used. Consult with a local wedding consultant; it's part of a consultant's job to know who the best caterers are, and they should be able to point you in the direction of those which fit into your price range very quickly, eliminating a lot of the leg work you would need to do on your own. Always ask the caterer if you can 'taste test'. A good caterer should have no problem in arranging for you to do this - at no charge. As with any vendors you are considering hiring for your wedding, be sure to get three references to previous couples who's weddings the caterer has done. These should be recent references, in other words, within the last 6 months. Next, CHECK those references! Call each one to ask about their level of satisfaction. Was there anything they were disappointed with? You should also check the caterer's record with the Better Business Bureau. As you shop for a caterer, you will probably come across some who work out of their homes. If you are considering a home-based caterer, you should verify whether he or she has liabilty insurance, whether they have the licencing required by the health department, and ensure that the kitchen they are working from is commercially zoned. If you haven't exercised this level of due dilegence, you could potentially be held legally liable if one of your guests were to fall ill from the food, or otherwise become injured as a result of the caterer's actions. Next, ALWAYS make sure you have a written contract with your caterer at the time the booking is made. The contract should be very clear about all charges and fees, what is included, when payments are due, and any other details that you feel are important. Make sure the contract specificies the date and time of your reception, the number of serving personelle to be provided, and what happens in the event that the wedding must be cancelled - will your deposit be returned in full? Will a cancellation charge apply? You should expect to pay a deposit when the contract is signed. Keep in mind that unless and until you have signed a contract, you haven't booked a caterer. Never rely on a verbal agreement when making a booking - insist on signing a contract at the time the caterer is booked. Without a contract, the possibility for errors or oversights exists, and you could find yourself without a caterer at the last minute. -Any other catering tips or facts you can think of sharing? Tip: Ask your caterer about the availablilty of children's plates. You can often save 50% on the cost of meals for kids under 12 years of age if you specifically order children's portions. Children's plates are smaller in portion size than those served to the adults. The selections often include items like burgers and fries, or chicken fingers, which have greater appeal to kids than the more fussy foods your adult guests will be dining on. Many caterers have these available but may not mention it unless you specifically ask, so do be sure to inquire. You can save money on the cost of catering by having an afternoon reception as opposed to an evening event. Many caterers actually charge less for afternoon functions. Apart from that, you can typically serve lighter fare and smaller portions in the afternoon, which helps to minimize costs. You'll also save on the bar bill with an afternoon reception because people tend to drink less in the daytime. In addition, afternoon receptions are generally shorter in duration, which also cuts consumption. |
Part 2 of 3 - Topic: Wedding C akes
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Because the cake will be an important focal point at the reception, I generally advise brides to start collecting ideas for their cake as soon as they become engaged - especially if they want something a little out of the ordinary, extra special, or particularly memorable. This doesnt mean they must make a decision at that time, but they should be keeping their eyes open for ideas, making notes, and saving pictures as they look through magazines, books, or other sources of inspiration. This will help them to narrow down their likes and dislikes, and to get a feel for the many possibilites which are available to them. It will prevent them from becoming overwhelmed by options - or worse yet, limited by lack of imagination - when it comes time to make a decision. Many brides assume that a cake is a cake is a cake, therefore, how complicated can it possibly be to choose one? That all changes when it actually comes time to make their selection and they become aware of the overwhelming array of choices they are faced with in terms of style and design. A few decades ago, selecting a wedding cake was much simpler than it is today because couples tended to stick to the traditional tiered and pillared design. Over the years, however, cake designers and decorators have become increasingly imaginative, so we are seeing some wonderful, highly creative and expressive ideas. Many of todays brides are looking for ways to make their wedding more distinctive and memorable in the eyes of their guests, and the cake is one of the details of a wedding which, if selected with care, can help to do just that. Brides should keep in mind that the cake is essentially the "centerpiece" of the wedding reception; it's going to be a major focal point, so it may take a little time to find "the one". The actual order for the cake should be placed with the baker, caterer, or cake designer about two to three months before the wedding. With respect to looking for a caterer, couples should keep in mind that it's not uncommon for many to be booked a year or more in advance. The very best ones are likely to be booked one and a half to two years in advance, so unless you are okay with picking through everyone else's left overs, start sourcing out caterers as soon as possible. Try to place your booking as early as you can once you've set a firm date and have booked the ceremony site. If your wedding is less than 9 - 12 months away, you need to find a caterer NOW! Keep in mind that it will take some time to properly evaluate potential caterers before you decide on the one which is right for you. This includes meeting with them, reviewing their menus and examining their pricing schedules, checking references of previous clients, and arranging 'taste tests'. Taste testing is very important. You wouldn't buy a car without first test driving it, would you? By the same logic, you should never book a caterer unless you've actually sampled their food to ensure that it is to your liking in terms of quality, visual presentation, and flavor. Notice that I mentioned visual presentation... This is very important. More than just tasting good, the food you serve at your wedding reception should be beautiful to look at. Take note of how the caterer presents the food on the plate. What types of garshishes or special touches are added? What kind of dishware is the food served on? Ideally the food should have an almost "artistic" quality to it. Generally, the better the caterer, the prettier the food will be to look at.
