The Beginning Bridal Magazine, Chippewa Valley part 1

2015-2016 •Gratis

The

beginning

B r i d a l

M a g a z i n e

a n d

Wo r k b o o k

Serving Couples in the Chippewa Valley and Surrounding Communities Photo by Always Over The Top Photography with Cody Limousines

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Retreat. Unite. Celebrate.

Host your wedding, corporate retreat, family reunion, or scrapbook getaway in a luxurious atmosphere where you can focus on the task at hand and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Nestled in the bluffs of the Town of LaFayette, between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, WI, surrounded by nature’s beauty and the quiet tranquility of forests and apple orchards, White’s Wildwood Retreat is a one of a kind destination for your wedding.

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Our lodge and cabin can comfortably accommodate 33 overnight guests. A perfect venue for your wedding party and out of town guests.

White’s Wildwood Retreat is your blank canvas on which you can create your dream wedding. Our outdoor ceremony area is a natural grassy amphitheater culminating at a rustic bridge that can be used as a picturesque backdrop or to hold your wedding party. Flexibility in all areas from catering and beverages to decorations. Anything from a grassy aisle under a canopy of blue sky and golden sunshine to a romantic walk through the wooded countryside, the possibilities are endless.

Our newly constructed pavilion was designed with you in mind, and is large enough to accommodate the grandest of weddings. Beautifully finished both inside and out, you feel like you are still outside as it is surrounded by forest and flowers.

From your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception, White’s Wildwood Retreat is the setting to create the wedding of your dreams.

White’s Wildwood Retreat, LLC 18059 Cty. Hwy. OO, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715.726.2068 or 715.497.7470 betty@wwretreat.com ◆ www.wwretreat.com/ www.facebook.com/WhitesWildwoodRetreat

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katebentleyphoto.com

Count on Friends to Make Your Special Day Truly Memorable ◆ Complimentary Room for Bride & Groom* ◆ Free Personalized Website for Your Guests ◆ Free Hot Breakfast & WIFI ◆ Pool & Whirlpool At Hampton Inn, we love having you here.

And we prove it to you every day.

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www.kaleidoscopedj.com

The most memorable day of your life deserves the most amazing memory maker.

Photo courtesy of Tim Fitch Photography.

Wedding Bouquets Beautiful silk bridal bouquets will brighten up your wedding day, and offer a long-lasting keepsake. See why silk wedding flowers are a popular choice for savvy brides on a budget.

We have the largest selection of silk flowers, wedding silks, plants, bushes, and greens in the state of Wisconsin!

6458 35th St., Elk Mound, WI Wedding Consultant: Michelle 715-577-0998

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real wedding

Brittany and Brett pgs 54-57

Have

a

Real Wedding

to

Submit?

Brides or Vendors: We want to share and enjoy your best day.

We are looking to highlight your DIY, vintage, unique, and stunning weddings.

Requirements:

Photos: 25 to 35 images—We want to see all the details, the party after, and of course, the beautiful couple.

Photos must be: high resolution, 300 dpi, from the photographer Vendor List: Please send along details about who helped with the wedding.

Florists, caterers, venues, and anyone else that will be featured in the photographs.

Details: Send along 300 words about the day, the excitement, the grace and elegance.

We want to hear from brides, grooms, mothers, photographers.

Submit to: beginningsbridalmagazine@gmail.com

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in this issue Grand Ideas 8-9

How to Find Your Song 51

Planning a Destination Wedding 11

Honeymoon in Paradise 52

Hiring the Minister 12

Hire Your Wedding Transportation 58

Always Over The Top Photography 17

Meet Alchemixx 60

An Entrance in Fairtale Style 20

A Ring Made Just for You 62

Beyond Cake 24

Honeymoon for Less 63

The Frosted Petal 28

Tips for Tent Rental 67

Best Dress for Your Body Type 43

In the Moment... 68

Making the Most of Bridal Shows 47

Catering Options 70

Hitting the Right Note 50

In Each Issue Wedding Workbook 29-42 Reception Guide 44-45 Area Bridal Shows 46 Bliss List 64-66

Publisher: Arwen Rasmussen Graphic Design: Kathy Nelson Advertising Sales: Arwen Rasmussen Writers: Abbie Burgess, Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, Jan Carroll, and local professionals Printer: Leader Telegram, Eau Claire, WI

The beginning Bridal Magazine and Workbook © 2015—2016 All Rights Reserved Published by AKRE Enterprises 3315 Nimitz Street Eau Claire, WI 54701

Materials in The Beginning Bridal Magazine including artwork and articles may not be reprinted without permission of the publishers.

