Your wedding bouquet is one of the essential details of your big day. Not only will it be in all your wedding photos, but you’ll also be holding it close as you walk down the aisle. With so much attention on your bouquet, you want to ensure it’s both beautiful and unique. While there are endless possibilities for your wedding bouquet, we’ve gathered a list of the best flowers to help make your decision easier.
Continue reading Which Flowers Will Make Your Wedding Bouquet Stand Out? + Extra Tips
Few things are as big a part of many weddings as flowers are. Every marriage will have flowers on the tables, flowers in pots, and flowers just about everywhere else. So, picking your wedding bouquet and ensuring it looks exactly the way you want is also very important. Flowers look good and can also fill a room, hall, or area with a delightful scent.
With these flowers playing an instrumental role in your wedding, you want to ensure you get some good pictures with your bridal bouquet. This will help you never forget your big day and what the bouquet you chose looked like. Unfortunately, while this seems straightforward, this isn’t always the case. With that in mind, this article will go over a few tips for taking the perfect photo with your bridal bouquet.
Continue reading 8 Tips for Taking the Perfect Photograph With Your Bridal Bouquet on Your Wedding Day
Flower girls are precious little angels who add a touch of innocence to your wedding ceremony! Little girls dressed in beautiful dresses, and scattering flowers as they cruise down the aisle are absolutely enchanting. Although flower girls are not an essential part of the wedding party, the beauty that they bring to the ceremony is unbeatable. Hence, it is no wonder that many brides decide to have them at their wedding.
Since they are part of your wedding party, it is important that their outfits also match the theme of your wedding. You may not have as many options as with bridesmaids dresses, in flower girls dresses. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing them.
Now that we have covered the essential points that you should keep in mind when choosing your flower girl dresses, let us take a look at the various dress styles that are available to choose from.
Fairy-tale flower girl dresses
If you have your heart set on a princess wedding gown, a fairy tale flower girl dress would go well with your outfit. These dresses are typically miniature versions of ball gowns, with embellishments like lace, beading and hand embroidery. The dresses are usually floor length, but you can also have them altered to just skim the ankles, so it is comfortable for your flower girl to move around. Although fairy tale dresses are typically available in white and ivory, you may also be able to find them in different colors also.
Two-piece flower girl dresses
This is a versatile choice for brides who want to mix and match the top and skirt, to create the intended look. Here, the dress has a separate bodice and skirt, but when worn together, it will resemble a single dress. There are different options when you choose this alternative, and you can either have poufy flower girl dresses, or choose simple silhouettes that are easier to carry and comfortable to wear. The added benefit of a two-piece flower girl dress is that it allows you to mix and match different sizes, if your flower girl doesn’t really fit into a specific size. Thus, you can find a dress that fits her shoulders and her height correctly.
Full-length gown
Perfect for a formal wedding, these dresses are full-length, and extend just beyond the ankles to make sure it is comfortable for the little girl to carry it. Since it is a long dress, it is best to keep the details simple on it, so the bulk of the material isn’t overwhelming on the small frame. These dresses are usually created in A-line style, since this is easy to wear and looks good on most children. Full length gowns are available in color or white, and the skirt may either be pleated or plain. The dress shown here is from the Mori Lee collection, and features an empire waistline and sleeveless neckline.
Tea length dresses with poufy skirts
Very ornate and voluminous, this is a party dress style that is sure to look perfect at a formal ceremony. Usually fashioned in an A-line silhouette or ball gown style, the dress is characterized by the volume of its skirt. The fabrics used are net, tulle or organza, and sometimes it may feature a satin finish in the bodice and the lower layers of the skirt. Although the dress is short, it is still very effective as the skirt adds a dramatic overtone to the overall look. It is common to find the skirt gathered at various points and little flowers scattered at these gatherings for a beautiful effect.
A-line skirts
A-line dresses are a flower girl favorite, and can be either short or long. Like the name suggests, the dress silhouette resembles the shape of an A, with the top part fitted closely to the body, and the skirt flaring out into the shape of an A from the waistline. There may be a demarcation at the waistline with a sash or waistband, usually in a different color. When choosing this style, you can consider adding a waistband in your theme color to match it to the overall look easily. Many variations are possible with the humble A-line silhouette. This includes a dropped waist, draping on the bodice, embellishments along the skirt and many more options.
Pick-up skirts
Another style that instantly dresses up your flower girl, dresses with pick-up skirts are elaborate and stylish. Here the hemline is gathered and pushed upwards at regular spacing, along the length of the skirt. This is usually done in different tiers, adding more texture and volume to the dress. This Mori Lee flower girl dress looks like it is bubbling with excitement, as it features a ruched skirt with several pickups along the length. The dark sash at the waist separates the bodice from the textured skirt.