Absolutely. This is extremely common, and in fact, in many cases it is preferable because cake decorating goes well beyond food preparation. In many ways, it is truly an art-form entirely of its own. Many caterers do a fine job with very basic wedding cake designs, but may have trouble fulfilling the brides expectations when it comes to something a little more expressive, creative, or elaborate. Cake decorating and catering are really two separate areas of expertise, so if you are quite particular about how your wedding cake will look, don't hesitate to tackle this as two separate services. If your caterer happens to be an exceptoinal cake decorator, in addition to offering the best food, value, and service where the actual catering is concerned, that's a fabulous -- feel free to use him for both. But, it may not always work that way, so don't hesitate to consider having the cake done by another professional who specializes in cake decorating as his or her main business. Another important thing to keep in mind when selecting a cake decorator is that there are many different styles of decorating, and many decorators specialize in a particular style. If the cake design you have chosen for example, features a lot of rolled fondant to achieve its look, make sure the decorator you choose does a lot of work with this particular style of decorating. If the cake you have chosen is highly contemporary in design, you'll probably want to avoid a decorator whose portfolio feautures mostly very traditional examples. Different decorators have their own areas of speciality, so make sure you choose the right person for the job! All cake decorators are not necessarily created equal! -Making your own cake - any pros or cons? This is something I generally urge brides to stay away from - unless you happen to be experienced with making wedding cakes. There are many different factors which make this considerably more complicated than it may look. You could be in for a great deal of stress if you tackle this and it all goes wrong. As an example, if the cake is to be tiered, it will need to be of a very specific consistancy in order to carry the weight of the upper tiers, fondant or icing, cake topper, and other decorative embellishments. If the consistancy is not correct, the cake is likely to collapse, resulting in yet another 'wedding day disaster' story. The individual layers of wedding cakes also tend to be considerably larger than the average cake you are accustomed to baking, so professional bakers and cake designers must use special techniques to ensure that the cake bakes very evenly throughout. If you are not knoweldgable or experienced in this area, you may end up with a cake which is burnt or over-baked on the top and the edges, while the batter in the center remains completely uncooked. Then there is the matter of transporting the cake so that it does not become damaged in transit - somthing which becomes quite complicated if the cake is elaborately decorated or tiered. Remember, regardless of the style of cake you choose, the wedding cake is traditionally a strong focal point at any wedding. It's not worth experimenting with something so important when it could potentially lead to a very stressful and unhappy situation on a day which should be one of the biggest and happiest of your life. Of course, for the bride who is on a tight budget and really needs to tackle this on her own, there are always creative options. Although making your own cake is not advised if it entails baking large sections, or if it involves complex assembly, you do have an interesting alternative. You could consider baking numerous smaller, standard sized cakes to avoid these problems. At the reception, one cake can be placed in the center of every guest table, thereby doing 'double-duty' as table centerpieces. This allows you to stretch your budget even farther, because it eliminates the need to purchase additional centerpieces. This idea of individual wedding cakes doubling as centerpieces is, in fact, a hot trend right now - not just for the bride on a budget. Soap opera star Marcie Walker, of All My Children, used this very idea at her wedding. The bride and groom nibbled on their own little wedding cake - the bride's favorite: frosted carrot cake served with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Meanwhile, each guest table featured it's own individual wedding cake, also used as the centerpiece, for guests to enjoy. Taking the creativity even farther, the cakes also served as table markers -- on each cake, the table number was written in icing! Another wonderful idea for the do-it-yourself bride is the 'cupcake wedding cake', also known as a 'cupcake tree'. This is a creative alternative to the traditional wedding cake, and can also help cut the costs substantially. For the bride who craves unique ideas, or who has a strict budget to abide by, this could be just the ticket. Prettily decorated cupcakes are packed onto a three-tiered serving tray. A few silk or fresh flowers can be placed between cupcakes, if desired, for decorative enhancement. When the arrangement is complete, it very much takes on the look of a 3-tiered wedding cake. Once again, this is a fabulous way to delight your guests with something a little different, while saving money and having the satisfaction of being a 'do-it-yourselfer'. |
