I’m sure you heard that gay and lesbian couples can now legally tie the knot in the state of California.  A gay wedding, just like a straight wedding, will need to find the right location, band or DJ, invitations, flowers, a photographer, a cake and a great caterer, as well as a pair of wedding dresses or tuxedos.

 

While many wedding Web sites and planning books cater to a bride and groom wedding, there are a myriad of sites and books that specialize in gay and lesbian wedding planning and related products.  The site GayWeddings.com features planning tips, wedding products, a vendor search engine and real weddings to inspire other couples.  The book Gay and Lesbian Weddings: Planning the Perfect Same-Sex Ceremony by David Toussaint is a great resource as well.

 

The two gay and lesbian wedding cake toppers featured above are both available at GayWeddings.com.  Each bride and groom is sold separately so you can choose the figurine that matches your ethnic backgrounds – African-American, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian.  These are also great for straight couples looking for multi-cultural cake toppers.

 

Thinking of a way to surprise your groom?  Why not a pet-inspired groom's cake or a college mascot-inspired cake.  I've seen a terrapin turtle cake for a couple who met at the University of Maryland, and of course, we all remember the famous armadillo cake in Sweet Magnolias.

I don't know if you've been checking out Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes' new blog, but she just posted a video on how she creates her sculpted cakes, and specifically how she created a life-sized cake replica of her father's dog for his birthday.

Even if you already ordered a groom's cake, it's still fun to see how sculpted cakes are made.  Click here for the YouTube link.

Are you familiar with the online wedding shop, Estilo Weddings?

 

They carry a variety of wedding accessories, including: favors, paper accessories, fashion accessories, ceremony accessories and a great line of products for showers.  One of my favorite features is their Get Inspired section, featuring ideas for four different wedding styles: Classic, Modern, Global and Organic.

 

 

I came across the site because I was looking for a store that sold fancy cupcake liners and they have a variety of styles.  Some even coordinate with themes – beach, garden or butterfly, stars and palm trees.

 

I just loved these liners and thought they would be great for a shower, or a wedding if you were serving cupcakes instead of a wedding cake.  The liners are sold in packs of 12 for $12 or packs of 50 for $46.

Have you heard about the new Patrick Dempsey movie, Made of Honor?  It starts next Friday, May 2nd, and I'll write a review of the film that afternoon.  Anyway, one lucky couple won a free wedding, which will take place on the red carpet - they're actually having a pink one - before the premiere.  I had a chance to get some great planning tips from the vendors supplying the details for this lucky couple.  Here they are:

Hair Advice from OSCAR BLANDI:

1.  For preparation, bring photographs of your dress, any hair piece you will be putting in your hair and photos of what you are looking for.  The hairdresser can work with you to find the style that works best for you and your dress.

2.  Get hair cut at least two weeks early for any up-coming fix or trim for the wedding day.

3.  Don't wash your hair the wedding day, but rather one day early. Let the hairdresser work with your hair for long-lasting style. If you wash your hair the same day, the hair stylist will put a lot of products to let the hair stay and that can create too much build-up which may make your hair static or frizzy.

Cake Advice from SYLVIA WEINSTOCK:

1. Always use a reputable baker, board of health approved, with a good track record for professionalism. 

2. Ask for a tasting and design session. Be sure you get what you like. Be aware that some guests will have food allergies (i.e. nuts and nut products).

3. Bring with you some ideas that you want incorporated in the design of your cake (i.e. colors, floral species, pictures of your gown, architectural elements, etc.).

4. Be aware of weather, refrigeration, air conditioning, and make sure you have a sturdy table for the cake.

Makeup Advice from DAVID EVANGELISTA:

1.  The bride should ALWAYS go for a hair and make-up trial so that she feels confident as she walks down the aisle.  No bride wants any surprises on her wedding day!

2.  If either the bride or groom is going to use tanning cream or get a spray tan, be sure to do it at least 2 days prior to the wedding just in case the color is off or uneven, allowing time to do a quick fix.

3.  When deciding on an overall look, come armed to your stylist and colorist with photos of the dress, hair accessories/veil and any jewelry so the hair and makeup can complete the look.

4.  Consider buying the basic makeup items your makeup artist used (press powder, lipstick/gloss, blush) so you have the right tools for touch-ups.

Wedding Dress Advice from Designer SELIA YANG:

1. Be open minded when picking your dream dress, but don’t loose yourself in it. Remember you are the star, but not starring in a pageant.

2. Don’t be shy; make sure you are completely happy and satisfied with your dress before you pick it up.  

3. Walk around the house in your wedding shoes for at least an hour to test drive them; it’s hard to enjoy yourself when you are in a lot of pain.  Also, you may want to have a pair of flats on hand just in case.