Photo by Stacy Bengs Photography

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Take a tax deduction — on your wedding You can get a tax deduction for donating some of your wedding purchases to a qualified charitable organization that qualifies or even just by having your wedding ceremony at certain venues.

If you think you’ll have leftover food from your reception, contact a local homeless shelter and see if you can donate it. If you’re not going to reuse your flowers, contact your church to ask if you can donate them (if you had a church wedding, you may be able to leave your

flowers there as a donation) or reach out to a local hospital or nursing home. If you have a wedding in a church or synagogue, or at a government-owned locale like a state park, you may be able to deduct the fee paid for the ceremony (check with the locale to make sure it’s tax deductible).

Mother of the bride is the last person seated at the ceremony and the first guest to exit after the recessional.

Grand Ideas Best Man Duties

▪ The best man is the person the groom asks to take care of any details, such as returning his formal wear, while he is honeymooning.

▪ Deliver the ceremony officiant’s fee.

▪ Traditionally does not stand in the receiving line.

Andrew Samplawski Photography

Not the ballroom rental type?

MAKE SURE THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS A SHOPPING LIST OF MUST-HAVE PHOTOS. The bride’s guests usually sit on the left side and the groom’s guests on the right side. These sides are reversed in an Orthodox Jewish ceremony.

Consider other ideas like state fairs or when the circus is in town. Of course it may require more preparation to plan around local fairs or circuses, but you’d certainly have the party that everyone remembered.

Put a “15-minute warning” into your contract with the photographer.

A lot of photographers and videographers charge big-time fees if your wedding goes longer than the time you’ve booked them for. To prevent that unexpected bill, put a “15-minute warning” clause into your contract stating that they must give you a 15-minute heads up before they begin charging you overtime, and that if they don’t, you will not have to pay for those overages.

Consider on-site babysitters for your reception. Someone to entertain and take care of smaller children during the dinner or dance. Try to find a few friends of your friends who aren’t so close to the bride that they will be sorry to miss the wedding and reception, but someone who is close enough that they can be trusted to watch the children of the reception. the beginning

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"Find out costs before making a budget for your wedding. Make your priorities and then start booking your vendors. Sadly, prices vary wildly. $500 to $5,000. It really depends on what you want the entertainment company to provide. A DJ for $500 for four hours is really cheap, and you will be disappointed. Spending $5,000 is the upper end, and you are buying a ‘name.’”

—John Davies, Party Hits Music and Light Show

“Too many couples go into this process without an idea on how much they’d like to spend for food and beverage and are totally stressed out because they didn’t plan accordingly. In the Midwest, the average cost per person for food and beverage is $30/person. Can it be done more economically? Yes, of course, but do not expect a fillet mignon when you only have a pulled pork budget.”

—Jack Schulte, Premiere Catering Services by Yankee Jack’s

“Trendy photo booths can now be open air, which means more people together in pictures, which means more fun. Ask if area photobooth renters have that option. Also see if they have social media booths that can send your photos immediately to your Facebook and Instagram accounts.”

—Mark Studinski, Rock N' Roll To Go

“Keep it simple. It’s easy to get caught up in the need for extravagance, but remember that being completely stressed out isn’t what you really want. The day is about joyously celebrating the bond you share with your companion. Simplicity is the perfect stage for that dance of love.” —Melanie Anderson, Farm to Fork Retreat

“Go into the dress-shopping experience with an idea of what styles are most flattering on your body. You should never feel pressured to buy the dress in the moment. Go home and think about it!”

—Laura Oliver, Something New, LLC

“Set a budget. This will make you and your fiancé’s lives easier by sitting down and creating a budget for your wedding day. This will help when you meet with vendors because you will know exactly what your budget is, and you can plan accordingly right then and there, which will save future appointments and hassle.

Between you and your vendor, everyone is on the same page, and you know exactly what means you need to plan your beautiful day around, knowing how they can provide you the best service within your means.”

—Andrew Samplawski Photography

“Do what you want. So many couples want to please the families or their guests, but it really comes down to just doing what you want to do.

Your family wants a traditional wedding cake, and you want cupcakes or a dessert bar. You don’t want to regret not having what mattered to the two of you.”

