You & Your Wedding

The history of wedding cakes and the tradition attached to them are rich. Before wedding cakes came to be what they are now, they’ve passed a lot of stages, all of which are equally interesting and intriguing.

During the Roman times, the concept of elaborate wedding cake decorations and icings was not yet a reality. For instance, the groom is supposed to eat part of the wedding loaf. He would then break the remaining portion and it must be broken over the bride’s head. This symbolizes the groom’s dominance over the bride. This tradition, however, has long been eradicated possibly because of its chauvinistic implications.

Also, in the olden times, small cakes (more like today’s cupcakes) are stacked to form the wedding cakes. The notion of a white wedding cake is also very popular and was connected to affluence. Because ingredients used to make up the white icing are hard to come by, only those who can afford to travel to other places just to get hold of these cake “materials” can come up with white wedding cakes.

Interestingly, in the 17th century, the idea of sleeping on a piece of cake became very popular. They say that if you put a piece of the wedding cake underneath your pillow, you will dream about your future spouse. In the 18th century, this tradition on wedding cakes evolved into the brides passing tiny cake crumbs through their wedding rings. These crumbs are then placed underneath the pillows.

Later on, the traditional wedding cake slicing that we see today came about. The bride, with the help of the groom, creates two slices, and together, they eat that part of the cake. As this is the first task that that the couple does together, this act symbolizes their never-ending promise of supporting each other for the rest of their married life.

Then came the multi-layered and elaborately designed cakes of many colors that we see today. Wedding cakes are not only white in color; today, the couple can experiment with different colors, usually making it consistent with the theme and the motif of the wedding.

Still, another interesting fact about this tradition is that the couple tries to save the topmost tier of their wedding cakes. They preserve and freeze it for use during their first anniversary. But you don’t get to see this anymore today as the elaborate decorations make the cake more vulnerable.

What proved to be a traditional and simple creation of cakes — or loaves of bread as in the olden times — now became a design extravaganza. Numerous cake and pastry houses specialize on the design of wedding cakes. The internet even has a wide selection of wedding cakes.

In conclusion, just like the wedding ceremony itself, the history and tradition of wedding cakes have come a long way. Some practices have long been eradicated while others survived the test of time and modernity.

If you prefer a traditional wedding, then you’d surely insert some of the practices that survived in the ceremony and at the reception. Otherwise, you can skip these and just go directly to the sole purpose of the occasion. The most important thing however, is that you’ve respected the solemnity of the event and the importance of this sacrament.

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Flowers are universally loved by everyone. Is there anyone who doesn’t like flowers? Men woo their women with a bouquet of lovely flowers and it is indeed a quintessential element of a romantic atmosphere. Flowers have an uncanny knack of transmuting their fragrance to their surroundings and cheering up the entire ambiance. Different colors of flowers signify different emotions and meanings.

Traditionally, white flowers have been the preferred choice for wedding floral arrangements as they match with the bridal ensemble in most weddings and they contain all the colors of the spectrum. Hence, white is said to have all the qualities of all the colors combined. In recent times, however, people have been getting more adventurous and willing to experiment with other colors.

To give you an idea of the color connotations, red flowers symbolize family ties; blue symbolizes serenity and calm, while orange is the color of lust! The color green serves as a balancing color for a floral arrangement, as it is in the center of the gamut of colorful flowers. Your wedding day is one of the most romantic days of your life and beautiful floral arrangements will illuminate and complement the occasion. Flowers are known to symbolize life, growth, and rebirth exemplified by the lifecycle of the flower itself.

Ikebana – The Art of Flower Arrangements

The Japanese consider flower arrangements as an art – ‘Ikebana’. Indeed, floral arrangement requires a keen sense of aesthetics, color co-ordination, and good planning. Depending on the style of your wedding as well as the budget for your wedding, you could employ a professional floral designer. These professionals add character to the flowers and create a brilliant masterpiece by combining flowers of different shapes, sizes, and fragrances to add a touch of class and elegance.

If you prefer a hands-on, cost-effective approach and would like to have a personal touch to your wedding, following are few tips to guide you through the process – with panache, style, and elegance.