Tiered skirts
Adding more volume to a buoyant skirt are tiered skirt styles that feature a layered arrangement of tiers. These make the dress very interesting. These are usually fashioned out of lace, tulle or similar soft fabrics, so it bounces along. For the tiers to be evident, the skirt has to be long, and so it usually ends at the ankles. Although the tiers are spectacular by itself, this dress may also feature other embellishments in the bodice or at the hemline. This is a dress pattern that will be loved by most little girls.
The Mori Lee 575 features three tiers, each of which is trimmed with a hint of dark color like red or black. The sleeveless dress is simply embellished with a bow at the waist, but it can be accessorized with a bolero-style jacket if desired.
Cap sleeves and short sleeve dresses
If you aren’t fond of the sleeveless feature that is common on flower girl dresses, you can consider dresses with sleeves. There are different sleeve lengths to choose from. These include cap sleeves, T-shirt sleeves and longer styles. The cap sleeve style is particularly endearing, especially when they are embellished with lace or hand embroidery. Short sleeves can also be done with lace, and this will help you match it to a vintage-inspired wedding theme.
The dress featured here is the G339 from the Aglaia collection. This dress not only has lace cap sleeves, but the pretty embellishments continue into a scalloped neckline and further into bodice and skirt You may also like to check out the dresses here and here, done in similar styles.
Dresses with colorful accents
If you want your flower girl to be dressed with a little dash of color in her dress, you have two options—either choose colorful accessories like a sash or bow to go with her outfit. Otherwise, choose a dress that has just the right amount of color in it. Colors like red, blue and pink are easy to come by in flower girl collections. These dresses are usually in white, and have the hint of color done at the neckline, in the sleeves, waistline and in scattered embellishments.
The G3327 shown here is from the Aglaia collection, and is a beautiful dress in white, with red as an accent color. You can see how the red is kept to a minimum to just create the right impact without overpowering the white. Other white dresses with pretty accent colors in embellishments can be seen here and here.
Colorful flower girl dresses
If you wish to dress your flower girl in rich color, there are plenty of choices. From full-length dresses to shorter tea length dresses, these are available in a range of colors, designs and silhouettes. While colorful dresses are always attractive on young girls, ensure that the dress color goes well with the bridesmaids dress colors for a cohesive effect. Since you may not have as many color options as you have with bridesmaids dresses, you will have to choose from what is available or settle for the closest available color. Also consider the rest of the outfit like the shoes and other accessories. Make sure that they complement the color, so it doesn’t look weird together. A safe option would be to choose white or black shoes and socks, or those that match the color of the dress.
The Aglaia collection at Best for Bride contains plenty of colorful flower girl dresses. Most of them can be ordered in colors beside those shown in the pictures on our website. Shown here is the G3307 in a soft shade of blue, that is perfect for outdoor weddings in terms of silhouette, fabric and design. This dress has more embellishments and would be good for a formal ceremony,while it is also an in-between choice that would work for both a formal or informal wedding.
We hope this post has helped you understand the various options in flower girl dresses, for you to pick for your wedding day! This is just another detail you must plan, and it is easier than dressing up your bridesmaids. One factor in your favor is that dressing your flower girl wrong is almost impossible. So, have fun choosing her dress.
Take a look at our gallery of flower girl dresses for more choices and options. Head over to this link at Best for bride for this.
If you are a bride whose dream wedding vision includes a towering, magnificent and spellbinding masterpiece cake, detailed wedding cake plans are on your list of must-do’s!
Your cake designer is a single person who can bring your perfect wedding cake to life. However, she needs your ideas and inputs to execute the plan to perfection. Although she may have her own suggestions and ideas, it may not meet your expectations unless you provide her the blueprint to plan her cake around. This simply means that you cannot start with a blank slate. You need to first do a list of things before you meet with your cake designer and discuss the cake design. Let us take a look at this list now.
Get inspired
Just like with wedding dresses, there is a whole world of fabulous wedding cakes waiting to be discovered. You will find drool-worthy pages and pages on Pinterest, in bridal magazines, on cake websites as well as on our own wedding cake gallery. Your first step to planning your wedding cake is identifying what you want. Begin by setting up a wedding inspiration board (read all about it on our previous post here), and adding pictures to it. If you find interesting pictures in magazines, collect them too. Begin at random, by just dragging any picture that appeals to you onto your inspiration board. Once you have a number of pictures, edit out the ones that do not seem as interesting as they did initially. As you do this, you should see a pattern emerge, and this will help you identify the factor that appeals to you. It could be the color combinations, style, texture, the decoration used, shape, size, or any other factor. Once you recognize what it is, it will be easier to refine your board and eliminate those that do not feature this factor. This will bring you closer to your final idea of how your wedding cake should be.
Research your options
Once you have narrowed down your choices to just those that would be ideal for your cake design, it is time to research and identify what would work. For this, consider the various details about each of the cakes you’ve shortlisted. Some questions to help you in this direction are
Match it to your wedding
Your wedding cake, as much as it is an entity on its own, still has to belong to the wedding. For this, you should match it to the wedding theme. This would be in terms of colors, features, style, and size. Where cakes are concerned, your options are numerous. You can have a wedding cake with as many layers as you want, without all the tiers actually being “cake.” Or, you can have a couture cake that is impressive and serves for the cake cutting, while the guests are served with sheet cake slices in the same flavor. This brings down the cost, which is a very important factor in making your final cake decisions.