—Dessert First

“A full-service, high-quality caterer will ensure everything is as you’ve envisioned and more. So be sure to cover all that they can offer you.” —Jessie Waters, KP Katering “Providing multiple services for a reduced rate is helpful with planning and with budgeting for a wedding.

Ask entertainment businesses if they offer more than one service (i.e., music, lighting, photobooths, limos, etc.).”

“Make sure you consider venues that are ALL INCLUSIVE with no extra add-on charges. Also, when comparing vendors, be sure to ask about service charges that can be automatically added to your bill. When budgeting, it always helps to avoid any hidden charges!”

“Remember, budget for your honeymoon! So many times, the honeymoon is last on the budget. It should be in top five! Your memories from your honeymoon will last a lifetime.”

—Mark Studinski, Rock N' Roll To Go

—Christine Henricks, Conference Coordinator, UW–Eau Claire

—Ketti Menne, Paradise Wedding and Travel

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5 Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding P

lanning a wedding in a beautiful, warm, sunny location— far from home—is a whole different ball game than planning one right where you live. If you’ve always dreamed of a wedding on a beach just as the sun is setting— maybe in one of the top three destinations for weddings: the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii—but the planning part of it makes you nervous, relax and read these tips from experienced destination wedding planner Lisa Waak from Travel Leaders in Chippewa Falls.

time, energy, money, and headaches. The coordinator already has trusted contacts, is familiar with all the details of the venue, and can advise you regarding travel insurance, cancellation policies, and other details.

3. Be aware of local restrictions. “In Mexico you have

inquiring about doing a destination wedding ten to twelve months before the date you wish to get married. Sandals Resorts and Karisma Hotels allow the bride and groom to visit in advance and make choices and decisions about the ceremony. Waak notes that this is a chance to “test drive your wedding.”

to be there three business days before the actual wedding and you need a blood test. If you arrive on a Saturday, the first day you can be married is Thursday, with Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as the three business days.” This can increase your lodging costs and may affect your travel costs as well—for you and your guests! Waak suggests getting married here in the States first, perhaps at the local courthouse, and then having a renewal of vows in Mexico. In that case, the three-business-day rule does not apply.

2. Work with a destination wedding coordinator. Let the

4. Consider group rates and packages. Typically, “with

1. Plan way ahead. Begin

coordinator’s experience save you

a group there are great discounts

out there, as well as complimentary room upgrades for the bride and groom, cocktail parties, and rebates. For group rates, a group is considered ten or more people. Some packages can work well too, but packages for a destination wedding are generally for ten guests, so Waak advises that you consider that you may have to arrange a private reception in another venue, as the restaurants onsite often cannot accommodate more than ten guests for a dinner.

5. Remember that timing is everything. High season

(read “higher prices”) is December through April. Hurricane season (read “weather worries”) is June through the end of October. Schedule accordingly. Regarding time of day for the wedding, Waak says, “I always recommend a wedding later in the day, for example 4:00 p.m.

First, it is cooler than a 1:00 p.m. wedding, and sometimes you can get the sunset pictures later in the day too.”

Contact Info Travel Leaders Chippewa Falls • Lisa Waak • lisa@travelleaders-cf.com • 715-723-9352

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Brooke Photography

Hiring the Minister

Y

ou’re getting married! Congratulations . . . let the planning begin.

As a minister, who performs weddings at many different venues throughout the year, I appreciate it when couples want to meet with me before they make their decision to complete a contract for my services.

And, it’s especially great when you come with questions prepared ahead. The Internet is filled with sites that can help you with the questions to ask; below are ones I appreciate getting asked.

I feel it is part of my job to bring a sense of peace and calmness to a time where there can be a lot of stress and tension for anxious couples. From the planning stages and not knowing what to do, to the time frame of what needs to be done for the ceremony itself, to the rehearsal and to wedding day. For your officiate you want to select someone who you know you are comfortable being with, who can bring you that sense of peace during the moments you take this important step into marriage. Not a coordinator (that’s another role) but a guide for the ceremony itself. I’ve had couples actually bring their wedding coordinator with them to our meetings; that was very helpful.

Most venues today, who are focused on their own wedding business, may even suggest to you after you’ve booked their site. . .the next step is to find your officiate. Because many weddings today are taking place

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outside the walls of a church, some couples don’t know where to begin looking. The Internet is where you can begin. Referrals from friends and relatives who were happy with who performed their ceremony, are also a resource. Venue and reception sites need to be booked ahead (sometimes up to a year) to get the date you want; that can be true for clergy also.

