Author: Olga Pomeransky

Olga is manager at Best for Bride since 2005. Currently Best for Bride operates 4 bridal stores in Canada (Toronto, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Barrie). Best for Bride sells wedding, bridesmaids, mob dresses and more. http://www.BestForBride.com
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Shapes of Sweet Bliss at your wedding: A guide to classic Cake Shapes

If there is a wedding decision which allows the couple to have a lot of fun with, it has to be selecting the wedding cake. Wedding cakes today, are true works of art, and while you dream up your vision of sugary goodness, your wedding baker will do all the hard work to make it real.

More and more couples are going for elegant, striking tiered wedding cakes, that form the canvas for elaborate decorations matching the wedding décor, or even the details of the bridal dress. While the classic round white wedding cake has been around for a while, there are more shapes and designs to experiment with. Let us take a look at the most popular wedding cake shapes and some spectacular cakes crafted in these shapes.

Round

Best for Bride
Best for Bride

The traditional wedding cake is round and simple. However, this simple shape forms the backdrop for a range of patterns, textures and colors. Beautiful round cakes with each layer designed uniquely, or decorated with pretty details like ribbons, pearls or flowers would be magnificent when done by an expert baker.

Sometimes, less is more! Simply changing the colors of the various tiers to tie it to the wedding décor, and adding the couple’s initials or an interesting cake topper are all it takes to make it a masterpiece.

Square

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Square wedding cakes look modern and add a touch of sophistication. The tiers may be layered one beneath the other, but when each layer is placed at a right angle to the above layer, it creates more visual interest. You can opt to soften the edges or use embellishments like flowers or ribbons to accentuate the angular effect. For an even more modern take on this style, you can choose pentagons, hexagons or other polygons to create a striking appearance.

Petal-shaped

Also known as the scallop shape, this is a soft, charming shape which is the perfect choice for an outdoor or garden theme wedding. A cake in this shape doesn’t require too much help to create an impact on the table. It looks splendid when encrusted with beads, pearls, ribbons and minimum embellishments, which still allow the shape to show through.

Mix and match

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The current trend is to mix two or more shapes in alternate layers to create a stunning wedding cake. The most commonly mixed shapes are square and round, and the result is a striking sculpture that really captures everyone’s attention.

Topsy turvy cakes

This design is the go-to choice for many young couples. It is modern and makes a bold, quirky statement. The layers of the tiered cake are asymmetrical, and look wild with geometrical patterns and colorful textured frosting. It is a good choice for a fun, casual party, but may not be the best for traditional affairs.

Best for Bride offers you the best in cake designs, and can customize your wedding cake to be all that you ever wanted. Check out our online gallery for a sample of the designs we can do for your wedding day.

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Wedding Dress Shopping: Key Preparation Tips for a Seamless Experience!

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Wedding dress shopping is fun and exciting, but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what you want. To find the right wedding dress, you may first have to look at hundreds of options. So, don’t hit the stores until you have narrowed your preferences to a select few. Plan in advance and your wedding shopping will be productive and enjoyable.

This article will help you understand how to prepare for your bridal boutique appointment, so you can make the most of your experience.

Begin early

There are three main processes, when it comes wedding shopping –determining the type of dress you want, finding the right bridal boutique and finding the dress. The entire process may take anywhere between 6 and 12 months. A little research before shopping will make it easier and much more effective.

How to start?

While some brides know exactly how they want to look on their wedding day, others may not have a clue on where to begin. Don’t worry, we’ll help you get there.

First, find a silent spot and sit down with a pen and paper. Close your eyes and imagine your wedding day. Do you envision yourself as a traditional bride in a classic white wedding gown? Or do you picture yourself as a fashionable, stylish bride in a modern wedding dress?

Depending on your preferences, write down a few describing words for the gown you have in mind.

Now, look for dresses that match your idea. Browse through online wedding gown collections and photos in bridal magazines to find inspiration. Save these for reference, and make notes on what you like and what you don’t in a particular dress.

Ask your friends for suggestions on what would look good on you. Once you begin doing this, you will slowly zero-in on the features you want, and eliminate those you don’t. You should soon be able to shortlist suitable silhouettes, type of sleeves, neckline and length. It’s now time to move on to the next step.

Fix a budget, find a boutique

The worst thing that can happen when you go shopping, is to fall in love with a dress you cannot afford. So, fix the maximum amount you can spend on your wedding dress and make sure you stick to it. Budget for accessories like veils and shoes too.

Now, find a boutique that carries the dress collections you like. You can check online or call them to confirm availability of these collections. Although you can buy a dress online, remember that you may not be able to judge how the dress would look on you till you actually try it on.

Book your appointment and go shopping!

Once you finalize the boutique, fix an appointment with them on a day when you have plenty of time to shop. If there are any particular dresses that you liked, inform them so they will have it ready when you arrive.

Take a friend or two with you, when you go shopping. Limit the number of people who accompany you, as too many opinions will only make the decision difficult. Choose someone who is fair in judgement and will give you an honest opinion.

