Wedding Favors: Top Tips for Fabulous Wedding Favors

Here are 7 inspiring favor ideas from http://wedding.theknot.com to help you get creative with your own gracious gifts.

Match Don't Mix

Whatever your wedding favors may be, pick packaging that matches and coordinates with your wedding colors -- and your table decor. Visit a neighborhood fabric store for ribbons to match your wedding-day palette (if you have one, bring along a swatch of your table linens) and personalize each favor with a monogrammed sticker or unique favor label.

Go for Double-duty Favors

Make your favors and your escort cards one in the same. From lollipops to Christmas ornaments, tag your favors with each guest's name and table number and place them on the escort table. Other escort card, favor pair-ups: apples with tags tied to the stem; luggage tags with table numbers tucked inside; and miniature wine bottles with table number and name labels.

Give One Per Couple

If you wish to give more expensive, high-end favors but need to find a way to skim the fat, give one gift per couple by placing the favor between their two dinner plates, and tagging it with the couple's names. For your single friends, stick with one gift per person. Great gifts for pairs: domino game sets, potted orchids, and bottles of gourmet olive oil.

Make a Donation

More couples are forgoing fun and foodie favors for charitable donations. Whether it's a cause that's close to your heart, such as a cancer research group, or a cause that you support, such as animal shelters, be sure to let each guest know of the donation by placing a note at each place setting or table for guests to read. To find the right organization, do your research. Find out how your chosen charity spends donations -- and make sure you receive a receipt for tax purposes. Find out more about many charities to support at ChangingThePresent.org, IDoFoundation.org, or JustGive.org.

Time It Right

If favors aren't a part of your tabletop decor, pass them out to guests as they are leaving the reception, or have the doorman do so for you. Another way to make sure guests take home your wedding favor is to place each one in a small decorative bag filled with pretty tissue paper and have a waiter hand one to each guest as they exit. In cold weather, the coatroom attendant may hand them a bag with their coats.

Try DIY Favors

Perfect for the budget-pressed couple, and the crafty ones alike, consider making your favors. A few ideas: homemade jam in jars packaged with fabric and tied off with raffia; make homemade fudge and cut it up into bite-sized pieces; or give out sugar cookies, iced with your monogram. Keep in mind that DIY projects take time and energy to carry through. So if you decide to go for this option, get your closest friends and family on board with you to help -- and have fun with it!

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

 

Wedding cakes: top tips

Your easy guide to choosing perfect wedding cakes

Cutting the cake is one of the highlights of your reception, so how do you go about choosing or preparing the perfect wedding cake for you?

 

Wedding cake ideas

Your first decision is what type of wedding cake to have: a traditional tiered and iced fruit cake; a tall and oh so modern display of individual cup cakes: one for each guest; a chocolate fudge extravaganza or a fabulous French fancy: the ‘croquembouche’ which you’ll need a tiny hammer to smash into!

The traditional British wedding cake, a rich fruit cake, is either square or round and comes in two or three tiers; these tiers can be separated by pillars or 'stacked' on top of each other, which is more the American style. The traditional cake is generally decorated with icing, and perhaps sugar or fresh flowers or a cute cake topper depicting the bride and groom. These days personalised or bespoke cake toppers are available so you could even have a tiny you and your fiancé with your child or pet atop your cake!

If you like the style of a traditional cake, but are not keen on fruit cake, then consider going for a sponge cake in chocolate, lemon, carrot or vanilla, or even a combination of these flavours to give your guests a choice.

Commission a creative cake designer to make you a wonderful novelty cake - a great idea if you're having a themed wedding. You might choose to have a cake with your own photo in icing or images of the sea, or in the shape of a stack of suitcases; a talented cake-maker will be able to show you a selection of designs and work with your ideas.

Cake-buying options

When buying your cake, you have a number of options:

·                 buy an iced cake and decorate it yourself

·                 have the cake made by a specialist

·                 have the cake entirely made and iced by a relative or friend

·                 order your cake from the local bakery

If you decide to have your cake made professionally, make sure you shop around. Some cake designers, for example, will specialise in sugarcraft and make wonderful tiered cakes with incredible designs in sugar, while others might specialise in chocolate and patisserie, such as the croquembouche. It's important to make the most of someone's talents.

When you visit a cake designer, ask to see examples of other cakes they have created. You might also ask to taste a tiny sample. Take along any ideas you have and see what they suggest. A good cake designer will work with your ideas while also offering a few suggestions of their own.

Order early

Whatever you choose, do order your cake in good time. A multi-tiered cake can take months as it will need to be made and iced in different stages. Ideally you should order your cake at least four to five months before the wedding.

