From Publishers Weekly
Despite rampant unemployment, financial insecurity and dizzying personal debt levels, there’s still a place for purveyors of wedding gowns, flowers and multi-tiered cakes. Professors Otnes and Pleck, of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, amply explain why. Some of their observations aren’t surprising, as when they posit that weddings are a way to flaunt social prowess, but other insights about the link between consumer culture and wedding bells are fresh. They also cover the trappings surrounding the wedding day, such as the engagement ring, the perception of romantic love and even the bouquet toss. Although they sometimes make lighthearted observations, Otnes and Pleck are often scholarly. They adeptly weave in anthropology and cultural commentary to sharpen their points, for instance, discussing the introduction of the “sacred” into the shopping process. As the bride (and it’s almost always the bride instead of the groom) selects items f (more…)
I was dressed in a red sari. There were women to the side of me performing puja to Ganesh. I was holding a small statue of Ganesh in my hand. The only bad feeling I was getting was from the groom. He was seated far away from me. He was dressed in traditional western clothes. He was enjoying watching his family bring him a large cake out of which two women dressed in nurses outfits jumped out to surprize him.
I have a dream of opening a chic store that sells only wedding cakes. I’ve played around with fondant, icing, etc. and have made some pretty creations. I would like to take it to the next level and I see many of the best designers have something referred to as their Master’s in Cake Design (or something worded similarly).
I know there are many private institutions that have pastry, baking, bread, etc. courses, but I’m wondering, what is the quicket, least inexpensive route to take to learn this art?
Hi Again Brides, check out these new auctions:
Better prices than I have seen in stores, do you think?
Hi Again Brides, check out these new auctions:
Better prices than I have seen in stores, do you think?
Nowadays, lucky brides can choose from among an assortment of wedding cakes in all shapes and sizes, colors and costs, flavors and favorites that the brides of yore would have gone into paroxysms of envy. Why? Because they were stuck with baked goodies, of which the crumbs were showered over their heads for good luck!
Still, if you are dissatisfied with these traditional wedding cakes, you can always add pizzazz to them. Here are three trendy ideas to choose from.Eat Your Cake and Have It, Too!
It can frustrating when at the end of the wedding day, all you have left of your costly cake are photographs and memories. Of course, there is also the traditional cake slice to be mummified, er, refrigerated to be eaten when the first wedding anniversary rolls around.
So, what do you do when you want to have a 3D memento of your cake? You have them sculpted in porcelain, of course! There are artists who will gladly make an exact replica of wedding cakes that are, of course, miniature versions only.
Since this method of preserving your cake in 3D is expensive, often up to $400 each, you might want to re-think the idea. However, if you have the money and you have the desire, then go for it!Wedding Cake/Wedding Favors
With this idea, you can kill two birds with one stone. On one hand, you have a unique “wedding cake” that guests can rave about for days to come. On the other hand, you can save on wedding costs because this “wedding cake” doubles as wedding favors!
Here’s the idea: Favor boxes are shaped like cake slices, which are then filled with your edible wedding favors like candies, chocolates, almonds and even a slice of cake. These favor boxes are arranged into tiers of “wedding cake”, decorated with ornaments of your choice like silk flowers and velvet fruits and wrapped in colorful ribbons. You can then “slice” the cake and give the favors to guests in the traditional manner!
Another idea: You can have favor boxes in similar themes as your edible wedding cake and come up with paper cakes! To take it one step further, you can even have these paper cakes printed with the guests’ names and table numbers thereby transforming them into favor boxes cum escort cards.
The best thing about these wedding cakes is that you need not worry about the groom dunking your face into them! Now, that would truly make your day.Skip the Traditional Wedding Cake
In cases where the traditional wedding cakes hold no appeal for you, how about going the alternative route of serving many types of dessert? This way, you can offer your guests variety while fulfilling your desire for uniqueness.
