Bride Guide June 2014

Bridal Planner June 2014

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Bride Guide | June 2014

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$

Make the most of your money W

hat does it cost to get married these days? Well, it depends on whom you ask.

The Wedding Report, the Tucson, Ariz.-based wedding market researcher, says the average spend in 2013 was $25,200. According to TheKnot.com & WeddingChannel. com Real Weddings Study, $28,427 was the average spend in 2012, the most recent year figures are available.

The question, again: What does it cost to get married? The answer: Does it really matter?! It can be, and often is, a hefty sum. But those aren’t numbers to work toward, they’re numbers to work away from!

Today’s couples are more mindful of what they put into their celebrations, using savings and on-hand cash — not going into debt to pay for their events. They’re cautious on how they deploy their dollars. In short, they want to be sure that they and their guests get the most out of what they spend.

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Bride Guide | June 2014

Budget Basics To establish your magic number, look at your designated savings, contributions from parents or other relatives, and what of your regular income you can devote toward the wedding, without sabotaging your day-to-day budget.

When you’ve come up with your number, plug it in a budget formula to see how much you have to spend in each area of your wedding. Follow these estimates to get started.

Remember, the figures are just estimates, so adjust as necessary to fit your wedding’s needs:

• Reception – 50% • Music – 10% • Flowers – 10% • Wedding Attire – 10% • Photo/Video – 10% • Stationery – 5% • Miscellaneous – 5%

Establishing a budget early on, and sticking to it, will help couples start marriage on the right fianancial foot

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Bride Guide | June 2014

Tokens of love and affecTion I

f there’s one thing that symbolizes the wedding, it’s the ring.

After all, it’s the first thing a bride-to-be shows off after the engagement (60 percent announce the news by posting a photo of the ring to Facebook, according to a joint survey from The Knot and Men’s Health magazine). But at the end of the wedding day — and every day

after — your wedding band will have equal billing alongside your engagement ring, even if it may be a little less sparkly.

You’ll want to make sure it is cohesive with your engagement ring and, of course, that it fits your style.

Start with the metal.

White gold was the most popular choice for both engagement and wedding rings in 2013, according to The Wedding Report’s Engagement and Wedding Ring survey, roughly accounting for two-thirds of each. Whether your ring is white or yellow gold or platinum or something

else altogether, you’d be in good company sticking with the same base metal for your wedding band.

Also keep in mind design elements.

The Wedding Report study found that 94 percent engagement of engagement rings use a diamonds, and 82 percent of wedding rings also have some diamond element.

Maybe your engagement ring is a full or partial eternity band, or maybe it features pavé diamonds or accent gemstones. You can carry on these elements into your wedding band.

White gold also is popular for the groom,

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with more than 34 percent of grooms opting for the go-to metal popular with brides. Surprisingly, it’s not platinum (14 percent) or yellow gold (11.6) that is the next popular among grooms but rather tungsten, which makes up more than 18 percent of grooms’ bands. Alternative metals like tungsten and titanium (11 percent) have grown in popularity in recent years, not just because of their unique darker look, but their lower price point.

The average spend in 2013 was $702 for the bride’s wedding ring and $488 for the groom’s.

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Bride Guide | June 2014

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Capturing the Memories H

istorically, couples booked a wedding photographer between six and nine months before their wedding date. All of that has changed, thanks to social media.

When they become engaged, a third of brides-to-be will update their social-media status within a few hours, according to a socialwedding survey from TheKnot.com and Mashable.com; a quarter will do so within the next 24 hours. A flurry of engagement photos soon will make their way to social media accounts, too. That’s where the photographer comes in.

Many wedding photographers often include a complimentary engagement-photo session when couples book their wedding service.

This isn’t just a ploy to attract business — it’s beneficial come the actual wedding day.

“I tell my clients that engagement photos are a time for us to get to know each other photographically,” says Amanda Patrice, an Orange County, Calif.-based photographer.

“We both learn what type of photos they like. I think on the wedding day they’re able to loosen up a bit more.

I always recommend an engagement session. There’s nothing but benefits.

“They are a great way to show who they are right now, in this time of their lives,” Patrice adds. “I don’t 8

Bride Guide | June 2014

want them to get swept under the rug!”

Couples should not rush to book their photographer just so they can share some engagement photos.

