Ju Ju Ju

Wedding cakes are the main attraction in any wedding reception. More than something that you can feast on, wedding cakes has become an necessary decoration in the wedding venue. The first thing guests would buzz about is how magnificent your wedding cake is. Choosing the right cake should be meticulously done. With a little patience and the quick tips below, picking the best cake should as easy as walking down the aisle.

1. Choose the right bakeshop

If you have an idea on where the best bakery is in your city, then head to that place immediately. You can ask suggestions from your friends or family members also. Get a reservation at once. Do not procrastinate. The availability of cake decorators might be restricted. Be sure to drop by the bakeshop to talk about the designs, flavors and other things you wanted to add to your cake. Be sure to give a detailed description of exactly what you want your cake to be. Give the vendor ample time to prepare, approximately six months ahead of your big day would do. You may need to pay a deposit fee for reservation.

2. The right taste

Aside from the look of the cake, keep in mind that cakes are made primarily for eating. They should taste good as well as they look good. The texture and flavor of the cake itself is important. When scouting for a bakeshop, don’t hesitate to ask for cake samples of the flavors you want. If they do not allow this, jump to the next store.

3. Check on your budget

Wedding cakes ranges from $300 to $1000 or so. Cost primarily depends on the cake design you want. You have to pay for the cake decorators fee on top of the cost of the cake itself. Know what your budget is ahead of time. Some shops may give you free delivery too. Most bakeshop has a standard number of servings for each cake type. Know how many guests would attend your wedding so you would know more or less how much money you would allocate for the cake.

4. Flowers as decorations

Flowers have been a traditional thing on weddings. You can well put them in cakes too. You can either choose from fresh flowers or artificial ones. Fresh flowers are beautiful addition to your cakes. But it is very important that you choose fresh flowers wisely. Be sure that they are free from chemicals. Just to be on the safe side, sugar flowers are safer. These are edible gum paste decorations that have wire or toothpicks on them.

5. Where to place the cake

Most cakes, especially on summer, might end up melted under the heat of the sun. They can also cause flowers and flavored curls to dry up. Not to mention the possibility of flies gathering on your priced cake. Just be sure, always have a back up site where you can store your cakes to preserve its look and taste. Never place your wedding cake near the dance floor or where there is a heavy flow of traffic. You might just see your cake fall down. That s not a good sight at all! Be sure to check the sturdiness of the table you would place your cake.

Buying wedding cakes can be fun and hassle-free. Remember that your wedding cakes needs to be presentable, most of the photo opts are done beside the cake. It s always nice to give out that bright smile beside you’re well decorated cake that brings out your personal statement.

The caterer has a very important role in your wedding. Therefore, you should take extra care in hiring the right caterer for you wedding day. Just like hiring any other vendor, you have to make your selection based on facts not feelings. The caterer may be an individual or a business. Even if the caterer is an individual, she still has to operate as a business. The caterer cannot legally cook at home and serve the food at your event. It is illegal for a caterer to use an unlicensed kitchen to prepare food.

The caterer you hire should be experienced not only in catering events, but catering weddings. During your interview process, you should ask about the kind of events they have catered. Ask about the size of the events, how many guests they catered for. Ask if they had to deal with any emergencies or unexpected events. To learn about how they deal with emergencies may help you understand their level of professionalism.

You should never hire the first caterer you meet. It may be tempting to hire the first caterer, especially, if you hit it off really well. It is in you benefit to meet with several caterers before you make your final decision.

You must check references before you make your decision. If a caterer does not have any references, walk. You don’t want anything to do with a caterer that offers no references. References are important, but they do not provide an absolute protection. You may be able to visit the caterer’s kitchen, so you can see their operation in action. A visit can help you examine their organization and cleanliness.

Caterers get booked well in advance, so hire one early. You should have a caterer lined up no less than 6 months prior to your reception. If you can find one a year before your event is even better. The more time you leave yourself to hire a caterer the more chance you give yourself to hire the right caterer.

Once you have made a decision, it is time to put it all in writing. You should insist on a written contract. The contract should include the details, of the menu, the date of the event, what is and is not included.

An ideal combination. A good career, a great husband and a mess-free life. But with no compromises… The generation of today has no qualms. They are focussed and clear-cut in their plans…” And what if you meet an interesting guy in the meantime who wants to get married right away?” This was the clever reply: “Too bad. If he loves me, he’ll wait.” !

The so-called age for marriage is slowly being pushed upwards as more and more young women of today want a career, financial independence and then marriage. Till then, she’s quite happy being a single woman. Of course if by then she hasn’t met a man she has liked, then she continues to remain single, quite often and much to her family’s disbelief, quite happy to remain single.

A mother says about a conversation she had with her two daughters regarding marriage: ” I gingerly called up my elder daughter who was studying in America and told her “I think it is time I started looking for boys and you should be settled at the right age.” “Right age,” she screamed” and pray who decides the right age, you.” She screamed so loudly that it was as though I was not talking long distance but to someone in the next room.
When she called up her second daughter this was the reply: “Too much work and too much responsibility, in a marriage,” said she”and why should I get married when one can have all the fun without marriage.” “Beta, are you ready to get married?” I said all honey and sugar and spice. “That is the tone I adopt when I have to deal with my Libran daughter.” the mother says… “No mom,” she laughed “why don’t you get married. I think dad and you are really bored with each other,” and she giggled devilishly on the phone.

