I noticed a lot of people are coming to the blog looking for wedding cake recipes to do their own cake. While it may save you money, I can almost bet that you will incur more stress and frustration. Letting a professional handle your wedding cake assures that you will have an expert design and create your cake, as well as deliver it one piece. Some bakers will even stay on hand to cut the cake or decorate it with the florist.  But let’s say you are having a small intimate wedding at home, or have oodles of time before the wedding.  Wilton has always provided excellent resources for cake baking– their kits are also easy to use with easy-to-follow directions.  They even have pre-made fondant, which will make your life so much easier.  Their cake pans are very easy to use.  Consider also getting a Pampered Chef cake decorator. They have worked wonders and performed small miracles in my house.  DEFINITELY do a practice cake…and make sure you do it months before your wedding. In the event of a mishap, have your local bakery or grocery store bakery on speed dial.  Publix and Sam’s Club have been known for their great, yet inexpensive weddingcakes. 

Here’s a great recipe from Carolyn Rodish that I thought would make a fabulous wedding cake:

Champagne Cake Recipe

1 Duncan Hines white cake mix (works best)
??  Follow box instructions, except substitute 3/4 C. Andre’ Pink Champagne for part of the liquid called for, and the rest milk. 

  The rest of ingredients as called for on the box,
 

Tint cake batter with 1-2 drops of red food coloring to tint the batter a pastel pink color, if desired.  Bake as usual.

You can use jams for your fruit filling in your cakes– just be sure that it complements the flavors of your cake layers and icing.  Carolyn also has a Champagne Buttercream icing, however, the following recipe is among my favorites.  I made Monica’s recipe for my prima donna daughter’s 4 birthday. It covered two tiers of a small cake, and still gave me leftovers for another two tiered small cake and probably six cupcakes. Trust me, I had to resist major temptation not to sit on the couch with the bowl and a spoon watching the Fit Channel 🙂

French Buttercream Icing

 

    8 oz. sugar
     2 oz. water
    4 eggs
     4 egg yolks
  1/2 tsp. salt
     1 lb. butter
     1/2 lb. shortening
    Vanilla to flavor 

•     Dissolve sugar in water and cook to 240. (candy thermometer)
•     Place eggs,yolks,and salt in mixer w/ whip attachment until light & fluffy.
•     While whipping, pour hot sugar onto eggs.Pouring it in a steady stream between the whip and the side of bowl.
•     Whip (HI) until cool, then whip(LO) in butter & shortening. 

Procedure is similar to a Italian Meringue Buttercream.  French Buttercream will be yellow, due to egg yolks. Italian is white.

 (This tints well and easily with food coloring. So if you want a white icing, use an Italian Buttercream recipe)

 

  

If you are still looking for the perfect song for your wedding, you will love “You Are My Miracle” by Vittorio Grigolo featuring Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.  It is a beautiful song– think of Andrea Bocelli meets Mariah Carey.  It’s not over the top, but instead, beautifully composed and orchestrated.  It would make a great first dance song, but it is perfect for the processional as well (it has perfect timing!).  Perfect for the Opera and love song lovers!  Have a listen or buy from iTunes.

Uniquity Invitations offers the most innovative, DIY wedding invitation templates we have ever seen!  Ella, featured left, is just a few of their gorgeous ensembles.  They range from romantic to hip and edgy to traditional.  You purchase the template and customize. You can then print them on your own, or for a more crisp and professional feel, send them to your local Kinkos or Staples (your local Mom and Pop printer might even have lower rates).  You can purchase just the invitation template, or the set (which includes the rsvp card, place card, favor tag, table number, menu and program templates!).

Give them a test run– Tammy is offering a free STD template; you’ll love it!

Uniquity has offered all our listeners a special offer:  You can get the  thank you card template for free by entering the code Weddingstyle with your order. 

“Can I really do it myself” you ask? Absolutely. Thousands of brides just like you have said “no thanks” to outrageous florist fees and walked down the aisle with a magnificent bouquet that only looks expensive.

Get Wedding Flower Ideas Now!

 

You may also want to visit our newest vendor, My Wedding Roses.  You can buy your roses wholesale!  Oscar and Veronica do their very best to provide you with great ideas and educate you on your flowers (we just love that!).  From Timeless to Jades to Blue Curiosas, your choices are endless.  My Wedding Roses even offers a Bride’s Choice Program– Receive a test box first; Then, they will send 150, 300 or 450 of your selected roses directly from the farms in Ecuador! You can get a 15% discount by mentioning our show or newsletter, WEDDINGSTYLE, with your order. 

I just love where I live 🙂 We finally took a break from moving, cleaning and unpacking  and took the babies to the beach. We had an awesome time!  Jekyll Island’s beach is a great beach to go to– a little less congested than St. Simons, yet still has great views.  I did have a good time.  My hair on the other hand, did not.   I walked out of my house Hollywood glam, came back looking like Tina Turner’s lost love child.  The humidity is something down here!  So now I am on the hunt for Tigi’s S-factor products which is supposed to help with humidity. So a note to the fellow wedding divas, if you are coming this way….bring the spackle for your hair.

On the plus side, if you have not visited the island are considering it for your wedding destination, I hope you come and visit.  Jekyll Island is exclusive and intimate.  You will feel like the world revolves around you.  The Jekyll Island Club is always doing fantastic chef demonstrations, dinner and dancing soirees and more. If you have ever considered having your wedding at the Club, you shoud really come down for a visit.  The hotel is located in the Historical District of the island and offers you many options such as the Faith Chapel and Crane Cottage. 

Presently, the Jekyll Club is offering a special, which is a wonderful opportunity for you to come and visit and test the waters.  You can enjoy the exclusive club during its Fall special for only $139 per night, per person!  Simply enter the code FALL when securing your reservations. 

Talk about Bridal stress!  How about having your wedding vendors cancelled five days before your wedding…and you didn’t cancel them!?  A few women, affectionately known as “knotties” on the message board of The Knot, cancelled the contracts of another member’s wedding.  Read the story  or Watch the video

The O is one of the vendors where your wedding information is kept securely and must go through a system of channels in order to cancel with us and your vendors. This is done for your protection. 

Please be careful with the information you share online!  You never know another person’s motives. 

www.ExclusivelyWeddings.com is your complete wedding shopping resource, filled with hundreds of accessories, invitations, favors, wedding party gifts and other special touches for every aspect of your wedding.

Exclusively Weddings website and catalog includes helpful hints, traditions and the latest ideas for an unforgettable celebration.

Use code YZ26 for $10 off your purchase of $50 or more! 

 

 

Want your guests to be able to create memorable photobooks of your wedding?  Would you like to give a memory book as a gift to your bridesmaids or parents?

You can now receive a free 20 page 7×5 photobook from Photoworks when you use the code C440-38-5161-81 which expires on July 31, 2006.  This code will allow you to save $12.96 off of any purchase.