First, photography and videography are two of the largest wedding expenses — the average cost for photography and videography in 2013 was $1661 and $1,017, respectively, according to The Wedding Report. Second, couples have one chance to capture these memories for the rest of their lives, so they need to make sure they are working with professionals they trust to do the job perfectly.

In evaluating potential service providers, make sure to ask the right questions. Inquiries should focus on package details, contractual agreements and final products, whether that is an actual album or digital prints — in addition to making sure your personalities jell (you will be spending all day together!). Consider asking the following questions: • What packages do you offer?

• How much time is allotted for the day of the wedding?

• Are photographers available all day?

• Will you bring an assistant or second shooter?

• Is an album included in the

package? If so, who designs the album? How much input do we get in the album’s design?

• What quality of paper, color and inks do you use for printed photographs?

• Is a DVD with digital negatives provided to order our own prints in the future?

• Will we have rights to our photos?

If you’re looking to save a few bucks on photographic services, consider looking for an associate to hire. Often times, an associate’s fee is cheaper than the main photographer’s. You also can pinpoint your coverage and only have a professional for certain parts of the day, if you desire.

The same rules for choosing the right photographer apply to video, from looking at prior work to establishing a good connection, but there are a few key differences.

While many videographers opt for a photojournalistic approach – inconspicuously shooting the day – others may take a more hands-on approach and interview guests or the wedding party, for example, which they use to add a documentary feel to the edited wedding video. Highlight videos or trailers also are popular today, as couples can easily share them via their social media accounts.

Out of Many,

One

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How to find your dream dress

W

hether or not you’ve romanticized the idea of twirling around in a cloud of white tulle, the search for The One — the wedding gown, that is! — is one of the most emotional and fun purchases you will make as a bride-to-be. But don’t say yes to the dress before taking care of a few details first.

Launch the dress search only after finalizing the wedding venue and date, advises event planner Ariana Stecker of Save the Date, a New York-based firm. After all, what originally was planned as a daytime summer celebration quickly can morph into a winter black tie affair, which calls for an entirely different look. As for starting the shopping process, “six months [prior to the wedding] is really go-time,” Stecker says, to give room for any custom work and two to three fittings.

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Bride Guide | June 2014

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“You may think you want a ball gown, but once you put one on you may not like the fit.”

- Stacey Rywelski David’s Bridal

With inspiration coming everywhere from the runway to the red carpet, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of Pinterest boards and wedding blogs, but for sanity’s sake try to keep the search contained. Think classic over trendy, and consider your wedding style, whether it’s formal, casual, rustic, traditional, vintage or outdoor.

Check out websites to view galleries of gowns organized by silhouette, neckline, fabric or designer, says wedding editor Anne Chertoff. Also, pay attention to any patterns in the silhouettes or embellishments that catch your eye.

It’s tempting to point and click your way to a $10,000 gown, but if you’re working with a firm budget 10

Bride Guide | June 2014

($1,211 is the average spent on a wedding dress according to TheKnot.com & WeddingChannel. com 2012 Real Weddings Survey), figure out your price limit before you shop — and decide whether that budget is just for the dress, or if it includes extras like undergarments and accessories. “If you find yourself attracted to a certain designer’s styles, make sure their gowns are within your budget range before proceeding,” says Jessica Bishop, editor of the wedding blog The Budget Savvy Bride. And select bridal boutiques accordingly: “If you know you can spend $1,000 to $2,000 on a wedding dress, don’t go to a store that sells more pricey gowns,” Chertoff says. Not sure what you can spend? It’s helpful to talk about budget openly with a bridal salon—they’ll help you understand how details you’re envisioning like embellishments, beading and lace affect the cost, which may impact your bottom line, notes Stacey Rywelski, general manager of the David’s Bridal flagship store in Manhattan. “It’s important to educate a bride.”

Most brides typically shop at one

to three stores, so choose wisely — to maximize time, arrive armed with the details of your wedding date, venue, overall style and budget.

A good consultant will take into account everything from a bride’s outfit and accessories (is she sassy or sophisticated?) to her personality and reception details (does she plan to dance all night or indulge in delicious desserts?) to help find the perfect fit, says Rywelski. “You want to take someone’s style and enhance it,” she adds. “Their personality should come out in a dress.”

Armed with the basics of what you do (and don’t) like, a bridal salon’s stylist will be your most helpful guide. The key to being a frock star is keeping an open mind, the experts say. It’s easy to get stuck on the idea of a sweetheart neckline or a low back, but “sometimes that look just doesn’t work on their body type,” notes Rywelski, who calls the process a “collaborative effort” between bride and consultant.

