DIY Project: Cake stand

Deciding on a cake stand was tricky because I wasn't really in love with any of the options that were readily available. It seemed like I only had two main choices; either a flat plateau stand or a tiered stand. Neither of these really appealed to me. I definitely did not want a tiered stand or the 1980s tower cake look with gaps in between the tiers, so it seemed like I had no other option but to get a flat plateau stand like the popular embossed silver stands used at most weddings these days.While I did like these stands, I wasn't in love with them, and I didn't feel that they really fit in with the rest of my wedding decor. So I was quite pleased when I discovered other brides were making their own cake stands out of wood. I decided to follow their guides and attempt to do it too!

Firstly I bought an 18 inch round wooden panel from Lowe's, that was already smooth and factory sanded.

 

Then I bought a 12 inch wooden candle holder from Target. It took me several attempts to get this right because many of the candle holders were slightly uneven and I only noticed when I got home that the wooden panel wouldn't sit flush on the candle stand because it wasn't level. I probably should have just carried a level tool with me to the store to be sure the candle holders were straight before purchasing them. Instead of repeatedly buying them, and returning them. Everything is always so much clearer in hindsight!

Then my fiance attached the candle holder to the center of the round wooden panel. Once this was done I realized it was a bit wobbly because the round wooden panel was too heavy for such a tall  candle holder. On all  the other blogs I had seen these, the brides always used a very short candle holder but I wanted a tall cake stand so I could place our initial letters in front of it without obstructing view of the cake. I decided to make a trip to Michael's to buy a small wooden plaque to attach to the base of the candle holder in an attempt to better balance out the weight of the stand. I wasn't really sure if it would work or not but it did!

Once the plaque was attached to the bottom of the candle holder,  the cake stand was now steady and balanced.  It was now time to paint it!  I wanted to go for something really neutral and plain to keep things simple, so I decided to paint it a soft ivory color. I opted to use spray paint since it is so much easier to get the hang of than using a paint brush, and there is not need to worry about brush strokes or streaks. I was also pretty much a spray painting pro by this point after spraying all the wooden letter centerpieces.  I wanted a smooth sleek finish so I chose to go with a gloss finish  Painters Touch spray paint from Home Depot.

It took about three coats of paint to get a smooth uniform look for the entire cake stand. After each coat of paint I allowed the stand to dry thoroughly for a few days before adding the next layer of paint. In no time  I had my very own, one of a kind ivory cake stand! The pictures below show the cake stand in action at the wedding reception hall.

I was very pleased with how it turned out. It was truly simple and chic, stylish yet understated, unique without being overdone.  Several people asked where I bought it from and refused to believe that my husband and I made it ourselves. I take that as a compliment!!

Head table or sweetheart table?

Source

Having a hard time deciding between a head table or a sweet heart table for your wedding reception? Read all about the pros and cons of both here.  I adore the look of sweethearts but love the practicality of a head table. My ideal situation is a head table with a maximum of 8 people including the bride and groom. ( bride + groom + maid of honor + best man + parents of bride & groom) Because honestly what good is it to have a maid of honor if she is sitting on another table from me! The most stylish sweetheart tables are half rounds although some rectangular or round tables can look just as good. The glass sweetheart table above is just too beautiful for words albeit not very practical since the table is tiny! I especially love the bride and groom chair covers; simple, chic and perfect!!!

A happy compromise between a head table and sweetheart would be a sweetheart table sandwich; ie a small sweetheart table with two round tables on either side seating the bridal party and parents.

Draped fabric and table skirts are the most common options for decorating the head table or sweetheart table combined with flowers, lace and even lights. The photos below show many different style options for sweethearts and head tables

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Stay stylish!
xoxo

Fall wedding inspiration

Pumpkin & apple pies (chicweddingfavors.com)

Apple cider (Brides.com)

Spiced butternut pumpkin soup (source)

Victor Schrager

Strictly weddings

Joshua Gene

Source

Source

Read more about fall inspiration and ideas here

xoxo

Let there be light!

