I've got wedding on my brain... and I will until my big day!

He popped the question!!! And now everyday is full of "what else can I do today to plan for our wedding?"

As many of you already know, weddings are EXPENSIVE!!!! That reality didn't hit me until we started looking for a venue. My goodness, did we have sticker shock but it certainly doesn't stop there. With our budget increasing, we've been finding areas to cut costs.

My first thought: I will NOT be the one making my own wedding cake!  Then my second thought: I can help us save by making our wedding cake but outsourcing other goodies. Third thought: I'll have time, I'll be making our cake and other goodies. At first it would seem like a very challenging and slightly stupid decision but hey, I've never claimed to be a genius! This did get me thinking about current wedding cake trends and what I've noticed with brides ordering through our bakery in the Ames area.

  Observation #1: Variety of goodies with a small cake for us to cut 
More times than not I have brides ordering a smaller, simpler yet elegant cake. They order other goodies as necessary which is and excellent to provide more variety AND get those gluten free cupcakes out for your bridesmaid and her kids with an intolerance. As for me, I want the flavor gauntlet. Cookies, brownies, blondies, rice crispy bars, scotcharoos for our Midwest guests, and vegan cupcakes for the few vegan guests.

  Observation #2: Reallocating decoration time
Though baking takes a good chunk of time, I get to save some by not decorating the variety of items that don't require it. That extra time will be going to the cake! A bakery owner simply cannot have a simple cake for her own wedding. Time to break out the dummy cakes to make it an over-the-top phenomenal tiered cake!

  What the heck does this have to do with you?

These aren't just tricks for a wedding but for any big event you may have. Need special occasion examples? Click here! It may save you some cash and allow you to provide those dairy free or egg free items for those few guests to let them know you thought of them. In the case of weddings, you can still have that extravagant tiered cake without having too many leftover pieces by utilizing dummy cakes (styrofoam tiers for the biggest tiers). 

  Brides!!!

As I've heard a thousand times at this point, it's your day, you do not have to follow trends or traditions if you don't want to. I thought it would be annoying hearing people say that all the time but it's actually a good reminder. It's also encouraging to hear it when I'm stressing about a traditional detail.

You want those custom floral cupcakes for weddings in Iowa instead of a cake, we got you! How about a gluten free cookie cake for you and decorated cookies for your bridal party? Maybe everyone a rice crispy bar fan! But who isn't, honestly? Whatever you choose, us brides are in the driver's seat with our fiances. You make your pick and I'll be here able to recommend any combination of ideas you have to make your reception that much sweeter on your big day. Trust me, I've gone through every scenario at this point so I have ideas to share!