List and Finalize Your Floral Requirements for the Wedding

The first detail to be confirmed is the selection of flowers that you will need. To have a list ready can help you focus your discussions and stick to your budget. At this point, keep in mind that you will probably require a different set of flowers for each occasion such as the wedding ceremony or the wedding reception.

Floral Bouquet Ideas

We are sure you would love to celebrate your wedding in your own distinctive style. To begin with, start inquiring in and around your locality for good creative florists. Search for information on the Internet and start collecting different ideas and themes for the wedding.

Speak to your local florist as he or she can have good ideas to offer, considering his or her experience and expertise with previous weddings. Give ample time for the florist to plan for your wedding in advance, as the flowers could be seasonal. If that is the case, he or she would require some time to arrange for the particular variety of flowers you require for the wedding. Ideally, initiate discussions with your florist few months in advance. Your florist can offer suggestions, alternatives, and provide you with examples of his or her previous work.

Ask questions. It is your wedding and to make it perfect, you have to share ideas and research before you clinch the deal with the florist. Make it a point to look at the florist’s work samples and how he or she has worked on other weddings. This could also help you gauge how receptive and flexible the florist is to your suggestions and ideas.

Get Inspired!

You can draw inspiration from your surroundings such as other weddings you have attended, magazines, floral shops, and high-end luxury hotels with elaborate floral decorations, amongst others. Always keep an eye out for well-coordinated décors and good color combinations so that you can incorporate some of those ideas to your wedding.

Pay Attention to Details

Floral arrangements require considerable time and effort. Being organized is the key.

• Collate all your floral ideas such as photos and illustrations and ensure they are accessible when the need arises.

• Flowers are perishable and need to be preserved in water and a cool environment so that they do not wither before or during the wedding.

• Dedicate a work area for the wedding flowers. You will require a deep sink to soak the flowers, several large tables, trash bags to dispose of the waste, a large garbage can, and a clean space nearby to set the finished bouquets and arrangements.

• Provide ample time for the ‘floral’ activity. Do not hurry up at the last minute. Instead, plan ahead so that you are happy with the end result. Do not try to do everything by yourself and get hassled. Ask your family or close friends to help, and share your ideas with them. This will accelerate the process.

We wish you a very happy married life that blooms with happiness!

The Best Wedding Flowers – Set Off Your Big Day With Perfect Arrangements

Are roses still the best flowers to go with for a wedding? If you aren’t a big rose fan, you may be glad to hear that there are many other options for setting off your big day with perfection. If you do love roses, consider some of your other options before making the final decision on what you will adorn your wedding with.

Roses

This still makes the top of the list because for many people the thorny rose is the symbol for enduring love and true romance. Roses come in a variety of colors and have magnificent scents that add great pleasures to a wedding ceremony and the following celebration.

Consider using roses as well as other types of flowers in different aspects for your wedding. For a very traditional look, combine them with baby’s breath.

Calla Lilies

Lilies are a great source of large blooms for table settings or surrounding areas at a reception, but the calla lily gives a more elegant appeal. The closed shape of the bloom is extremely attractive and comes in a variety of colors. Use these in arrangements with other flowers as an accent.

Carnations

These are often used as a more affordable alternative to roses in bouquets for members of the bridal party, while the bride gets roses in a similar color. Carnations come in a large array of colors, give off pleasing scents that can be quite strong, and tend to cost much less than long stemmed roses.

Depending on how they are used and where they are placed, these flowers can take on an elegant appearance or can be dressed down to be a little more casual. They look nice when combined together in different colors, such as red and white carnations together in a bouquet with baby’s breath.

Hydrangeas

If you are going for pure elegance and sense of tradition, this is an heirloom flower that has been around for centuries. The large, beautiful blooms come in less colors and are not easily used in hand held bouquets, but they make a wonderful presence in table arrangements or along the periphery of an active wedding reception.

For a bold color choice that nicely accompanies most other wedding color themes, consider light pink or deep purple hydrangea blooms.

Sunflowers

This is an option that most people overlook unless advised by a knowing florist. You may not think that the tall, stalky sunflower would make a pleasing addition to a wedding, but there are many different varieties that look quite nice. The yellow color can actually create a nice contrast to many other common wedding color schemes.

Are you still in love with a simple rose? Are you now rethinking your options? For even more ideas for your big day, consider talking with a florist or browsing online florist websites to see what flowers other brides are demanding these days.