Joshua Dwain Photography

Who knew that something as simple as lighting could play such an important role in the wedding? Light matters, in fact it is far more important than most people realize. The thing is, the only way to capture the memories of your big day is with photography & videography, and both of these depend heavily on lighting. Light has the biggest impact on the wedding decor. Read more about the types of lighting used in weddings here.

The short version of the article goes something like this:

Three main types of lighting = Natural light + Indoor bulb light + Uplights

Using the right light, at the right time, in the right way is crucial!

With each type of lighting, there are a few things to keep in mind and certain common errors to avoid

[1] Natural light

Agnes Lopez

Agnes Lopez



The gorgeous photos above by Agnes Lopez are proof that bride needs at least some photos taken in natural light, to accurately capture the true color, style and details of the wedding garments, make up and accessories.  For outdoor ceremonies, be sure to avoid setting up the seats facing the sun, otherwise the bright light will be directly in is everyone's eyes and no one will be able to get good shot of what is going on, this will also cause shadows to be cast on all the guest photos. Guest photos are a priceless addition to the wedding album, they are often able to capture angles and view points that the professional photographer missed. Visit your outdoor venue at a similar time and season that your ceremony is scheduled for, to get an accurate idea of which direction the sunlight will be facing. Set up the seating in such a way that the guests will have their backs to the sun.

[2] Indoor light.

Candles are a popular choice for weddings. They can be a sweet and romantic addition to any space, but only if used properly. Candles are much like flowers; just because they have the ability to be decorative and beautiful doesn't mean they will automatically always look great if not displayed stylishly. I honestly cannot count the number of weddings I have attended with candles drooping drunkenly all over the place, as if they were about to fall right out of their holders. I have actually witnessed a candle tip over and light fire to the table linen!  It is important to choose candles that actually fit in the holder so they stand up straight rather then lean over precariously, this is especially the case with long taper candles.

People often forget that just like other forms of light, candles emit heat. There is nothing worse than sweating to death at a reception surrounded by excessive amounts of candles in a hot poorly circulated space. Always adjust the room temperature  accordingly to match the number of candles lit.

And while we are on the topic of candles, lets talk about scented candles... or maybe lets not. If you love scented candles then thats great, you can buy packs of them and light them in the comfort of our own home, but please do not use these at your wedding. Especially food flavored scents like vanilla or cinnamon. These can become really over powering when many of them are lit in an enclosed space and not everyone wants to be drowned in such strong artificial fragrances. Some guests may have aversions to certain scents and will be uncomfortable sitting at such a table.


[3] Uplighting

Sekweddinglighting

Uplights can be uber stylish and very chic, and have the power to totally transform the room, but they really have to be used in the right way, otherwise all the pictures will have a freakish glow to them as though you were trying to "phone home" from another planet. These are also best used in moderation; exaggerated amounts of uplights in various colors will just look cheap and childish.
A lot of people choose to combine diy uplights with christmas lights. I can't tell you why they do this because I barely understand it myself. Less is always more, so there is no need to combine multiple types of light in one small space. 
Many people also believe it is stylish to choose uplights in the same colors as their wedding palette, so blue lights to match blue bridesmaids dresses, blue eyeshadow, blue table cloths, blue ties...  Think about it logically, if you are already dressed in blue why do you need blue lights to tint everything the same color that you are already wearing?
Uplights are best saved for night time, and are best for the reception when everyone is in the party mood. Using them during the day or during the ceremony will just rob you of natural looking pictures and waste the perfect natural light you had available to you.



Some of the main things to keep in mind when choosing wedding lighting are as follows

-Where natural light is available take advantage of it! Remember it is free and flattering!
-For an indoor ceremony, arrange to take at least some of the photos outside in natural light
-Only use uplighting that is professionally installed, and isnt overly matchy with the wedding colors



xoxo

Let them eat cake...

                                              


A lot of people think I’m anti-flowers. But I promise I’m not. Honestly. I have nothing against flowers whatsoever but I just like to think outside the box and don’t see the need to have such an over abundance of flowers in every single element of the wedding. Some people just throw flowers on EVERYTHING in their wedding and just pray that it works… I’m not one of those people.