These are a few of the questions I appreciate getting asked by couples who schedule to meet in person.

• Are you available on our date of course would determine if you set a meeting.

• How long have you been performing weddings; how many do you perform in a year?

• What is our involvement with you; how many meetings, rehearsal, ceremony, reception?

• Can you accommodate our schedules for meeting times? Can we meet via Skype or telephone for planning meetings if geography and schedules are an issue?

• Do you require pre-marital counseling? Describe how that works, if so.

• What is your fee; when is it due? If a deposit what are the guidelines/cancellation policy for that?

• Can we bring our own ideas to the planning table?

• Do you travel and how is that reimbursed?

• Have you performed a ceremony at our venue and what was your experience if so?

• What are your guidelines for photographer, videographer, DJ for the ceremony • Any restrictions to bridal or bridal party attire?

• Non-religious music, readings allowed?

• What equipment do you require? Podium, microphone, etc.

Questions can vary if this isn’t a first marriage. Divorce and death, of course, can change the course of lives. Some additional questions might pertain to those circumstances. I believe it is important to include children in the ceremony, whether they are with you already as a couple or come from previous marriages, this day needs to be as much about them as you. It’s important their needs and feelings are addressed so they feel a part of this important step in their lives. How will your officiate include them?

We live in a day when many people are not churched.

We also live in a time where many couples tell me they are more spiritual than religious. They connect their spirituality to nature and to what I like to refer to as God’s Sanctuary. Thus the growing number of couples who choose to marry in outdoor ceremonies has grown along with the number of those sites increasing. Barns, city parks, backyards, riverbanks, hotels, theater settings, airport hangers, and beneath a waterfall are sites where I’ve officiated. Do ask your officiate how flexible they can be regarding your venue and the role weather will play if outdoors. How do they handle that? Have they done a wedding in the rain? Would they?

The feedback you want from family and friends that day is, “That ceremony so reflected who you are as a couple” or “What a beautiful ceremony.” And you want to find an officiate who will take the time to work with you to create that kind of ceremony; one who will guide you in the preparation and advise you from their experience officiating. No minister, pastor, rabbi, or clergy can make your marriage come alive, but their input can certainly guide you in creating a wedding ceremony that gives you a Great Beginning!

Sandra McKinney serves as senior minister at Unity in Eau Claire and has for the past eleven years. She performs up to forty weddings a year at various venues throughout Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls; as well as Marshfield, Trego, Viroqua, Madison, and LaCrosse, WI. She is also credentialed for Minnesota weddings. www.revsandramckinney.com, minister@revsandramckinney.com

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"Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas.

It is a creative art." —Ansel Adams

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all photos taken. There is no need to get permission to create reprints or to use your photographs in any way you desire. We shoot in a fully digital format at the highest possible resolution and use the latest technology in digital photo manipulation. Each photograph is carefully enhanced and corrected for lighting, color, and cropping.

With this level of control, you can expect the highest level of photographs available.

We offer three distinct services. Along with our photography, we offer fully edited professional video-taping and a fun-packed photo booth. All of these services are designed to make Always Over The Top Photography your last and only stop in capturing your wedding day. When you book a wedding package with us, you receive free engagement photos, a low down payment, two photographers, copyrights, and more. Even though we have had the honor to photograph over 400 weddings, we still look at each and every one with excitement.

When you have the opportunity in life to do something you love, it’s never a job! We spend time creating a comfortable, open, and honest relationship with you. When you have a question, all you need to do is ask! This is your day and you need to have complete trust in the way in which it’s being captured. With us as part of your team, you can relax, knowing that every moment is being captured with a tremendous amount of experience, professionalism, and love.

