Alternative Wedding Cakes

Even though I do not watch "My Name Is Earl", the ideas it bestow upon my in the recent wedding episode were classic.

You could definitely say that it was an alternative sort of the wedding, with the bride wear white jeans and a halter, and the wedding cake made of twinkies, ho-hos, marshmellows, and cupcakes. I thought that idea was so awesome, not only because one was so daring to have that sort of cake at a wedding in a world where traditional is everywhere, despite regional factors (and accents), but because they were doing it there way, and somehow, the cake was still a site to behold. So, I thought I'd devote some time to talking about the alternative types of wedding cakes couples can have at their wedding. You can use this to adapt to your own wedding tastes, whatever they may be.

The Sheet Cake

You know what I'm talking about. Yes, you do. The regular cakes that you can buy from your local supermarket (Jewel has the best ones in the Chicagoland area) that you get for some child's birthday party. You can the cake decorators make it up to your liking if you planning a small ceremony with friends, or even if you are just intending to save some money. You can even have fillings! A full sheet decorated to your liking with fillings is no more than $80 and it feeds a lot of people. So if you liked to do this, definitely do so. You'd be surprised how your friendly neighborhood cake decorator can jazz up a cake.

The Cupcake Tree

People are really into this one, and it's very easy to do if you'd like to do it on your own. The trees of sweetly designed cupcakes, one for each guest, tiered on a tree. You can use a lot of creative license with this one, and you can even buy the cupcakes from the store and decorate them with candy and frosting yourself (If you are truly daring, you can make the cupcakes from scratch! Visit Wilton dot com for ideas, and it even shows you how to make your own wedding cake!). You can even customize to your liking, whether you make them yourself or not. I was thinking of this one myself, because it's a really good option for couples on a budget.

The Krispy Kreme "Cake"

I'm dying to do this one if I have a celebratory brunch. If the coolest thing ever, in my opinion to have a Krispy Kreme tree - that is, a multi-tiered Krispy Kreme extravaganza. Just take a lot of Krispy Kreme donuts - either plain glazed, or all sorts of flavors, which I think is best - and put them on a tiered display. I've seen some couples do this, and I think it's adorable.

You can do anything tiered with your favorite sweet - Rice Krispies treats, brownies, wedding-decorated cookies, anything. I was thinking of doing a tart-tree, because I'm just strange, and want to do something different. (Brides.com says they are so yesterday, but I say if you love the cakes, then do whatever you wish.)

Vegan Wedding Cakes

I'm not a Vegetarian nor a Vegan, but I know that there are couples out there who are looking for a wedding cake that caters to their lifestyle (not to mention a caterer that caters to their lifestyle). Well, there is a website out there, Vegan Wedding, that offers vegan wedding cake recipes and tips of choosing a caterer for a vegan wedding. There could be other sites out there for this subject, but this is the one I've seen so far. Please send links, because I'll offer an article if it is needed.

Making the Cake Yourself

Another alternative to the wedding cake...a cake you made yourself. It's very possible, with tons of cookbooks and classes out there that can teach you how to do it (I know if I wanted to, I could do it. I didn't work in a bakery for nothing.) Again, Wilton offers classes in cake making and decorating classes for daring brides who are willing to do it all themselves. Also, Better Homes and Gardens has a sweets cookbook out there that has a wonderful, in-depth recipe for a wedding cake I would highly recommend.

The Sweets Table

If you can't make up your mind, you can always have a sweets table showcasing all types of sweets and goodies. Your friends will be bouncing off the walls, but that's to be expected, and encouraged if you intend to celebrate your nuptials all night in style.

Do you have any other ideas? Comment here or email me at diyelopewed@gmail.com

Instant Weddings Review

I ordered "Instant Weddings" off of ebay last week, and I got in Thursday night. I was very tired and I had work the next morning, but once I looked at the festive cover of a joyous bride and groom jumping out of the wedding cake, I just had to read it. I'd looked it over several times at Borders before I resolved to buy it on e-Bay. I'm very glad I did, considering I probably would have paid less for it in the stores...watch out for those shipping prices, kiddies.