“Try on a variety of silhouettes, necklines and fabrics,” Chertoff says.

“You may think you want a ball gown, but once you put one on you may not like the fit.” Adds Stecker: “Be willing to try on one dress that’s out of the box. Pay no mind to what it looks like on the hanger,” she says.

But don’t feel pressured to make the final decision until you’ve found the perfect match. “Remember you don’t have to buy the first time,“ Stecker reminds. “You can go back.”

Time and Place Makes Perfect

H

ere comes you, the bride, down the aisle. But where?

Your hometown church? A museum or raw loft space, perhaps?

A botanic garden? The family farm?

Couples getting married today have more options than ever for deciding where to get married.

Church or synagogue weddings followed by hotel ballroom receptions remain the classic go-to, but the morphing wedding landscape is opening the door to more alternative venues – many of which double as both ceremony and reception location.

According to a Ceremony and Reception survey from The Wedding Report, the number of same-location indoor weddings increased nearly 20 percent from 2011 to 2012, with more than 45 percent taking place in an all-in-one spot. Is this to say you must have your ceremony and reception in one spot? No, of course not. But your venue – or venues – help set the tone for your wedding day, complementing your theme in

everything from the décor to cuisine.

Get Started – Early!

Why? Well, popular venues can get booked well in advance.

And though you may be engaged for a while – most surveys agree the average engagement period is 14 months – the sooner you start checking out venues, the better chance you have of landing the one you want. If you have your heart set on a specific location, let that dictate your date. If you’re more open on your venues, keep time in mind when deciding on a date; busy periods at

work, high-traffic events in your area and nearby holidays are just a few things to consider when deciding if a date is doable, especially if you have a large number of traveling guests that will require accommodations.

If you’re getting married in one location, say a house of worship, and having your reception in another, get a list of all available dates for both spots and see which dates align.

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a large, open space if you’re having an intimate wedding with only a few guests, and vice versa.

If you’re going to have a lot of out-of-town guests who aren’t familiar with your area, it may be wise to go with a hotel location or a venue with one nearby, so that the overall logistics of the weekend remain simple.

Obviously, budget is a big thing when picking out your venue; overall, anticipate your reception (the space, dinner, drinks) to eat up half your budget. Many venues will have a “wedding package,” which includes obvious things like food and drinks but also some other items that may be less obvious. To get a handle on costs, keep these points in mind:

Cost

“

include your cake and centerpieces as part of your package, or they may have an in-house expert on staff.

You pick out or design your creation, and they make sure it’s set to go for your big day. Does your venue do this?

If you’re going to have a lot of out-of-town guests who aren’t familiar with your area, it may be wise to go with a hotel location or a venue with one nearby, so that the overall logistics of the weekend remain simple.

Most places will require that you spend a certain amount of money. Obviously, you’d like to be committed to the lowest possible tab, especially if your guest list isn’t large. Gratuity and/ or service charges often are built in. If you’re spending thousands of dollars, a 1- to 2-percent difference between venues will make a big difference. And if you’re looking at spots in different townships, again, the slight difference in local tax can make a difference on your total bill.

Food

Your per-entrée price is going to cover pretty much everything that’s included in your package. So, yes, you don’t want to pay more for the same entrée you could get at a different location, but you need to look a bit further.

Are you paying a per-item price or at the rate of the highest menu item? Are appetizers included in your perplate price or are they a separate, per-guest expense? Is there a dessert course in addition to cake?

Drinks

How many hours of open bar are included in your package? How many bartenders will you have? How many beer selections do you get? How much is a package upgrade or additional hours of service? Is there wine service during dinner (when the bar typically is closed)?

Is it unlimited or is there a limited per-table quantity? Is there a champagne toast and after-dinner coffee service?

Are you able to bring in your own alcohol?

Cake & Flowers

Some venues may partner with local vendors to

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Bride Guide | June 2014

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Get Your Guests Moving!

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t’s pretty simple: The key to a great party is great tunes that get your guests on the dance floor. So, it’s up to your DJ to bring out the craziest, funniest and romantic best in you and your family and friends To ensure a night of great music and great memories, ask the right questions when you start your DJ quest, and make sure you’re all a good fit before you make your music decision.

