Today I thought I would talk about cakes, they are so on the brain (and making me hungry), more than likely because I have a tasting with a wonderful couple this weekend. Simone and Chris are a having a modest modern beachy style wedding in September and have decided on cupcakes. Whether you’re like them and want cupcakes, round or square tiered or an over the top 6+ layer piece of art, make sure that it not only looks beautiful but that it taste great too!

Are you having a hard time finding a great bakery that can do what you want and still make it taste great?  Have you heard the horror stories from others that the tasting went so well that they booked but when they got their cake on their wedding day it looked nothing like it was suppose too or it tasted horrible?

First thing, always bring pictures of the stlye cakes you like. This gives the baker an idea of what you want and make sure the cake matches the theme of the entire wedding as well. For instance, if you are having a shabby chic wedding I don’t suggest ordering a sqaure tiered cake as this is a very modern. Check out their work ahead of time on their website, etc. When you call to set up an appt for a tasting be specific as to what flavors you are interested in and if you have any food allergies so the baker can avoid even bringing out a sample that could put you in the hospital! :0 Or if they can even accomodate your specific needs. And last, if you want fondant make sure your baker even uses it, fondant is not very friendly to our taste buds so some bakers might avoid it all together.

So here is a shout out to some of my top bakeries:  Some Crust in Downtown Claremont, Hansen’s in LA, Bakers Oven in Riverside, and Rossmore Pastries in Signal Hill. These bakeries not only have some of the most amazing looking cakes but they also taste so yummy you can’t have just one piece.

Some random pics of different style cakes, for your enjoyment!

Happy Tasting!!!

You will be laying out the most money you have ever spent to create your wedding day, something you most likely won’t do again. So as a planner we help to protect that investment you called your wedding memories. You invest in car insurance, your home insurance, so why not hire “wedding insurance” in the form of a wedding planner? We are there to help you stay organized to help the day run smoothly. We also remembers all the things you’ll forget, handles your vendors and mishaps that WILL occur (you just won’t have to know about it)  and most importantly, makes sure bride and groom, family and friends are happy. That alone is priceless!

Also as Wedding Planners we have created vendor loyalty. Loyal vendors make a great team and a great team makes a fabulous event. We often times can use these loyalties to get you the best deal from those vendors, keeping you on track. Often clients will revisit the budget. They begin planning with a specific budget in mind, and by the end of the process they are looking for ways to cut the budget leaving little room for other things or important vendors, As a wedding planner I can protect you from this. I am on constant budget patrol and will give you a little nudge, when you are pondering the orchids that cost more for one table then you have in your entire budget.

A wedding planner can help come between you and the challenging people in attendance at your wedding, with a firm yet gentle hand. Difficult mother in law?  We will think of something that will keep her occupied and out of your face. Crazy, drunken uncle nobody wants around? Let the planner find a quiet spot for him to sober up. Would you want to deal with that?

When your friends and family get tired of you constantly discussing your upcoming special day, (don’t take it personally, it will happen) As your wedding planner, we will be attentive and engaged, never trying to change the subject. Your wedding planner actually serves a very important purpose – To be you, an extension of you, anyway. We channel your tastes, consider your personality and make every effort to match you up with the most suitable vendors. So choosing a planner is something you need to really consider. Do they relate to you on a personal level? Do they see your vision?

We bring the best ideas to suit your style. You will eat, breath and live in the Wedding Zone for a year or so, we never leave it. We are honing our craft keeping our eyes on the best of the best. Finding ways to simulate the feel of a costly concept, fitting your budget.

There many more things a planner brings to the table like helping you to avoid the anxiety, stress, and tiredness you will most definitely feel during your planning process, but we have been through many different situations and can usually feel a melt down even before if occurs!

Everyone loves a party, but no one loves to clean up after one. We take care of several boring follow up details, which is the last thing you want to be doing the day after your wedding. We make sure load out is smooth, nothing has been damaged, all vendors have been paid, etc… While you are enjoying the company of your new husband, on your way to the Islands where you can show off the new bikini you bought.

Your planning process may seem exhilarating at first, but keep in mind all the fine details that are commonly missed, you may be the most organized person anyone knows, but you likely haven’t put on an affair quite this extreme. As a planner, we have done this more times then we can count and that is why our clients count on us to make sure things are handled, so they can be guests on their special day…..Priceless!