5 Wedding Cake Trends for the Modern Bride
Wedding cakes have long been a testament to the staying power of bold colors, ruffled tiers, manufactured fondant and intricate designs. However, we are currently seeing a shift in these eccentric trends as the modern bride becomes a less fussy breed. As weddings themselves scale back into more relaxed and casual affairs, the cakes are seemingly following suit, as couples opt for cleaner lines and better taste.
Butter Cream Dreams – For a while, this frosting favorite had taken a back seat to fondant’s flavorless yet smoother form. But many couples feared that they were compromising taste for aesthetics; hence, the return to butter cream. Brides now – more than ever – are embracing the charming untidiness of this cake trend in order to pump up the taste volume and give a nod to vintage chic!

photos courtesy of marthastewartweddings.com (center and right) and design-wedding-cakes-pictures.blogspot.com (left)
(Oh! Oh! Oh, oh, oh!) The White Stuff – A revival that goes hand-in-hand with its butter cream counterpart, the infamous all white cake evokes a more naturally frosted look. Concentrated in a polished appeal and textured trends, these clean looking cakes are generally always backed with their over the top tastes! Liz Shim of Eat Cake Be Merry recommends an all-white confection with lots of texture for a more “chic blank canvas” look.
Modern Monograms – Give your cake a kick of personalized flare with your newly instated monogram! Because cake toppers aren’t just your plastic bride and groom anymore, creative couples everywhere are going for more offbeat, unique accessories. Some companies will even take a photo of the couple and specifically personalize figurines to look just like them. More popular (and reasonably priced), however, is when couples take their initials and turn heads with a monochromatic, monogram cake toppers… which happens to one of our favorites, as well!!
Flower Power (That’s Tasty Too!) – Rather than frosting your cake with more flowers than a garden, cake artists today are creating incredibly real-looking sugar flowers. These blooms are much fuller so you’ll only need a few for garnish. Renowned cake designer Ron Ben-Israel says these sugar flowers will give the cake “a sleeker look”, as opposed to an overwhelming confection of blossom piping.
Dog Daze – Believe it or not, one of the newer trends in wedding cake accents is personalized pooches. More and more couples are requesting that their pets make a cameo on their cake, made purely of frosting.
So when you begin the cake design process, remember that less is more this year. Matching the piping on your cake to the lace on your dress is out, and butter cream and sugar flowers are in. It’s all about the homemade, nummy goodness and delicious taste.
1 comment August 30, 2010
Elbow, Elbow, Wrist, Wrist: Ms. Universe Inspires Glamorous Wedding Gowns
Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying the glam-WOW factor beauty pageants can divulge. From the bouffant hair and bedazzled gowns to the super high heels and extra long lashes, beauty contests are all about glitz and glamour, which is precisely why they make an ahhh to the mazing place for diva brides to come alive!
At the epicenter of all this glamocity is the beauty pageants crowning component – the infamous evening gown strut. Flying first class, it’s the one section of the show to epitomize all things G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S. The girls transform into a frenzy of whimsy, complete with feathers, frocks and all the razzle dazzle rhinestones their flamboyant designers could get their hands on.
They cover a broad spectrum of sassiness from form-fitting and flowing to over the top and understated. Pending the girl, her personality and where she represents, the evening gown she wears can vary greatly from one girl to the next.
And where could you possibly get a better representation of world class glamour than the Ms. Universe Pageant?? Airing Monday night, the well renowned pageant just crowned their 2010 winner (Yaaaaay, Ms. Mexico!!!), and there was little to no doubt that the “Ooh la la!” was out! Inspiration below :)
It’s All About Asymmetrical!
No doubt every girl wants to stand out on her big day; however, not every girl wants to go too over the top. One way you can get a punch of trend power and still remain timeless is by doing an asymmetrical dress… for seres, everyone will be impressed :)

Ms. Ireland, Rozanna Purcell and Ms. New Zealand, Ria van Dyke (photos courtesy of missuniverse.com)

Ms. Thailand, Fonthip Watcharatrakul and Ms. Greece, Anna Prelevic (photos courtesy of missuniverse.com)
Have a Gown Glitz’ed in Gold!
2010 is all about trends, and one of the biggest trends the wedding world is seeing are colored gowns. But if rockin’ red or pullin’ off purple is simply too much, why not try to glitter yourself in gold?

