The secret to selecting the perfect wedding cake

By Cathrine Westraadt                   Updated 01.03.2018

The most enjoyable part of the wedding planning is tasting wedding cake, from chocolate, vanilla to red velvet and so much more. The choices are endless, and you can be creative by mixing different flavors in various layers. Whether you like to keep it simple or go for a more dramatic style wedding cakes are always a winner at every wedding. There are also interesting variations like cakes of cheese and fruits or cake pops or even cupcakes, you can be spontaneous, creative and even a little bit wild.

For the bride that enjoys the simpler, smaller things in life we love the single layer almost naked cake. The whimsical look when you lightly dust the cake with icing sugar. Natural and earthy tones with a rustic look, that is also why this has been trending since 2016. With these beautiful designs, it simply shows us that it is what is on the inside that counts. Have more flavor inside of the cake and cut away all the fondant and buttercream on the outside of the cake.

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Cake pops is a fun new style of having a wedding cake and what an easy way for each guest to enjoy the various flavors of the wedding cakes. Not only can you make hundreds of different flavors, but you can have different layers of designs. It’s easy to manage and is fun for your guests to enjoy and very easy to take home. And if your wedding is kiddie friendly you can set up a decoration station for the kids to decorate their own, this will keep them busy but also be a fun activity that they will enjoy, giving the parents some time to enjoy.

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Then there is the traditional tiered wedding cake whether it’s a simple 2 tier cake or a lavish 4 tier you can do some interesting things in terms of the design. You can combine 3 different flavors, one in each layer speaking to all your guests taste buds and most of all you can have your favorite 3 flavors on your wedding day. Bring in some color and some interesting twists on the traditional.

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Another exciting unconventional twist that we are seeing more and more of would be the cake of cheeses. You can add some fruits to this to make it interesting and shake things up. This is also great for anyone with gluten allergies, and you can have your wedding cake as a late-night snack, as guests often get nibbly after some late-night dancing. Create an oasis of late night delight with some figs and nuts along with the most decadent of cheeses.

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Sweetness captured in little bundles of joy, there is no better description for cupcakes and no better choice for a different wedding cake. As with cake pops this is easy to hand out to guests and you can create explosions of flavor within one cake, well loads of mini cakes. Make some interesting designs and include this as part of your dessert, you can even incorporate a candy station or sweet buffet.  And arranging them can be fun to, you can make them look like a tiered wedding cake.

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Then we have a brand-new trend that has been making headlines, the very unconventional Grooms cake. Most of the grooms are completely dumbfounded when the big reveal comes up and it is completely unexpected. The design is also everything but traditional and it is usually a combination of the groom’s favorites tastes and favorite things. It also shows compassion within the wedding and that you give him a little-sacred piece of the journey that he will value forever. This is a trend that we are hoping would stick around.

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Well, that is a lot of cake and I think I feel like something sweet right now. So, the important notes to take away from this would be to always give all the flavors an even chance, do not always stick to what you know. Secondly, remember that it is your day and your wedding cake so make sure you and your groom love every bit of the cake. Another important trick or tip is to make use of your wedding cake as dessert, you are already spending a fortune on the cake, you might as well use it. Make sure to incorporate both of your styles and have something you can remember and enjoy and most importantly, remember it is JUST A CAKE!

What traditions to keep and which to kick

By Cathrine Westraadt                   Updated 15.02.2018

When it comes to wedding traditions there are those we love and those we would rather give a skip. How to decide what to keep and what to kick is not all that hard because it all depends on what is important to you. Traditions are established to create memories through generations of brides within their family. From time old favorites like something borrowed, something blue and something new to those we do not enjoy or let’s say your bridesmaids hate, dressing them in the worst style for your special day. Let’s dive in…

Wearing bright white on your wedding day, this is one that is often frowned upon especially by the mothers and mother in law. Age old tradition states that a bride is to wear all white on her first wedding day, we say kick this one! We are crazy about off-white wedding dresses and even adding subtle colors. We say add some spice to your special day.

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Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, this is one tradition every little girl dreams of when thinking of her special day. We vote this one as a keeper. This tradition is a beautiful is shared between, grandmothers, mothers, sisters and even your mother-in-law and you. Whether it’s the garter, a hairpin or a timeless necklace, something you will someday hand down to your daughter.

