cakes cakes cakes

We've been researching cakes and cakeboxes. Here's what we found.

Websites for cake boxes

• cake slice boxes you can arrange in a cake shape
• flat cake boxes

and some cakes we actually liked the looks of

Industry guidelines claim we can expect to spend between $8 and $15 per slice. Is that really realistic? If I go into a store and buy an exquisite slice of cake, am I expecting to pay that much? If you order an okay dessert at an okay restuarant, for $8 it better be a pretty damn big slice of cake.

off to the gym

RocketMan and I are heading to the gym this evening. We've both been swearing to go there the past few MONTHS! and we still haven't made it yet.
There's no way I can fit into my dress if I don't start hitting the treadmill.
I also need a way to relieve stress.

So this morning I was up early and packed my gym bag. We are going to sweat it out. Because I've been stress-eating these past several weeks, I've been putting on weight. However, I read somewhere that women with different shapes should approach toning up differently. I have an apple shape--a tendency to gain weight around the midsection. In fact, as long as I can remember, I have had this shape and so do half the women on my mother's side of the family.

The recommended regimen for someone with my shape is to cut back on simple carbs, opting for complex carbs instead. Also, I need to take in a moderate amount of protein (that would actually mean an increase for me), and focus on cardiovascular exercises. The bright side is that belly fat melts away faster than fat that clings to the hips and thighs so I'll keep the junk in the trunk and slim down that waist!

DIY madness

I'm still searching for a way to incorporate tradition, so to speak, into our wedding. I think that having plaid silk sashes on the bridesmaids would be a nice touch. Either for their sashes or wrapped around their bouquets. It's a tough one.
I found a website where there were instructions on how to sew the sash yourself. My Mom has a sewing machine and it can't be that hard. The only trouble is the cost of the fabric.

http://www.budget-wedding.net/weddings/do-it-yourself-wedding-dress-sash-belt-and-scarf/

Another thing I've been searching for is plaid silk fabric. It's not cheap. It's pricey. But it's gorgeous. I think. On item I found here costs $10 for a sample!!! Maybe the bridesmaids will just have kerchiefs to wrap their bouquets.
There's a nice purple one here for $30/yard.

wait one cotton picking minute!
it's there on EBAY for a much more manageable price.

OMG
someone posted a trimming company on Kvetch
here's a link

and then I got lazy

I've received some books which I ordered both purchased and borrowed. I wanted to learn more about wedding papercrafts.
Well, one book was from the early nineties which I borrowed from the library. Some of the looks were frightening.
Two other books were purchased second hand online. They were published more recently. They had some good ideas but mostly it seemed like a lot of work for invitations--especially since there were going to be so many and in the end, people would likely not know where they wound up.
Perhaps buying invitations pre-printed, or buying invitation kits might not be a bad deal.
I looked at some designs on the big warehouse website (you know--the wedding dress people) and came across some that weren't all that expensive. Maybe 120 for 100 invitations and envelopes printed thermographically. Response cards are separate but those don't even have to be exactly by that company.

arts and crafts anyone?

I've been coming across a lot of ideas. I can't keep up.
Right now I'm thinking about invitations, invitations, invitations
I even bought 2 books from half dot com for creating your own paperie for a wedding
I wouldn't go so far as to make the paper myself but I'm finding one can get a little creative
and still do a lot of fancy things
such as
1. use card stock backing and a printed heavy paper--photo copy, trim, and assemble
2. alter blank note cards with your announcement on the inside--add stamping, ribbons, sealing wax, whatever
3. buy parts from a diy invitation company--it's not really diy since they are selecting the range and trimming the paper--but you have to print and assemble

I saw some good advice on the back of one book I borrowed from the library. It said, spend your time dreaming, not shopping. Don't spend a lot of money on things that aren't quite perfect.
I thought that was good advice. I don't want to wind up with a lot of supplies that aren't exactly what I'm going to need.
Images ripped out of a magazine actually.

Mountains and Valleys

The past five days have really taught me a whole lot about this relationship. There is no question that this is the lady that I want to marry. I would marry her tomorrow if she would allow it. It seems that things that I have learned about this relationship continue to be forgotten by yours truly. I have forgotten such things such as no matter what if it is day five thousand of the relationship; it should be the treated as the first time that I met her where I did my best to impress her and let her know that I'm there for her and would always like to be there for her (okay maybe that was the fourth date). I learned that this relationship will have its mountains where everything is going great and we are both clicking at every single point but there will always be the valleys that are not so easy to deal with but that's when you dig deep and realize that we can work it out; that we can climb out of the valley and reach to the zenith again. This past year has been without a doubt the best year for me and I look forward to many more great years with her. Oh yeah one last thing, the wedding is eight months away and everything is finally taking shape and I think that after this we both can counsel another couple on things to do and not to do when preparing for a wedding.

what's next?

Supposedly we've gotten the hardest part down--the venue. Now everything else is supposed to fall into place. That's what people say. Yeah, right.
what colors should we pick?
who should we invite?
who should be in the wedding party?
how much can we spend on photography?
should we even bother with a videographer?

