wilton wedding cakes

Wilton wedding cakes are a top choice for brides across the country. The Wilton name and brand is synonymous with excellence in the baking industry, especially when it comes to cake decorating. Whether you find someone who attended the school or take classes to learn the Wilton Method yourself, you can use their wedding cake designs for your wedding dessert.

wilton wedding cakes

The Wilton School has been teaching students how to create fabulous cakes and confections since it began in 1929. The Wilton Method, developed by Dewey McKinley Wilton, focuses on teaching decorators the basics and building upon those fundamentals.

Cake decorators can take classes and workshops at the school itself in Chicago. When calling local bakeries to learn their wedding cake ideas, ask if the decorator has been schooled in the Wilton Method to ensure you get a cake that lives up to your expectations.

wilton wedding cakes

Couples who are trying to find some wedding money saving ideas may consider making the cake themselves. Luckily, local Wilton courses are available across the United States and Canada. Bakeries, craft stores and baking supply stores often have Wilton trained instructors available to teach their three decorating courses, gum paste and fondant course and special projects courses.

wilton wedding cakes

Taking a class does involve an investment of both time and money. You will need to pay for the class itself plus materials, such as decorator’s tips and bags. However, the skills learned will serve you long after the last crumb of cake is eaten. Taking a few classes to learn how to make a single tier wedding cake may end up being more valuable than hiring even the best vendor.

wilton wedding cakes

wilton wedding cakes

peyton manning's wedding

When it comes to weddings, the focus is usually on the bride. Everyone thinks of it as her special day, that event she’s been looking forward to since she was a child and the time when she’ll be the center of attention as she embarks on a new life. But what about the groom? It’s his day too, and one that he should plan just as carefully as the bride. Ideally it will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for both bride and groom, so they should share the planning and the enjoyment of that magical day equally!

peyton manning's wedding

peyton manning's wedding

american wedding bachelor party

A bachelor party (United States, South Africa)—also known as a stag party, stag night, or stag do (UK, Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand); bull's party (South Africa); or buck's party or buck's night (Australia)—is a party held for a bachelor shortly before he enters marriage, to make the most of his final opportunity to engage in activities a new partner might not approve of, or merely to spend time with his friends (who are often in his wedding party afterwards).

american wedding bachelor party

The history of bachelor party is thought to have originated with a bachelor dinner that was traditional in ancient Sparta (5th century BC) where soldiers would toast each other on the eve of a friend’s wedding.

A bachelor party may involve activities beyond the usual party and social gathering ingredients (often drinking alcohol and gambling), such as going to a strip club or hiring a stripper, and in some traditions more hazing-like tests and pranks at the future groom's expense, which shows the whole thing is also a rite of passage from bachelorhood (associated with an adolescent lifestyle, often in the common past of most participants, e.g. in their student years) to "more responsible" marital life.

The task of organizing a bachelor party is often traditionally assigned to a male sibling of the bachelor or to the best man. Otherwise, any (close and/or reputedly party-minded) male friend will organize it. The planned activities of a bachelor party are traditionally kept secret from the groom.

In the United States, Las Vegas, South Beach Miami, Chicago, and New Orleans are popular bachelor party destinations; they are also popular wedding locations. Increasingly, "destination bachelor parties" are replacing standard nights out, with Americans traveling to Montreal or Mexico.

american wedding bachelor party

Bachelor parties in the US often entail the mass consumption of alcohol, the hiring of a stripper and general rowdiness toward which the bride might not have a positive reaction (especially since women are not supposed to be among the invitees.) Increasingly, bachelor parties have come to symbolize the last time when the groom is truly "free" and without the influence of his new wife.

american wedding bachelor party

american wedding bachelor party

silk wedding flowers

For as long as anyone can remember flowers have been a timeless tradition at wedding ceremonies across the world. Perhaps more than at any other time in one's life, do the love and friendship the flower symbolizes seem more relevant. Their soft petals and beautiful colors add beauty and elegance to an already perfect day.

silk wedding flowers

That is...unless your chosen style or color isn't in season. Or they may just not be in stock. You may also have to add in the extra cost of shipping the flowers you want, having your florist working over time to get all one zillion of your arrangements done within two days of the ceremony to be sure the flowers don't fall apart of wilt or both before your big day. If it sounds like a hassle, that's because it's a hassle. Fresh flowers aren't cheap, portable, or made to last.

silk wedding flowers

Luckily, artificial flowers are now more beautiful and natural looking than ever. They are becoming widely used in wedding ceremonies for a variety of reasons.

When using silk flowers for you ceremony keep a few things in mind before you make your selection. With all the options in flower combinations you'll want to be sure of each one's meaning in combination with the others. Your florist may be able to help you, or you can check out a book on the topic. When shopping, you may also want to bring along a real flower to hold up to the one you are considering to be sure that it looks authentic.

You truly can get all the beauty of fresh flowers at your wedding without the trouble or expense. Quality silk wedding flower arrangements will perfectly compliment your special day, and many days to come.

silk wedding flowers

fondant wedding cake

Fondant cake ideas are numerous and ultimately gorgeous! A fondant wedding cake is often decorated with flowers, leaves, bows, pearls, and other objects formed from either rolled fondant or sugar paste (same as gum paste), a fondant-like mixture. Most fondant wedding cakes are white, but fondant can be tinted to any color, or brushed or sprayed with edible luster or sparkle dust (these can be ordered online). It's also possible to paint on fondant cake decoration using an artist's brush and food-grade dyes.

fondant wedding cake

Tiered fondant wedding cakes made to mimic stacks of wedding gifts are a perfect example of a creative fondant cake idea and how fondant cake decorating can create an illusion. These are so smooth it's hard to tell them from the real thing, and the added details really stand out.

