The highlight of the wedding reception is seeing how big the cake will be. Everyone wants to be unique and wow their guests. Since the wedding cake is a big expense, choose wisely.

Wedding cakes have gone from simple single or double-tiered creations to sweet confections that don’t even look like traditional cakes. Sugar can be manipulated into the shape of flowers, geometric shapes and jewels. It is amazing what they can do with some batter and frosting these days.

Before the big day, you’ll have to sample piece after piece of wedding cake. The last thing you want to do is leave it up to chance. Dream up your biggest and best design and then go in search of the perfect way to create it.

1. Find a baker who can meet your expectations. You are not there just to see if he or she can make your design but to test their mettle as a baker. A cake can look good but it also has to taste good.

2. Ask lots of questions. Whatever you want to know, don’t be afraid to voice it. How does the baker plan to create your cake? Will he use marzipan, fondant or ganache? He may have suggestions for the design but don’t accept them out of hand unless you really agree.

3. What’s the price? You don’t want to look cheap but breaking the bank is out of the question also. You might have to scale down your 10-tiered cake or get a couple of sheet cakes with the same icing to feed all your guests. A cake for a service of 200 can be expensive.

4. Ask for a design book. You might not have any idea of the style of cake you want. Your wedding colors are the only thing you know. A good baker has a book of past wedding creations and signature creations for their shop. They should also be able to ask a few questions and come up with suggestions for you from the information that you provide.

5. Will they deliver? You know about Murphy’s Law, right? Don’t ask your uncle with the large SUV to pick up the wedding cake from the shop. It is worth the cost to have the baker responsible for delivering and setting up the cake at the reception. If anything goes wrong on their part, you can get a refund.

It could be a simple yellow cake with butter cream icing in three tiers or a five-tier square cake with decorative sugar flowers. Either way, you want the cake for your wedding to meet all of your expectations and then some.

        

The Knot Website for Brides and one of the best sources for wedding items online, has announced its annual sale. For your convenience, we have included a link to the sale. Enjoy!

        

So, you’ve decided to tie the knot. Now it’s time to find that special place for the impending nuptials. Why be limited by geographic boundaries? If you want to leave the country to get married, here are a few things you should know.

1. Plan ahead and save money. It is usually a rule of thumb that the earlier you plan anything, the better the deal will be. For a wedding abroad, getting the ball rolling as soon as possible gives you time to handle all the particulars. When you can’t feasibly visit the location to check on things, it’s not a good idea to leave anything to chance. A year in advance is not too soon for a wedding on foreign soil.

2. Who is coming? Granny may be able to come a few states away for your wedding but another country? Before spending a lot of money on the ceremony in Bora-Bora, check to see how many people can afford to make it. Look for package deals that include airfare for your guests. All-inclusive resorts provide activities, food and drinks included to lower the cost of their stay.

3. What are the wedding laws there? Things may not operate the same way in tropical destinations. Investigate policy regarding marriage licenses, the wedding officiate and any fees the locals charge. If the wedding takes place at a resort, you’ll have to schedule in advance for the ceremony.

4. Find a reputable wedding consultant. You don’t want to handle this yourself. Choose someone you trust to suggest where to hold the wedding and how to handle everything that goes with it. Wedding consultants who have handled weddings abroad work with travel agents to get deals for their clients and their guests. Ask family and friends for referrals. Ask as many questions as you need in order to pick the wedding consultant that is right for you.

5. Be open to change. Winter weddings are magical and spring weddings are beautiful. Despite the romantic notions you conjure up in your mind, getting married abroad may require you to be a little more practical. Choosing the off-season saves money as well as avoids the crowds that populate resorts and foreign destinations during the more popular times of year. Also, a weekday wedding might be required depending on what country you are in. these changes won’t affect the important parts of your nuptials but it will save your pocketbook.

Getting married in a new and exotic location can be quite exciting. Know what you need to do beforehand so there are no surprises on the big day.

        

The highlight of the wedding reception is seeing how big the cake will be. Everyone wants to be unique and wow their guests. Since the wedding cake is a big expense, choose wisely.

Wedding cakes have gone from simple single or double-tiered creations to sweet confections that don’t even look like traditional cakes. Sugar can be manipulated into the shape of flowers, geometric shapes and jewels. It is amazing what they can do with some batter and frosting these days.

Before the big day, you’ll have to sample piece after piece of wedding cake. The last thing you want to do is leave it up to chance. Dream up your biggest and best design and then go in search of the perfect way to create it.

1. Find a baker who can meet your expectations. You are not there just to see if he or she can make your design but to test their mettle as a baker. A cake can look good but it also has to taste good.

2. Ask lots of questions. Whatever you want to know, don’t be afraid to voice it. How does the baker plan to create your cake? Will he use marzipan, fondant or ganache? He may have suggestions for the design but don’t accept them out of hand unless you really agree.

3. What’s the price? You don’t want to look cheap but breaking the bank is out of the question also. You might have to scale down your 10-tiered cake or get a couple of sheet cakes with the same icing to feed all your guests. A cake for a service of 200 can be expensive.

4. Ask for a design book. You might not have any idea of the style of cake you want. Your wedding colors are the only thing you know. A good baker has a book of past wedding creations and signature creations for their shop. They should also be able to ask a few questions and come up with suggestions for you from the information that you provide.

5. Will they deliver? You know about Murphy’s Law, right? Don’t ask your uncle with the large SUV to pick up the wedding cake from the shop. It is worth the cost to have the baker responsible for delivering and setting up the cake at the reception. If anything goes wrong on their part, you can get a refund.

It could be a simple yellow cake with butter cream icing in three tiers or a five-tier square cake with decorative sugar flowers. Either way, you want the cake for your wedding to meet all of your expectations and then some.