Most couples limit their experiments to the palette or decorations at the wedding, and play it safe. At times, this is all it takes to make the wedding memorable. At other times, it may be remembered for a while, but is then quickly burrowed in the memories of your guests when newer and more interesting things capture their attention.
So, how do you make sure that your wedding is remembered forever?
Most guests will look forward to enjoying that delicious sweet last course of wedding cake at your reception. Wedding cakes are works of art, created with finesse and customized with unique details of unparalleled beauty. Most wedding cakes today are not only a treat for the taste buds, but are a sensationally striking too. However, these masterpieces of sweet indulgence take time, effort and resources to create. It is no wonder that they are pricey and take up a chunk of your wedding budget.
Fortunately, there are creative ways to have your dream wedding cake without breaking the bank. This is what we will look at today. Read on to find out ten different ways to slice your wedding cake budget, and still get what you want.
#1 Choose a simple cake
It is the time and effort that goes into creating your wedding cake, that translates into a higher cost. Agreed that hand-crafted details look fabulous, but they will cost you accordingly. Fine lace-like details and intricate motifs will cost more than plain designs or those that are easy to do. Almost every design that you want on your cake will have an equally appealing alternative that costs less. Just make sure you ask your baker and find out.
For example, instead of individual sugar flowers that have to be made one-at-a-time, and perfected to the last detail, you can choose flat flowers of a single solid color. This saves your baker several hours of time, and you will get it at a much lesser price. Similarly, consider stencil prints or monograms instead of hand-piped details. Accessories like satin ribbons in a chosen color can instantly dress up a cake, and are easy on the pocket.
#2 Check out the budget-friendly options if you must have sugar flowers
Flowers are a trending favorite, and most brides choose to have at least few flowers or floral motifs on their wedding cake. Sugar flowers resembling real ones are very expensive, as your talented baker has a difficult job perfecting it. Each flower that is a replica of a real model involves several details, and depending on the complexity of the design, can take hours to do. Luckily, you have some equally attractive options to obtain the same effect for far less. Here they are:
Choose real flowers: Check with your florist for seasonal flowers that are non-poisonous and can be used on your wedding cake. It will cost less, and it will look splendid. All it takes is a little planning and organizing to get the flowers on time and set them up right.
Choose flat flowers or painted flowers for a similar effect: Flat flower designs without many layers, or those that are painted on to the cake cost far less than sugar flowers. So, this may be the way to go, to help your budget.
Choose simple designs: If you still want sugar flowers without the outrageous price, choose simple designs like lilies that are easier to make, than roses or orchids.
Keep it to a minimum: To avoid the hefty price tag for decorating your entire cake with it, choose a design with a cluster of flowers on just one tier instead. You could restrict the flowers to just the top tier or use it as a stem along the side of the cake, and decorate the rest with other inexpensive accessories.
#3 Opt for the economical option in frosting
Fondant cakes are a delight, with their clear and remarkably soft texture, but they can be expensive. Fondant is considered the best cake decoration material for creative designs like ruffles and little figurines, with the added advantage that it has a marshmallow taste that almost everyone enjoys. If you choose a complicated design, or want the cake to look smooth and polished with a glazing finish, your baker may ask you to go with fondant. Although fondant gives the cake a refined finish, and it is easier to work with for precise measurements and details, it can cost several times that of butter-cream. This is why—to create a fondant covering for your cake, your baker has to first slather layers of butter-cream on the cake surface. It is to this that the fondant adheres. So, this means that you will be paying for both the butter-cream layer and the fondant topping.
Another factor is that fondant, whether made by the baker himself, or bought, is always costlier than butter-cream icing. The soft butter-cream is usually made from scratch, and is easier to do, and so the lesser price attached to it. Don’t think that you will lose out on taste or look by choosing it. It has been the traditional choice that has never disappointed. It can also be done in different colors, and a skilled cake-maker can design it to look as attractive as a fondant cake. Another budget-friendly option is to go with the current trend of naked cakes. Here, the cake layers are not frosted, and it is sparingly decorated with cream, fruits and berries for a natural, refreshing look.