Ms. Guatemala, Jessica Scheel and Ms. Czech Republic, Jitka Valkova (photos courtesy of missuniverse.com)
Power Up your Prettiest Dress with Pewter!
Gold is to Ivory as Pewter (Silver) is to White… Again, while color is becoming more and more popular for wedding dress designers, most often times, tradition prevails, and using more neutral shades like pewter, slate grey or silver can be a great compromise!

Ms. Costa Rica, Marva Wright and Ms. Colombia, Natalia Navarro (photos courtesy of missuniverse.com)
Give it up for Grecian!
Ideal for a beach, destination or backyard wedding, Grecian styled dresses softly dance along your frame, while allowing you to dance the night away! They offer a timeless, iconic style and can easily make any bride as beautiful as the Venus de Milo :)

Ms. Norway, Melinda Victoria Elvenes and Ms. Egypt, Donia Hammed (photos courtesy of missuniverse.com)
Be a Playful Bride with Pride!
With wedding dress designers branching out more and more, it’s no wonder that mixing fabrics, textures and shapes can often times create the most radiant looks of all! I mean just check out these playful numbers…
Add comment August 25, 2010
Love, Camera, Action!: Top 3 Movie-Inspired Engagement Shoots
Gather ’round, my little chickadees… it’s time to <sigh> in unison over these super cute, movie-inspired engagement sessions. Because the engagement photo shoot itself is a relatively new concept, it’s easy for couples to hit the road running with their over-the-top ideas. And for couples looking to “theme up” their sessions with movie madness, it’s simply not enough anymore to just throw a few props into the mix…we’re talking full-on hair and makeup shazaam! complete with costume and scene changes! Check out the top three movie themed engagement sessions ever!
Alice in Wonderland – By far the quirkiest, this theme is definitely for the daring divas in all of us! (Reverie Break) “Cats and rabbits would reside in fancy little houses, and be dressed in shoes and hats and trousers… in a world of my own.” Okay, enough of that… “because my world would be a won…der…land.”… Alrite, for real!
Alice in Wonderland sessions can be an ahhhmazing mix of colorful pastels, eclectic tea sets, mad hatter haute couture and more playing cards than you’ll know what to do with. But the fun doesn’t end with the props; everyone knows that no “very important date!” shoot would be complete without a trippy, forest-like transformation or outrageous teapot party. Not to mention, it’s the perfect excuse to whip out that adorable, Alice-imitation dress and sweetly tied, black bow headband!
**Famous couples that have utilized this theme: Ashlee Simpson & Pete Wentz at their wedding.
The Notebook – This vintage romance theme is a bit more traditional but is nothing short of awe-inspiring. These engagement sessions are all about 1940’s garb, retro coifs, and – of course - scenes inspired by the holy grail of romance movies themselves, The Notebook. “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.”
Essential props include a huge Southern house, a vintage pickup, a canoe - complete with sparkling lake, some ice cream cones and most importantly, perfectly pouting red lips and vintage, vixen clothing and accessories… maybe even a little fake rain for some added ooh la la?? I mean who could ever resist that??! Well, at least in waterproof mascara :)
In need of inspiration? Check this out for ideas… SUPER SWOON!
UP! – If you think I didn’t la-la-louvre the fact that this Disney Pixar great hit the top three, you’d be sadly mistaken! The bittersweet tale of love lost and regained has become the ultimate inspiration for engaged couples everywhere. (For serious, just watch the montage of Carl and Ellie, and you’ll see what I mean!)
These all kinds of adorable, engagement sessions go way beyond the fairytale itself and give soon to be Mr. and Mrs.’s the perfect excuse to play around with a massive bundle of brightly colored balloons and kitschy scenery… and don’t forget the retro details: thick-framed glasses, a bowtie, and cozy little cottage… all must-haves for a sweet story like this to unfold!
These are just a few of my faves that have been heating up the blogosphere lately. I have a feeling that movie-inspired e-seshes will be a hot new trend that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of, and thank goodness for that! **Air Five!**
1 comment August 23, 2010
Sara Rue to say “I do” to CW’s Shedding for the Wedding
Sara Rue, perhaps best known for her roles on TV series like Popular (who else misses that treat?), Less Than Perfect and most recently, Eastwick, became even more of a household name when she teamed up with fellow Jenny Craig advocate, Valerie Bertinelli, and said bu-bye to 50 pounds and hellloooo to skinny jeans!! You go, girl!
