Bored of getting the most common wedding favors? Now that it’s your turn to give out one, why not do away with the usual bride-and-groom figurines, key chains and small picture frames? It’s time for you to exercise your creative juices when picking out wedding favors for your beloved guests.

When selecting for wedding favors, you basically have a very wide array of choices. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the wedding favors you’ve chosen are within your budget. And of course, these little keepsakes would be in line with the theme of your wedding.

Here a few wedding favor suggestions that have a flair for uniqueness and creativity.

Wine Stoppers

If you want to impress, then why don’t you use wine stoppers as wedding keepsakes. These wine accessories would look chic and modern, especially if you choose unique designs. In addition, wine stoppers would prove to be very useful as it is really hard to put back the cork once a bottle is already opened. These wine stoppers would preserve those highly volatile and sought-after vintage wines.

These wedding favors come in different shapes and sizes, especially the top part. You can select from cork, rubber or plastic wine stoppers. There are also stoppers that are made of wood, plastic, or even crystals and special metals. Surely, with enough time to scout for them, you can get the wine stoppers that would fit your taste and mood.

Fairytale-Inspired Ornaments

If your wedding is one that’s inspired by a fairytale, then it’s but proper that your wedding favors would have a touch of magic and romance. Just make sure, however, that the tiny things you’ve chosen as wedding keepsake aren’t things related to the villains of the fairytales. Otherwise, it would create a very negative impression.

For instance, if you’re a Cinderalla fan, then you could make use of her tiny Cinderella coach ornaments. You could even look for glass slipper miniatures. These wedding favors would truly add a romantic and magical touch to your already magnificent fairytale wedding.

If you are a fan of Iron Heinrich, then you can always come up with Frog Prince scented candles. These green stuffs would look truly refreshing and “hopeful.”

Garden Items

If you are having a garden wedding, then your wedding favors should also speak of the same scenery. If you’re crazy about daisies, then why don’t you look for scented candles that are shaped like those blossoms? You could even go for rose-shaped candles if you are a fan on this type of flower.

A garden-themed wedding is not just about flowers. Expand your horizon and make use of other things that can be found in the garden. Pails are one of them; so miniature tin pails with tiny petals would also prove to be great wedding favors. Get into the seasons drama and come up with personalized fall leaves as wedding keepsakes. These meaningful leaves can be made of plastic or crepe paper, among other materials.

Remember, however, that the success of a wedding ceremony does not solely lie on the beauty of your wedding favors. There are other aspects of the wedding preparation that need your attention. But if you have the luxury of time and money, it wouldn’t hurt to get creative with your wedding favors. After all, as keepsakes, they are the things that your guests will remember you by.

At BestForBride.com, we never run out of ideas for bridesmaid dresses and wedding favors. We also offer a wide selection of bridal shops in Mississauga. Check them out today.

The history of wedding cakes and the tradition attached to them are rich. Before wedding cakes came to be what they are now, they’ve passed a lot of stages, all of which are equally interesting and intriguing.

During the Roman times, the concept of elaborate wedding cake decorations and icings was not yet a reality. For instance, the groom is supposed to eat part of the wedding loaf. He would then break the remaining portion and it must be broken over the bride’s head. This symbolizes the groom’s dominance over the bride. This tradition, however, has long been eradicated possibly because of its chauvinistic implications.

Also, in the olden times, small cakes (more like today’s cupcakes) are stacked to form the wedding cakes. The notion of a white wedding cake is also very popular and was connected to affluence. Because ingredients used to make up the white icing are hard to come by, only those who can afford to travel to other places just to get hold of these cake “materials” can come up with white wedding cakes.

Interestingly, in the 17th century, the idea of sleeping on a piece of cake became very popular. They say that if you put a piece of the wedding cake underneath your pillow, you will dream about your future spouse. In the 18th century, this tradition on wedding cakes evolved into the brides passing tiny cake crumbs through their wedding rings. These crumbs are then placed underneath the pillows.

Later on, the traditional wedding cake slicing that we see today came about. The bride, with the help of the groom, creates two slices, and together, they eat that part of the cake. As this is the first task that that the couple does together, this act symbolizes their never-ending promise of supporting each other for the rest of their married life.

Then came the multi-layered and elaborately designed cakes of many colors that we see today. Wedding cakes are not only white in color; today, the couple can experiment with different colors, usually making it consistent with the theme and the motif of the wedding.

Still, another interesting fact about this tradition is that the couple tries to save the topmost tier of their wedding cakes. They preserve and freeze it for use during their first anniversary. But you don’t get to see this anymore today as the elaborate decorations make the cake more vulnerable.

What proved to be a traditional and simple creation of cakes — or loaves of bread as in the olden times — now became a design extravaganza. Numerous cake and pastry houses specialize on the design of wedding cakes. The internet even has a wide selection of wedding cakes.