#4 Make friends with faux tiers or choose a smaller display
If you always wanted a big cake, you can have it without paying for all those extra tiers. After deciding how many tiers are actually needed to serve your guests, you can ask your baker to do some extra tiers that aren’t made of real cake. It will still be iced and decorated to match the design you have chosen for your cake, and nobody will notice the difference. As long as all your guests get a slice, who cares whether the rest of the tiers are real or not. Let it be your own little secret!
The other option is to choose a spectacular, but smaller display cake with one, two or three layers that look great. Couture cakes done on small scale are fantastic, and can look sophisticated and stylish. Keep this for the display at your reception. For the actual cake service, order kitchen cakes that will not be decorated, but will taste exactly like the original. This will be cut and served to the guests. This way, you will have to spend less, but your guests will still get a fantastic dessert. This article on the Bridal Guide website suggests that you can save up to fifty per cent by going this way, than choosing a big cake.
#5 Opt for smaller servings
Have you ever noticed how many of the guests leave a lot of cake behind on their plates, especially if there are other desserts too? Avoid wastage by asking your caterer to size the slices to three-fourth or half the original serving size, and serve it along with the other desserts. You can also have the cake slices placed in a buffet, instead of serving it at the table. This way, only those guests who actually want cake will take it. When you choose to do so, you can place the order for less than the actual head count, as it is pretty certain that not all your guests will want cake. The answer to this reader’s question on the cost of wedding cakes on the Knot suggests that for 300 guests, you can order just 150 slices of cake, and serve all your guests half-slices. Again, if your wedding reception is for 300 guests and you are serving cake in a buffet setting, you can place the order for just 250 guests and it will most likely be enough.
#6 Choose the shape and flavors wisely
The most budget-friendly cake shapes are square and round. Square cakes are easy to section into equal portions without wastage. It is also comparatively easy to make. Most bakers can easily frost square cakes, just like they would with round cakes. So, that shouldn’t be a concern. If you choose any unusual shape for one or more of your cake tiers, you will have to spend more on it. Topsy-turvy cakes are the most expensive of the lot, since it not only takes a lot of effort to create, but there is a lot of wastage in setting up the tiers. So, either go with the square or circular cake and decorate it to meet your vision. Use options like varying the heights of the various tiers to obtain an equally interesting effect. Cakes that are shaped like real-life objects, like cars or books can cost extra. The alternative is to make the cake in a standard shape, and have the picture of the object printed on it in edible ink. It may not look the same, but neither will it be as expensive.
The other thing that can make a difference is the flavor. Standard flavors like vanilla and chocolate are loved by all, and cost much lesser than gourmet choices like carrot or cookies ‘n’ cream. Similarly, sponge cake is cheaper than fruit cake, but delicious. If you must have a premium flavor for your tiered cake, consider doing it for the smaller tiers and choosing standard fare for the larger tiers.
#7 Be creative with your decorations and display
Remember how we suggested ribbon and fresh seasonal flowers for quick, efficient and attractive decoration? There are several other similar options that will help you have a beautiful cake at a budget-friendly price. Here are some of them:
Chocolate covered berries are delicious and look tempting, while the cost is almost insignificant
For a vintage theme, you can use ribbons and a decorative brooch for the cake decoration
Simple criss-cross designs on the cake surface with tiny edible silver dots are inexpensive, yet classic
Instead of fondant figurines, choose plastic figurines as cake toppers, and it will serve as a keepsake for the future as well
Choose inexpensive cake toppers like the butterfly toppers featured in the cake in the picture above, or try your hand at making a cake topper yourself, for a fraction of the cost of doing it in sugar
Instead of a tiered cake, you can have the separate tiers placed using pillars. This is usually much cheaper than a single tiered cake. It is also easy to set up and distribute
You can also cut a few corners with the way you set up your dessert table. Have a dessert station set up and spread the different desserts out for maximum effect. By varying the size and height of each platter, it will look abundant and interesting. Also space the desserts to look as though there is more than you actually have. Many couples splurge on an attractive cake stand, but you can get creative with this as well. If the venue has wedding cake platters and stands, use them creatively. Dress up the table with an attractive table cloth, interesting food labels and an interesting backdrop or buntings, so the focus is not on the cake stand. You can also go with unusual choices like distressed and weathered wooden crates for relevant themes. Just let those creative juices flow, and you will find several ideas that won’t cost you too much.