Instant Weddings (from "Will you?" to "I Do!" in Four Months or Less) by Jennifer Shawne (2004; ISBN No. - 0-8118-3687-8) is definitely a book you should buy if you are planning a quickie wedding, elopement, or even just a wedding that needs to be planned in a short amount of time due to pressing matters (i.e Pregnancy, Deportation, Military Duty, etc.). The language is very no-nonsense, definitely catering to the brides and grooms who don't want all that frilly language that assumes that everyone who is getting married is having everything paid for by the parents (and I can tell you in my case that is not true!). Though it has advice for everyone who has four months to an entire year to plan a wedding, I would definitely recommend it for those who are pressed for time. I especially love her advice for those looking for a place to hold the wedding/reception without using the dreaded "w" word (because the minute a vendor hears the word "wedding" the price gets jacked up ten-fold), as well as tips on finding a dress (because you don't have to wear white), and other valuable advice. I intend to use this book for my wedding, because this info is valuable. So, go buy it already, will you! In fact, let me help you.




Come back here and tell me if you liked the book, okay?!

the diy bride's valuable links for Nov. 16. 2005

Photo Affections -- The perfect service to use if you marry private or have a destination wedding. Send a little photo postcard to let friends and family know that you and your beloved tied the knot!

Cook County Marriage Licenses -- If you are getting married in Cook County, these are the marriage requirements. I don't think it mentions it on the site, but you cannot get married the same day you receive your marriage license. This isn't Nevada, you know.

Hotels.com -- If you'd like to plan a wonderful trip...especially those who are getting married in Las Vegas, go to this site. It can help you plan a wonderful trip without the huge price tag.

http://www.orientaltrading.com -- Don't get me started...it's a wonderful shop were you can buy all sorts of items for you wedding, including favors, trinkets like your wedding flutes and much more. In the future, I will have a wedding planned using items from this site, whether you have a home wedding or a small reception wedding. Watch for it in the future.

Look out for more links in the future.

What are women who elope supposed to wear?

Isn't that the question always on a eloping bride's mind? What in the world do I wear?

Well, I've learned that even the girls who elope with their beloved's to the proverbial city of elopements, Las Vegas, have some kind of full-length wedding frock in one of their bags. So, the general answer is "Whatever you want to, you are the bride!". I could tell you what all the colors mean and everything, but honey, it's your special day, so you wear your clothes your special way? Me? I'll be wearing a dress inspired by Kimono due to my love for Japanese culture. It'll be white, because I do want to wear white, but that's because I want to. But I digress, and I know not everyone is into Kimonos.

But I will take a different spin on the normal elopement attire, giving you suggests as to what to wear...but again, I insist that the choice is yours. I'm just giving you simple suggestions.

Part One-City Wedding: You're going to...city hall?

If you're one of those who consider just going to city hall to get the job done (and believe me, here in Chicago, where it's just $40 to get married at city hall, and that includes the license, there are a lot of people who do it), you can get married in something other than a t-shirt and jeans...and if you are, you can do something stylish with a t-shirt and jeans. I wish to be married this way, and I know a lot of others feel the same way as I do (it's so romantic, if not quick).

Stylish Options

-- I found this beautiful bridesmaids dress from Alvina Valenta that is just gorgeous! Quoted from the website, it's a "Ivory chiffon tea-length A-line dress, pleated chiffon strapless bodice accented with Lt. Gold duet satin bias band and bow at natural waist". Even though it's not pure white, it's definitely stylish enough, especially if you and the new hubby intend to hit the town in style after the nuptials. A nice shawl or even peacoat in white or ivory will compliment if it's cool outside. It's a good find!