4. Pick a wedding dress that not only flatters you but also, compliments the season and your location.  A big, heavy and puffy, satin dress in the month of July will make you miserable and impossible to feel beautiful. 

5. Make sure you have an emergency kit handy, such as a light sewing kit, bandage kit, double sided sticky tape, scissors, etc.

You can watch this real wedding, which will be officiated by Mary Hart, live on Crackle.com.  I’m planning on being there, so I’ll take pictures and post them next week!

It’s unfortunate that most guests — and brides — assume that while a wedding cake may look beautiful it will not taste good. Over the past few years amazingly talented bakers have been creating wedding cake masterpieces, that not only look gorgeous, but taste delicious too.

So here’s some wedding wisdom that will help ensure that you and your guests are pleasantly surprised at your wedding:

1. Attend wedding shows in your area, so you can taste a variety of cake flavors and fillings from different bakers, helping you narrow down the choice of bakers you want to schedule formal appointments with.
2. Realize that you can’t please everyone’s taste buds. As long as you, your groom and your parents — siblings, grandparents and best friends can have a say too (but you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen) — think the cake is delicious don’t worry about every single guest. There is no way you will be able to please the palette of over 100 people — that goes for the wedding menu too.
3. Find out what the baker is known for. He or she may be famous for their chocolate or carrot cake recipe. It’s important to work with his or her strengths.
4. Once you’ve settled on a cake flavor, try the different fillings they offer to find the perfect combination.

The Seven-Tier Coconut Cake featured above is one of the 100+ cakes featured in Martha Stewart’s new book, Wedding Cakes. The recipe for this cake is on page 59, so if you are a fan of coconut, bring both the picture of this cake and the recipe to your baker.


Click here for more wedding planning tips.

Photo Credit: Gentl & Hyers

Last night we had a debate at the dinner table. Should we, or shouldn’t we, order red velvet cake for dessert?

The four of us – me, Dave, Torey (my sister) and Scott (her husband) discussed several factors:

• Are we still hungry after eating all those fried appetizers and greasy second course? Not really.


• Scott said he would only eat the frosting and wanted to make sure someone would eat the cake part


• Torey really wanted chocolate cake and wasn’t sure if red velvet was a good substitute


• And I wondered if red velvet would stain our teeth – Dave the Dentist wasn’t sure

I remember hearing years ago that a bride shouldn’t order red velvet cake for her wedding cake because it would turn her teeth red (or pink) and that would definitely not be good for pictures.

So if you love red velvet cake and are thinking about having a red velvet wedding cake or red velvet cupcakes, make sure you check your smile and teeth after the tasting and before finalizing your order. A baker friend told me red velvet cake won’t stain your teeth, but I would double check just to be safe.

Have you had any experiences with cake staining your teeth?

And if you’re wondering what we ended up doing for dessert, the answer is…nothing. We decided that a chocolate craving would not be fulfilled with red velvet so we went our separate ways and I had a cup of tea when I got home.

Speaking of wedding movies, remember the scene in Father of the Bride (the remake, not the original) where Annie, George and Nina Banks go to meet the wedding planner? They squeeze onto a loveseat and flip through an album of wedding cakes. The “fabulous” one has a sticker that reads “1200” and George asks if that’s 1200 dollars - his first car didn't cost $1200.

This scene was played out when I took my parents to meet Ron Ben-Israel, my wedding cake baker. I was having a kosher wedding so it was either the cake the schul caterer baked (no way), Ron or Sylvia Weinstock. I went with Ron because I felt that he could design the cake I was envisioning, and I loved his chocolate cake.

The style and price of my wedding cake was a bone of contention between me and my dad throughout my engagement. I still don't think a 7-tiered tower is too outrageous, do you? Finally at the wedding he saw how amazing it looked, and when we cut the cake my dad, mom and sister all came up to taste it, and dad gave it 2 thumbs up. I have video and a photo to remind him how much he enjoyed it.

Anyway, as Frank the wedding planner explained to the Banks family, the cake can dictate the style of the wedding. And that’s possible if you fall in love with a wedding cake and choose your theme and colors based on the cake you want.

I received a copy of the new book, Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes, a compilation of over 100 beautiful wedding cakes that have been featured in the magazine. My wedding cake didn’t make the cut, but there are some amazing cakes included. If you're not sure what you want your cake to look like, or still mulling over your colors and theme, these cakes will inspire you. They range from classic white tiers to modern cupcake towers and cakes with fruit or flowers to cakes in almost every color of the rainbow.

I pulled a few images of some of my favorites and will feature them over the next few weeks with tips on how to shop for a baker and choose your wedding cake. So stay tuned...

You know that I’m all about having an amazing wedding cake. I’ve seen all sorts of themes and flavors, but I’ve never seen, or heard of, anything like what this Dallas bride did.

The bride had always dreamed of a doll that looked like her, so for her September 2007 wedding she commissioned a baker to create a wedding cake that looked just like her in her wedding dress.