Cake timing

Ideally, a cake should be delivered to the reception venue unassembled and then the tiers put together in situ. This, however, will not work with a stacked cake which the cake designer will have to put together beforehand. Ask your cake designer how your cake should be transported -- they will have done it plenty of times before! If your cake is arriving the day before the wedding, make sure your venue has somewhere safe to store it. Also, make sure they have a suitable cake stand and knife. Alternatively, your cake designer may be able to provide these items or hire them out to you.

Cutting cake prices

Ready made cakes are an increasingly popular option and are ideal for couples on a tight budget, giving you the opportunity to decorate it yourself. Marks & Spencer produce ready-made cakes in sponge or fruit cake, available in different sizes so you can present them in tiers. Cake toppers or fresh flowers can be added to the cake as you wish. To save on wedding breakfast costs, serve your wedding cake as dessert with ice cream, a fruit coulis or a hot chocolate sauce.

Making the cut

You don’t have to have a wedding cake at all, but it is traditional for the couple to formally ‘cut the cake’ while everyone looks on and cheers. The wedding cake is in fact meant to be good luck as it’s an age-old symbol of fertility. Tradition also says you should keep the top layer for your first child’s christening cake, but only if it’s a fruit cake tier.

The cake is traditionally cut after the speeches, or you might even like to wait a little longer into the evening. If you are planning to serve your cake as dessert, the cake will need to be cut before the wedding breakfast is served, to enable it to be divided into portions in time for pudding. Ask your caterer about providing cream, ice cream or a sauce to accompany it.

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Article first published at: http://www.confetti.co.uk

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

More Top Tips For Your Wedding Day!

  

• Wear a shirt instead of a t-shirt when you are having your hair done on the day of the Wedding. Why? Because a shirt can be unbuttoned and slipped off easily where a t-shirt has to be pulled over your head and risks messing up your beautiful new hair!
• Make sure you get dressed and ready before anyone else. Why? Everyone can help you get ready in plenty of time and you won’t feel rushed and hurried.
• Put together a wedding day make up bag at least 2 weeks before your wedding day and do a complete test of your wedding day look.
• When buying your make up see if you can persuade the sales assistant at the cosmetic counter into giving you free samples of everything you buy. Why? You can use the samples in your wedding day make up bag as they are small and don’t take up much room.
• Create a wedding day emergency kit for those unexpected emergencies. For example a travel size sewing kit, safety pins, nail varnish, head ache tablets etc.
• Take a spare pair of comfortable shoes for the evening reception so you can rest your feet and enjoy the reception without any discomfort!
• Appoint a trusted family member or friend to be the go to guy or girl and let the wedding suppliers know to talk to them. Give them a copy of the itinerary so they can keep a check on everything and you can enjoy the day worry free!
• Number 1 Tip: RELAX AND ENJOY IT! Enjoy your special day and remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect. You will have a fantastic day with your friends and family that you will remember and treasure forever. Have fun!!

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk 

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

Ideas for Wedding Ceremony Flowers

Ideas for Your Wedding Ceremony Flowers

Here are some thoughts and ideas for planning your wedding ceremony flowers

How do you personalise a church or civil ceremony room to reflect your tastes? Easy, just install some beautiful wedding ceremony flowers!

Churches and Chapels

If the church is large you may want to make a big bold statement with one or more large pedestal arrangements. Place these where they will be noticed such as the entrance to the church, or at the front close to the altar.

Make use of window ledges, and other natural places to lay flower arrangements. The picture above was taken at a wedding we did in a historic fifteenth century church. It features pink roses and gerberas, lilies, veronica and snapdragons (antirrhinums).

You can also place arrangements on the altar. I like to check with the vicar or minister that this is OK first. Altars suit 'long and low' arrangements.

Pew-end flowers can provide an attractive decoration, and will look fantastic to the bride as she walks down the aisle. If your budget won't stretch to decorating all of the pew-ends, place flowers on the ends of just the top two pews closest to the altar.

Garlands over the door of the church can provide a pleasing decorative touch that everybody will notice when they arrive. Check how you will fix the garland in plenty of time before the big day. Vicars of fifteenth century churches don't take too kindly to people banging nails into their church to hold flowers up!

An alternative to a garland over the entrance is to place trees either side of the church entrance. Bay trees work well, although you could also use other ornamental trees.

You could also create flower trees(sometimes called flower topiary trees). You can then coordinate your flowers with the other arrangements at your wedding.

One of the advantages of using trees over a door garland, is that after the ceremony you can have the trees moved to the reception.

Civil Ceremony Rooms

Here in the UK, many more people are getting married at civil ceremonies in licensed premises such as hotels, and sports stadiums. These rooms can often be somewhat featureless and bland. Wedding ceremony flowers can make a real difference here, and give the room a sense of celebration.

Pedestal arrangements are particularly suitable for making an impact, and adding colour.

Placing one on either side of the ceremony table at the end of the room is a common way of using them.

You could also place a pedestal close to the entrance door to the room.

It will be one of the first things that guests see as they enter the room.