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-How do you decide what kind of cake is best? (Tastes, size, look etc.) Are some more popular than others? When it comes to appearance, the couple should choose a cake which expresses their personal style and reflects or enhances their wedding theme. Once again, the best way to do this is to look at lots and lots of photos of cakes. You'll find them in bridal magazines, in the portfolios or photos albums of cake decorators in your local area, or in online wedding guides like SuperWeddings.com. There are also oodles of books, available in most libraries and bookstores, which are devoted to the subject of wedding cakes and are loaded with pictures. Once you start looking at photos, you'll begin to develop a clear idea of what you like, and it will be much easier to make a decision. The cake you choose should also be influenced by how traditional you want your wedding to be. The very most traditional wedding cake is the three tiered style, and always in white. Flowers and other decorative embellishments on a highly traditional cake would have very little color to them. Stick with very soft, muted tones. The more color you add to a cake, the less traditional it becomes. The size of your wedding cake will depend a great deal on the formality of your wedding, and the size of your guest list. Highly formal weddings tend to have very large cakes, while more informal weddings lend themselves to much less elaborate, smaller cakes. And of course, the size of your cake will also greatly depend on the number of mouths you'll need to feed! Obviously, the larger the wedding, the more cake you'll require. -What about flavors? Today's bride is very fortunate in that she has a limitless selection of flavors to choose from for her wedding cake. She can truly pick her favorite flavor! Some brides have such difficulty deciding between all the delicious choices that they opt for a cake with 2 or 3 flavors - a different flavor on every layer. For example, you might want to try chocolate one the first tier, raspberry on the second, and lemon poppyseed on the top! Many wedding cake designers and bakers will also add a filling to the cake in order to further enhance it's flavour - an absolutely scrumptious idea! Once again, you have a world of possibilities to choose from when it comes to selecting a filling flavor.
For fillings, some tantalizing possibilities include chocolate, raspberry, marshmallow, lemon, lemon-orange, lemon jelly, lemon cream, Whipped Frosting, cream cheese, banana, strawberry, vanilla, fluffy white filling, mocha, mocha cream, Pecan, butter pecan, Butterscotch, Almond Custard, Buttercream, Apricot, Kaluha, Bavaarian Cream, Raspberry White Chocolate Mousse, Amaretto, Cookies n Cream, Champagne Mousse, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Buttercream, Marshmallow-Coconut, caramel, Choclolate-Raspberry, Coconut, Coconut-Pecan, or Fruit Filling. -What about cost? The more elaborate the cake in terms of decorative icing and fondant, the more expensive it is going to be. If you are on a tight budget, one way to cut your cost is to opt for a very simply decorated cake which can then be embellished quite beautifully with a few fresh or silk flowers. Of course, the size of the cake will also affect the cost. The larger it is, the more you will pay. There are a couple of tricks you can use if cost is a factor. For starters, you can rent an 'ornamental' wedding cake from a wedding supply store or rental shop. Ornamental cakes look entirely real. In fact, they are decoarted with real icing and gum paste flowers. The only way to tell the difference between an ornamental cake and the real thing is to bite into it - they are constructed of styrofoam underneath all that icing! A large 'slab' cake, in your favorite flavor, can be purchased to serve to guests. Because slab cakes are not elaborately decorated, they are much, much less expensive than tiered wedding cakes. If you don't like the option of an ornamental cake, another option is to have a tiered cake made, but keep it small in size so that costs are kept to a minimum. Then, once again, have a slab cake made, in the same flavor, so that you will have enough cake to serve to all of your guests. If you are having a real cake, you should also expect to pay a 'cake cutting fee'. This is a fee your caterer will charge to properly disassemble the cake, and cut it for serving. Cake cutting fees can vary from one caterer to another, but are generally charged per piece, so if you are having 300 guests, you'll need to multiple the cake cutting fee by 300. When shopping around for a caterer, always ask if there is a cake cutting fee, and how much it is so that you can do your price comparisons accurately. Once again, if you are on a budget, there is an alternative - ask a family member of friend to cut the cake for you in order to save on the caterer's cake cutting fee. -What is a groom's cake? Traditionally, these are single layer, dark fruit cakes -- similar to the christmas cake nobody likes to eat! It's customary to send guests home with small pieces of groom's cake in little individual boxes. In recent years, we've seen a fading out of the fruit cake - probably a good thing since few people actually seem to enjoy it! The most popular flavor for grooms cake now has become chocolate, however it can be any flavor. It's also common to have the groom's cake done in the groom's favorite flavor. Frequently the groom's cake is made in a shape or design which reflects the interests, hobbies or personality of the groom - or even his professon. For example, a football, a sportscar, a computer, golf ball, fireman's hat... etc. A lot of grooms pick out their own groom's cakes, so be sure not to deprive your guy of his fun if he wants to do this! |