In conclusion, just like the wedding ceremony itself, the history and tradition of wedding cakes have come a long way. Some practices have long been eradicated while others survived the test of time and modernity.

If you prefer a traditional wedding, then you’d surely insert some of the practices that survived in the ceremony and at the reception. Otherwise, you can skip these and just go directly to the sole purpose of the occasion. The most important thing however, is that you’ve respected the solemnity of the event and the importance of this sacrament.

BestForBride.com is all about weddings – from wedding favours to designer wedding dresses and wedding cakes. Visit us today.

Did you know that the whole wedding ceremony has a long and rich history? Yes, from the groomsmen to the bridesmaids, a lot has been written about the how they entire wedding entourage came to be.

Today, it is but proper for the bridesmaids to wear the best and the most interesting bridesmaid dresses. In the past, bridesmaid dresses are limited to mimicking the bridal gown? Let’s see why.

The Early Roman World

During this period, bridesmaids formed some kind of a protective shield or an infantry in order to protect the bride as she travels from her place to the village of the groom. Protection was needed as there’s always a possibility of thugs hurting the bride or suitors stealing her away. You can see here that even at such an early civilization, violence has always been one of the by-products of unrequited love.

In the Western World

The tradition begins with complying with the wedding ceremony requirement of having ten witnesses. The aim of this requisite is to outsmart evil souls and spirits who are believed to be in attendance during the ceremony. Thus, it is but proper that bridesmaid dresses are identical to that of the bride (the attire of men ushers must also be identical of the groom’s) so the so-called evil spirits would have a hard time identifying which of the ladies and gentlemen present are being wed.

If you take a look at wedding photographs of Victorian marriages, you’d really have a hard time identifying which of the couples got married simply because of the sameness of the clothes that the entourage is wearing.

In Today’s World

These days, the need for a female troop to protect a bride is no longer imminent. This clearly eliminates the fact that bridesmaid dresses need to be identical with the bride’s. However, bridesmaid dresses should still be in harmony with the theme of the wedding ceremony.

And although bridesmaids are no longer required to help fend off curses and hexes and evil spirits altogether, they still maintain a vital role in the entire wedding ceremony.

For example, they need to provide key support to the bride. This may be in terms of shopping for the perfect wedding gown or scouting for the most reasonably-priced hotel for the couple’s out-of-town guests. In addition, bridesmaids would also prove to be such a great help in looking for least costly but memorable wedding favors.

Of course, their responsibility to the couple — especially to the bride — is not only confined in the wedding ceremony itself. There is still bridal a shower to host and organize.

Being a bridesmaid is truly demanding — in a positive way. If you are one, make sure you prepare yourself to get busy months or even years before the special date. You need to spare some time in taking care of wedding preparations. And the payoff for all of these hardwork and sweat? A gorgeous gown that you can wear down the aisle!

You see, the function of bridesmaids hasn’t really changed that much over the years. It has never really made a 360-degree turn, it simply has modernized and has adapted to modern times. Because the fact is, wearing those bridesmaid dresses (identical to the bride’s or otherwise) gives bridesmaids one role: supporting the bride.

We often wonder what the big fuss on the wedding cakes is all about. Brides pore over its design, flavor and decorations for months on end. Grooms look forward to taking a bite of it. Guests seek it and eagerly anticipate tasting its richness. Wedding cake makers showcase a wide variety of designs on their display windows, making each passerby drool at its magnificence.

We now know that the wedding cakes’ essential role in marriage ceremonies is up there with the wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses and wedding bouquet. Every guest holds their breath in anticipation of their first glimpse of the wedding cake, the first slice made by the bride and groom, the first forkfuls that the couple feed each other, their first bite of the lovely, rich luxurious cake. So what exactly is the fuss all about? What is with wedding cakes and what does it actually symbolize?

Very few know what wedding cakes represent. Very few understand why bridal boutiques have tons of magazines piled up with various topics about it. Actually, wedding cakes are illustrative of the bliss, as well as the lightheartedness that abounds during the wedding celebration. It shows the bond that husbands and wives will eventually share — it represents the friendship and love that will continue to flourish within the marriage. Feeding each other in front of so many witnesses is deeply meaningful, wherein the bride and groom seem to show the world their affection for each other.

Wedding cakes are, more often than not, a central part of your theme. It links together all the other aspects of your wedding – your decorations, wedding favors, wedding invitations, wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses, among others. The cake is the biggest representation of your wedding theme; it is also the best representation of your personality.