1 comment August 18, 2010
Really! They Could Wear it Again: Bridesmaid Dresses with a Print
Every bride always says it, and every bridesmaid always dreads it: “Really, girls, the best part about this dress is you could shorten it and wear it again!”
…
Um, no… no, you can’t. Nine times out of ten (at least!), a bridesmaid dress is a bridesmaid dress is a bridesmaids dress. I made no qualms to my ladies-in-waiting; while they were able to select the dress they liked best, it was still going to ’maid-tastic :)
But alas, there is a solution! Bridesmaid beauts and please conscious brides, may you find solace in the exception that proves the rule. For the one in ten times dresses can be worn again… say it with me… PRINTS!
While prints or patterned dresses may come off seemingly less formal, really are a fantastic way to incorporate vintage glam and retro chic style into even the most mod of wedding settings. And because of their universal appeal, they can easily be re-worn for other weddings, formal gatherings or simply putting on your Sunday best!
Check out some of my favorite printed princesses:
Add comment August 16, 2010
*Fall* in Love with Autumn: Top 8 Wedding Trends for Fall
As the summer wedding season comes to a close, we mourn the end of yet another ahhhh to the mazing run, while looking forward to the next best thing… (say it with me!)… Fall Weddings! It’s the beautiful time of year when the humidity has finally eased off, the hair has frizzed down and the beautifully rich hues of ever-changing trees and trends start to take over.
You finally have an excuse to pull that cashmere ditty you’ve been dying to wear from amidst the back of the closet and to really snuggle up to the one you louvre! And with cute cardigans and cuddle time flying everywhere in Fall, it’s no wonder that 26% of all weddings take place in September and October alone. With the world of weddings continually serving up great trends, this autumn is sure to be just as spectacular. Here are the hottest wedding trends wedding forecasters are predicting for the top of Fall’s Finest:
Mixed Florals:
This category actually extends way beyond your typical bouquets of fresh blooms. Deep red roses, orange calla lilies and golden sunflowers serve as fall favorites, but arrangements will incorporate the great outdoors as well. Think rustic twigs with raffia, pomegranate succulents, fresh hay and the best crunchy hues fall leaves have to offer.
Mini Pies:
These tiny treats actually blew up this summer as homemade reception favorites. But warm and “nummy!” pies couldn’t have a better place than in the crisp weather of fall. Not to mention, anything that comes in miniature is that much cuter and delicious! Your guests will be drooling over their most beloved seasonal flavors such as pumpkin, cinnamon apple, pecan and tangy peach, to start.
Styled Aisles:
Whether your ceremony takes place outside amongst the trees, or takes cover from the cold inside, your aisle is the perfect platform for some fall style. Jazz it up with a seasonal aisle runner, and embellish with mini pumpkins, orange lanterns, and leaves in every color.
Caramel Apple Bars:
As wedding desserts grow more and more untraditional, take a cue from a fall time favorite: caramel apples. Set up a buffet where guests can coat their apples with all the creamy caramel and chopped nuts they can handle.
Tiered Dresses:
A striking gown trend that is sure to be in full force for the fall is tiered wedding dresses. These gowns range from feminine to structured, and are sure to be as multi-dimensional as your autumn wedding.
Autumn-liscious Favors:
Send your guests home with a sweet slice of autumn. Apple butter, candied apples, and jars of apple cider are the perfect favors to thank your guests and celebrate the season.
Bridal Cardigans:
Another craze garnering much attention these days is the bridal cardigan. Ideal as a perfect touch of 1950s vintage, these trendy little sweaters are the perfect protection from chilly nighttime breezes and are sure to keep the bride rocking out the reception in style.
Photo Booths:
Photo Booth mania hit a high this year and is no stranger to most bride-to-be’s. But when you get a backdrop exclusively designed for fall time weddings, you’re sure to have scored a fun reception accessory that most haven’t seen yet. Throw in a few Halloween costumes and let the good times roll.
And for a list of all our Favorite Fall Time Wedding Accessories, check us out at marilynskeepsakes.com.
1 comment August 13, 2010














