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-When is it presented? Sometimes it is served at the reception along with the wedding cake, while other couples choose to serve it the night before the wedding at the rehearsal dinner. But more often than not the old tradition continues ,and it is packed into those cute little cake boxes, often with the couple's names and wedding date engraved or printed on the boxes, for guests to take home with them. This tradition symbolizes the sharing of the sweetness of married life. Legend says that if unmarried female guests place a piece of grooms cake beneath their pillows when they return home from the reception, they will dream of the man they will marry. I used to do this eagerly after every wedding I attended when I was a little girl, and it never worked! But I did marry a wonderful man nontheless! Some couples save some of the groom's cake in the freezer, along with the top tier of the wedding cake, to be shared together on their 1st anniversary. -Do you have to have a grooms cake? Ultimately, it is not absolutely necessary to have a grooms cake if you prefer not to bother. Its doubtful anyone will miss it if you decide against it. -Do you have any tips on saving the cake? When you place the order for your cake, be sure to ask the baker or cake decorator to include a bakery box for the top layer of the cake so that it can be stored and transported safely after the cake is cut. Instruct the person who will be cutting your cake to place the top tier in this box and refridgerate it immediately upon disassembling the cake. This will ensure that the cake and icing remain firm and that they hold their shape. After the reception, when the cake is taken home, it should remain in it's box and be put directly into the freezer for 1 - 2 days so that it can harden sufficiently. After it has hardened, you'll need to remove it once again from the freezer so that it can be wrapped and prepared for 12 months of storage in the freezer. It's really important to do this properly or the cake will become freezer-burnt and will be terribly unappealing. Here's what to do: Remove the cake from it's box and tightly wrap it with a couple of layers of plastic cling wrap. Then you are going to wrap it again - this time with aluminim foil. Once you've done that, it's time for one more tight layer of cling wrap. Now place the wrapped cake back into it's box, and put the box into a plastic bag - preferably an airtight zip-lock type. Seal the bag well, label it, and place in the freezer until your 1st anniversay rolls around. -What about creative cake designs? One my favorite creative cake designs is that which looks like a festive stack of gift boxes, complete with a big bow fashioned out of fondant at the top, with long fondant ribbons, trailing down the sides. I recently also saw a cake which was sculpted into the shape of a swan. It was truly amazing, very realistic looking - an absolute work of art. There are so many unique and expressive ideas out there - they are really limited only by the imaginations of today's brides and talented cake designers. Cakes provide a perfect opportunity to help bring out a theme for a wedding. The cake is one of those areas where the couple really has the opportunity to express their own style, or inject their own personailty into the wedding. It's one of those very visible details which has the ability to truly differentiate your wedding from every other wedding your guests have attended in the past. |
Part 3 of 3 - Topic: Flowers & Centerpieces
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I take a very open approach when either planning the florals for a wedding, or when doing the actual design work. Therefore I don't set rigid 'rules'. Flowers are a wonderful means of self-expression, and as such, I believe the bride should use whatever flowers which speak to her in some way. There are no flowers which should never be used. I will say, however, that there is one important rule when it comes to using "permanent botanicals" - more commonly known as silk flowers. Always, always, always, ensure that you are using a good quality silk flower. Go through great pains, if you must, to find flowers which are as realistic as possible in appearance. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using silks for your wedding - in fact, there are many benefits in doing so - but the flowers MUST look highly realistic. Your guests should not be able to tell that the flowers are not real, simply by looking at them. There is tremendous selection available in silks, so there should never be a problem in finding very realistic looking ones. -Any other ideas for flowers and weddings? Any other interesting uses for flowers? Creative floral designers today are using flowers in unexpected and imaginative places for a refreshing element of surprise. We're seeing bridesmaids carrying small handbags which are literally covered with tiny blooms. Just picture a procession of bridesmaids coming down the aisle carrying floral covered drawstring purses in front of them for a delightful change. We're seeing small blooms clipped to the front of shoes for the bride and bridesmaids as decorative embellishments to catch the eye. Or imagine satin bridal shoes, COMPELTELY covered in small, dainty blooms. At one wedding recently, the groom's vest was completely covered with tiny blooms matching some of those in the bride's bouquet. As a creative twist for ceremony decoration, and a wonderful show of attention to detail, consider decorating a music stand for the soloist or other musicians with trailing ivy and roses, or other blooms. Some brides like to have the aisle at the ceremony site literally COVERED with an abundance of rose petals of white, red, or pink for a very lush look. At the reception, flowers can be suspended from the ceiling, creating an atmosphere of utter lavishness and luxury. Another lovely idea is to adorn the backs of the chairs at the reception with small swags or garlands of flowers. Garlands of flowers can also be draped along, or around, the head table and/or guest tables. A particularly fun idea is to have small silk flowers fastened in a scattered pattern all over your table linens, including the part which drapes over the sides of the table. This is absolutely delightful for a garden wedding, or any spring or summer wedding. Rose petals add elegance and a sense of luxury when scattered over reception tables. Flowers also make wonderful embellishments for wedding accessories. They can be added to champagne glasses, the cake cutting knife and server, or the ring pillow. Instead of purchasing a figurine for a cake topper, a small arrangement of fresh or silk flowers can be placed on the top of the wedding cake. Fresh or silk flowers can be used to adorn the entire wedding cake itself, instead of flowers made of fondant or sugar-paste. A garland of fresh or silk flowers winding its way down the cake, from the top tier to the base of the cake, is also a beautiful idea. For an extra-special elegant touch which shows meticulous attention to detail, I also like to have small vases of flowers in the ladies powder room at the reception.
Another lovely idea is to present each guest with either a small boutonniere or corsage as they enter the reception, as a show of appreciation for having them in attendance - this makes EVERY guest feel like a very special guest of honor! This little gesture will have you remembered for your graciousness for a long time to come. Along similar lines, it can be lovely to place a long stemmed rose at each place setting at your reception tables for your guests to take home at the end of the evening. As an added bonus, the roses will add color and glamour to your table setting. In truth, the use of flowers is limited only by one's own imagination. The ideas go on and on. As I mentioned a moment ago, I like to find ways of using flowers to create an element of surprise. This is a wonderful way to grab your guest's attention and get them saying 'Wow!'. It's a way to create a more distinctive wedding - the type that remains as an indelible imprint in the memories of your guests. Always keep in mind that it is the DETAILS that truly make the difference between a wedding which is ordinary, and one which is EXTRAORDINARY. -Tips and tricks pertaining to wedding flowers?
If you are striving for a wedding which is highly traditional, the most traditional bouquet for the bride is one which is all white, off white, or cream colored. A bridal bouquet "layered" with different shades of white is what has been popular throughout the centuries. Keep in mind that the style of bouquet you choose should be influenced by a number of different factors. You'll need to ensure that the bouquet matches the level of formality of the wedding, that it is a suitable match for the style of gown you will wear, and that it is compatible with your figure type. For example, a small handtied bouquet of daisies would be inappropriate at a very formal wedding; a cascading bouquet would be more suitable. For a gown which is extremely detailed and rich in embellishments, don't select a bouquet which is very elaborate - you don't want the bouquet and the gown to enter into competition with one another. If you have a large figure-type, choose a bouquet which has some fullness and size to it; stay away from dainty or smaller bouquets so that your flowers don't appear 'out of scale' for your body type. Consider having a 'throw-away' bouquet incorporated into the design of your bridal bouquet, as an easily detachable unit. When it comes time for the bouquet toss, you simply detach the throw-away component in front of your guests, and toss this removable piece. This is most easily incorporated into the cascade style of bouquet. One wonderful way of achieving a more meaningful and memorable wedding ceremony is to create a floral presentation for the mothers. Most brides adore this idea. The florist will need to incorporate two individual detachable roses into the bridal bouquet design. After the bride's father has escorted her up the aisle, she will turn to face him. Holding her bouquet in front of her, so that the congregation is able to see what she is doing from a side profile, she will pluck one of the roses from her bouquet, then hand it to her father and give him a kiss. He then walks to his seat next to the bride's