If you read the latest article about non floral wedding cake décor, then you know that while I do like certain cakes with the right touch of flowers, I’d much prefer a more clean and chic approach. For summer weddings, incorporating fruit on the cake is visually appealing and much more appetizing than flowers. In fact every time I see flowers on the cake I worry about where those flowers have been, how clean they are and if there is any residue of sprays, dyes and chemicals….

MaisieFantasie

JoyTheBaker

Feathers can also add a certain touch of whimsy to wedding cakes. But it is really important to choose the right type of feathers! I’ve said before that a lot of feathers especially when added to a bouquet are just too reminiscent of a feather duster that belongs with the mop and broom in the cleaning closet. Peacock feathers on the other hand are stylish, unique and make such a bold statement. The great thing about peacock feathers is they can be dyed to match any color scheme.

                                                        Cake Central

The truth is wedding cakes don’t need to have too much going on, a few strands of ribbon, a sprinkle of crystals and pearls here and there, and a squirt of artistic fondant is all most cakes need to dazzle the guests.

Stay Stylish

xoxo

Tie it up or take it off?

The article Wedding gown bustles vs reception dresses shows the different options that a bride has for transforming a formal gown with a long train into a party dress that is easy to move around it. The little white dress movement is slowly catching on with more and more brides opting for a second mini dress for their reception, BUT how do you feel about that?
Personally its hard to wrap my mind around the reason why a bride would spend so many hours and so many dollars on a gorgeous wedding gown just to quickly change out of it into a mini dress for the reception. The way I see it, you can wear that mini dress any other day for the rest of your life, but how many more times can you get away with wearing a formal wedding gown. I say savor every moment you can keep that dress on and figure out a stylish bustle or wrist loop for the reception! To see photos of different types of bustles read the full article here




xoxo

The Balloon Debate

Are balloons ever really stylish enough for a wedding? Balloons are the most universal decoration used all over the world. They seem to transcend age, gender and social class. I have attended more than my fair share of weddings and seen an overdose of the best and worst of balloon decorations used in the wedding ceremony itself and at the reception hall. Objectively speaking, there are good reasons to use wedding balloons and equally good reasons to run a mile away from them.

The good Balloons are affordable, they have significantly smaller price tags than fresh flowers and involve much less work and risk than candle arrangements. They are an easy way to incorporate the wedding colors into the decoration as they are available in literally every color imaginable. They are also extremely multi-functional, possessing the ability to take on several roles in the wedding décor, adding up to a great overall saving. Balloons can be use as aisle runners, reception centerpieces or arches and pillars for the couple to stand or sit under. They can even be made into exploding balloon drops that release cascading mini balloons on the couple during their first dance or serene balloon clouds that float above the guests at the reception. The possibilities are endless. Many couples have their friends and family release handfuls of balloons into the air as the couple exits they church, creating a beautiful visual effect which lasts longer than throwing confetti or rice and can be captured better in the photographs.

The bad In all honesty, balloons are terribly reminiscent of clowns and 6 year old birthday parties; by their very nature balloons have a childish quality, so the choice to use them in a formal event is always a risky one. Many people wrongly believe that balloons are easy to handle so they attempt to do the balloon decorations themselves which can result in tacky balloon arrangements. To succeed in pulling off a stylish balloon arrangement, experienced professional help is an absolute must and this will of course cost more money. Balloons have an exceptionally short life span; they can easily be popped by any number of sharp edges that abound in a room full of people such as hats, belt buckles and the eager hands of excited children. In addition, helium filled balloons have the cheeky tendency to come loose and fly away in respectful obedience to the gravity defying gas within them. Finally, regardless of how much experience the balloonists have, wedding balloons only look good in metallic colors and pastels, dark colored balloons seem to look childish no matter how nicely they have been arranged.

Balloons have the potential to look chic and stylish enough for a wedding, but only when they are handled by experts who treat them as delicate pieces of art rather than childish toys.