Selecting your Wedding Cake

With the many options and factors of selecting a cake which includes the shapes, sizes, style, flavor, icing selection and more it can be a little overwhelming to make a decision. Here are a few tips before you go out to the bakery. As you see above you can use your favorite blouse to create your cake!

A. Create a cake inspiration document electronically or in print from magazines, pictures online and other resources.

B. Include great pictures from other bakeries even if they are many states away, a bakery can duplicate most cakes if there is a cake that you must have.

C. Know the flavors that your bakery offers, review their flavors online and decide what your top three flavors will be that you would like to taste first then move on from there.

D. When you taste cake know what beverage will work best for you to cleanse your palette and get an accurate taste of the cakes.

E. How many guests are you planning on feeding cake to? Not everyone eats wedding cake and also keep in mind that you don’t want to run out of cake.

F. If you are planning on having assorted desserts you can have a little less cake and have the cake sliced thinner.

These are just a few tips that can help you with your decision on your wedding cake. Use the pictures enclosed to start your inspiration folder.

Your wedding cake should be a conversation piece and also function as your reception decor.

Meal Options for the Children

Don’t be fooled…local restaurants & McDonald’s has a kid’s meal option and so does the reception venue.

When you have met with your venue for a tasting be sure to ask about kids meals for the children that are attending or participating in your wedding or event. There are a few options to save on their meals:

A. Kid’s meals are offered as meals that children usually enjoy…. chicken fingers, nuggets, etc.
B. A buffet meal for 50% off for children
C. If the child will be sitting in the lap of their parent, save the cost for the kids meal and they can eat with their parent.

Think about it….do you want to pay $15.00 for a kid’s meal while the 2 year old sits in their parent lap and eat? Have a highchair on standby and let them enjoy.

Be sure to discuss the options available to you, this will allow you to make the best decision for your reception when it comes down to meals for the children and managing your budget.

Happy Planning!

Catering Tips

When selecting a caterer one of the most important factors is that they should have a license and is insured.

Does your caterer offer a tasting of the items you are considering on having on your menu? Don’t wait until the big day to know what the food is going to taste like, also during the tasting remember that the food can be customized to meet your needs ask questions and talk to the caterer.

It is very important to be honest and upfront about your budget from the beginning. You can ask the caterer for a breakdown of each item, just in case you may need to remove or decrease an item from the proposal. Don’t be afraid to ask for opinions on ways to cut back on the pricing and services.

Ask for a contract overview from your caterer, this way you will have an idea of the details that will be included in your contract with the catering company. Be aware of all potential fees other than the prices for the food….such as ….delivery, service charges, wait staff expense and other charges.

Don’t be alarmed most service charges are 20% or higher.

While planning your event things can get a bit hectic, if you are hiring a coordinator he/she will work closely with the catering company to ensure things are running smoothly before and on the day of your occasion. Don’t worry about the last minute details, your focus should be on enjoying your day.

Lastly, think about the details and quality. Bluntly, would you like to have 150 guests for veggies, fruits, and cheese & crackers or 50 for a nice seated meal? You determine what you would like your menu to be and don’t be afraid to cut the guest list to afford what you truly want.

Think about these items listed above and use this as a guide to getting closer to identifying your caterer.