Here is what to keep in mind when meeting with potential DJs.

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Get a Feelin’ Is DJing a weekend gig for the vendor, or is it their full-time profession? How do you feel? Is the meeting friendly, or transactional? Do they take the time to get to know you and your fiancé as a couple, or just dive into the package options? Do they ask about your music tastes?

Share Your Music Musts Does the DJ have all the songs you want to hear in his catalog? If not, can he get them? Is there an online songmanagement system or must you fill out forms? What is the deadline to have your requests submitted?

Take a Listening Test

Be sure to review all sound package options – including the services, number of hours, prices and payment schedule. When you’ve found the service that meets your needs, like every vendor, be sure to sign the contract and get a copy. All that’s left to do is dance.

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Ask what grade of speakers and subwoofers they have and if they have backups, if need be. See how their DJ system works for queuing up songs, fading them in and out and changing the song. Consider it a run-through for your reception.

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Find the Blooms Best Suited for Your Big Day Sculptural flowers like calla lilies can be found in all seasons and make for a simple, elegant, monochromatic bouquet

T

oday there is no shortage on wedding inspiration.

From glossy magazines to wedding websites and social media, it’s easy to get swept away by a flood of floral inspirations for your wedding.

But as each bride’s wedding theme — and budget — is different, there is no one-size-fits-all flower.

Before getting buried in bouquet ideas, check out these tips to get specific inspirations for your wedding flowers.

Dream Within Your Budget

It’s best to secure your wedding date, venue and major vendors (photographer, catering, entertainment) before booking your florist — this way you’ll have a better idea of how much budget you have to work with and some insight into what type of ambience you want your flowers and décor to create for your wedding.

A good rule of thumb is that 14

Bride Guide | June 2014

flowers will make up around 10 percent of your wedding budget, give or take. How far that budget goes, though, depends a great deal on the size and scope of your wedding.

There are bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen (plus flowers for special guests like parents and grandparents), for example, and a centerpiece for each table at the reception. The cost per each will vary on seasonality on intricacy, as each arrangement will be put together by hand. In 2012, the average amount spent on florists/décor was just under $2,000, according to TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel. com’s annual Real Wedding Survey.

Dianne Wagner, a New Yorkbased floral designer and author of “Beautiful Wedding Flowers: 250 Corsages, Bouquets, and Centerpieces” (Hearst, 2011), suggest looking photos and color swatches for inspiration.

Plan to meet potential florists about six to nine months out of your wedding date.

Once you have an idea of the approach, color palette and pricerange you want, meet with a couple florists who seem like a good fit before making your choice.

Think Local

Most floral experts agree that using in-season (and, if possible, local) blooms is the way to go. Not only will they be more affordable, as they’re not traveling across the country (or further!), but they’ll be best suited to a wedding’s seasonal aesthetic.

Here, Wagner suggests suitable flowers for each of three popular wedding styles: Modern “If you have always dreamed of a formal-style wedding, use monochromatic flowers and minimal

“Brides always crave peonies, but they can be pricey. Bigheaded roses, such as an esperance pink rose, can be an affordable substitute.”

Susan Kass A Fantasy in Flowers

foliage” Wagner says.

Sculptural flowers like calla lilies and orchids are available in all seasons in a wide variety of colors from pure white to pastels and rich burgundy.

in the summer and pinecones and juniper in the winter.

Keep In Your Venue In Mind

The venue or ceremony location also is critical factor in deciding on the overall look of your décor, says Kass.

If the ceremony is taking place in an ornately decorated church or temple there might not be a need for many flowers as there is already so much built-in elegance.

Outdoor weddings can be enhanced with a beautiful floral arch or column arrangements that add rather than detract from the natural beauty.

Elegant To achieve a lush, romantic wedding, full soft flowers like garden roses and hydrangea with hyacinth are perfect for a spring wedding. Wagner recommends peonies in the summer, dahlias in the fall, anemones and ranunculus in the winter.

Brides always crave peonies, but they can be pricey.

Big-headed roses, such as an esperance pink rose, can be an affordable substitute, adds Susan Kass, owner of A Fantasy in Flowers in St. Augustine, Premier hair and makeup for your wedding party Fla.

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Guest Information Y

our wedding stationery traditionally is your guests’ first impression of your wedding — even though they’re probably plenty familiar with it thanks to news, photos and status updates shared across your social networks.