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An Entrance in Fairytale Style Maren Cotton Photopraphy at Lost Creek Ranch & Carriage Company

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A

s the horse-drawn carriage carried of Lost Creek Ranch & Carriage ComThe charm of a the bride down the hill to the wooded pany have been bringing horse-drawn carriage ride can ceremony location, a little voice broke the carriages to events throughout Iowa, hush of the waiting wedding guests. “MomWisconsin, and Minnesota for six years. be brought to my, is that a princess?” Witnessing fairytale almost any venue From barn weddings to downtown St. moments like this is what Judy Giles loves Paul ceremonies, each wedding they with traveling about owning Cabin Ridge Rides in Cadott, visit is unique. “A lot of weddings we Wisconsin. The 400-acre recreational facili- carriage services. do are surprises—the bride surprises the ty has been in the family since the 1860s. groom by arriving in a carriage,” Shane At Cabin Ridge Rides, all wedding guests get a carJorgensen shares. In other cases it’s a surprise gift to riage experience on their way to the wedding. Family the newlywed couple who find a horse-drawn carand friends are taken in larger wagons to one of sevriage waiting to whisk them away after the ceremony. eral secluded wedding locations on the property, with “Surprises are the best,” agrees Lynn Hemmersbach of the bridal carriage following later to make a grand Cinderella Carriage, who recently had a groom surprise entrance. While everyone is welcome to ride, there is his bride with a carriage ride at their wedding. limited parking at the ceremony sites for those more For the full theatrical effect while acting as carriage comfortable arriving by car. The wagons are wheelchair driver, Jorgensen matches his attire to the style of the accessible. The fifteen minute ride is an opportunity wedding. Depending on the venue, he’ll wear anything for conversation and reflection, Giles says. This is esfrom cowboy hat and blue jeans to a full tuxedo and top pecially true for the bride, who may be alone or riding hat. Guests get in on the fun too! Included are carriage with her parents. “It’s a nice time. It’s been so hectic, rides for wedding guests after the ceremony—which so much planning. It’s a time for the bride to just sit Jorgenson notes is an entertaining way to fill that tricky and think…to say those things that you don’t have the time between the ceremony and reception. Maija and time to say.”

Makie, the brother and sister pair of black Percheron Giles says most of her clients are couples who love horses that pull his carriages, have no qualms about posthe outdoors and are seeking a rustic, private wedding ing for photos with children and wedding parties. “They venue. Horse-drawn carriages are a natural fit for barn love it. They absolutely love it,” Jorgenson says when and rustic themed weddings, yet also up the enchantasked if the horses enjoy working. “Their greatest joy is ment factor for many kinds of weddings. The charm of all the attention they get. They know what a camera is, a carriage ride can be brought to almost any venue with that’s for sure.” traveling carriage services. Shane and Patti Jorgenson The appearance of each company’s carriages are

Bella Photography with Cinderella Carriage

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unique. Winter weddings can also include the fairytale element of a horse-drawn carriage, but instead of a carriage it’s a sleigh. Most carriage companies allow the couple to decorate the carriage or sleigh with balloons or signs. Jorgenson says that the beauty of the carriage is stunning even without decoration. For example, Jorgenson’s most popular carriage is a wedding model with hearts on the doors and windows.

Giles’ bridal carriage is burgundy, which “lets the bride pop” in photos.

For a true fairytale experience, Cinderella Carriage is one of the only companies to offer a rounded, white carriage that looks like it trotted right off the pages of a storybook. It’s by far the company’s most popular carriage option. Hemmersbach decorates the black show horses’ braided manes and tails with custom adornments to match the wedding colors at no additional cost.

“The horses are pretty jazzed up,” she says. Also included in the cost are any applicable licenses and fees for the location—a service Hemmersbach recommends couples find out about before hiring a carriage.

While the cost might exceed that of a limousine, the photographs and memories of a real horse-drawn carriage are priceless. It’s your special day—why not make it a real life fairytale?

— Abbie Burgess

Top Photo: Char Bowman Photography at Cabin Ridge Rides Bottom Photo: Alisha Marie Photography at Lost Creek Ranch & Carriage Company

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Beyond Cake G

one are the days of needing to stick to the traditional stories-high, waterfall wielding, staircases to the sky wedding cakes. A new trend of cakes and desserts is emerging in the wedding industry coming in the form of cheesecakes and sweets tables. Here are a few tricks of the trade and pointers to keep costs in check and help you find the perfect choice of dessert for your sweet day.

If the bride and groom don’t care for cake, why not try cheesecake or offer a dessert table with mini desserts? Sweets tables offer a beautiful, fun, and creative touch to a wedding reception. By giving your guests the opportunity to pick and choose what they would like to eat, they feel more a part of the activity in the special day. It also allows for many different dessert choices, including gluten-free options, making sure to please every guest’s taste.

There are three main ways of offering a dessert table instead of sliced wedding cakes.

