Let Your Personality Shine Through Your Wedding Cake Flavor!

Wedding cakes are composed of the base cake, filling, and frosting – but there are many wedding cake flavor profiles available to add a dash of personality to your big day! Request a cake lining, a thin layer of citrus curd or fruit preserve spread on the cake base, or an addition of fresh fruits, nuts, or candies for a bite of texture!

Looking for something special, but aren’t in love with either of those ideas? Request a different taste for each separate cake tier; while chocolate, vanilla, lemon, and red velvet still hold the top spots, the latest trend is for mouth-watering cake flavors like passionfruit and mango! Separate your tiers with pillars or by placing them at cascading heights on your dessert table.

Can’t decide what flavor – or flavors – to offer your wedding guests? The New York Magazine prepared a list of the Top Ten Most Requested Cake Combos, to include:

1. Chocolate devil’s food cake and vanilla buttercream
2. Chocolate devil’s food cake, vanilla buttercream, and raspberries
3. Yellow butter cake and chocolate buttercream and/or chocolate ganache
4. Lemon cake, lemon curd, and vanilla buttercream
5. Chocolate devil’s food cake, chocolate ganache, and praline buttercream
6. White cake, lemon buttercream, and raspberries
7. Hazelnut-almond cake, chocolate ganache, and raspberries
8. Coconut cake and lime buttercream
9. Banana cake and chocolate buttercream
10.Chocolate-almond cake, chocolate ganache, and mocha buttercream

Looking for more creative flavor ideas? Sweet Art Wedding Cakes and Weddings by Lilly both offer lists of interesting wedding cake flavors! Then, after you have your dream cake in mind, look into WedAlert’s list of wedding bakeries in your area…many WedAlert bakers offer specials just for WA readers!

Find further wedding inspiration by following my Pinterest and WedAlert’s Pinterest! You’ll find boards with wedding ideas ranging from seating arrangements to knowing the questions to ask each vendor!

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Top 4 Tips For A Perfect First Kiss Photo

Some say the best part of a wedding is the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time, others say it’s the smiling-through-tears father giving away his little girl; truth is, soon-to-be Mrs., there isn’t a single part of a wedding ceremony that is more beautiful than the next!

Be it a sandy beach or a traditional chapel, from your first step down that aisle to the final smile as you say “I do”, weddings stand tall as an inspiration for all who have begun to doubt love’s presence in the world, and it’s only suiting that such a day be capped off with a “awww”-worthy first kiss!

Question of the hour, bride-to-be: How does one pull off a first kiss without seeing this face?

Your first kiss as husband and wife confirms your vows and seals the deal…here’s a couple of hints to take the perfect photo during that beautiful moment!

-  When the minister says, “You may now kiss the bride”, don’t look at anyone but your groom-  Smile and lean in for the initial contact-  Give your photographer (and guests!) more than just a split-second peck to swoon over (studies show that roughly 4 seconds is average and just right)-  Smile while slowly pulling away and keep your eyes fixed on your groom while you’re announced to your guests as man and wife

Of course, though I doubt it needs said, try not to be too obvious with any amount of tongue involved…Grandma doesn’t need to see that!

Find further wedding inspiration by following my Pinterest and WedAlert’s Pinterest! You’ll find boards with wedding ideas ranging from must-take photos to questions to ask your photographer before hiring!

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Wedding Invitations Addressing Etiquette, Part 2

As promised last week in Part 1 of wedding invitation addressing etiquette, read on as we discuss further formatting issues; from noting to your guests that you would prefer they donate to a charity instead of buying gifts to how to properly notate that one of your parent is a doctor!

If you or one of your parents is a doctor, it is perfectly acceptable for medical doctors to use their titles on wedding invitations – but academic doctors should not use theirs. If your mother is a doctor but your father is not, place her name, preceded by “Doctor,” on the invitation above your father’s. If your father is a doctor, it should read “Doctor and Mrs. John Smith” on the same line. Note that using the word “and” in between the names indicates that they are still married.

If your parents are still married, but your mom uses her maiden name, list your parents on separate lines – mom first, separated by the word “and” (to indicate that they are still married).

If the groom’s parents are issuing the invitation, list your fiancé’s parents on the invitation as you would your parents (see Part 1), and include your last name:

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Lee Johnson
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of
Miss Elizabeth Marie Smith and Mr. Gerald Joseph Johnson

It was noted briefly in Part 1, but it’s a common issue, so – if you, as the bride, are paying for your own wedding, and have a good relationship with your parents, honor them by mentioning them in your invitation, especially if this is your first marriage and you are holding a traditional ceremony. If you prefer, or if the wedding is informal, list your name alone – as shown in Part 1.

Together with their parents
Miss Elizabeth Marie Smith and Mr. Gerald Joseph Johnson…

If you don’t want your guests to bring their children, you first need to realize that not everyone knows that the only people invited to an event are the ones to whom the invitation is addressed. While you can print “No children, please” on your wedding invitation or response card, I suggest making a personal phone call to let them know that your reception isn’t set up for children.

If you are looking for guests to contribute to a charity rather than give gifts, remember that it isn’t considered appropriate to place a reference to gifts on a wedding invitation – even if it’s just asking for charity contributions. Instead, let your wedding party help get the word out.