However informed about the big day your friends and family already may be, everything from your savethe-date to the invitation keeps a bit of tradition in our paper-free digital age. Here’s to keep in mind as you 16

Bride Guide | June 2014

tackle the stationery to-dos.

Getting Started

Don’t log off your social networks just yet! Technologies like Facebook, email and iMessage make it simple to track down current mailing address from all your family and friends spread across the country. (Just don’t make your request via a status update; you don’t want to broadcast the message to folks who will not be

Invites, savethe-dates and all the paper essentials.

Here’s your stationery survival guide

invited to your wedding!)

For savvy couples looking for another technological shortcut edge, online planning and collaborating tools can make it either to information gather.

Google also has a suite of Google Docs-based wedding planning tools designed to help couples stay on top of their “I Do” to-dos, including a collaborative guest list. Just email the document to your guests, and they can fill in their information.

Check out google.com/weddings for more details.

With the hard work out of the way, it’s time to get into the paper details. Whether you’re getting your stationery professionally designed or going the DIY route, take a trip to a local stationery shop to get your hands on some paper and check out design styles. Typically, expect to spend around 5 percent of your budget on your stationery, including postage, but adjust as necessary depending on your guest list and personal paper style preferences.

The Save-the-Date

As soon as your venue is booked, send all your guests a save-thedate. It doesn’t matter if it’s a year out from the wedding — the point is, you want your guests to get your wedding on their schedules as soon as possible.

No need to go overboard on details; just your names and the date to keep open. If you have a wedding website already set up with details about the ceremony, reception and accommodations, include the URL. You also can mention that a formal invitation will follow.

The Wedding Invitation and Enclosures

First things first, remember not to include registry information on the invitation! You’re inviting your friends and family to join in your wedding celebration; you’re not inviting them to bring you gifts.

(But yes, they do want to give you gifts, so list registry information on your wedding website.)

The actual wedding invitation is where you officially invite your guests. Plan to put these in the mail around two months prior to your wedding. The RSVP card — self-addressed and stamped, of course — is where guests will accept or decline invitation and, if you’re having a seated dinner, mark their dinner selection. List a date by which you’d appreciate their reply, usually four weeks before the

Typically, expect to spend around 5 percent of your budget on your stationery, including postage, but adjust as necessary depending on your guest list and personal paper style preferences.

wedding date.

Although all the pertinent details may be on your wedding website, it’s still customary to include a card separate from the invitation that lays out the wheres and whens for the reception venue (if separate) and accommodations.

can be worthwhile to invest in stationery that features your newly married name.

Make your wedding day a part of history

The Wedding Day Paper Pieces

The invitation might be the main attraction, but there are still some paper pieces you need for the big day: • Programs: If you’re having a ceremony in a house of worship, this will list information on the officiant, readings, the wedding party, etc.

• Table numbers/names • Escort cards and Place cards: Escort cards tell the guest at which table they are seated. Place cards show them in which chair they are sitting.

• Menus: An outline of dinner, set with each place card, is a nice touch.

• Thank-yous: If you want to get a jump on showing your gratitude, it

at the

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Bride Guide | June 2014

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7357_1_rockBarn062214Bride

Fueling the Party How to pick the right food and drinks to fit your wedding’s style

W

ith the ceremony complete, all eyes turn to the wedding meal — both to please their palates and power them through a night of dancing. A great party is as simple as finding the right food to match an event’s style.

Service Selections

Food service options include plated and family-style dinners, buffets, stations and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Each one helps set the tone of an event, says Bridget Pelster, a sales and catering manager for St. Louis-based Butler’s Pantry. Seated dinners are typically more formal and elegant, family-style meals are more intimate, buffets are more relaxed, stations are more interactive and hors d’oeuvres allow a lot of flexibility.

First, determine the style of service you want based on the vibe you’d like 18

Bride Guide | June 2014

to create, and then start playing around with menu ideas based on your budget and the timing of the event. “If you’re having an evening wedding and you think the reception will last more than three hours, you should plan on serving something fairly significant,” says Molly Schemper, co-owner of Chicagobased FIG Catering. “At the minimum you want heavy hors d’oeuvres with a couple protein options, and it’s a good idea to make sure guests are aware there won’t be a full meal.”

If the budget is limited but food is a priority for you, consider opting for a Sunday soirée, an off-season wedding date or an afternoon affair, when you can usually get more for your buck.