Now, all you have to do is attend your appointment and find your dream dress!

Visit Best for Bride to browse through our vast selection of wedding dresses and for all your other wedding needs.

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The Groom’s Guide—How involved should you be in wedding planning?

1Congratulations on your engagement! Now that the inevitable’s happened, and your lady love has agreed to share her life with you, what do you do next?

Don’t be surprised if your level-headed and practical fiance has already taken on her new part-time job—wedding planning, and while you are wondering about what colors and flowers she talks about all the time, don’t forget that you too have to be involved in planning your marriage. Well, atleast to a certain extent! If you thought the safest thing to do is to nod “Yes honey”, we have some news for you! Better listen to what’s going on, or you’ll regret it later.

While your bride goes ahead with planning “most” of the wedding, here is information on where you should step in and lend a hand!

Money matters

When a woman becomes a bride, cutting down costs suddenly becomes an alien concept. This is where you enter the show. Be there when she plans the guest list and the venue. This will account for a huge part of the wedding budget, so make sure you help with sorting out who has to be there and who doesn’t.

Similarly, set a maximum amount for booking the venue and decorating it. Women are often taken in by the look of a place, and once they are bowled over, there is no taking it back. So, take the initiative to search out alternate venue locations before going to see her suggestion. Ease her into the idea that she can get what she wants for a lesser price. Make it your responsibility, and not only will your bride remember how considerate you were to help her, you will also save some money.

Often ask about the wedding, and offer to help

There is usually a point in the engagement when the bride bursts out into tears and complains that the groom doesn’t care about the wedding. Well, you do, but not with the obsession that she has! But, for her sake and yours, ask about the plans and progress every now and then. Lend a ear when she pours out her frustrations over which shade of peach goes with the green in the décor. You may not have the slightest idea of what she is talking about, but peace with reign!

Your few responsibilities include finding a good tux, picking your groomsmen and getting in shape for the wedding. So, do these with gusto, and she will be proud of you.

Be involved in things that matter to you

You do not have to touch the invitations, flowers or wedding shopping. Let her handle it. Where the cake is concerned, make suggestions only if you are asked. Nevertheless, go along and enjoy all the tasting sessions she plans.

Instead, concentrate on the wedding music. Be involved in deciding which songs ought to be played, and definitely those that shouldn’t be.

One mistake grooms make is to avoid the wedding registry. It’s your folly. If you want other gifts besides than silver tea cups and pretty home ornaments, you will have to register at places of your choice too. So, make sure you do!

For more wedding related tips and advice both for the bride and the groom, check out our website at Best for Bride.

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The Right steps to finding the Best wedding planner

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via pixabay

The term “wedding planner” broadly encompasses a number of services. Who you choose to hire for your wedding, should depend on what you want them to do. You can select between full service wedding planners and partial services. Either way, the final intention is to reduce your stress as the big day approaches, and have everything on track, in time.

We will now look at how you can find the right wedding planner from the numerous options available.

Full-service planner, a “day of” coordinator or Part-time Professional

If you want a professional to handle all the details of your wedding and you can afford it, choose a full-service planner. They will take care of all tasks including hiring and decorating the venue, creating invitations, booking the florists, caterers and band, all the way up to sending your thank you notes.

A day-of coordinator will take charge for everything on your actual wedding day. If you prefer to plan and execute everything yourself, but want help on the day, this is the ideal choice for you. Part-time professionals can help you perform chosen tasks. For example, you can hire them for décor suggestions, assistance with booking vendors etc. They charge a flat fee for the service they provide, and it is hence less expensive than a full-service planner.

Factors to account for when booking the service

The most important factor when booking a planner is your budget. A full-service planner is expensive, and they may cost up to 10 to 20% of your total budget. A “day-of” coordinator charges a flat fee for his job, and relieves you of the pressure of handling things on the day.

Compare costs of various planners and shortlist the option/options that seem ideal. Make sure that the names on the list are all professionals who are experienced and well-trained. The next part is conducting interviews to zero-in on the right choice.

Interviews and decisions

At the interview, obtain references of past weddings your wedding planner has conducted. Ask them how they work, how they handle emergencies and what ideas they can contribute to your wedding. The basic idea of this discussion is to determine how well the two of you can work together.

You will be spending a lot of time with your wedding planner, so it is important that you strike a rapport right from the start. You should be comfortable discussing your ideas, and he/she should welcome your ideas and be ready to build on it. If you are struggling to convince him/her of what you want, it is obviously not the right choice.

Discuss what will be included in the cost and make sure all the terms and conditions are included in the contract. Once you have finalized everything and your wedding planner has begun the planning process, be in touch regularly and ask for updates on the progress. With the right person to help you, you can be certain that your dream of having the perfect wedding will be realized with no difficulty.

Best for Bride has everything you need from wedding dresses, to décor ideas, invitations and more. Visit us today to get started with your wedding plans today.