When it comes to planning your wedding day, the most important item in your list is probably your wedding gown. Wedding favours and wedding cakes come in secondary to your wedding gown. However, if you are operating on a tight budget, you usually go for ready-made gowns or those displayed in some least costly but reputable bridal shops. After all, this is perhaps the most important day of your life and you don’t want to be walking down the aisle with a dress that you cannot count on to last for at least the entire duration of the ceremony.

On another note, if you come from the high end of the society, then you can afford to buy those designer wedding dresses. You don’t have to be the presidential daughter, a Hollywood star or a politician’s family member for you to take advantage of the best minds in the wedding couture world. You simply either have to have a very rich fiancé or a very fat savings (read: budget for your wedding day).Or you have very generous friends who have whole-heartedly contributed to your designer wedding gown!

Here are the big names that you can choose from:

Monique Lhuillier

This US-based Filipina comes from a family who owns one of the giant chain of pawnshops in the Philippines. Being part of a high profile clan, Monique had the chance and access to the best fashion schools in the world. Thus, her flair for fashion (exhibited at age 14) was reinforced by her degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

Monique’s line of designer wedding dresses caught the eye of the public when she designed her own the dresses of her own wedding entourage. This led her to take care of the gowns of Christine Baumgartner (in her wedding to Kevin Costner) and Britney Spears (in her wedding to Kevin Federline).

This multi-awarded designer is known for pretty dresses that introduce a “fluid look.”

Vera Wang

Raised by an affluent American family of Chinese descent, Vera was once a figure skater taking part in various national competitions. When she failed to make it to the US team for the Olympics, she turned her back on sports and welcomed the fashion industry.

Her corporate experience included being Vogue’s editor for 16 years and rubbing elbows with Ralph Lauren. It was in 1990 that she opened her own shop in New York, displaying her trademark designer wedding dresses. Her work has the reputation of “a modern, sophisticated approach to classic style.”

Among her celebrity clients are Jessica Simpson, Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey and Sharon Stone, among others.

Michelle Roth

This designer was born to fashion, as her parents own a famous Australian bridal label, Henri Josef. Thus, Michelle has fashion and creativity on her blood. She started her own collection of designer wedding dresses in 1990, working with her brother.

Her works have been featured in numerous talk shows including, among others, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Martha Stewart Living and Entertainment Tonight.

Designer wedding dresses could really get expensive. However, if you can afford it, why not get one? Again, it’s the most important day of your life and pictures of you will be immortalized in a number of photo albums. It’s just proper to look fabulous on the start of “the rest of your life.”

You are dead set on having a unique wedding, with a unique wedding dress, a unique set of bridesmaid dresses, a unique wedding goody bag — all from an equally unique bridal boutique. But what about your cake? Driven to find unique cake designs, you surf the internet for hours on end, seeking designs, flavors and colors that would appeal to you. It is a hard feat, since most wedding cakes are well, shaped like cakes.

So you decide to design one yourself. How do you go about it, you wonder. Here are some helpful tips to designing unique wedding cakes. Who knows, after this, you might have paved a new career path for yourself: As a wedding cake designer!

Tip #1:

Take into account your budget. Consider this: Your budget is the mold. Everything you want your wedding cakes to be should be set against the budget. Naturally, it is important to gauge your limitations before hand. It would be such a disappointment to have planned out the perfect unique wedding cakes then having to settle for something less because of budgetary constraints. That would be frustrating, wouldn’t it?

Tip #2:

Consider your motif. It would be reasonable for the color of your cake to match your theme. It would be incredibly absurd for you to choose a red-colored cake when your motif is actually aquamarine. Be artistic without being insane. Make your wedding day an affair to remember, not a day your guests would rather forget.

Tip #3:

Choose neutral flavors for your cake. Your wedding cakes design may be outrageous, but the flavors do not necessarily have to be. It would be safer to go for chiffon, chocolate or coffee. Stay away from weird flavors such as jackfruit or guava. You would not want your guests to be put off by your wedding cakes.

Tip #4:

Make sure the cake size matches the intimacy of the occasion. If you have a big gathering with over a hundred guests, naturally, you should have a large wedding cake. Alternatively, you could serve several small wedding cakes and place it at each table. If you have a small gathering, consisting only of your close family and friends, a medium-sized cake would suffice. It is overindulgent to present a 10-tiered cake when you are merely having 30 guests.

Tip #5:

Now this is the fun part. The wedding cakes design. You should deliberate on a unique wedding cake that is essentially possible to make. Ergo, do not even think about having a wedding cake designed to look like a miniature fighter jet or a cruise ship. Your wedding cake design should reflect you and your fiancé’s personality. If you enjoy hiking or mountain climbing, then you could request for a cake shaped like the Himalayas. Or, if you enjoy camping out together, you could have a wedding cake designed like a tent. You could also have your cake shaped like your wedding dress, if you wish to. The “safer” unique designs would include wedding cakes shaped like doves, bells or hearts. Whatever your design is, make sure it reflects you, your fiancé, and your special day.