What do you think of this cake? I think it’s hysterical. I don’t think I would recommend this idea or say that cakes that resemble the bride is a new trend for ’08, but I definitely love it. It’s outrageous.

Not sure you can commission a wedding cake that looks like you? No worries. You can custom order a cake topper that looks like you and your groom from Thumbprint Kids.

Photo Credit: CNN.com's I-Report

I picked up the Winter 2008 issue of InStyle Weddings this morning, and it’s gorgeous. In addition to the beautiful flower story by celebrity wedding florist, Mark Held, and unbelievable cakes by one of my favorite bakers, Jim Smeal of Charleston, there is a great story on how to register for wedding gifts.

The writer interviewed several “wedding pros”, including yours truly, on how to create the ultimate wedding registry. Check it out on page 362!

In addition to these stories there are some beautiful star studded weddings to inspire you. And definitely check out the beauty countdown on page 201, the bridesmaid dress story on page 174 and if you’re looking for a unique save-the-date card turn to page 304. My favorite cards are the faux tickets (I used one like this for a travel themed shower), a paper airplane card and the “tell your story card.”

In the last few years many couples have opted for cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. I love cupcakes and think that if you do too, there’s no reason you shouldn’t offer your guests your favorite dessert at your wedding. But here’s a twist on this modern idea – mini-cupcakes.

Have you ever noticed that many people can’t finish an entire cupcake? I know Dave and I always split them. Either there’s too much icing, or the cake is too dense. When I came across mini-cupcakes, I fell in love with them. They're less expensive than the regular size and I can easily it a whole one or two without anyone's help.

If you’ve been talking to your baker about ordering wedding cupcakes, ask him or her about making them minis. They're a great alternative and definitely something new that not many brides are doing. You'll be a trendsetter!

The minis pictured above are from Eleni’s bakery in NY.

Yesterday I was a bridesmaid at one of my oldest friend's wedding. And by coincidence my husband went to college with her husband. The wedding was beautiful and I took lots of pictures that I'll be posting in the next few days and weeks.

For those of you who know me, or have been reading this blog for awhile, know that I’m all about the cake. I love the wedding cake – partly because it’s fun to design, but also because I love cake.

Elissa and Ian’s cake was simple and elegant, as well as delicious, (chocolate is always a safe bet), and as you can see they did not smash the cake into each other’s face.

They’re on their honeymoon now so I can’t confirm this yet, but I think they played I Will by The Beatles as they came up to cut the cake. I highly recommend picking a fun and festive song for your cake cutting. My cake had crescent moons and stars on it so we cut the cake to Fly Me To the Moon.

Talk to your band or DJ about playing a fun song, or even something with the word “sweet” or “sugar” in the title – Sugar Sugar, Sweet Dreams, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Sweetest Thing, Sweet Love - for your cake cutting.

Help other brides find a great song for their wedding: What song are you thinking of cutting the cake to? Do you have a sweet-themed song you can add to this list?

My favorite element of the wedding is the cake. My wedding was all about the cake - the number of tiers, shape, design, flavors and fillings. Ask my family and they will tell you that I was obsessed with the cake. To this day, whenever my dad goes to a wedding he calls me, from the wedding, to tell me about the cake.

Just like I was cake crazy, every bride "obsesses" over something - the flowers, her dress, the food, the music. For those of you who would rather spend your budget on something other than the cake, you can now rent a beautifully decorated cake and spend your budget on other details.

Fun Cakes in Michigan will rent you one of their beautifully already “baked” cakes – made from styrofoam and decorated with fondant and gumpaste – for $100 plus shipping. (They ship nationwide.)

If you'd like to create something original for your wedding, you can work with owner Kimberly Aya to create your own design for as little as $50 more.

And don’t worry, you can still cut the cake with your groom. Kimberly hides a piece of real cake into the bottom tier, so no one will be the wiser, unless you tell them!

Lets face it, the groom only has so much say in the details of the wedding. So why not surprise him with a cake just for him?

The groom's cake is all about the groom. It should resemble his favorite pastime and taste of his favorite flavors. Remember the red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias"? That cake is the perfect example of a groom's cake - his college team mascot combined with his favorite flavor.

Is he a sport fanatic or food lover? Does he have a hobby or special interest? Bring some ideas to your baker and view their sculpted cakes portfolio to learn what his or her strengths are.

And when it comes to taste, the wedding cake is usually a traditional flavor like chocolate or a white cake. So make the groom's cake something complimentary as well as your fiance's favorite. You can make it passion fruit, red velvet, cheesecake or even strawberry shortcake.

The camera cake pictured above was created by Duff Goldman at Charm City Cakes in Baltimore. The Philly Cheese Steak cake on the right was sculpted by Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes in New York City.