I wish there was a wheel of weddings I could spin that would tell me the answers to those questions like that little paper game we used to make when we were in grade school. You would make a little box that fit over your fingers and write some numbers and colors on each panel. Then it basically worked like a magic 8 ball. You would ask a question and get an answer.

One thing I know for sure, this is the guy I want to marry. Everything else is extras.

so close and yet so far

The search for the perfect venue has taken us all over New York City and parts of Westchester too. It's been challenging, educational, tiresome, exciting--all those things. Needless to say we are both exhausted and I don't think I'd be stretching it to say neither of us likes the prospect of having to look at another place. I think we've seen 14 or 15 in all--and that's in person. Not to mention searching the internet and ruling out places we thought were in appropriate.

The wedding industry is big business and there are some industry standards. However, I have learned that you HAVE to get out of your house and look at the venue. You can't just look at their website and talk to them over the phone. Well you can but if you're picky (and we are picky) you'll be sorry in the end. One place that stated it had outdoor facilities available for the ceremony showed us a patio, which would have been fine, except it was about 100 feet away from a major street--exit off the interstate 87 North. I know people like to gawk at weddings, but I didn't want to be responsible for slow traffic off a highway exit. Another place had a little gazebo perched up on a hill that looked like a sheer drop into the Hudson River. Yet another place was trying to put 15 of our guests into a space that was the same size of my office cubicle. It's a large cubicle, but still.

One place we liked was about to start major construction that we couldn't be sure would have been finished by the time our date rolled around. They said May and we're saying August. But you know how contractors are. Still, that's where our friend Jelly, was working so we think maybe those contractors know what's good for them.

The prices mostly varied within 20 dollars of each other for the dates we looked at. But what you were getting for those prices made it necessary to sit down and do the math in order to have a good comparison. You could have 6 appetizers and three courses here for $55, vs. 5 appetizers three courses and a free cake over there for $75. Or you could have the whole shebang for $110 complete with ice sculptures, crudites (you know, veggies and dip), antipasto, and intermezzo (a small dish of something served in between courses such as sorbet before a heavy course of beef, fish, chicken--it cleanses the palate etc.) By the way, all our prices quotes were without alcohol. Don't think weddings in NYC are cheap.

All banquet and catering managers are not created equal. Some people were great on following up and paying attention to detail. Some were polished and very professional. One guy we were sure had just narrowly avoided a career as Jelly from Analyze This but we liked him. That was the thing. Some of these people, we just didn't like. Two guys in particular seemed to think their facility was too good for us. And in my mind I'm thinking, "hey, maybe you're right. How about I just take my cash somewhere it's appreciated". And other places where we just couldn't afford it, they were very polite, professional, understanding, never snooty, and even suggesting other places that we might want to look at. One guy, he should be teaching hospitality courses at the community college he was so good.

So we think we've finally settled on the place we were going to make our deposit at the other night. We took the contract home for closer inspection. We even showed it to uninvolved parties. But we weren't sure about dealing with a manager that seemed a little too snooty for our liking. At this point, I'm a little frustrated with looking but willing to look further. At the same time, I think this place is a good value, good location, and suits our style. So maybe I'll save up my patience and spread it out over the next 8 months rather than starting back at square one.

We had a date and now we have a new one!

The more and more I think about the wedding the more I would rather just elope. I have said this idea on a few occasions and she has done the same as well. When either of us mention it we both tell the other that let's go for the wedding. We are equal opposites at the right times. What have I learned so far in this process? Venues are always cheaper on the weekdays than the weekends. Some of the them provide three entrees others will allow our guests to choose from two. The wedding will be more expensive than going to City Hall. The most important thing that I've learned is that this is the first true test of the relationship where we both must compromise. Have we got into arguments over some of these decisions? Sure we have. Does that worry me? Absolutely not. It means we are both strong headed people and in the end we always talk about what's the most logical thing to do. There's one thing that I look forward to besides finally marrying my beautiful lady, that has to be the wedding cake. Throughout the last few weeks I think I've grown a healthy obsession with wedding cakes. Maybe I just love cakes in general. Oh maybe I should mention that we do have a date and finally a choice of a venue. Now to get the photographer, videographer and florist. The fun never ends.

it could all be so simple

This is a centerpiece I found on a website called save on crafts. They sell vases, and many many other craft supplies. I liked this centerpiece because it's so simple to put together. I think a little bear grass submerged inside the vase would really bring it off nicely. One could definitely get by with fewer flowers too.
I found a lot of great options at fiftyflowers.com and their prices are the best so far from online flower companies I've looked at.
This is one part of the wedding planning I'm looking forward to (aside from the whole getting married part).