-- Another tea length find, this time by Jim Hjelm, that is also available in a floor-length style for you brides that would rather be safe than sorry. It's a "Mango radiant chiffon A-line tea-length gown, V-neckline, empire bodice with crystal buckle" that is available in a variety of colors (including white! A rarity with bridesmaids gowns). It's sexy and yet very feminine, and since the bridesmaid's sizes are from 2-28, all aspiring elopement brides will love it. If you want want to be tied down to white, I highly recommend this designer. I want a dress from him myself.

-- The Queen of Stylish bridesmaids gowns you can use for your elopement is definitely Vera Wang. Period. A lot of her dresses are not in white, but who cares? You can say proudly that you married in Vera Wang (without breaking the bank because you had a small budget in the first place).

Trendy Options

-- I could have put this under stylish, but I think Watters and Watters to be more trendy with their bridesmaid line...and you can actually wear this selection even after you've married (and it comes in white. It's sleek, and it's shiny enough so no one will hit you! Just kidding, but I think it's lovely. Another idea is this dress, because it is trendy, you can wear it again, and for some reason, it's lovely enough that you can feel confident in wearing gold without feeling like the flamboyant church lady with her over-the-top hats.

-- A shout-out to the plus-size ladies that don't mind wearing white at city hall...and even bolder to wear black. Torrid is an awesome retailer that offers fresh, trendy clothing to plus-sized women. If I weren't wearing my kimono, I would wear this Black Sequin Laced Hem Pencil Skirt with this Black Mock Neck Cap Sleeve Lace Top. Isn't it gorgeous? If you must wear white, then wear a white garter or something. This outfit is too cute to pass up.

-- Anything from Charlotte Russe or even anything for Anthropologie will suit your tastes. Thing thing that I like about those stores, even though I'm too big to wear them, is the quality of clothes, and with so many colors, that one outfit is bound to tickle your fancy.

-- And while we are on the subject...you must go to J.Crew right now! You can thank me later.

This concludes the first part of the series of what to wear. Come back Friday to learn of the second part, which I will outline some of the best designers for destination weddings and designers that have dresses for the non-traditional bride.

The Ipod Reception

I just saw the coolest thing in the latest issue of Brides Magazine. People are now starting to use their ipods in replace of big bands and djs for their wedding reception. I think that's a great idea, especially when you are trying to cut costs. Tons of people have ipods these days (and with the new video ipod out, you can add me to that list), so it makes sense that you can program the lively thing to the soundtrack of the most important day of your life. Here are some of the tips straight from Brides' Magazine Heather Leo, the author of the article:

-- You will need someone to man the pause/play buttons and in a sense is the "dj". Someone with experience with the ipod or is "tech-saavy" as the article says is recommended, and allow someone who will enjoy doing this, not someone who will hate it.

-- (From the Article) "Work on playlists a few months in advance. Get more songs from iTunes and your friends' CDs.

-- The article says to create different playlists for different aspects of the reception. "Create separate playlists for the cocktail hour (15 to 20 medium-tempo songs a la Harry Connick Jr.), dinner (figure 35 mellow melodies from the likes of Norah Jones and Dave Koz), post dinner (45 to 50 fast-dance faves and a few slow songs)." Personally, think there ought to be more slows songs and a lot more than fifty if I'm going to keep the party rockin'.

-- Be sure to make certain the speakers are available where you are holding the wedding. (I thought Bose had a certain multimedia system that let you do that...it's check it out here.) You're going to have to rent the equipment if there isn't any readily available.

--"Do a run-through well ahead of the event".

-- Please make sure that ipod is juiced for the event, and make sure it's plugged in during the event. However, is something should happen, bring back up cds with the songs on them and a boombox just in case.

Again, all the credit goes to Brides' Magazine for this info, especially Heather Leo.

Future Site

This is the future site for DIY Elopements and weddings - a planning zine for those who wish to to marry...by THEMSELVES. Are you a couple with a small budget? Are you looking for a more personal way to marry? Well, I am a planner, and I've made it my personal mission to give couples idea to make their special day their very own. So please join me here on this site to help give you ideas as well as thoughts to make your day your own...