#8 Book early and get your cake at a better rate
Don’t delay your cake choices till last-minute. Start your search early, and you will most likely be able to snag a bargain or make use of a discount. Check if you can get a better deal if you make a full payment, or if you place your booking early. If your wedding day is after several months, booking your cake early may even allow you to lock the price at the current rate, before any price increase takes effect. It will also be one task off your list, so don’t delay. If there are any bridal shows in town, try to attend them and check out whether there are any cake makers offering attractive offers. Lastly, don’t forget to check if your venue or caterer offers a discount package on the cake, if you order it from them.
Now that you know all about how to get the best from your wedding cake budget, all you need to do, is to get started. Check out our list of cake vendors and their fantastic designs on Best for bride for some valuable inspiration or to place your orders, by clicking on this link.
The earrings you choose for your wedding day play a huge role in determining your wedding day look. The right pair will complement your dress, and enhance your facial features by creating the right impact.
When choosing your earrings, there are a few things to keep in mind. Some earrings look better than others, for a specific type of wedding dress. Let us find out what they are.
Vintage style wedding dresses
Typical traditional wedding dresses have a timeless elegance that is best complemented by vintage style earring designs. Silver and gold earrings in classic designs look good, as do earrings with intricate stone work and floral designs. Natural pearl earrings also work with these dresses, either in the form of drops or studs. Colorful gemstones highlighted with white stones along the borders are another good choice.
These contemporary designs are very stylish, and can be enhanced with matching modern earring designs. It is a good idea to match the stone color on the earrings to the embellishments on the dress. Sparkling stones in different colors work well, but it is best to go for a silver or clear base instead of gold. Similarly, white cultured pearls work better than natural pearls, when worn with modern dress silhouettes.
Heavily embellished ball gowns
Most ball gowns feature intricate detailing on the bodice, and an elaborate skirt. This pattern is usually very dressy, and it isn’t advisable to add too many accessories and clutter the look. Simple stud earrings or long drop earrings that are simple, but elegant are the ideal choice. If the dress features an embellished neckline or a high collar, you can cut the sparkle from your earring to avoid a crowded look. Stud earrings are also a good choice for women who don’t usually wear earrings, but wish to find one to complete their wedding outfit. With studs, you have the flexibility of choosing a size that is appropriate for your face.
Modern fit and glamorous gowns
When your wedding look is glamorous with a fit and flare gown, ruffles in the skirt, an off-the-shoulder neckline or a stylish A-line skirt, your accessories should also accentuate the effect. Long or short statement earrings, with plenty of sparkle can give you a dressy edge. Just remember that the more bling your earring has, you have to balance it out in your necklace, so you don’t look over the top. Stone-studded hoops, crystal detail earrings and tassels are all good ideas for a Hollywood-inspired wedding day look.
Wedding dresses with short hemlines
The shorter hemline is associated with casual weddings, and so classic earring patterns may not look good with them. The two obvious choices that do work, are thin, long earrings and big bling studs. The latter goes well with layered frocks, while the former is a better choice when your dress is fitted all the way.
This generation has a penchant for everything vintage. Our obsession with history makes it impossible to separate our lives from nostalgia. There is an endearing charm and unparalleled appeal attached to anything vintage, as the very term denotes high quality, and represents the best of its time. So, this interest in all things of a bygone age is acceptable.
This is why vintage style weddings never go out of fashion. Vintage weddings are high on style, and are the perfect choice for a couple to have a meaningful wedding with elements that reflect their personality. Another attractive factor about vintage weddings is that it allows you to mix and match various styles, ideas and create a signature of your own. It is no wonder that couples find it thrilling when they work with history to bring the old world charm into their modern day weddings.
Before we look at some good ideas for your vintage wedding, let us first help you decide whether you are indeed the couple who would love this theme. To find out, ask yourselves these questions.
Are you drawn to items that belong to bygone eras?
Does your idea of a perfect holiday include visits to antique shops and historical sites?