Next up are two pics of bouquets I found on the Martha Stewart website. Tulips and callas vs. delphiniums. Those are all beautiful.

alternative to flowers

Visiting a botanical garden this weekend I saw an interesting idea. But I forgot to take a picture.
The location where we will likely have our wedding and reception has a lovely wedding gazebo if you will. It is preceded by a constructed wooden arch. I don't want to decorate with the usual tulle but with ribbons--lots and lots of ribbon. Sort of maypole meets Eastern Temple. None of those images are mine. the first image is mine--I finally went by, took a photo and uploaded it.

up late

I'm up late and now I'm hungry. I should have just tried to sleep even though I didn't want to.
I had some ideas for the reception that I wanted to get down before I forgot. Some are ideas I found elsewhere but still--

print large numbers on patterned paper in heavy/colored ink--cut and place in frames--place frame on table (give frames away)

paint wooden numbers in your wedding colors

cover small boxes with satin in wedding colors and then place flowers in jars and into boxes

also, what I wanted to capture but couldn't was a color combination that is hard to explain--blue flowers (maybe iris), with cream/pale yellow roses, and sage green greenery--with a few bits of purple--from lavender or something like that.

Reception Ideas

1. Polaroid photos of our guests which they can sign
   
2. incorporate a cultural tradition such as a cake procession or traditional fabric for bridesmaids flower holders
   
3. Use family heirlooms in the decorations. Try to find antique pieces which your great grandmothers used at their wedding or rather on a day to day basis and incorporate it. Perhaps I don't have any family heirlooms but photos will work just fine in very classy frames
4. A groom's cake that reflects his hobby!!!

simple

Here are some ideas for centerpieces that I simply took from a commercial floral website. I think we can just put some flowers in a vase and tie a bow around it. Maybe we could go even simpler and sprinkle rose petals and place pillar candles--depends on the time of day.

bright

I found these images of bouquets on the Martha Stewart website. They are inspiring, colorful, cheerful. Bright!

little by little

So far we've been getting stuff done. The industry makes a lot of grand statements about booking things a year in advance, spending this much on a, that much on b. But we're coming along okay.

We've inquired about 2 locations we're looking at for our event and one of them is a botanical garden.

We've also saved $1,603.45 so far. The ticker I'm using is incorrect. I updated it incorrectly recently. I've also been steadily paying off my credit card debts. It's hard. I'm accustomed to shopping. A lot. I don't spend a lot each time I go but I'm accustomed to being in the mall all the time. So, now, I'm having a tough time. Last night I went to Rite Aid and splurged on toiletries and makeup. That was SO not needed. I could easily have put that money into my savings account!!! Bad bad bad.

RocketMan often seems a little stressed when I go on and on about venues, flowers, attire, money, catering and so on. I don't want to stress him out but we haven't been sitting down to discuss things at the designated times. But then we talk all the time. Why should I save up information or ideas to tell him, say, once a week when I'm talking to him right now? But I guess I can ask him when is a good time to talk about something.

First Date

One year ago from today we had our first date. Earlier tonight we had our "anniversary". I thought that she looked absolutely beautiful and enjoyed the conversation over dinner. We were corny in that we dressed very similar to how we were dressed on the first date. We never went to the same restuarant though but made it to a great restaurant where the food was great and the dessert was to die for. I think this is one of the many things that I look forward to when I do marry this awesome lady; I look forward to our different anniversaries. I wonder if she remembers the day when we first kissed? Then again I better check if I remember.

my veil

I think this veil is beautiful, simple, and modest without being too conventional. I like the idea of being unique and not looking just like every other bride who is walking down the aisle next summer. I want to express myself and be different.

I stumbled across the look while visiting some Australian websites but knew I had no plans to order from a milliner somewhere in the pacific. I began searching for places a little closer to home. It took me a while to figure out what this veil is called. Veilette, short short veil, mini veil, ultra mini veil, were all terms that I tried to use to search google. Guess what they're called: Birdcage veils. Sometimes also Visor veils.

I plan on getting one that's long enough to reach to my chin so someone will have something to lift up when the Pastor says, "You may kiss the bride".

a beautiful quotation

Love is a force. . . . It is not a result;
it is a cause.  It is not a product.
It is a power, like money, or steam
or electricity.  It is valueless unless you
can give something else by means of it.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 

 

Interesting favors/centerpieces

http://www.wanderfuls.com/indexMovie.shtml

combines centerpieces and favors
interesting
but no mention of the price.
hmmm...

Chest pains anyone?

I pay attention to more things having to do with weddings and marriages these days not that I'm becoming a bigger sap than I already am but I am just making sure other people have done this before. Yes I'm a little apprehensive not just about the day but about the preparation for that day. To relieve some of that apprehension I know what I have to do...I have to get myself in gear right now. I have to start making some calls and getting answers to some questions. Now what do I do about the tightness in my chest due to the savings for that day? I'm sure that will pass.

Nice Decision

The big big day...wow just thinking about it makes me a little nervous; makes my insides begin to wiggle. I am nervous about the lady but nervous about how everything will eventually unfold. This is a great idea though; we will get some laughs later on. Thanks for involving me.

I decided

that I needed some place to organize my thoughts and have a record of the preparation involved in preparing. . .
it'll make for some laughs later on
;)