A fondant wedding cake is a perfect choice for a theme wedding. For example, fondant can be made to mimic tooled leather for a western themed wedding. Cut-outs can be created in any shape, and painted any color. A nautical or beach cake might feature frolicking dolphins, seahorses, or tropical fish. A cake for an Irish or Scottish wedding could be circled with Celtic knots. Or how about a winter cake adorned with glistening snowflakes? Using fondant, it would even be possible to reproduce the red silk brocade of a Chinese wedding gown.

Fondant cake decorating is the right choice for cakes made to mimic objects because the details can be worked to look real. This would be particularly handy for a groom's cake, which is typically less serious than the wedding cake and usually designed to reflect his career or favorite pastime.

For something different, have your baker cut individual squares of cake and ice them with fondant. Ribbons sculpted from white chocolate tinted pink and flavored with raspberry extract (also available online) could be added. Stacked together, the cakes would be a conversation piece, and you'd avoid the problem of messy cutting.

If your reception will be held in hot weather, fondant icing is a good choice. Never refrigerate a fondant-covered cake. Store it at cool room temperature for up to three days. Fondant-covered cake does not freeze well. The icing can crack apart or become soggy. If you plan to save your top tier for a later date, you may want to remove the fondant icing first.

Fondant cake ideas awaken the imagination. Fondant cake decorating will cost a bit more than the alternatives, but the design possibilities it will open up for your fondant wedding cake far outweigh any extra expense.

wedding cake

fondant wedding cake

wedding photography tips

Wedding Photo Tips for Amateurs - One Shot

This is it! You get one chance and one chance alone at this, the couple have probably prepared for over a year for "The happiest day of their life" . Weddings cost money and your time and photography skills are no exception, they are paying for a professional wedding photographer and that is what they should get.

Now don't get me wrong, you don't have to produce award-winning wedding photography every step of the way, like you see in magazines or in the portfolios of some of the greatest wedding photographers! By professional I mean courteous, polite, ON TIME , efficient and happy. Remember, this is a happy day for everyone.

You should consider taking out indemnity insurance against any eventuality that may arise, the couple are quite within their rights to sue if things go wrong.

Wedding Photo Tips for Amateurs - Reliable or Liable?

wedding photography tips

When the wedding couple asked you to photograph their wedding (even if it is just friends) they put their trust in you 100% . They will have enough to think about on the day and trust me, the photographer is furthest from their mind. Your photos will hopefully adorn their coffee table for a long, long time as something for them (and you) to be proud of.

But it's not just the couple. I have on more than one occasion, had to put a wedding photography album, or DVD together for both sets of parents too, and even some guests. Of course, nowadays many people take cameras to weddings, but it is you that is ultimately responsible for recording the event, and you are getting paid for it usually.

Wedding Photo Tips for Amateurs - Are you ready?

How can I say this without sounding like an old school book? "Prior preparation prevents poor performance"! Oh well, I can't, but it does make sense, especially with wedding photography.

If you haven't bothered to meet most of the wedding party, done a practice run, visited the church and reception or found some nice, suitable areas for the "special" shots, then you are not ready. How embarrassing would it be to get the couples names wrong, or turn up late because you got lost? Your number one priority other than taking the photos, is to prepare for the day.

As I said before, the couple have probably prepared for a long time so the least you can do is the same. See the checklist at the middle of this page. You would do well to print it off for reference too.

Remember, the list is just a general guide for you to plan your day. Most weddings are shot "reportage" style these days and this list is now quite dated.

Wedding Photo Tips for Amateurs - You DO have a camera?

I read a lot of the photography forums on the web and one question about wedding photography that always crops up is "What equipment will I need?". If you are asking that question, you are still a way off from being ready to photograph a wedding. Many people reply by saying it's not the equipment but the photographer that makes the images! Whereas I agree with this to an extent, it doesn't mean you can turn up to a wedding with a digital compact camera and a step ladder.

The minimum quality I would use is a 35mm SLR film camera or an 8 mega pixel Digital SLR, both of these are capable of producing up to A1 prints.

A selection of lenses ranging from ultra wide angle to medium telephoto for a start, and if possible with a large aperture of F2.8. At least one decent speedlight, preferably dedicated to your camera so you have less to think about. Oh, and I was serious about the stepladder earlier, sometimes it is needed for the really big group shots.

I remember once having to climb up a 4 stepladder to get all 130 people in. Doesnt sound that bad, but when both hands are operating the camera it gets quite hairy. (Quick tip: A huge shout from me and a 5 shot burst later, I do believe we got everybody in the wedding party looking at the camera, including babies).

You must know your equipment inside out. You must understand how it works and how to make instant changes to cope with unforeseen circumstances. You must have a spare camera and batteries, and the batteries must be fully charged (it is easy to forget simple points like that, I have known, ermpeople who have had to stop at a garage on the way to the reception, to load up!)

Above all, once you are confident, have fun and enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of wedding photography, that you will at some point get in the way, and you may get some grief from the guests. As long as you are polite and as efficient as possible, the day should go smoothly.

wedding photography