For example, you can opt for your favorite sweet pastries arranged in artful layers or tiered towers. Either way, you will have dramatic effects similar to the elaborate wedding cakes. Besides, not everybody is into carrot cake with fondant icing.
Indeed, when it comes to wedding cakes, your imagination is limited only by your sweet tooth, strict budget and sentimental side!
Your wedding cake is the central piece of decoration, and probably the most delicious decoration, that brings your entire theme into focus. The culminating factor of the vital wedding cake is the elegant design, symbol, or figurines that you place on top of all the cake’s luxurious tiers. Cake tops are a great way to really put your personality and your good taste into your wedding reception. Also, wedding cake toppers are great keepsakes for you and your newly wedded spouse to take home in remembrance of your special day.
You can keep these durable items for a lifetime, keeping them out on display in your new home as a testament to the bond you share and the memories you’ve made and will continue to make in your new life together. Try choosing a wedding cake topper that reflects your personality, beliefs, and approach to life by searching for cake toppers that represent many different cultures, worldviews, and historic traditions. Choosing the perfect topper can be a daunting task, but with these examples listed below you don’t have to worry at all about looking any further for a great piece that will impress your guests and stimulate your memories in the future.
Traditional Celtic Claddaugh Cake Top:
This traditional Irish symbol represents the bond between the bride and the groom perfectly. The claddaugh symbolizes the fact that your hands will be blessed in friendship and your hearts will be joined in love forever. This beautiful blessing couldn’t come in a more beautiful cake top that is made of glazed porcelain and will be the perfect addition to any cake and will certainly enhance the feeling of romance and the eternal love you share for your new spouse.
Silver Asian Double Happiness Traditional Script Brushed Cake Top:
This simple silver colored happiness symbol represents the joy and completion you feel as a result of your bond with your partner. The simplicity of this cake topper makes it a very versatile item that can be used on your primary cake or any other place you’d like in your wedding reception to enhance the message of love.
Contemporary Couple Cake Topper:
Breaking from the traditional stiff-looking bride and groom atop the wedding cake, this magnificent glass sculpture features a modern art version of the bride and groom in the middle of a special dance. This cake topper is certainly a very elegant addition to your cake while also being a very efficient means of communicating the message of love and the union of two souls.
Reflective Castle Cake Top:
This cake topper is absolutely stunning! It is the perfect way to top off your magical wedding and to remind the bride that she looks like a fantastic princess on her special day. This fantasy castle is made of perfectly clear glass and is accented with gold pieces. This cake topper fits into anyone’s wedding and will capture the elegance of the lighting and the confectionery treat that it is sitting on top of. Make your cake more enjoyable and functional as a design piece with this wonderful cake topper.
Presenting an array of floral bouquets and decorations, Creative Wedding Florals You Can Make is the perfect alternative to hiring a professional florist. Featuring detailed, step-by-step projects for making fabulous floral decorations out of both silk and dried flowers in addition to fresh, wedding planners can begin these projects well in advance of the big day while saving hundreds of dollars. The 28 stunning projects include: 8 gorgeous bridal bouquets; 8 arrangements for the wedding party, including corsages, boutonnieres and flower girl accessories; 9 beautiful floral creations for decorating the pews, altar, unity candle, cake and more; Every project is rated by cost, time and skill level required, and features big, beautiful photos and step-by-step demonstrations. This book is great for busy, cost conscious wedding planners who have to make important decisions about what they can accomplish within their available budget, skill level and schedule.
About the Aut (more…)
I’m getting married in September of 2009. I want calla lilies for my bouquet, but I found a perfect cake with roses on it. I wanted to know if I could use red roses on my cake while using white Calla lilies for my main flower?
I always had aspirations of being a flight attendant. but I am comming from a really messed up past. I have three years of recovery from substance abuse and worked making wedding cakes, a job that doesnt require a lot of social interraction…I was always in the “back” making party/wedding cakes/ pastries…etc.
I just thougth maybe its possible to still pursue the dream.. so i f there are any flight attendants out there…please….any words of wisdom?
thanks