What adds to the glitz of wedding cakes is its design. The essential components of its design are the wedding toppers, the icing, and the color of the wedding cake. These designs and decoration determine the impact of your wedding cakes. A wonderfully made cake with a dowdy design is deemed ineffectual. At first glance, guests already have made a judgment on your wedding cake. The already have a preconceived notion on how dowdy it must taste like. Similarly, an exaggeratedly embellished wedding cake will put a lot of guests off. On another note, there are also a few wedding cakes that look superb – every bit as glorious as those in wedding cakes magazines. Yet, these wedding cakes taste bland. Wedding cakes like these are even bigger disappointments. You are building up the expectations of a lot guests, and you let them fall off a cliff when they get to taste the cake.

All in all, wedding cakes are indispensable. As mentioned above, wedding cakes are the bond that holds you wedding theme together. Without it, your wedding day would seem patchy. It is definitely one element of a wedding that you simply can not do without. A wedding is never the same without a lovely wedding cake.

Wedding cakes have been around since the Roman era, and though many traditions over what to do with the wedding cake – such as breaking it over your (bride’s) head, keeping a piece to eat for your first year anniversary, or making you and your new husband kiss over the cake – have thankfully passed, almost every wedding will still have a cake. It has become the quintessential symbol of marriage.

Back then it was a simple, single-tiered, often white (to symbolize purity) cake. Over the years, the tiers have added (and added), the current contender for the record being a 17 foot, 7-tiered, 15,032 pound cake made by Mohegan Sun. As cool as this may seem, it’s certainly going to be out of place in a place like Toronto. So how should you choose among the many wedding cakes in Toronto?

What Cake Would You Choose?

It seems like a simple enough question, isn’t it? After all, a cake is a cake is a cake. Besides, how many wedding cakes in Toronto can there be? There are literally THOUSANDS of wedding cakes in all shapes, sizes, flavors, and forms, from traditional to extra kinky (yes, kinky) for you to choose and be confused from. When your baker starts babbling on about how this is better than that, wouldn’t it be nice to know what he’s talking about?

What You Should Know

Here are a few definitions that may help you sort things out when choosing wedding cakes in Toronto. Tier means layer. The number of tiers dictates how tall the cake is going to be. The most popular number is three – extravagant enough, but not too much. When you are asking for a quotation, be sure to ask if ALL the layers in that quotation are edible and not styrofoam.

The most common types of cake base from fluffy to dense are sponge, chiffon, and pound (including the fruitcake-type). For the icing, commonly used are butter cream, made of fat or butter and sugar, while foam icing is made of egg white and sugar or marshmallows and fudge icing are chocolate-based icings. All types are placed onto the base with a spatula or an icing funnel. Flat, royal, or fondant icings are basically sugar and water, rolled out into sheets and topped on the cake. However, royal icing has egg whites for thicker consistency, and fondant icing has glucose syrup and cream of tartar to give it that elegant porcelain finish.

Fondant icing is also featured on the most expensive wedding cakes in Toronto. The color to match your wedding motif may be added through the trimmings: flowers (fresh or candy), ribbons, fruit, candies, almost anything that is small enough to place on a cake can be. The last and final touch would be the cake topper. That’s the small figurine of the bride and the groom at the top of the tiers.

And Off You Go You are now armed with the basics, and can now keep up with the shop talk. Good bakers of wedding cakes in Toronto will also offer taste samples of the different cakes. So you can be assured that when you cut into that cake and give your new life partner that first piece, it will almost be as sweet and good as your love.

Wedding Items You Can’t Do Without

When you receive wedding invitations, you already picture the event, if it is a flashy or simple one. After the wedding, you remember the beautiful bride in her stunning wedding gown, the beribboned wedding cake, and the romantic wedding venue, every thing straight out of a fairy tale.

Now you are planning your wedding. At the top of the list are your wedding dress, rings, wedding cake, wedding invitations and wedding venue. Ridding one item is unimaginable so you juggle your funds. Redo your calculations to stretch your budget because there are the wedding accessories, photography, DJ, the wedding entourage, and the pre-wedding dinner to host.

A hefty chunk of the budget goes to the wedding gown, rings, wedding cake, wedding invitations, venue and corkage. Unfortunately, you cannot choose to ignore any of these because the stuff makes your wedding memorable. But you can save hundreds of dollars if you know how to trim down your expenses.

Money Saving Tips

Wedding Dress

Before entering a favoured bridal boutique inform the sales clerk you are looking for a dress within a particular price range. This done, you are shown the appropriate items. If you do not or forget to tell the clerk about your preference, expect to be shown top designer gowns you cannot afford and chances are you end up with a pricey wedding dress because you get upsold.

Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations and stationery that are professionally printed are not cheap. These have fancy designs and printing techniques and before you know it, you are spending more than you have planned. Avoid more expense by choosing simple invitations or make your own personalized wedding invitations if you are feeling adventurous.

Wedding Rings

You can easily be distracted with flashy rings so tell the clerk upfront you want wedding rings within certain price tags. Be ready with your finger sizes to avoid ending up with rings that do not fit, it is again a waste of money.

