Posted on 1 Comment

Wedding Cakes: Choosing Your Wedding Cake

Choosing a wedding cake to suit your wedding theme can be a chore if you haven’t a clue where to start. There are tons of wedding cakes ideas and you are presented with dozens of choices but the tricky part is choosing the best baker, one who understands your wishes and can show an amazing portfolio.

Budget and Cake Size

Before embarking on the wedding shopping, brides must have a definite wedding theme in mind. This guides them throughout the wedding preparation and managing the budget; after choosing the motif for the wedding invitation and the wedding dress; the next big task is shopping for the wedding cake. Currently, bridal shops carry a wide range of wedding needs, including exquisite wedding cakes. But before seizing the first wedding cake proposal offered, stand back and go over these important details.

wedding cakes

How much can you spend for a wedding cake and how many guests are you expecting for the wedding party? The number of guests determines the size of your wedding cake. Size is a cake factor that adds up the expenses for the wedding cake. A regular-sized single layer cake cannot treat a hundred guests. You are looking for a cake of epic proportions to give all the guests a generous slice of the wedding cake.

A round three tier cake at 6′, 9′ and 12′ gives a finger size serving to each guest and can cost $600. That’s for the size alone. Larger cakes for a hundred guests will cost more but servings are generous to delight guests with a sweet tooth. Generally professional bakers determine the prices of wedding cakes by the slice not by the size. The price of the cake escalates with the cake trimmings, decorations and wedding cake toppers, and the type of cake icing used. There’s the delivery cost too for elaborate several tiered cakes. Cake Icing

Wedding caterers also provide wedding cakes in their wedding package. Like all wedding cake providers, caterers have a long list of cake icing for different budgets and the most expensive cake icing to date is fondant icing. Fondant icing gives a satin finish to cakes and very tricky to make. Some fondant icing does not taste good and guests peel off the icing to get a bite of the cake. The latest fondant icing is however tasty but notches up the cake price per slice more.

Buttercream icing is another favorite. It is tastier and gives a splendid finish to cakes; in the hands of cake artists, buttercream icing can assume fantastic designs and colors. But there is a limit to what can be fashioned from buttercream. Although this is cheaper than fondant icing, it melts at an 80 temperature, thus won’t do for an outdoor or garden wedding.

wedding cake

Sugar icing is way cheaper than fondant but as expected is very sweet and can be very dry. This can keep for days, which makes this icing type a favorite for outdoor weddings and the best white icing for a traditional wedding theme.

Cake Decorations

To slash the cost on wedding cakes decorations, bakers use fresh flowers and fruits to adorn cakes. Ribbons and colored candies are added to add texture to the decorations. The more expensive cake decorations include faux pearls and semi-precious stones. For a cake decoration you can keep after your wedding, a custom cake topper is a great choice. The more elaborate the cake decoration, the more expensive the wedding cake. Choose your baker when shopping for your wedding cake. Experienced bakers have spectacular portfolios of their creations or get a friend’s recommendation for wedding cakes.

For wedding cakes, plus size wedding dresses, and wedding flowers, Toronto has no shortage. Visit BestForBride.com today.

Posted on 1 Comment

The Bridesmaid Dress That’s Worth Your While

With tons of bridesmaid dresses vying for your attention, it can be a circus choosing the best bridesmaid dress. What’s worse is ending up with a horrible dress you cannot return or exchange for another.

Unsure About the Style?

Unless you are always glued to fashion magazines and stalking fashion models, you might not have any idea what would look good on you. Then when you are asked to be a bridesmaid, you can’t think of anything and hope that anything will be alright. Wrong. You must choose a bridesmaid dress that looks good on you and you look good in it. That is the secret of fashion models.

bridesmaid dresses

Instead of trusting what looks good on ramp models, check out what looks good on you. Choosing the right dress will be worth your while and your money. Your bridesmaid dress should highlight your best features and camouflage your imperfections. There’s nothing wrong about asking the sales clerk for a dress that gives a slim silhouette if you are a size 12 or a dress that makes you look tall than your 5’8″ height because bridesmaids all over are doing the same thing.