With more and more women deciding to marry only after they have settled down in their careers, the marriage age seems to be more and more flexible.
What is the correct age to tie the knot for a woman? Early 20s or early 30s? Or later?

As for men, they seem to think they dont need to marry to get what they want. They would like to wait till they have a few bucks in the bank… in fact men who marry later may be more financially stable and emotionally mature but late marriages makes them lousy at making the compromises that help a marriage get over the rough spots… says a survey. The fear of failure also may be a reason for them to delay their marriage or probably they want to enjoy the single life for a long time.

What is then the right age for men for their first trip to the altar?

HPriya Sivan

1. Start with a nice clean piece of paper (lavender is good, but any kind will work). Down the left side of the page, write the numbers 1-10. Now - without stopping to think about it, fill in this page! Write down the first 10 things that come to mind in response to this sentence: “I love (my partner’s name) because . . . ” Set this piece of paper aside.

2. Now - how about YOU? What do YOU bring to this union? What promises will you make? Take another sheet of paper, and write ‘em down - don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or anything else at this point. Just write down 4-5 things you want to promise this very special person with whom you want to spend your life.

• Do you promise to be there in bad times as well as good?

• Do you promise to be faithful with your body as well as with your mind and heart?

• Do you promise to support your partner even when he/she isn’t perfect?

• Do you promise to share all your resources? Some?

• What about if he/she gets sick? What about if you have a serious fight?

You get the idea . . . what are you promising in this union?

3. Think about the language you will use to claim your partner and name your relationship. When you introduce your beloved, what words will you use? Husband? Wife? Spouse? Partner for Life? What energy does each of these have for you? If you don’t like one for some reason, throw it out. . . but before you start writing you vows, decide . . . what language will you use? This is a decision you need to make together . . . so start early, and give this as much time as it takes.

4. OK, after you’ve done steps 1-3, and you’ve got at least two pages of writing and one decision made - set it all aside. Do something else, preferably with your partner, and preferably fun. Like Christmas trees, weddings get too much “stuff” hung on them, Make yours beautiful, by stepping aside from the stress for a day or two. Go out and remember WHY you love . . . go and play.

5. Done that? Now it’s time to make a BIG DECISION. Are each of you going to write your own vow, or do the two of you want to say the same thing? You don’t have to, you know - some of the most beautiful ceremonies I’ve celebrated had each partner saying something different . . . But here’s a trick: If you’re each creating your own unique vow, why not insert a sentence at the end symbolizing the fact that you come together as unique individuals, and, without surrendering your individuality, you are creating a beautiful, shared union. Here’s an example of words each partner might use to complete his or her unique vow:

John, I accept you as my husband.

I Tracy, embrace you, Susan, as my partner for life.

6. It’s time to go back to the papers you wrote in Steps 1 and 2. If you’re working together, you’ll have fun sharing those pages, and seeing where you overlap . . . Use colored pencils or highliters to lift up what you have in common - and make those promises and statements of love just leap off the page.

7. Now, whether you’re working alone or as a couple, it’s time to prioritize. Which is fancy language for saying, OK, if I have to cut two of these promises off the list, which ones will they be? Nibble at your lists, removing the things that are just a little less juicy, until you’re left with three or four things you love . . . and about the same number of things you promise.

8. Copy these over onto a brand new, clean page. (It’s amazing what a difference a clean sheet of paper can make - trust me on this!)

9. One more question . . . this is a wedding, a celebration of your union, presumably for life. Will your vows indicate a time frame? Some couples use phrase like: “Through all our years, and in all that life may bring us . . . ” “For the rest of my days”

“As long as we both shall live”

“lifetime partner.”

“partner forevermore.”

Whatever works for you, a wedding or service of union vow should contain a phrase that indicates the duration of your commitment. ( If you’ve come this far, I hope you’ve decided to promise your commitment for life.)

10. Read your vow out loud to a trusted someone other than your partner. Does it sound like you? How does it feel to say these words aloud? Have you said anything you’d be embarrassed to say in public? Are there any tongue-tanglers in there? (It’s amazing how seemingly simple phrases turn complex when it’s time to speak!) Make whatever minor changes you need, and then Stop. Feel good about what you’ve done - for you have created one of the greatest gifts you will ever make.\

(c) Maureen Killoran, 2004

Maureen Killoran, MA, DMin, is a Unitarian Minister and a life coach in private practice in Hendersonville, NC. You can learn more about her services as a wedding consultant and officiant at http://www.spiritquest.ws . . . and about her coaching practice at http://www.spiritquestcoaching.com

Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn’t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.

Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.

When grooms would “capture” their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman’s head to keep her from being recognized.

Bridesmaids’ dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.

The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to “make the rounds” greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.

In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.

Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father’s property until she married, and their she was her husband’s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally “give her away,” transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask “Who supports this couple in marriage?” The parents answer “We do.”

There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.

Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.

During the Middle Ages the length of a bride’s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.

During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.

Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to “sweeten the union.” According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.

In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.

Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.

In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression “Tying then knot”.

In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.

African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of “jumping the broom”. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple’s intention to set up a home together.

Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn’t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.

There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” The actual rhyme also included this line “and a sixpence in your shoe”. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother’s antique cameo, or your mom’s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.

The “new” symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.

Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law’s ruby brooch, your dad’s silk handkerchief, or your parents’ wedding song.

The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.

You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you’ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Wedding Dresses which includes
Informal Wedding Dress,
Discount Bridal Gowns,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information