You can also place a smaller arrangement on the ceremony or registrar's table to add colour and decoration. This could be an arrangement similar to the altar flowers above, or a more traditional upright arrangement.

When you are planning your wedding ceremony flowers remember to continue your colour and theme through. This will co-ordinate with the bride's bouquet and reception flowers to create a stylish and seamless effect.

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk 

First published on http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

How To Have Wonderful Wedding Boutonnieres / Buttonholes

Having good quality wedding boutonnieres can really make a difference to how the male members of the wedding party look. It is the finishing touch that that can provide a sense of style.

Choosing Your Wedding Boutonnieres

The colour of your wedding boutonnieres can be chosen to either contrast or complement the colour of the groom's outfit. For instance a black morning suit with a burgundy cravat could be complemented by a burgundy boutonniere made from a tulip, calla lily or rose.

Alternatively, you could arrange for buttonholes to be made that mirror the flowers in the bride's bouquet. For guys who 'don't like flowers' you can tone things down by using smaller blooms or substituting them with thistle, or foliage or even herbs such as rosemary.

How to Wear Your Wedding Boutonnieres

The boutonniere should be worn on the outside of the buttonhole of the left lapel, and not in it.

It is common to secure it in place by using a pearl-headed pin from the back of the lapel. The pin will then be invisible from the front. If you have a gold or decorative pin you may want to show it off and then you could pin the boutonniere from the front.

Is it Wedding Buttonholes or Wedding Boutonnieres?

Wedding boutonnieres is the common term used in the US for a gentleman's flower or flowers worn on the lapel. In the UK the term wedding buttonholes is more common. UK florists regard a buttonhole as being based around a single dominant flower, whereas a boutonniere is a group of small flowers such as stephanotis.

Let's Hear it For the Boy!

Weddings are generally focused on how special the bride looks. Wedding boutonnieres are an inexpensive way to ensure that the groom looks and feels special too. Go for it!

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

Wedding Flower Bouquets. What should I choose?

There is a huge choice when it comes to wedding flower bouquets. But how do you choose one to suit you?

Here is a quick run-down of four popular styles of bridal bouquets. If you consider these before visiting your florist for a consultation, you are much more likely to have a constructive meeting and come away with flowers that will be perfect for you.

Posy Bouquet

Traditional shape, giving a simple elegant look. Suits flowers such as roses, tulips, rununculus and peonies.

We've noticed hand-tied posy bouquets becoming more and more popular.

Shower Bouquet (Cascade Bouquet)

Traditional teardrop shape, consisting of a posy with a trail of flowers and foliage.

Suitable for use with a wide variety of flowers.

Sheath Bouquet (Arm Bouquet)

Long slender bouquet that is designed to be carried over one arm.

This is best suited to long stemmed flowers such as calla lilies (arum lilies)

Creative Bouquet

These wedding flower bouquets are especially for the bride who wants to make a statement. They don't follow any set design and can be artistic, flamboyant as well as unique.

So let your imagination run wild, or really put your florist's creative skills to the test.

If you would like Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please visit our website at: www.kliqweddings.co.uk to find out how we can help you.

WHAT MUSIC CAN I HAVE ON MY WEDDING VIDEO?

The answer is..any music you like!  However ( and there is always a however!) if you choose music that is still under copyright then there are restrictions.  Any music which is still under copyright cannot be used unless you pay a fee.  There are agencies such as the Performing Rights Society (P.R.S) or the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (M.C.P.S) who collect fees on behalf of the owners/artists of the recorded material.  The fees vary according to how the musical piece is going to be used i.e if it is to be broadcast (not a problem if it’s your wedding video!) unless of course you happen to be famous and that it’s likely to be aired on national television, or if it’s for private viewing then different fees are charged. 

Most wedding video companies such as Kliq Weddings who are an Essex based wedding videography and photography company, should advise you at the time of booking of the legal issues regarding the recording of incidental music (D.J, band etc) or the adding of music to a final DVD.  In theory the D.J, Band or venue it’s self should have a current licence allowing either the playing or performing of music, and this should be referred to in the wedding video companies contract.  The video company will, by virtue of filming an event unavoidably record whatever ambient music is being played and therefore would be covered by the above licences.  However (there’s the However word again!!!) if you wish to have your favourite music i.e Robbie Williams, Sterophonics or whoever added or edited into your final DVD during the post production phase then a fee has to be paid, now this shouldn’t be of any concern to the bride and groom as most wedding video companies will allow in their costs fees to cover this, if not they should make you aware that extra charges will be added in order to include copyright material in your final DVD. 

Kliq Weddings ensure that customers are made aware of the issues regarding the adding of copyright material in the final DVD.  You can visit Kliq Media at www.kliqweddings.co.uk 

You can visit the websites of P.R.S and M.C.P.S for further information on the legal issues regarding copyright material.  

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!