12 The QUEE NS Courier • bridal • SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com s bridal Let the fun begin! By Tresa Erickson Receptions used to be the place where guests mingled among food and friends and danced the night away before seeing the bride and groom off on their honeymoon. While great for guests who liked to dance, receptions did not offer guests who would rather not dance much to do other than to sit around and chat. If you were seated next to someone you knew, great. If not, you better prepare for a lot of small talk. But, now things are changing. Today many brides and grooms offer a variety of activities in addition to dancing to bring guests together and keep them entertained. Couples are recognizing that guests may not know each other and are incorporating ice breakers into their receptions. These can run the gamut from mad libs to trivia quizzes to story time. Instead of making small talk about the flower arrangements, for example, guests can get to know each other as they reflect on an episode in their life in the year the penny next to their plate was made. Once the ice is broken, couples can keep the fun going with games that everyone can play. Bingo, garter relays, musical chairs, scavenger hunts and trivia quizzes are all games that can build camaraderie and keep guests entertained. In addition to helping guests get to know each other through group activities, couples are also recognizing the need for individual activities other than dancing. They are setting up tables for guests to play cards and board games and TVs and game consoles for guests to play video games. They are bringing out the basketballs, lawn darts and croquet sets for guests who like to be outdoors. With more to do, many guests are staying longer, making all of the time and money spent in planning the wedding more worthwhile. While some couples opt for the traditional reception dinner and dancing, others are going for a more laidback atmosphere, providing a wide range of activities for guests to take part in. The choice is yours. You can throw in some ice breakers amid dinner and dancing, or you can go all out and provide games and activities from beginning to end. Consider the needs of your guests and plan accordingly. By Tresa Erickson While some brides and grooms forgo a large wedding cake in favor of a dessert bar or a cake on every table at the reception, others clamor for a the tradition. They can’t picture not having a magnificent cake to ooh and ahh over and feed each other later. If you are among them, here are some tips to ensure you get the cake you want. Know what you want. Do some research well in advance of any cake tastings. Browse bridal magazines and websites. Check out bakery windows and books. Attend some bridal shows. Cut, print or take photos of any and everything you like. You might like the shape of one cake and the piping of another. Create a scrapbook of the features you like, and if you know the colors of your wedding, add in some fabric swatches. Study your scrapbook in great detail and rank the features you like best. If you have any artistic skills or know someone who does, you might want to have some sketches done of your ideal cake. The more you have to show bakers in the future, the better chance you will receive the design you want. Set a budget. Generally, the larger the cake and the more intricate the design, the more it will cost to make. Determine both what you would like to spend and what you are willing to spend. Have a top dollar in mind, an amount you absolutely will not go over, and stick to it. Understand that you may have to make some compromises and be willing to take some cost-cutting measures. Opt for a few faux tiers in favor of several expensive tiers, or restrict the more expensive designs and flavors to the smaller tiers. Order a smaller, more elaborate wedding cake for the cake table and inexpensive sheetcakes for guests. Choose a good baker. Look for reputable bakers that specialize in wedding cakes and set up appointments with them. Show them your scrapbook and sketches and discuss how feasible your ideal wedding cake would be. If you are having your reception outside in the dog days of summer, for example, you may find out that the intricate design in buttercream frosting you have your heart set on won’t work. The baker might recommend a design in fondant instead, as it will hold up better in the heat. Ask the baker for an honest assessment of your sketches and listen to what they have to say. Discuss colors and flavors, and arrange for a cake tasting if possible. Discuss timelines and costs. Present your budget and ask for an estimate. Good bakers will do their best to work within your budget and find ways to cut costs. Order early. Don’t walk into a bakery a few days before your wedding and expect a masterpiece. Good bakers are busy. Start the process early and don’t sign a contract until you are satisfied with the terms and have reviewed them in detail. Know exactly what you are getting and when it will be delivered, as well as what any last-minute changes or add-ons will cost you. Check in often. Call the baker a couple of weeks prior to your wedding and make sure the cake will be ready on time. Orders can get lost, especially during the busy wedding season. Check back in with the baker a few days before and make sure everything is going smoothly. If possible, drop by to see whatever may be in process. That way, you will know what you are getting and there will not be any surprises, like the wrong color of icing. Wedding cakes can be expensive, and they are not something that can easily be redone. Do your homework. Have a design and a budget. Choose a reputable baker and check in with them occasionally. CAKE CUES
QC09172015
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