Posts Tagged ‘Virginia’
Unique Groom’s Cake Ideas
Are you a groom that has never heard of the groom’s cake tradition? If so, you are not alone. The groom’s cake is a tradition rooted in the South which began as a gift from the bride to the groom. It’s usually dark, a different flavor than what is being served in the main wedding cake, and takes a nod from a personal hobby or interest of the groom. Some customs are to cut the cake into boxes for guests to take home and legend has it that if single women sleep with a slice under their pillow the same night they receive it they’ll dream of their future husband. My husband had no idea that we needed not one, but two cakes at our wedding reception, and though my budget-conscious man was totally against the idea, I felt it was super-fun and necessary. Your bride is probably thinking the same thing…my hubby can’t be the only groom without a groom’s cake! She will most likely insist that you give her some “cute” ideas despite your wishes, so you might as well put in your two scents before she reveals your childhood love of Barney in a giant purple cake! Remember, the groom’s cake is supposed to be a nice gesture and the perfect chance to honor the husband on a day that is primarily planned by the woman. I ended up surprising my proud Virginia man with the Virginian Creed written on a simple white sheet cake, with his favorite flavor on the inside. He loved it that it wasn’t too girly and represented something that was truly unique to his personality.
If your bride-to-be has asked for some ideas for your special cake, don’t blow her off. The trend of unique groom’s cakes is on the rise and here are some of the most creative, yet manly, cakes I’ve seen:
1. The golf ball and tee for the avid golfer
(from Kent & Kristen Doughty’s wedding, May 1, 2010. Cake by Brent Hisey at Now You’re Cooking)
2. The fish for the man who loves the outdoors
(from Michael and Kim Shreckhise’s wedding, August 2009. Cake made my Michael’s little sister, Annie)
3. The pill bottle for the future pharmacist
(from Jamin and Katie Engel’s wedding, June 20, 2009. Cake by Carrie Ashton at Buttercream Dreams. Photo by Jason Keefer Photography)
(from Ryan and Molly Harper’s wedding, April 26, 2008. Cake by Carrie Ashton at Buttercream Dreams. Photo by Jason Keefer Photography)
5. Krispy Kreme Doughnut tower for the fun-loving guy not fond of cake
(Image from A-Simple-LDS-Wedding)
Check out some of our cake vendors in your area to get some more ideas!
Premium Vendor Showcase: Bessie Black Photography
What was your inspiration for being a photographer?
I always knew I would own my own business. It wasn’t until high school that photography came about- I always took pictures, but when my cousin got married when I was in HS, I kind of put the two together and found my passion as a wedding photographer. During high school I was involved in Yearbook, which helped my photography grow with a couple of large projects to realize my love of the field. After high school I spent some time at Blue Ridge Community College in the Marketing & Business program, while also taking photography courses. . Once deciding that photography was my true focus, I found the art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and finished there with an Associates in Photography.
What makes you unique to brides?
- 10+ years of bridal shop knowledge (adjusting a veil, making a bustle, groomsmen boutonnieres, advice on do’s & don’ts – years of knowledge of the makings of weddings & actual day of!
- Always willing to lend a hand, very flexible, and willing to please.
- Always adding to my product line to ensure that there is something for everyone.
What services do you offer?
- Wedding services- wedding day coverage, various levels of professional albums, including the coffee table style albums, wedding prints & enlargements, Digital Image DVD, online hosting, engagement & bridal portraits, save the date cards, and surprise proposal storytelling (live from your day of engagement – capture it as it really happens).
What is your style of photography?
It changes from couple to couple, but I try to keep it simple & always about the bride and the groom and their personal style. Its really a mixture of traditional & candid photojournalism.
What are five tips that you can give to brides looking for a photographer?
- Be sure to ask all of your questions, but remember that this person will be with you all day on the most important day. You need to be comfortable with them and feel totally at ease in their presence. This to me is most important; I build relationships through my couples & families.
- Think about your wedding and where it is going to be. Make sure to make the most of all of your decorations & flowers. The little details and special unique personal touches can really enhance your wedding and the photography from it. Keep in mind that pictures resemble your day and we photograph the story as it is told.
- A photographer should show you what there is to offer, but it is also good to hear from you as well! If you know what you want, great! Share it with us. If you do not know, we will guide you and explain to you what the products and services are about, and talk about your day and what will work best for you and your budget.
- While attending a bridal show, the vendors are there for you. We want to share our information with you, talk about our services, how we can help you. Please do not be shy in stopping and looking through our albums and getting to know us!
- Enjoy your planning process, but be sure to hire trained professionals. This is essential in having a beautiful stress free day. We have done this before (and we love it) and so many times we can spot & resolve an issue before it becomes a problem. Trust who you are working with and you will have a wonderful day!
For more information about Bessie Black Photography, please visit her vendor profile.
Premium Vendor Showcase: Reflections Bridal
The quest for your wedding gown can be one of the most exciting and fun-filled parts of planning for your wedding. Your gown will set the tone for your entire wedding and there are few other times where you will be so lavishly pampered as you are magically transformed into a beautiful bride before your very eyes. So are you looking for something sweet, glamorous, chic, trendy, classic, fun or sophisticated? Well you can find it at one of the best bridal salons on Where To Get Engaged, “Reflections Bridal.”