Wedding Cake

The cake is costly because of baking pans and baking accessories are expensive. Bakers also use quality ingredients for tasty cakes. Ask the hotel if their pastry chef can bake your cake. Brides who have done this route swear they saved money on their wedding cake. Also, consider a “dummy” cake for the centerpiece.

Wedding Venue

If you want 100 guests to break it out on the dance floor or an intimate bunch to lounge in an outdoor setting, visit the venue to see if it suits your style. So before signing the contract for the venue, check out what are included and not. You might get stung with a ruined budget because of additional fees.

Corkage

Find out the corkage cost for wines. This can cost you a packet if you are not careful. So before finalizing the contract for the venue, know what you are in for. Other venues charge lower corkage fees so continue looking around.

The best rule to follow to avoid wedding budget bombers is to stick to your budget, no matter how much you hanker for that luxurious wedding gown, romantic venue, glittering rings and beautiful wedding invitations.

Brides, shop wisely for your wedding invitations, wedding dresses, and wedding favor. Find quality but affordable items at BestForBrides.com.

 

The Wedding Favors

Weddings, being happy events are supposed to bring luck. To share this good fortune, wedding couples give away tokens to the guests. Traditionally wedding favors were sugared treats packed in beautiful boxes and given to each guest. The early tokens were pieces of five almonds or candies. Way back, the wedding tokens were part of the bread or cake, which guests grabbed for good luck.

This changed with the times and modern bridal couples are giving away practical or decorative items for wedding favours, one for each family or couple and if budget permits one for each guest. These are usually placed on the table as part of the decorative table setting. These are artfully wrapped with tinsel and ribbons echoing the wedding theme and colors.

The choice of wedding tokens for the guests reflects the couple’s personal taste, no matter if they have the budget or a limited one. Whatever your budget, choose items that will please your guests – it may be handmade items to a packet of colorful scented candles. Happily, choosing tokens for your guests is fun making the task an enjoyable one. The internet has also made the shopping convenient and faster and online bridal shops offer discounts for bulk purchases. You can pick up the items to save on shipping costs.

What to Give Your Guests

Your wedding guests have done their part to attend your wedding. They have filed a leave of absence, paid for their plane tickets if they are out of the country or live in another state, bought your wedding gift, and traded their old party clothes for new. This may sound easy but fact is they spend a lot of time preparing for your wedding too.

Thanking them with practical items is part of your role as a gracious host. Since most wedding favors are almost identical, make it special to stand out even if it is another packet of scented soap or bottle opener.

These tips can help you make a good impression:

* Discuss this matter with your fiance, both of you can pick your brains for something unique, interesting and affordable.

* Choose items that can be proudly displayed in curio cabinets instead of landing in a heap of cookie cutter wedding favors easily forgotten.

* Not all guests have the same tastes. You have the task of choosing wedding tokens that will appeal to both young and old and male and female.

* If you want to give your guests something they enjoy for years, or something they can enjoy immediately, it is all up to you.

* Add a personal thank you note in your wedding favors to show them how much you appreciate their coming over to your wedding. This personal touch connects you to your guests and this gesture makes the wedding favours special to the recipient.

Instead of having someone distribute the wedding favors to the guests personally go around and hand the tokens to your guests. This could be done when you go the rounds of having your pictures taken with the guests.

The personal touch that goes with your wedding favors, says much about the kind of host you are.

Delight your wedding guests with your wedding favors. Shop for these in your bridal boutique where you can also go over stylish wedding dresses. At BestForBrides.com you can find your heart’s desires.

 

You’ve just got married and moved in together to a new place: would you splurge on buying new furniture, like sofas, or try to fit the old stuff in?

When my husband and I got married, we never bought new stuff at first; in fact we spent the first few weeks on huge pillows on the floor! However, that was 13 years ago, when sofas were much more expensive than they are today. There were hardly any sales on back then, like today for instance everywhere you look there is a half price sale or some trade in offer. Also £500 13 years ago was a lot of money, today it is virtually nothing.

If I were to get married today I think I would purchase new items more so than years ago, these would include items such as a sofa, because you can get some good deals. Television would be new because of the new up and coming change over to digital. Electrical equipment was all new because of the good deals today including the guarantee. In fact the only time I wouldn’t buy new items for the home is if an item was handed down to me from a family member, and even then it would have to fit in with my home.

Most Kitchens today are fitted; therefore it is unlikely your old cooker or fridge freezer will fit into the allocated kitchen space, so their maybe a need to buy yourself new kitchen facilities. And the temptation of cookers being removed and CORGI fitted free of charge is a temptation to purchase a new one. All of my pots and pans would of course come with me.

I think with all the offers and new technology today, more and more people are choosing new items, and selling on their old items. It is unfortunate as soon as you buy an upgraded item; it is outdated within a year. But at least you are secure with the knowledge most new items have a two plus year guarantee and will last you for many years.