Do you think that the best fashion belongs to decades in the past, and nothing today competes with the style and grace of weddings of the last century?
Is your personal decorating style timeless and classic?
Are you drawn to elegant neutral and pastel palettes and do you love metallic items with beautiful details that are definitely not modern?
If you answer yes to some or most of these questions, you will most likely enjoy putting together a vintage wedding.
Now, many brides are scared of planning a vintage wedding, as they think it is hard work or they can screw up the details. Let us bust some of the common vintage wedding planning myths to put your fears to rest.
#Myth 1
All your wedding details should fit into one era, or your wedding will look wrong
Your wedding is not a history exam. It is about what you love. There are no rules that say every detail should be right, or that you cannot mix ‘n’ match all the ideas you borrowed from the past, when planning your wedding. You can work around a specific theme, but it isn’t always necessary. The idea is to be inspired by the past and plan your own unique style by borrowing what you love, not copy it entirely.
#Myth 2
For a wedding to be vintage, you should stick to very specific color palettes
Your wedding is all about you, and trust us, it is possible to have glamorous dark colors in your wedding and it will still be vintage-style. It is all about experimenting and finding what you like most. Remember that it is not a single element, but the harmony of various elements in your wedding brings out the style. So, do not limit yourself to pastels and muted neutrals for a vintage wedding. Instead, work around your choice of colors and find the ones that work for you.
#Myth 3
You must love a vintage era, or you will be lost when planning your wedding
Absolutely not! If you just chanced upon the vintage wedding style when you started researching wedding styles, you can still have a vintage wedding. All the details and inspiration you want are online, and you do not need to look any further to plan the perfectly vintage wedding.
Now that we have all these doubts out of the way, let us look at the most popular vintage wedding styles and find the one that you like most.
Rustic Vintage or Classic Vintage
Rustic vintage refers to a style that is personal, where the couple interweave and bring together all that conjures up nostalgia, to create their own signature style. It is entirely different from a classic white ballroom wedding, and can be quirky, casual, relaxed, joyous and fun. The couple usually choose to have a relaxed ambiance that is warm and welcoming. There is immense scope for personalization, and this wedding style has continuously evolved. This article on the Special Events blog suggests that present day rustic vintage weddings are moving towards mixing classic elements like lace and gold-rimmed china tea cups in place of the older favorites like burlap and Mason jars.
Classic Vintage is rather defined and specific to a particular era. This is popular among brides who are die-hard fans of a specific decade in history, and wish to recreate the same scene at their weddings. Popular eras include the 1920’s and 50’s. Brides choose wedding dresses that were the fashion at that time, and also stick to various details like the exact getaway car, style of dress and hairstyle that were trademarks of that decade. One word of caution when planning a classic vintage wedding: be inspired by the era, and don’t try to entirely copy the look. Or you will have a fancy dress or costume party ambiance for your wedding. A few authentic details from the era are all it takes to recreate the effect, so do it in moderation.
As you may have guessed by now, rustic vintage is the more popular style today, as it offers plenty of scope for personalization and is still nostalgic.
Next, let us look at some ideas that are great for a vintage wedding.
1.Wedding venue
Have a style in mind, and find a venue that matches it. It is a bonus if the venue you choose has vintage furniture that is relevant to the theme you have in mind. It will allow you to reduce the number of things to bring in, to build the look. A barn is a perfect location for a rustic wedding, while a Gatsby-inspired classic vintage wedding would work better in a historical house or ballroom.
2.Invitations and wedding stationery
Have a specific theme in mind? Let your invitations give a sneak peek into it. So, choose designs with a retro charm for classic vintage weddings. For your rustic wedding, highlight the main colors of your wedding by adding them to your stationery suite and matching them to the event’s tone. This is the perfect way to create that first impression, so plan your paper suite around it.
3.Add family history
If you have a vintage heirloom like a birdcage veil or earrings that will add to your attire, it is the perfect way to go. You can borrow lace from your mother’s wedding gown and add it to your bouquet, or even find a talented dressmaker who can rework it and make it yours. Displaying family details through photographs or using generations-old antique décor items at your wedding can add a special sentimental touch to your special day.