Looking for further wedding inspiration, soon-to-be Mrs.? Follow my Pinterest and WedAlert’s Pinterest for wedding ideas ranging from seasonal wedding flowers to what dress designer can help you refurbish an old wedding gown!

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Wedding Invitations Addressing Etiquette, Part 1

As promised earlier in the week while discussing wedding invitation wording, read on as we discuss how to list names and address your wedding invitations! From inviting a Colonel in the military to noting that a set of divorced parents are hosting the ceremony together, some seemingly sticky predicaments have easy solutions by simply finding the format that best fits your situation.

To begin, start with the names of those issuing the invitation – traditionally the bride’s parents. Evolving family structures and financial dynamics often make this the trickiest part of the process.

Most married couples follow the standard format of:

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Michael Johnson

If the couple issuing the invitation has different surnames, however, an “and” is to join them:

Ms. Jessica Leann Smith and Mr. Anthony Michael Johnson

If the bride and groom are hosting on their own, omit the first line, and jump to:

Together with their families
Miss Elizabeth Marie Smith and Mr. Gerald Joseph Johnson…

If the bride’s parents are divorced but hosting the wedding together, list the names of the bride’s parents at the top of the invitation. The bride’s mother’s name should be on the first line and her father’s on the line beneath it – do not separate the lines with “and.” If the bride’s mother has not remarried, use “Mrs.” followed by her first name, maiden name, and married name.

Mrs. Jessica Johnson Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Allen Smith
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
Elizabeth Marie Smith

If a set of divorced parents have remarried, you must first note that, traditionally, only the parents’ names appear on the invitation. That said, if you would like to include your step-parents, it’s perfectly acceptable to list them. Place your mother’s (and her husband, if she’s remarried) first name and include your last name.

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Allen Smith Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Andrew Peters
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
Elizabeth Marie Smith

While it is not traditional to include a deceased parent, many brides and grooms feel strongly about doing so. This wording should make it clear that the deceased parent is not issuing the invitation, and it should be noted that courtesy titles may be awkward and are to be omitted. If one parent is still living, that parent should issue the invitation. If your mother has not remarried, place “Mrs.” before her name.

The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of  Elizabeth Marie Smith
daughter of Anthony Johnson and the late Jessica Smith to
Gerald Joseph Johnson…

If neither of parents are alive, the invitation may be issued by the bride and groom or other relatives, such as grandparents – in which case, you should handle it as you would divorced parents who have remarried:

Miss Elizabeth Marie Smith and Mr. Gerald Joseph Johnson request the honor
of your presence at their marriage…

If the bride has been married before, and her parents are issuing the invitation, they should include your married name:

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Allen Smith request the honor of your presence at
the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Marie Robertson

Or, in the same situation, if the bride and groom are issuing the the invitation themselves, it is to read as:

Elizabeth Marie Robertson and Gerald Joseph Johnson request the honor of
your presence at their marriage

What’s a bride to do if her parents are hosting – but your groom wants to include his parents on the invitation? Or, what if you would like guests to contribute to a charity rather than give gifts? There are too many scenarios for one post alone, bride-to-be! Read on next week as we answer the above questions…and more!

Looking for further wedding inspiration, soon-to-be Mrs.? Follow my Pinterest and WedAlert’s Pinterest for wedding ideas ranging from DIY tutorials to seasonal wedding flowers!

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Planning An Alaska Destination Wedding

From holding your ceremony at the quaint Chapel by the Lake overlooking a range of mountains and a glacier, to booking a tour ship and allowing wedding guests to have a wildlife-viewing experience during your vows, Alaska destination weddings can be simple and rustic or breathtakingly elegant!

Where else in the world can you capture your wedding excitement in full daylight…at midnight? Craving a bigger entrance than the traditional walk down the aisle? Have your Alaska destination wedding in Sitka or Juneau and surround yourself by sea otters, bald eagles, and whales as you arrive by seaplane or kayak!

The Seward Windsong Lodge, located at the head of the Resurrection River Valley, captures the splendor and serenity of south-central Alaska, or enjoy Denali and the Alaska Range as your backdrop, both of which are the beautiful architecture of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge!

Not sure what to do with your guests pre- or post- wedding? Take a full-day fishing charter,  or hike to Kachemak Bay State Park, adventuring through secluded wilderness on a moderate (and enjoyable!) hike with a gradual elevation up to Grewingk Glacier Lake. Feeling a little more adventurous? Hop in for a wild ride of whitewater rafting or ziplining through the mountains!

Are you in the middle of planning an Alaska destination wedding, bride-to-be? Share your wedding venue thoughts in the comments below! Looking for further wedding inspiration?Follow my Pinterest and WedAlert’s Pinterest for wedding ideas ranging from wedding timelines and to rustic chic photos!

Photo credit / as seen on, from top to bottom: Destination Weddings Alaska, Don Pitcher, Heather Lynn Photographie, Jolie Connor Photography, Alaska Weddings, Studio 1250, Studio LB, Bluebend Photography, Blogs.TopWedding, TBDress-Blog, Mountainside Bride, feature photo as seen on Viral Spell

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