mother, where he hands the rose to her. At the end of the ceremony, when the bride and groom head back up the aisle, they stop briefly at the pew where the groom's mother is seated. The bride then removes the other detachable rose from her bouquet which she now hands to the groom's mother with a kiss on the cheek, before continuing with the groom up the aisle. Such special rituals are extremely touching and often bring tears to the eyes of everyone present, but particularly the mothers! -Little known facts about flowers? Calla lilies are very popular for weddings, but brides often don't know that callas release an oozing, gooey liquid from their cut stems. For this reason, the tips of the stems of calla lilies should always be well wrapped to prevent a gooey mess on your wedding dress. Flowers have a language all of their own. Since the Victorian times, flowers have been used to communicate special meanings. You can make your bouquet extra special by selecting your flowers based upon the meanings they bring with them - just ask your florist for a list defining the meanings of flowers so that you can make meaningful selections. The very first wedding bouquets emerged in medieval times. They were little bunches of pungent smelling herbs which were carried because it was believed their odor would scare away evils spirits who might attempt to ruin the wedding day. As time progressed people became less superstitious, however, the tradition of carrying a bouquet nonetheless endured, with the odiferous herbs eventually being replaced with much more pleasant smelling flowers. Ivy is so very popular for wedding bouquets because it is a symbol of fidelity. Because of this important symbolism, every bride should ensure that her bouquet includes at least a little bit of ivy! Brides should be careful not to take color coordination too far. Some brides want to carry one color theme through all elements of the wedding, so, for example, they put their bridesmaids in red dresses, and then give them red bouquets to carry. Bad idea. You'll never be able to find the flowers in the wedding photographs! For a much more striking and impressive visual effect, create some contrast between the flowers and the attendants attire. -Should the bouquets be kept as keepsakes? If so, how? Bouquets make very special keepsakes, and I definitely encourage brides to consider having their bouquet preserved in some manner. There are companies which offer bouquet preservation services. Often times this entails shipping your bouquet to the company immediately following the wedding so that they can work their magic for you. With some of these services, the bouquet is taken apart, the flowers are freeze-dried, and then the bouquet is once again reconstructed into its original form. In other cases, after the bouquet is taken apart, the flowers are pressed, and then arranged into an artistic picture which is placed into a window box to be displayed on the wall of your home. These services are generally not inexpensive. -Aproximate costs? You are typically looking at a cost of $80 to well in excess of $100 for the preservation. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you may be able to take advantage of your own creativity to turn your bouquet into a lasting keepsake. Particularly if you are opting for a hand-tied style of bouquet, you might want to try hanging the bouquet upside down in a dry place until each flower has completely dried. Then gently spray the arrangement with hairspray or spray shellac. The bouquet can be displayed under a glass dome, or behind the glass in a china cabinet where it will be protected from dust and damage. It should be kept away from humidity and direct sunlight. If you will be attempting to do your own bouquet preservation, however, keep in mind that some flowers, such as lilies, for instance, do not dry well with this system. Do-it-yourslefers will likely have most success if the bouquet consists mainly of roses - these dry with little complication. Of course, one of the benefits of opting for silk flowers is their lasting effect - there is no need for preservation. -How do you incorporate florals when arranging centerpieces? Do they or must they match the bouquets?
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-What are some examples of creative ideas of floral centerpieces that have worked for you in the past? At an afternoon garden wedding reception, the style was essentially that of a charming afternoon tea. For the centerpieces, I used tall, pretty tea pots filled with roses and baby's breath. To expand the look, and really make the table come to life, I placed a matching tea cup and saucer at each place setting on the round reception tables. Each tea cup contained a smaller arrangement of roses and babies breath, adding additional color, detail, and elegance to the tables. At the end of the reception, each guest got to take home the tea cup arrangement from their place setting as a lovely keepsake from the wedding. Because the bride wanted something just a little out of the ordinary at another garden themed wedding, I used small ornate antique-look birdcages and filled them with twigs roses, and trailing ivy which made its way out between the spokes of the cage and cascaded onto the table. Small votive cups containing candles were arranged around the birdcage, adding warmth to the arrangement and the tables.