■ The first one is plated. Each guest receives a dessert plate with the chosen sweets. Everyone is given the same items. The guest list is usually known, making it easy to know how many desserts will be needed. This is a good option if space in the venue is tight as no one will need to get up to make his or her way to the buffet. Many times the bakery will charge per guest. (Make sure to clear this with the caterer in order for them to staff appropriately.)

■ The second option for serving is the family style choice. Here each table will be given one tray of desserts at the assigned time. The difference in serving family style is the bride and groom will be charged per table and not per seat as in the plated style. This is the result of usually having extra seating available for the guests in case every table is not filled. However, family style allows for complete control when ordering quantities from the chosen baker because the number of tables being used is known. Many times this price point will be slightly less than a buffet.

■ The last type of dessert service is the buffet or sweets table. Choosing three to four mini dessert options for this setup is suggested. The more choices offered, the more the guests will likely take to sample, resulting in a higher price point per person. This setup allows for the guests to really get a choice and options of what sweets they would like. It makes it more of an interactive event in the reception.

The sky is the limit on dessert options other than

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serving traditional wedding cakes or sheet cakes.

These items can be a standard, one serving each, or can be mini desserts that allow the guests to sample numerous sweets. Some of the desserts can be cheesecakes, cookies, truffles, cake pops, dipped berries, pretzels, or Oreos, bars, brownies, chocolate bark, tarts, pies, cupcakes, mousse cups, or candies to name a few.

When finalizing your dessert table menu, make sure to pick at least one of your favorite items for the couple table as well as sweets everyone will love.

A good breakdown for the dessert table is in finding one “safe” item like a vanilla bean cupcake, one fruity option like dipped berries or key lime pie, one chocolate item such as dark chocolate mousse cups or triple chocolate cake pops, and one more “out there” choice like something with nuts or a not-too-common flavor such as spiced chai or tiramisu cheesecakes.

In the past, the cutting of the cake was a big deal If the bride and and everyone gathered to groom don’t care watch. These days, many for cake, why not times the photographer try cheesecake or will grab the bride and offer a dessert table groom with close family with mini desserts? members and wedding Sweets tables offer party to sneak off to cut a beautiful, fun, and the cake. So even if you creative touch to a have chosen to have a wedding reception. buffet-style dessert table, it is important to keep to some of the past traditions by ordering a small cake, and cheesecakes are a perfect choice for the cutting.

This way you will still have the photo ops for the album later on. Whatever cake is left can be used to serve to the attendants or be saved for the one year anniversary. (Make sure to freeze and wrap the cake very well if planning to save for a year.)

Find a theme or style to go along with the décor for the dessert table. A dessert table isn’t only about flavors. It can and should be beautiful! So make sure to keep enough items set aside in order to continue on with the décor of the reception. Whether it be old crates for the rustic wedding to Grandma’s china for the vintage weddings, keep the theme going throughout the dinner. And don’t forget to make cute menu boards with all the available items being served.

Let’s face it: at the end of the night, many of the beautiful, well thought out bubble wands, tiny picture

Hang Onto Your Hats Photography

frames, and bags of potpourri party favors are left at the table.

Instead, use a pretty decorated and wrapped cake pop as a place card holder and a thank you note from the bride and groom. Less cake or desserts would need to be purchased for the dessert course and the favors would be taken care of. Two birds with one stone.

At the end of the night, it is not uncommon for the bride and groom to have been so busy enjoying their wedding that they have forgotten to stop to eat. Ask the caterer or baker to pack a honeymoon sweets box for the road.

Bo-Jo's Creations Floral, Cakes and Gifts 349 W. Main, Ellsworth 715-273-3112

Cadott Bakery

334 North Main St., Cadott 715-289-4288

If any desserts are left after the meal, have the caterer or baker either bring extra to-go boxes for the guests to help themselves or have them bring the sweets out again later on the in the evening during the dance.

If a budget is tight, make sure to notify the baker of what price point you want to stay at. Oftentimes they will be able to make it happen by pairing a more expensive item with a less expensive one to balance out the cost. Renting the stands or hiring someone to deliver, set up, and maintain the table might cost more than you

Cake Ladies

would like to pay. So why not get creative by building your own stands and display and asking a friend or family member to pick up the desserts and watch the bar?

In the end, a dessert table can be a fun, costeffective way to serve your friends and family and a special treat at your wedding. Make it your own taste. Make it beautiful. And make sweet memories on your sweet day!