Pricing the Plates Catering costs can vary widely, from as low as $20 per person at a

banquet hall up to $200 per person at a luxury hotel, Schemper says.

The city, the venue and the menu all play a part. Big towns are often more expensive; standard venues may have minimums; nontraditional locations may require additional rentals; and no matter where the event takes place, the quantity, variety and style of cuisine will drastically affect price.

In general, the most expensive options are multi-course plated dinners and stations, Pelster says. The next level down is typically limitedcourse plated dinners and family-style meals, followed by buffets. And the most affordable option is heavy hors d’oeuvres, either passed or served buffet-style.

The caterer can help you determine the style that works best for your budget and will often adjust a menu

to meet your needs, such as forgoing coffee service in exchange for an additional appetizer or two.

Drink Up! The key elements of a wedding bar include wine, beer, bubbly, cocktails – plus soda, “mocktails” and other nonalcoholic drinks. Determine which you want based on budget and your guests.

Fancy, formal affairs may offer premium versions of all beverages all night long. But couples with limited funds might prefer to serve only carefully selected wines and beer and perhaps a signature cocktail, says Chris Tanghe, a master sommelier and co-owner of Elevage, a Seattle beverage consultancy. You also can limit the full open bar to just the cocktail hour, but be aware: many members of the bridal world, from editors to etiquette experts, say a cash bar is the ultimate no-no.

Also consider your guest list. If you’ve invited a gaggle of gourmands, you may want to emphasize fine wine. A ton of college friends? Perhaps (a lot of) cheap beer is fine. “Or maybe spirits are a must because the older generation only drinks gin martinis,” Tanghe says.

THE PERFECT LOCATION, FOR THE perfect event

You can make your wedding day perfect at the Forsyth Conference Center! We have 14,000 square feet that can offer both a wedding ceremony and reception in the same location.

Movable partition walls allow us to make each room intimate. Our audio visual capabilities make it easy to present photos and videos as part of your celebration. The catering kitchen allows you to choose a caterer to host your event. Please contact us to start planning your wedding.

Drinks & Dollars Plan for one drink per person per hour of the reception. If serving a special sparkling wine for the toast – perhaps a budget-friendly Spanish Cava or Italian prosecco – allot one additional glass per adult.

Traditional venues usually have set prices, but you may be able to trim costs by paying a nominal corkage fee to bring in your own vino.

If the venue allows you to provide all of the alcohol yourself, kegs are the more affordable beer option at approximately $1 per 12-ounce glass of craft beer, slightly less for domestic. Smaller gatherings are better off with bottles that can be purchased in quantities.

When it comes to wine, look for deals on labels from an up-and-coming region like South Africa, or ask about close-out prices on the last few cases of a vintage.

As for liquor, a 750ml bottle contains about 17 drinks, making it a good deal, but remember that you will also need ice, mixers and more bartenders.

forsyth ConferenCe Center

3410 Ronald Reagan Boulevard Cumming, GA 30041

(770) 781-6974 * www.forsythconferencecenter/laniertech.edu XXX_X_lanierTech062214_Bridal

Bride Guide | June 2014

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Demystifying the Dessert

W

Taking the Cake

edding cakes have come a long way from the pearly tones and delicate petals of old. Bridesto-be have more options than ever, whether they desire a traditional tiered cake or a table-length dessert spread.

But the one thing all the experts agree on is the bride should know what she’s looking for.

“I think the biggest obstacle is when they come in and they have no clue what they want,” says Ilene Frazier McHone, founder of Classic Cakes in Carmel, Ind. She says that bringing in pictures from magazines and sharing Pinterest boards is a huge help to the designer.

Couples should start looking into bakers about four to six months out of the wedding date. The best thing to have when a couple goes for a tasting — besides an empty 20

Bride Guide | June 2014

stomach! — is their budget. According to TheKnot.com & WeddingChannel.com annual Real Wedding Study, the average spend on a cake in 2012 was $560, but certain design work or flavor and filling options can quickly change a sugar high into sticker shock. Though, “there are ways of putting accents on the cake without it being the whole, and that will cut down the cost,” says Yvette Humbert, of Amazing Cakes of Austin in Leander, Texas.

“A lot of times, it looks a lot better and more elegant just to have some accents.”