Determine your Budget
The quantity of cake you need depends on the number of guests at your wedding. Before meeting with your cake designer, you should compile information on the guest count, and calculate your cake budget. This will help you decide on the possible options, so you have enough cake for all your guests, while also meeting your expectations. Once you know the maximum you can afford to spend on a cake, it will also put you in a position to shortlist a suitable cake designer who will do the job for you within your set budget. This also gives you a general idea of the little extras that you can afford to have, without eating into other aspects of your wedding.
Consider aesthetic aspects
The main factor that influences your choice for the cake is how it will finally look. Here are the aesthetic factors that you should consider.
Taste options—what should you consider?
Just like with the aesthetics, the taste of your cake is equally important. Do this correctly by paying close attention to the following factors.
You will be overwhelmed with the flavor options available. Avoid confusion by shortlisting a few of your favorites, before you even visit your designer. You can then look at these flavors and anything similar that may suit your palette. Once you narrow down your choices, your cake designer can arrange for the chosen flavors at your tasting session. Although you can always go with a bold and unusual choice, remember that if you stick to common flavors, it will most likely be liked by all. Your cake should also be soft, spongy, and moist.
The overall taste of the cake will depend on the filling that you choose for it. So, decide whether you want something fruity, creamy, or chocolate. You can make this decision based on your personal preferences, or by looking at what is easily available and budget-friendly.
The icing will not only determine the finish of the cake, but also the taste. Some bakers specialize in fondant, while others are experts with buttercream. It is best to choose a vendor who has enough experience in working with the medium you prefer, for best results.
Check with your venue for any restrictions
Some venues have restrictions on what you are allowed to serve at your wedding. Some of them require you to use their in-house bakers itself, while others allow you to bring your own cake designer for an additional fee. Considering health and safety requirements, it may be necessary to go with a licensed professional for your wedding day. So, you should check for this factor with the venue manager in advance, before scouting for a vendor.
How will the cake get to the venue?
Getting your cake to the venue without damage is very important. If your cake designer will not be working onsite, you will have to check for the transport arrangements to get the finished cake to your venue. Will your baker arrange for this, or will you have to make transport arrangements yourself. If it has to be transported, the size of the cake will determine whether it will have to be transported in one piece or, if it will be assembled on-site. An experienced baker will normally have the provision to supply your cake to the reception venue. If this isn’t available, and you have to transport it by yourself, make sure you will be able to do it efficiently. Discuss the details about how it has to be transported as soon as you settle on the design.
The flexibility factor
Cakes in magazines and pictures may not always be easy to replicate. Each baker will have a unique style. As creative artists, they will appreciate a certain level of freedom, so they can contribute in their own way. If you are very particular about replicating certain aspects of a cake, make sure that you look for a cake designer who is equipped and experienced in working on that aspect. Moreover, replicating a picture entirely doesn’t make the design your own. So, we suggest you keep your options available to discuss what can be done to make a cake design that is your own. Also, keep the actual logistics in mind when you choose to go for a cake design you pick from a picture. The replication may look different in color, or the details may differ to a certain extent. Your cake designer will give you a correct idea of the extent to which your ideas are practical, and what changes would give you better results. Be open to such suggestions, and it will be a lot easier for both of you.
Create your list of preferred cake designers
Based on reviews, recommendations, and your own research, you should shortlist the vendors who would be good candidates for your job. Make sure you have more than just one option, in case the person you want is booked already, or you aren’t satisfied with what they have to offer when you actually meet. In all cases, it is advised to first start visiting with vendors you like most. So, if you find a cake designer who you like, you can immediately finalize the deal without having to check on any more vendors.
Discuss your plans with your fiance first
Unless your fiance doesn’t really care about how your wedding cake looks, it is necessary to gather his inputs as well, before you come to a final decision. Before you meet a cake designer, discuss the design together and come to an agreement on what you both like. Both of you should be happy with the design, flavor, and other details.
Once you have a clear idea of all the above-mentioned factors, you are ready to visit your cake designer and discuss your ideas. It is much easier for a cake designer to give you what you want when you have a very clear idea of what you would like. Nevertheless, be open to ideas and suggestions, as your cake designer is an experienced professional, and can give you valuable inputs on making the cake that is just perfect for your big day.
For more inputs and great inspiration for your special day, visit our online cake gallery at Best for Bride. Apart from delicious and great looking cakes, we also offer brides many more wedding services. With an impressive inventory of dresses for the wedding party and an exquisite designer wedding dress collection, we are the one-stop destination for everything a bride needs when planning the event of her lifetime. You can also find wedding stationery, wedding favors, décor accessories, and beautiful accessories on our website. Visit us online today, to see what we can do to complete your wedding day.