4.Decor
The options are endless, but our genuine suggestion is to limit the details so your guests do not feel overwhelmed. Remember it is a wedding and not a museum tour, so stick to few but striking vintage elements and build your theme around it. Here are some ideas to consider
Stacks of old books, birdcages and mercury glass votives make interesting centrepiece and décor elements
Embellished and gold-rimmed china cups to either serve afternoon tea or as display pieces for your tables
Freshly painted vintage bicycles dressed with flower baskets as display elements
Typewriters, leather suitcases, trunks and record players as décor elements
For shabby chic décor, include burlap, twine and frayed ribbon on your tables and in the decorations
Folding wooden chairs for functionality and to contribute to the overall look
Old picture frames and black-and-white photo walls or backdrops to bring back old memories
Working ice cream bike complete with chalkboard display to serve ice creams and lollies for dessert
Dessert buffet with traditional sweets in classic-style tall glass jars and antique silver and white platters
Decorative doilies for the dessert and dinner tables
5.Wedding dress
You have two options here: either get hold of a vintage wedding dress and restyle it to match and fit you, or buy a brand new dress that has elements that are vintage-inspired. This wedding dress from Best for Bride, for example, will easily fit the vintage theme.
If your mother or grandmother has handed down their wedding dress, consider seeking the services of a talented dress maker who can rework it to fit your size and your taste. If you are confused about what to look for, so your wedding dress is vintage, here are some features to suit your need.
Lace is a definite vintage style, and the more the merrier.
Scoop necklines, jewel necklines and Queen Anne necklines
Butterfly sleeves, T-shirt sleeves and three-fourth or full sleeves
For the 50’s look, consider tea-length frocks with plenty of pouf to them
Maxi dresses with sheath silhouettes and a natural drape that falls freely
Each vintage era had its signature jewelry designs. The most popular ones include
Georgian jewelry featuring white sapphires and red rubies
Victorian jewelry with floral designs. Also used sapphires and garnets
Art deco jewelry with large, flashy chains and chandelier pendants
Late 20th century featured pearls
Blue sapphire earrings and bracelets
The trademark accessories also included birdcage veils and rhinestone studded elaborate hair combs.
For the groom, replace the standard boutonniere with a photo brooch.
7.Flowers
Toss out the round bouquets and go with loosely bundled bouquets of wildflowers, baby’s breath, and blushing roses. You can also go with a single statement flower like hydrangea for your entire bouquet, to hone the vintage style. Add a lace handkerchief to your bouquet for an interesting twist.
8.Entertainment
A live band is a must-have, to nail the vintage feel. For fun at the wedding, consider adding games like ‘hook-a-duck’ or a photo booth with vintage props and Polaroid film photos. You can also have entertainers at your wedding that remind you of popular icons from the past. This couple chose to have a chimney sweep. Brilliant, I must say! If you decide to go with a DJ, make sure that your playlist includes songs from the era that you have focused on. Music sets the mood of the event, so make sure that the background music is chosen with care, so you can rekindle nostalgia, right from the beginning of the event.
9.Wedding cake
Choose traditional flavors like fruit cake, sponge and chocolate for a truly old-age style. Nude cakes decorated with fresh fruit and cream are very welcoming. You can also have it dusted with soft glitter for added bling. Other interesting designs include cakes embellished with lace prints and with pillars between the tiers.
10.Wedding favors
Edible favors are the best. You could also consider photo mint tins or old-style photograph frames. Use brown paper bags with stamps or vintage prints for an authentic touch. Tie it up with lace, or if you are a big fan of burlap, go with it instead.
Weddings mark a beginning to a lifetime of happiness. And is there a better way to do it, than remember the best from the past, through history itself, as you step into a new future? What do you say? We hope that we have given you enough ideas and inspiration to put together your vintage wedding today.
Come visit us on Best for Bride today to choose the wedding dress that is perfect for your big celebration. Please browse through our extensive bridal gallery and you are bound to find a wedding dress that is perfect for your wedding, whether it is rustic vintage or classic vintage. Also choose your bridesmaids dresses and find everything you need for your décor, flower needs, cakes and more, all at Best for Bride.
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