If you want someone to do the critiquing over the dress, ask your fashionista friends to come along to the bridal shop. Luckily, bridal shops have specialists who can help you tremendously when choosing a style that fits and makes you look gorgeous. These people have the keen eye for details and have been in the business for long that just one look at you they can figure out which fashion style is for you.

Practical Tips

Fashion magazines have every tip for a perfect dress sense. Basically it has to do with the body shape, weight, and coloring. With the basics tucked under your belt, it becomes systematic when shopping for dresses with a particular style you like or want to try. One thing about shopping for dresses is the amazing variety; it really is fun shopping for dresses but you must be able to buy the right dress for your bridesmaid role. Stick to the basic rules when looking at a bridesmaid dress presented to you.

Don’t waste your time looking dresses not your size. Go directly to the rack for your size and from there on choose particular styles that attract you. Try them on for size and ask your friends how they like it. The bridal specialist will be on hand to give you advice and may offer you other selections whilst pointing out what makes you look good in each dress.

If you want to do your shopping online, then it’s simpler and convenient. The dresses come in specific sizes and styles, and you can click the color chart for a particular shade of red, blue, green, or pink. Again, don’t waste your time plowing through hundreds of dresses. You must have a style of bridesmaid dress in your mind before you happily click the mouse.

While shopping online, take note of the fabric used for the dress. If you are allergic to synthetic fabrics avoid them. There are dresses available in various fabrics available – silk, sateen, organdy, lace, and chiffon. For your bridesmaid dress, take the time to shop but shop smart so you won’t waste your time and your money.

bridesmaid dresses

The perfect bridesmaid dress and wedding dresses in Toronto shops are super collections. For your evening dresses, Toronto shops have the latest styles too. Check out BestForBride.com today.

Posted on 1 Comment

Wedding Invitations: DIY or Shop-Bought?

Making your own wedding invitations is a great idea – that is if you have the time to spend poring over every detail for 200 invitations. But if you have only 50 guests, the idea is feasible. But there are lovely ready-made invitations of all designs, sizes, and colors that can change your mind about making your own invitations. So what should you do now?

wedding invitations

The DIY Option

Bridal couples who worked on their own elegant wedding invitations deserve awards for their industriousness and perseverance. Why? Preparing the invitations or working on each card lovingly takes time and there are a hundred things to do apart from slaving over these invitations. There is the shopping for bridal dress, the groom’s and his best men’s tuxedos, the bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride/groom dresses, and choosing the venue, menu and music to do.

If you are bent on making your own invitations is popular way to save money. You can save as much as $100 for 200 invitations. There are online step-by-step tutorials that can show how to do beautiful handmade wedding invitations using rubber stamps or DIY invitation kits. To solve the time issue, use desktop publishing and le the local copy shop make several copies, and cut and fold the invitations.

But before anything else, go over designs you want copied or create your own personalized wedding invitations. You can use different materials for your invitation or even take your own snapshots and convert this into a nice invitation with the elegant printing at the back of the picture. For more ideas for your invitation, check out wedding sites online BUT if you can’t come up with an idea or if you have no time at all, choose from the countless designs for wedding invitations to suit your wedding theme.

wedding ivites

The Ready-Made Option

You cannot expect to have unique invitations if you buy these from bridal shops YET you can personalize the invitation to make it truly your own. Bridal shops have a stock of ideas for personalized wedding invitations for the discerning taste and offer a complete range of exquisite cards and envelopes. This gives you the flexibility to mix and match or get a coordinated look for your invitations.