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Another questioned tradition we hear about a lot is the wearing of a veil. This is one of those we will leave up to you as there is many ways to wear a veil and not all of them is frowned upon. We say kick the traditional veil and do something different and edgy. You can also upgrade to a princess cape which adds a soft but spontaneous side to your wedding look.

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Wedding day gifts for him and her, this is a tradition we absolutely love. Putting some thought into something special to make your big day even more memorable. Whether you tell him to take a shot before tying the knot or whether he says diamonds really are a girl’s best friend, we think this is one of the cutest traditions and really has room for creativity.

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Planning your wedding day can be quite stressful and what about the timeline… We say kick the traditional timeline and change things up. Why wait to do the first dance, why only cut the cake at the end of the evening and why have so many speeches. Change things up and create a timeline that suits your needs and makes your day memorable and different.

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Bridesmaids dresses are something we need to give you a heads up, please kick this tradition. It is rude to put your bridesmaids in the worst possible dresses. You can put them in a million-dollar Ralph Lauren dress all eyes are still going to be on you, the bride. You are the focus of the day and no-one will be talking about the bridesmaids outshining the bride as this is just not possible. So, do us all a favor and kick the ugly bridesmaid's dress tradition.

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Traditions are endless and some we love to have and others we don’t. For your wedding day, the decision is ultimately yours in terms of habits to keep or kick. We will always encourage every bride to do what she loves and make the day memorable and possibly create some new traditions.

7 Must have flowers for this season

By Cathrine Westraadt                   Updated 07.02.2018

With the new wedding season approaching soon we would love to give you the low down on what flowers are in for Spring. Making decisions for your wedding is hard enough we want to make flower selection one less worry. The current trends seem to be less is more and different is in. Flowers for your wedding day symbolizes life and color and can display both the bride and groom’s personality in so many ways.

 One trend that we absolutely LOVE is succulents. The simplicity and the understated beauty of succulents are incredible. Not only are they easy to style, they also look fantastic on photographs and they last forever and a day. Succulents are not a traditional choice, but they add a certain elegance to your wedding day when paired with softer flowers. Not only can you use them for table décor or bouquets, but they make marvelous cake decorations as well.

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Something beautiful for the soft and dainty bride, a true lady like similarity in peonies. Such a soft elegant feel to your wedding day. Peonies make you feel like dreaming of a world of peace and harmony. Some color in between the white peonies will make your bouquet the talk of the wedding industry. This is one of the only flowers that can be used from the start of bloom right through and they always project ladylikeness.

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How many brides never tread close to tulips, they are so afraid it would look kitsch. But styled in the right way with the correct combination you will have something so unique and inspired by your fiery personality. They provide timelessness and elegance with a classic touch. This is a classic that we will take to our graves in the wedding industry.

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Brides that dare to be different, we say style your wedding with Hydrangeas. We believe this provides an ethereal feel and something so out of this world it can only be done by some of the best florists. Believe it or not, this is also the perfect flower for day weddings as it provides a fairy-like type of garden feel if you want a fairy-like forest feel we say let’s get everything draped in Hydrangeas.

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 When making use of flowers on your wedding day not many brides think of the aroma of the flowers. When you are one of the brides where every detail matters, we suggest picking Magnolias for your wedding day. Not only will you look unbelievably regal you will smell like a million bucks too. Magnolias are beautiful open flowers that look perfect when in full bloom.

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Some flowers can speak a thousand words and there is one flower that speaks volumes about the brides’ personality, this would be the Daffodil. It is known in the wedding industry as the friendly flower, brides choosing to fill there special day with this beauty is some of your most sunny brides. They are bright and vibrant and so unique because of their trumpet-like shape. The flower much like the bride who picks this is a standout type of character, no blending in for either of them.

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Last but certainly not least is the extremely popular Gerbera or as most South Africans know the flower, the Barberton Daisy. This is one selection that has made it to countless weddings in the past few seasons and it never disappoints. No matter the occasion, the theme or the look Gerbera’s are suited for every occasion. They are simple, fun and not too hard to come by, which makes them perfectly suited for short notice weddings.

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Flowers bring an interesting dimension to your wedding. We dare you to be different, kick the traditional wedding flowers and do something people will remember. Do not overspend on your floral arrangements as most of them will fade along with your wedding day. Have something memorable without breaking the bank and you will not be florally disappointed after your wedding day has come and gone.