Connie's Cakeory

--Hannah Steege Sugar 'n Spice Cheesecakes Wausau, WI

Dessert First

19990 Cty Hwy DD, Bloomer 715-568-3964

202 N Holly Ave, Elk Mound 715-879-5577

2425 Seymour Road, Eau Claire 715- 833-8440

Baking Memories

Norske Nook Wedding Pies

The Frosted Petal

2513 Ricky Ln, Menomonie 715- 505-3763

Buttercream Cakes & Desserts

2751 London Rd., Eau Claire 715-832-4048 / 651-430-9654

Locations in Eau Claire, Osseo, Rice Lake, and Hayward 715-552-0512

Cadott 800-920-4651

Fancy Cakes by Staci

729 W Spruce St, Chippewa Falls 715-723-4197

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Contact Info The Frosted Petal Bakery C a d o t t , W I 8 0 0 - 9 2 0 - 4 6 51

“I

was always interested in decorating cakes,” Debbie Peak says. Growing up, she watched her grandmother bake and frost cakes for church cake walks. As a teenager, she dabbled in decorating and grew to love the artistry of crafting with sugar. Her only formal cake training came from shifts at the local Dairy Queen, which taught her how to work accurately but quickly.

“They were ice cream cakes,” she explains with a laugh.

Already working out of her home creating custom silk flower arrangements, she added custom cakes to her home business in Cadott, Wisconsin, three years ago. She creates her cakes in a separate kitchen that is licensed and inspected by the state. For Peak, meeting with clients in her home office is an opportunity to show them her personal side and let them know they will be treated like family. She describes her meeting place as “casual and relaxing for everyone.”

About half of The Frosted Petal’s clients opt for some type of floral decoration of the cakes they order from the aptly named business.

These flowers can be real, silk, or edible. Using her flower arranging expertise, Peak can create custom silk floral decorations for the top of tiered cakes. She recommends this over real flowers, which are often treated with pesticides or non-FDAapproved dyes. Edible flowers are the safest option yet. She makes them from gum paste, which she describes as a hard-drying fondant.

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She says the flowers take days to make and dry. “Although they are called edible flowers, adults won’t want to eat them. But no doubt you’ll have a child running around the reception gnawing on one of these.” Not all clients come to The Frosted Petal for the petals.

Peak’s most memorable cake design to date was a five-tiered wedding cake. Next to it was a smaller groom’s cake designed to look like a tire, spitting mud on the side of the larger cake! Such designs inspire her creative side, but Peak’s personal favorite cake decorations are “girly, with edible lace or ruffles.”

While flowers and other elaborate decorations are popular, other clients opt for simple cake designs or just a cake topper. A popular noncake option for weddings is a dessert buffet, which allows guests to sample from cookies, gourmet bars, and brownies. Peak says the freedom to choose their own dessert is a crowd pleaser at weddings. “You get bite-sized pieces, so guests can nibble on different things.” For those who are vegan or gluten free, The Frosted Petal will accommodate dietary restriction requests on a case by case basis.

In addition to dietary and design preferences, Peak says couples should be prepared to discuss their location, budget, wedding date, and number of guests when meeting with a cake decorator. For more pointers, check out more of her advice below.

Three Things to Know Before Hiring a Cake Decorator 1. Feel free to bring photo inspiration from cakes that you like, but know that even the best cake designer can’t replicate a cake exactly. “Cake design is an art,” Peak explains, and designers don’t want to copy another artist’s custom cake.

“There is a difference between making something close and making it exactly the same.” Hiring a custom cake decorator is an opportunity to get a cake that is truly about you and your wedding.

2. Designing a custom cake is a process, and one that takes longer than you might think! If your heart is set on a custom cake instead of one from a grocery store bakery, it’s not something to put at the end of your to-do list. “Six months or more is ideal,” Peak says, “and quite a few book up to a year or more in advance.” Six to eight weeks is the minimum lead time needed for The Frosted Petal, but even that is subject to her availability for the wedding date. However, the design doesn’t need to be finalized until a month before the big day.

3. “Ask if your potential cake designer is licensed,” Peak says, to avoid unsafe food practices. “Ask for references and pictures,” she says. And don’t forget to do a quick web search on vendors before hiring one. “You can find a lot out online if a certain bakery is reputable.”

—Abbie Burgess