With an assortment of invitations available, it is convenient to select one that conveys your thoughts, and tastes as well as the wedding style. All information – wedding couple, wedding host, wedding date and time and location of the ceremony and a brief note about the wedding reception are indicated in the invitation. You work it out with the bridal shop to get the right information down to pat and you can ask for a sample copy before finalizing the printing of the set.

The envelope is another detail. The invitations have two envelopes. The inner envelope is a sort of protective cover. This is enhanced with colored lines to reinforce your wedding color. The outer envelope is the mailing envelope. This contains the return address just in case there are undeliverable addresses. When you order these invitations, these are delivered after a week and after you have approved of everything and checked that spelling of names and other information are correct.

Your Choice

DIY or shop-bought wedding invitations? That’s your choice. Both have its pros and cons but if you want more time to do other wedding preparations, the smart choice is ordering your invitations.

Don’t forget to look at the selection of wedding invitations when shopping for wedding dresses or plus size wedding dresses and mother of the bride dresses. Visit BestforBride.com today for your bridal needs.

Posted on 1 Comment

Hot Tips for Baking Cool Wedding Cakes

Bakers and aspiring bakers are always on the hunt for the latest in baking, specially wedding cakes. This reflects changes in tastes and brides are choosier or adventurous when choosing their wedding cake designs.

Baking for Weddings

If you have been baking since your brownies days and shifting towards tricky wedding cakes, there are a lot of things you should before you embark on this baking career. Basic baking classes can start you off in the right direction but if you content yourself with textbook knowledge and don’t roll up your sleeves, you can’t be the best wedding cake baker. Learning to bake the super cake prepares you to bake your own four-tier wedding cake.

wedding cakes

So you want to try baking wedding cakes? Whether it is for business or a preparation for your own wedding, baking great wedding cakes can be lucrative and rewarding. Before starting out, master the basic butter and white cake recipes. Try new recipes, such as the Italian Light Coconut Cake and other cake recipes for prospective customers who might request cakes generally baked back home – Mexican cakes, German chocolate cake, strawberry shortcakes, and cheesecakes.

While learning different cake recipes for wedding cakes, shop for different baking equipments. Cake recipes call for specific baking utensils and equipment. Making do with what you have may not yield the best results so prepare to invest heavily in quality baking utensils and equipment. You will need food processors, different sized baking pans, custom-made pans, two heavy duty cake mixers, on top of the oven. To save on money, buy your mixers and food processors direct from the manufacturer or distributor.

Various cake decorating tools that can handle wear and tear are best additions for the baking collection. Familiar brands of these items can be bought online or from the super mart. All baking tools and equipment should be kept scrupulously clean. Pans should not rust or have dents. Everything must be in perfect condition for each baking session.

Baking Your Own Wedding Cake

Wedding cakes are baked days before the wedding. Baking a four or five layer cake is best baked three days before the wedding. The final touches can be a day before wedding day. Baking four or five cakes in different sizes can take you an entire day; icing and decorating one or two days. So time your schedule to have your very own wedding cake ready for the reception.

During the first day, that’s the baking day, cakes should be cooled for thirty minutes before these are removed from the pans. To remove, carefully run a knife around the pans’ insides and turn the pans upside down to slide cakes out. When the cakes are completely cooled, cover with foil until you are ready to assemble the cakes.

If you cake recipe calls for filling, use a serrated knife to cut cake into equal layers. This is tricky so do this slowly lest the cake should break. The fun part starts when you ice and decorate the cake. If you are copying wedding cakes designs from magazines, be sure to have everything ready and ribbons measured and pre-cut. The day before the wedding do the icing and decorating. Make sure that people transporting your cake to the reception secures the cake in position. Final touches can be done at the venue by a friend or the hotel’s chief baker.

wedding cakes

If you can’t bake your own wedding cake, order yours from trusted bakeshops months ahead. You can also order your cake from a one-stop bridal shop.

For wedding cakes and wedding dresses, check out the one-stop shop for wedding dresses in Toronto. Visit BestforBride.com today.