Looking for bridesmaid dresses and wedding cakes? Visit the bridal boutique that has it all. Visit BestForBride.com today.

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.

Bridesmaids complement the bride. Similarly, the bridesmaid dresses complement the wedding dress. You have already figured out every detail of your unique wedding — down to your unique wedding dress to your unique wedding invitations. However, you still haven’t figured out what to do with your bridesmaid dresses.

The initial step is actually so obvious. Take down your gorgeous wedding dress, analyze it’s style, it’s cut and it’s theme, then go from there. If you have a luxurious Grecian wedding dress, then start from there. Search for Greek-inspired bridesmaid dresses online. There are actually a few extremely reliable web sites who can offer you a wide variety of designs to choose from. These Web Sites also feature wedding invitations and wedding favors, among others. If your wedding dress is Hawaiian-inspired, then what logical reason is there other than to have Hawaiian themed bridesmaid dresses? If you are wearing a princess cut wedding gown, you may also opt to have princess-cut bridesmaid dresses.

Consult your bridesmaids on the designs which they like. Most women know what cut and style suit them most, so a consultation would be a safer route. For those with more than one bridesmaid, let them debate on a style and cut which would work well for all of them. Or, you may let these bridesmaids wear separate styles so as to enhance their assets and to make them feel comfortable wearing the clothes of their choice on your wedding day. You could also give your bridesmaids a few magazines to leaf through. These wedding catalogues and magazines could be a huge factor in helping the bridesmaids come to an agreement on their bridesmaid dresses.

It would also be advisable to seek the help of a professional designer. These designers know women’s body types and they could design clothes to perfectly suit each body type. Remember, there are some things that clothes designers can see that the mere mortal’s naked eyes don’t.

Remind your bridesmaids that there are no slinky numbers allowed in weddings. That rule should be strictly enforces. So, if they want to change the style and cut of their bridesmaid dresses, the better make sure to stay away from embarrassingly suggestive clothing. Otherwise, threaten them that you are going to personally drag them through the threshold.

When it comes to the color, the bridesmaids actually have very little say about this. You should follow the wedding motif. Green bridesmaid dresses would look awful if your theme is lavender. Similarly, fuchsia pink bridesmaid dresses would totally seem out of place if your wedding color theme is yellow. You can choose bridesmaid dresses that may be just a shade or two darker or lighter than your wedding motif. However, you should never a totally different shade.

All in all, the important elements in choosing your bridesmaid dresses can basically be summed up as these: Your wedding dress style, your wedding color motif, your theme and venue, your bridesmaids personalities and preferences, and of course, your bridesmaids’ comfort.

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.

 

Toronto’s premier wedding boutique is excited to announce the opening of a beautiful second location in Etobicoke. Best for Bride specializes in the sales and rental of wedding supplies and accessories, including designer bridal gowns, bridesmaid’s dresses and jewellery. The luxurious new location is sure to make every bride feel like a princess as she shops for her big day.

Etobicoke, Ontario – Best for Bride, Toronto’s premier wedding boutique (http://www.bestforbride.com/) has opened a second location at the corner of Dundas and Kipling in Etobicoke. The new convenient location is easily accessible by public transit, as it is right by the Kipling subway station. The new store’s lavish decor will certainly make brides and bridesmaids feel rich and pampered as they browse through the huge selection of gorgeous wedding dresses and accessories. Pictures and map of the new location are viewable here http://www.bestforbride.com/store-location-etobicoke-mississauga.php.

Best for Bride sells top quality wedding and formal wear at reasonable prices. Their gowns are made of designer fabrics and feature fancy embellishments. Best for Bride’s dresses are created to fit every bride, from petite to plus-size and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Aside from offering dresses for sale, Best for Bride also rents out wedding wear and accessories, allowing brides to have a wedding of their dreams regardless of budget.

 

 

Presently, Best for Bride is offering an amazing special for the rental of bridal accessories (veil, crinoline, tiara, jewellery set, headpieces, gloves, fur cape and shawl) at the price of only $100. More information about this special, as well as prices for the rental of individual items is available here: http://www.bestforbride.com/rental.php.

Recently, Best for Bride has begun selling wedding invitations and wedding favours to fulfill all wedding needs for their clients. Now, brides and grooms-to be are able to get their wedding outfits, bridal party wear, wedding cakes and invitations and accessories and favors all in one convenient location. 

“We are thrilled to be opening our new store in Etobicoke,” said Olga Pomeransky, owner of Best for Bride Bridal Boutique. “This location is spacious and beautifully decorated and we are looking forward to serving our customers here.”

For additional information on the news of this release, visit http://www.bestforbride.com/, or email sales@BestForBride.com

Best for Bride Bridal & Evening Wear Boutique is a one-stop bridal store, with two locations in the Toronto, Ontario area to serve and advise their clients.  

Best for Bride Bridal Boutique
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1
Phone:  (416) 233-3393
http://www.bestforbride.com/
sales@BestForBride.com