Archive for September, 2009

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Fredericksburg

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

If you are looking for someplace special and unique to hold a small wedding, or even for a honeymoon getaway, you don?t have to look any further than Fredericksburg, located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country within easy driving distance of Austin and San Antonio.

Fredericksburg is home to more than 100 stores and shops, many of them offering elegant, unique and eclectic arts and crafts. But the town, which still retains the old-world feel from its founding more than 150 years ago, is also home to some of the finest bed and breakfast facilities in the state.

There are over 300 bed and breakfast and guest house accommodations. Each offers its own unique style. You can stay in a rustic log cabin, an authentic Fredericksburg Sunday House, a historic rock home, or other original lodgings. In addition to traditional bed and breakfasts, the area also offers many guest houses, which may or may not offer personalized service, and guests often have the house to themselves.

Many of these facilities also offer the perfect backdrop for your intimate wedding. Fredericksburg, with its many restaurants, bakeries and other shops, also has all the various wedding professionals you need for a perfect wedding day.

If your wedding is likely to be larger than just a small gathering, there are a variety of other facilities in town, some of which are available for your events. Some of these facilities include LBJ National Park, Enchanted Rock, Lady Bird Park & Golf Course, Luckenbach, five wineries and seven vineyards.

So if you are looking for something different for your wedding, honeymoon or just to get away, look at Fredericksburg.

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What to do?! Divorced Parents! AcK!

Friday, September 18th, 2009

If your parents are divorced there are probably several difficult decisions you must make in order to accommodate, as smoothly as possible, several potentially explosive situations. We offer the following suggestions as alternatives to established tradition.

Your invitations: It would be proper for the parent with whom you have been living the longest to issue the invitation. The other parent is not mentioned. However, if both parents agree the invitations may be in both names.

Introducing the future in-laws to each other: Protocol would dictate the first introduction should be to the parent with whom you have been living, followed a week or so later by a visit with your other parent.

Accompanying the bride down the aisle: Your father, mother or both if they are in agreement, or choose a brother, uncle, aunt or grandparent.

Seating at the ceremony: The bride’s mother and her immediate family (parents, husband and children) sit in the first row. The bride’s father sits with his present wife and parents in the second or third row.

The reception line: Traditionally the bride’s mother stands in the receiving line and her father mingles with the guests. However, if the bride wants both parents in the line, be sure to separate your divorced parents with the stepparents or grandparents in order to eliminate confusion among the guests. If you are serving a sit-down dinner be sure to assign separate tables for your parents and their spouses.

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How to Cut your Wedding Cake

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

With a little care and know-how, the wedding cake will look as beautiful and as appetizing after being cut as before. After the bride and groom have made their first cuts, the following directions will help the person in charge of the cake cutting. Remember, you probably will not cut the whole cake.

The first step is to use the right knife. Always use a sharp, thin knife. The cuts should be made by first inserting the knife straight down into the cake, and then by pulling the knife at an angle toward the outer edge. Before the next cut, wipe the knife clean with a damp cloth.

Cutting a tiered cake is challenging, but it can be a simple task. First, “free” only the exposed part of the bottom layer. Cut the first layer away from the second layer by running the knife through the bottom layer around the edge of the second layer. Then cut the “freed” part of the bottom layer into wedges or squares. Wedges are recommended for large circles, while rectangles work better for smaller layers.

Next, cut the exposed part of the second layer exactly as the first layer, using the third layer as the cutting guide. Remember to cut through only one layer at a time. Do not cut the remaining part of the bottom layer at this time.

All remaining upper layers are cut as instructed earlier. When the top is reached, return to the bottom layer and start over, this time using the newly exposed outer edge of the second layer as the cutting guide.

As the sections of round cakes get smaller and more irregular, it is often easier to cut pieces into diamonds or rectangular slices in addition to wedges.

Remember, the top layer is usually saved for your first anniversary. It is recommended the saved cake first be covered and frozen over night then sealed in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container, and finally placed in a freezer for best results.

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Catering: Avoid the headaches

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

If your wedding reception is being held at a facility that does not provide catering, you should hire a professional caterer. Because a caterer is experienced in planning and working with large groups, they have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that a sufficient quantity of food will be available and that it will be properly refrigerated and/or heated on your special day. A professional caterer will work with you to select menus and ensure that your reception comes off without a hitch.

Hiring a caterer can be a time consuming, if delicious, chore. It is also a choice you do not want to put off too long. You should select your cater between 9 to 12 months before the wedding. You will want to visit with several before narrowing your choices to two or three.

Before you contact caterers you should know the date and location of your reception, the number of guests and your budget. By having this information before you start setting appointments you will not waste precious time interviewing caterers who are not available on your date or are out of your price range. Locally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $18 and up per person, plus tax and tip. Remember, in most cases, the cost of the meal proposed does not include these two amounts, which usually adds another 13% to 15% to the total cost of the plate.

After you have narrowed your choices to two or three caterers, ask for a test tasting of the proposed menu. When selecting a menu, consider your guests. Save the unusual dishes for your first dinner party and keep your reception food fairly middle of the road. Your caterer will assist you in selecting an appropriate menu for the time of day. One way to reduce your catering costs, other than reducing the number of guests, is holding your wedding and reception during a different part of the day. After a morning wedding you could provide a brunch reception, which would reduce the cost of the food as well as the alcohol. At a reception after a late afternoon wedding guests are going to expect a substantial meal.

You can also save money by carefully choosing the type of meal you would like. Smaller parties, less than 100, are best served by a sit down dinner while a buffet service usually works better for larger groups. While it is possible to host a sit down dinner for several hundred people, your costs for staffing will go up. While a staff of three to five people can handle a buffet meal, you need many more servers for a sit down dinner.

Not only does your caterer select, purchase and prepare the food, a full service caterer will do the set-up, serving and clean-up as well. Most catering services also provide table linens, china and silverware as part of their service as well as cake cutting and serving. Be sure to ask your caterer exactly what services are included in your price quote.

Using a professional caterer allows your family and friends to participate in your wedding and enjoy the day as guests, not workers. So, let a caterer attend to all the necessary tasks of making sure the punch bowl and hors d’oeuvres are always fresh and full.

A good caterer will also help arrange an appropriate floor plan with your rental facility to ensure that your guests are accommodated in the most comfortable way.

When shopping for a caterer, check references and look through photo albums of past wedding receptions. Interview each company to determine exactly what services you will be receiving. Make sure you are comfortable with the caterer and their staff. A competent, qualified caterer will welcome your questions, answer them, and make you feel confident that they can handle your reception with skill and ease.

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Behind the Tradition: Sharing the Cake

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Did you ever wonder why the bride and groom are supposed to feed each other the first piece of wedding cake?  This tradition came from the ancient times of Rome where they believed that the couple would share a special bond if they fed each other pieces of their wedding cake.  The wheat used to bake the cake was a symbol of fertility and that the couple would have a “fruitful union”.  The sugar and sweet in the cake was thought to bring sweet and tender moments into all areas of the couple’s new life together.

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