This can be handled in a number of ways. They can be given away to special helpers or honored guests after the reception. Alternatively, you can get creative and come up with a fun, randomn way to award them to one lucky guests from each table. For example, using tape, attach a penny to the bottom of one chair at every reception table. After the meal, announce that the person at each table who finds a penny on the bottom of their chair can take home the centerpiece at the end of the evening, as a keepsake from the wedding. An idea like this obviously works best when you aren’t using assigned seating! -What else, besides flowers and food, can you do in order to create centerpiece magic?
Centerpieces are obviously a major focal point at the reception so
they should be carefully and thoughtfully chosen to complement,
enhance, or actually develop the theme or mood for the wedding. -Do you have any centerpiece tips and tricks, or little known facts? What about saving as keepsakes?
Tall centerpieces are best suited for rooms with tall ceilings and can make such a room feel more intimate by creating a lower 'visual ceiling'. Low centerpieces are best in a room with a low ceiling, and help to create an atmosphere of intimacy at your reception tables. Tall centerpieces do create greater overall visual impact in a room because they are more noticeable from a distance. Sometimes the color used in the existing interior decor at a reception site may be less than pleasing to the bride. Choosing a neutral color scheme for the reception flowers will help detract from that by making the existing color in the reception room seem less noticeable. Keep the colors in the arrangements as monochromatic as possible. For example, an arrangement in peach, ivory, and blush pink would work well. The more striking the arrangement in terms of design, the more successfully it will help the existing color in the room to recede. Striking arrangements can be created by using a combination of small and large blossoms together and by incorporating as much use of texture as you can. Texture is created by including interesting greenery, twigs and even branches. Ornamental fruit can be used to add visual interest to the display. Try golden pears, red apples, oranges, or red, purple, bronze or golden grapes. |
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-Aproximate costs for centerpieces?
This varies so drastically according to the size and style of the
centerpiece, and the materials used to create it. It's very difficult
to answer this question in such broad terms since there are so many
possibilities. Very simple centerpieces can cost as little as a few
dollars, while those which are very elaborate can reach into the $100
- $200 range... yes, each! I deal with brides all across the US and
Canada, and in ALL budget categories - from the do-it-yourself bride
on a budget, to the bride planning a high end, upscale event. I'd
have to say that the average bride, who's budget is somewhat middle
of the road is spending $25 - $45 on her centerpieces. Again,
that’s an average figure, and it's not to say that you can't
spend less and still have gorgeous centerpieces. Nor is it a
guarantee that you will find something that suits your tastes within
that range. |
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This
depends on the reception site that you choose. Some reception sites
don't give you an option, and therefore, yes, you must. However,
there are many sites which give you a choice of either using their
caterering service, or bringing in a caterer from the outside. This
is a question you should always ask when evaluating reception venues.
If you are given the option, take a look at the menu, the pricing,
and do your taste-testing to determine whether the catering will meet
with your approval. When taste testing, ideally the food should be
presented in the same manner as it would be served to your guests,
complete with garnishes so that you can also evaluate the food presentation.
Visual presentation is just as important as food quality, flavor,
service, and price when selecting a caterer. The food should look beautiful!
Is
there a minimum or maximum number of guests that the caterer will
serve? How many serving personnel will they provide, and what is
their ratio of serving personnel to guests? How will serving
personnel be attired? Which will cost more - a sit down dinner or
buffet? The answer to this question tends to vary from one caterer to
another. Do they provide bar service, and is it a separate charge? If
so, how much? What else is included in the price? Table linens?
Candles? Dishware? Anything else? Is there a cake cutting fee? Are
gratuities included in the cost, or will they extra? How much is the
gratuity? What is the cancellation policy? Up until what point will
your deposit be returned in full? Do they have liabilty insurance?
Does this include liquor liabilty? If tables, chairs, a tent, or
other equipment will be needed, are these provided? Is there an extra
charge? Who handles clean up? Who is the person who will be in charge
on your wedding day? Is it the person you are dealing with, or
someone else? Is there a fee for pouring coffee? When is the final
guest count required? Can you see the contract? Can you sample the
food? Do they have photos you can view of weddings they have catered?
Examine the photos to see how the tables were appointed, how the food
was visually presented, and so on. Can they provide you with three
references from within the last 6 months?
-With
respect to wedding cakes: How soon should you start looking for a cake/caterer?
-Is
it ok to have the cake done by a different caterer then the one
doing the main course?