Sharokina Pazand, founder and senior consultant of Citygirl Weddings in Chicago, suggests a “fun” flavor for a small tier of the wedding cake and keeping the rest of the cake to more traditional tastes.

how long dessert tables can stay out before staff will clear them, as they’re separate from typical cake service.

Pazand has seen cotton candy and gelato bars and Remo has seen desserts themed entirely around golf. But, really, “it comes down to what the bride wants,” Humbert says.

Pazand agrees.

“I always tell clients that any kind of food option they choose is a reflection of them and their wedding,” she says. “If you were hosting somebody at your house, what would you offer?”

Congratulations!

(Now Let’s Celebrate)

A modern dessert trend — in addition to or in lieu of a cake — is a dessert table with a spread of sweet treats like cupcakes, cake pops, brownies or whoopee pies, to name a few.

Whether you’re planning an intimate rehearsal dinner, or a large reception for your entire wedding party, we have a beautiful space for your celebration with exceptional food and wine. Please contact us and we’ll create every last detail to make your special occasion… truly special.

The Collection at Forsyth. (formerly the Avenues).

678-513-0791.

For brides on a budget, McHone suggests a smaller traditionally decorated cake accompanied by what she calls “side cakes,” which are simpler cakes that are an affordable way to provide a slice for each guest.

A modern dessert trend — in addition to or in lieu of a cake — is a dessert table with a spread of sweet treats like cupcakes, cake pops, brownies or whoopee pies, to name a few.

Megan Remo, of District Desserts in Washington, D.C., says to have anywhere from three to five items per guest, since people tend to try some of everything.

Many smaller desserts can add up quickly, so Remo suggests filling table jars and vases with store-bought candies and cookies, to supplement.

Constructed properly, a dessert table gives more options to the guests and allows for creativity. Pazand reminds, however, to check with your venue on

Chef Greg DeMichiel Celebrity Chef.

Food Network.

VH1. Bravo.

www.siprestaurants.com

Bride Guide | June 2014

Half page Vert-ad Bridal Sip.indd 1

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5

“Must Knows” When Picking Out a Tux

1. Scheduling: Finalize ALL measurements, deposits, and details no less than 30 days before your Big Day. (April, May, and June weddings avoid prom chaos and finalize by March 15th.)

2. Style: It’s the groom’s day, too! Spare no expense to chose the style that looks and feels best on you. It’s OK for the dads and groomsmen to spend less and still look great

3. Pricing: What is included in the price you’re quoted? It’s an important question. “Add-ons, Add up”

4. Colors: When matching colors, fabric swatches are more reliable than your phone screen..

5. Pick Up: Renter beware: No one should leave the store without trying on his tuxedo. Avoid surprises on your wedding day.

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Bride Guide | June 2014

Take Your Wedding Center Stage

We offer private dining and reception areas!

Visit our website for more information and sample menus.

Catering available on-site at Tam’s Backstage or on-location at your destination choice.

On-Site Private Dining Room and Reception Area.

Contact Lisa Head, Banquet Manager at

678-455-8310

Located in downtown Cumming on Ingram Ave. in the historic Cumming School building.

www.tamsbackstage.com Bride Guide | June 2014

23

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge hosts numerous destination

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge hosts numerous destination weddings each year. We hope that you will join the many other weddings each year.

We shared hope that willday joinwith theus. many other couples who have theiryou special couples who have shared their special day with us.

Amicalola Falls offers multiple settings, both indoor and outdoor for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner. Many of these will allow nature to be a part of your special day. Along with our full service catering and bar options are we have a variety of accommodations including a hotel , cabins, and camping sites for guest .

Amicalola Falls State Park also offers:

Amicalola Falls offers multiple settings, both indoor and outdoor for your ceremony, Full Service Restaurant Uniquenature Gift Shops reception, and Arehearsal dinner.

Many of these will2 allow to be a part of your special Hiking Trails Interpretative Programing day. Along with our full service catering and bar options are we have a variety of Picnic Shelters Conference and Meeting Services accommodations including a hotel , cabins, and camping sites for guest .

Located 15 miles from downtown Dawsonville, 19 miles west of Dahlonega , and 23 miles south of Ellijay, on Hwy. 52 in Dawsonville, GA. Amicalola Falls State Park also offers: For Additional Information & Lodge Reservations Call: 706-265-8888 or 800-573-9656

A Full Service Restaurant Hiking Trails Picnic Shelters

2 Unique Gift Shops Interpretative Programing Conference and Meeting Services