Reflections is the premier salon in the Shenandoah Valley, with the largest selection of bridal attire and a courteous staff. Joy Salyards, owner of Reflections, has worked closely with several designers to help create numerous styles exclusively for reflections bridal. You will love the attention to detail, quality, and value.
Your First Step To Finding A Perfect Dress
Upon arrival you will be greeted warmly by one of their professional and courteous bridal consultants and assisted in completing a simple bridal registry form. This will help your bridalconsultant get a sense for your personal style and the ideas you’ve already put together for your wedding plans. Your bridal consultant will also show you the four silhouettes of gowns and briefly explain some of the different fabrics and construction of the wedding gowns you will try on. The whole process will take one hour to no more than 90 minutes.
Here are some of Reflection’s top tips for things you must do before you buy your wedding gown:
1) Get a clear picture of what you want your wedding to look like in your mind.
Write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. for example, you may write words such as: traditional, romantic, princess like, lavish, minimalist, sexy, sophisticated, etc.>
2) Try on the different silhouettes of gowns to find out what looks best on your figure.
All wedding gowns fall under four basic silhouettes. These are: the ball gown (the most traditional of the categories, has a full bodice and waistlinethat leads to a very full skirt), the empire (has a high waistline which falls to a slimmer skirt), the A-line or princess (features vertical seams flowing from the shoulders down to an A-shaped flared skirt) and the sheath (closely follows the line of the body).
3) Select the color and fabric of your gown.
The same dress style can look and feel quite different in a different color or fabric. Even though white has traditionally been the color of most gowns, more and more gowns are being designed with color in the details. you may want to consider an off white, ivory or blush/champagne color as a way to enhance your complexion. Choose a color and fabric that best reflects the mood you are trying to create at your wedding.
4)Determine what features you want on your gown.
These features include the type of neckline, waistline, train, beadwork or lace on the bodice and skirt, and other decorations or embellishments.
5) Accept help from knowledgeable and professional bridal consultants.
A good bridal consultant will ask lots of questions to get more clarity about your special day.
With Reflection’s huge selection of hundreds of gowns sizes 0-28, professional bridal consultants, and affordability, the process of getting your wedding dress is easy and stress-free.
For more information about Reflections, please visit their profile.
Premium Vendor Showcase: Chocolate Occasions
Chocolate Occasions is an extraordinary family business specializing in the finest Belgium Chocolate and creating new and unusual gifts. Customers can choose from an assortment of Pure Milk, Pure Dark and White Belgian Chocolate, while watching it being made at their working factory in Harrisonburg, Virginia. With different varieties to choose from, their range of decadent chocolate boxes and delightful seasonal offers make ideal presents for all your friends and family.
Chocolates Occasions also specializes in a unique product called “Edible Imaged Chocolate”. They can print any Logo, Picture and information about you on their Belgian Chocolates, which is 100 percent editable and FDA approved! Chocolate Occasions can ship anywhere in the USA, and all their packages are ship with ice packs during the Summer Season, so your deductible treats stay cool.
For more information about Chocolate Occasions, please visit their profile.
Premium Vendor Showcase: The Studio Hair Salon and Day Spa
You deserve to look your best, so check out one of the hottest salons on WhereToGetEngaged.com. After 25 wonderful and exciting years in business, Judi Crawford and her team of stylists and spa
technicians from “The Studio Hair Salon and Day Spa” are still going strong! Being voted ‘Best In The Burg’ once more, they live up to their reputation daily and go that extra mile to make each day better than the last! From their glamorous up-do’s to their dazzling manicures and pedicures to the grand display of Bare Escentuals make-up at their fingertips, The Studio is ready to get you and your entire bridal party ready from head-to-toe!
“For a long time, we’ve been known as the salon or spa but never as a place for an entire bridal party to come and share in every detai
l of the big day. Whether it be yourself, your best friend, your sister, your daughter, or just someone you feel close to, The Studio welcomes you, says Kim Lee.” As their in house Bridal Coordinator, Kim is always ready to lend a hand to the bride and her party. From scheduling a time to come and view the facility to meeting the stylists and make-up artists, Kim is ready to make your big day as easy as it should be!
Many bridal packages are available for the bride as well as the groom. From massages and facials to relaxing manicures and pedicures, the studio is sure to have a package that will be perfect.
With new weddings being added all the time, The Studio invites you to check out their profile on WhereToGetEngaged and view their work! They have completes lists of products and services as w
ell as photo albums of brides that have confidently chosen The Studio to play such a special part in their day!
Here are a few tips from Kim that will come in handy when you come to your trial run appointments:
- Bring pictures! We love them! This gives us an idea of what you are looking for in a hairstyle. If you can, bring a picture of the dress and any embellishments you want to wear in your hair.
- Take these next questions and answer them: What time am I getting married? Am I getting married inside or outside? This will help us when working on your hair and make-up because lighting and location are everything!
- By all means, bring a friend with you to your trial run. Have her take pictures so you can take them home and study each aspect of your hair and make-up. Have her taking pictures of the make-up also so, if by chance you would like to change something, we know exactly where we need to start.
- Remember, we have over fifteen stylists here so if you are not happy with your original trial run or just want another persons ideas, feel free to call in with someone else. We want you to be 110% satisfied with everything and like our owner says: ‘We will make it work!”
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