If
you need some delicious ideas for the flavor of your wedding cake,
I'm happy to share my list of favorite flavors - from the ordinary to
the extraordinary: Chocolate, Vanilla, White Cake, Carrot,
Chocolate Raspberry, Choclolate Mint, Chocolate Spice, Mocha,
Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Orange, Orange-Pineapple, Lime, Marble,
Blackberry Jam, Butterscotch, Poppyseed, Lemon Poppyseed, Banana,
Spice, Butter Pecan, Yellow Cake, Coconut, Peach, Raspberry Almond,
Red Velvet, Pumpkin, Black Forest, Rum, Butterscotch-Rum, Champagne,
Peanut Butter, Kaluha Fudge, Irish Cream, Apple Cinamon, Pina Colada,
Amaretto, White Chocolate and Amaretto Raspberry Amaretto, Apricot
Brandy Cake, White Chocolate Cake, Swiss White Chocolate, Neopolitan, Chocolate-Chocolate
Chip., Vanilla-Chocloate Chip, Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip, Italian
Cream, Cheese Cake, Spiced Banana.
-Which
flowers should you NEVER use, if any?
Also,
don’t overlook the possibility of incorporating edible
flowers into your wedding reception - nothing could be more elegant,
and it shows marvelous attention to detail. Talk with your caterer
about having the dinner plates garnished with flowers such as
pansies, violets, gladiolus, marigolds, chrysanthemums, nasturtium,
or even mini roses or rose petals. Top desserts with edible flowers
which have been dusted with super-fine sugar which gives the flowers
a sparkling, glittering effect. These can also be used to adorn the
wedding cake if you wish. Edible flowers can be floated in punch or
frozen into ice cubes used in punch. Another fabulous idea is to
create 'ice buckets', with pretty little flowers frozen into them,
which can be placed on each table to hold the wine or champagne.
These ice buckets are essentially a large block of ice with an
indentation large enough to insert a wine bottle in the center. It is
set onto a pretty platter to catch the drips as the ice slowly melts.
These look lovely when candles are lit nearby, lighting up the ice to
show off the flowers within, and creating a glimmering reflection in
the ice. Talk to you caterer about having these made for your
reception tables. One note of caution however, when adding flowers to
foods - always make sure that the flower is edible, not all
flowers are! You will also want to only select flowers which are
organically grown - free of chemicals or pesticides. Your caterer
should be connected with the appropriate suppliers of safe, edible flowers.
Show
your bridesmaids how much they mean to you through the design of the
bridesmaid bouquets. Have each bouquet individualized for each
bridesmaid by giving each a slightly different bouquet which
incorporates a special meaning for her through the language of
flowers. Don’t forget to add a note that tells them the meaning
of each flower.
Table
centerpieces don't need to match the bouquets, however,
traditionally they should incorporate the same colors as those in the
bouquets. This helps to tie the entire look together so that every
detail relates to the next, and nothing looks like it doesn't belong.
You dont necessarily have to use the same TYPES of flowers in the
centerpieces as those which are featured in the bouquet - although
this is certainly an option - but you should try to stay with the
same colors to maintain a unified look. It's also very important that
the reception flowers look related to the flowers used at the
ceremony site. When the ceremony and reception are held at two
different locations, flowers serve as the 'bridge' between them,
visually linking the two events as one.
Another
lovely idea is to simply take a large clear bowl and stuff fresh
blooms and greenery down into the bottom. Fill the bowl with water,
and float a few more blooms, combined with floating candles, on the
surface of the water. It's a simple enough idea for the
do-it-yourself bride to put together for herself if required, but it
packs some wonderful visual impact! We've got examples and
photographs of this in our 
There
are endless ideas, but this is very dependant on the particular
theme or style of the wedding. In general terms, so much is being
done right now with candles. Floating candles, clusters of pillar
candles, clusters of votive candles... A trip through a candle
specialty shop is all it takes to come up with oodles and oodles of
ideas! Balloons are also very popular, and are very cost effective as
compared to florals. It can cost a small fortune to achieve a
dramatic look with soaring floral centerpieces which feature a lot of
fullness. But this can easily be done at a fraction of the cost with
balloons. We've got some great photos which demonstrate how balloons
can be used for centerpieces in the decorating section on
SuperWeddings.com. A talented balloon decorating specialist can
create remarkably elegant and lavish looking arrangements, so its
worth taking the time to meet with one to discuss what they can do
for your wedding.
When
selecting centerpieces, pay careful attention to height. Remember
that you don't want to impede the abilty of your guests to converse
by blocking their view across the table. Make sure that centerpieces
are low enough for your guests to see over, or tall enough to see
under - without having to adjust their position.