Bridal Bouquet

                

Bouquets of flowers have always been one of a major attraction at any wedding. A bouquet of flowers symbolizes a blossoming maiden and reflects her emotions, and must be carefully selected.

There is a legend that a poor bridegroom who cannot afford a wedding ring for his bride on their wedding day and he replaced the ring with a bunch of hand tied flowers instead to show his love for his beloved. This bunch of flowers, now known as a bridal bouquet, together with the wedding gown, are considered as the most important wedding items and attractions at any wedding.

Here are some tips to help you in choosing your bridal bouquet and wedding flowers;

1. A bridal bouquet should be carefully selected to suit you and your personality, and matches with your wedding gown. The types of flowers and colours play a very important aspect and must matches with your wedding gown. Choose your gown first before you decide on your flowers.


2. There are many types of flowers in different colours.  Choose your favourite flower and colour but remember that the type of flowers and colour choosen must match with your wedding gown.

3. The flowers you choose must be able to last for the entire day. Some flowers wither faster, particular on a hot day. It is a good idea to have two set of bridal bouquets, one for the ceremony and the other for the reception, so you don’t have to worry on whether your bouquet will last for the day.




4. An experienced florist will request that you choose two types of flowers for your bouquet. In the event that if your first choice is unavailable on the wedding day due to unforeseen circumstances, your florist can use the second one to prepare your bouquet.

5. You should also consider using flowers that has different meanings. Rose means love and happiness, lily means innocent and purity, purple violet means thought of you, and tulip means true and perfect love.  You can use artificial or silk flowers if your ideal choice is unavailable.


6. The size of the bouquet is also important and actually depends on your built. If you are petite, then avoid a large size bouquet as it can affect your posture and how you carry your gown.  Your bouquet must also be easy to carry. You florist should be able to advise you of the different size of bouquets for each bouquet style.

 7. There many bouquet styles that you can choose from a simple hand tied bouquet to a more elegant one. A nosegay or posy is a hand tied bouquet, whereby the flowers stems are wrapped around with ribbons. Cascading style is arranged in a descending form and is of a larger size. Not suitable for small built bride. Contemporary bouquets have no geometric form and are arranged in styled. More suitable for sophisticated weddings. Bouquets can be also be decorated with ribbons, lace, beads, pearls and other materials. If you have pictures or photos of a bouquet you like, show it to your florist.

8. Some of the top wedding flowers are Roses, Tulips, Lily, Calla lily, Sunflowers, Orchids, Hyacinth, Tulip, Stephanotis and Daisy. You may want to follow the trend and choose these flowers for your bouquet. Remember to have two choice of flowers just in case your first one is unavailable on your wedding. Also keep in mind that the flowers choosen must be able to last. Advice that you don't use tulips which do not last especially under hot weather.


Bridal bouquets are more personal nowadays and reflect the brides’ personality. Choose the bouquet that suits you and your personality. Consult your florist for advice but the final choice still rest with you.

 

View our photos gallery for more bridal bouquets at http://haidehooi.com/

                   

       

Wedding Cakes

                

The cake cutting ceremony is a major attraction in any wedding reception.  Wedding cakes can go from the simplest to the most complex decorations.  Your cake need not be a huge one such as a multi-tiers cake; a simple one is good enough for this touching ceremony.  Wedding cakes have also become an essential item as part of your wedding venue decorations.

So how do you decide and choose your wedding cake with so many types of different designs, shape, and flavours in the market? Choosing the right cake for your big day can be very meticulous. However with a little bit of patience and using the tips below, it shouldn’t be a problem and is easy as walking down the aisle.

Choosing your baker and cake

Scout for a baker who specialized in baking wedding cakes. Needless to say, asking your friends or relatives to help out is a good way especially from those were recently married and have use the service of a baker.  If you have hired a wedding planner, your planner should be able to provide you a list of bakers. Your wedding planner should also be able to give advice on the types of cakes and helps out with your selection.

Discuss with your baker about the designs, shape, size, flavours, and other items you may like to add on. Tell your baker about the details of your wedding such as the theme and colour scheme of your wedding decorations, whether it is held in an open area such as a beach or garden wedding, or enclosed area, and where the cake will be placed. Take note that icings are very vulnerable in an open area especially on a hot day and your cake should arrived intact from the baker store to your wedding venue. Your baker should be able to prepare your cake to endure such environmental hazards.

You need to give your baker ample time to prepare your wedding cake. Find out when can your cake be collected or can your baker deliver it to your wedding venue. It is advisable to place your order at least three months ahead of your big day.

Cake decorations and Wedding Topper

Your cake can be decorated with many types of items to create a more beautiful and stunning wedding cake such as beads and ribbons. Flowers are most mostly used and you can choose from either fresh or artificial ones. Fresh flower is a better choice. Make known to the cake decorators that the flowers must be very fresh and free from chemicals. Alternatively, you can request for sugar flowers which are much safer.

Wedding topper is a lovely figurine of a couple, usually in wedding attire, and is placed above the wedding cake for everybody to see. It had long been considered as a tradition symbol of a married couple. They are available in different designs, styles, size and colours. You can get it from a bakery, retail or departmental stores. It is best that you ask your baker to make a personalize one that matches with your wedding cake.

If you are on a tight budget, why not decorate the cake yourself? Order a simple and plain one and buy the decorations items from retail stores. You can even use fresh flowers to decorate.

Cup Cakes and Macarons

A cup cake is a small cake just for one person. There are many designs. A standard cupcake uses the same basic ingredients as normal sized cakes and may be topped with frosting or other cake decorations.

Parisan pastries known as macarons are tiny bites of luxury. Macarons are sweet based confectionery and  commonly filled with buttercream or jam sandwiched between two cookies. They are mildly moist and easily melts in the mouth.

Cupcakes and macarons are very common nowadays and are mostly used by couples as wedding favors as a thank you gift for their guests.

Your Budget

Know how many guests would attend your wedding and the type of cake you have in mind will help you to determine how much money to be allocated. Tell your baker your budget and he should be able to make recommendation and work according to it. Otherwise change to a new one.

Some food caterers offer a complimentary wedding cake for your cake cutting ceremony and some even for your guests. This will certainly save you costs. Some caterers has a fake but beautifully made cake for your cutting ceremony. Check with the caterer before you hire one.

Placing your cake

This may be a simple thing to do but if your reception is in an open area such a garden , you need to choose an appropriate place otherwise your cake will end up melted under the sun. There is also a possibility of flies gathering around. Your wedding planner can advise if you have one.

Another point is never place your cake where there is a heavy flow of traffic. Someone especially children might accidentally knock into it and you will end up having a crashed cake and that will be the end of your cake cutting ceremony!

By now you should have a sound idea on how you want your wedding cake to be.  Just keep in mind that your wedding cake should just be presentable, be it simple or sophisticated.

Watch these videos clips, Cake Boss. You will be amazed with the types of cakes they design and create!