Page 8Atchison County Mail

February 19, 2015

Page 22

119 E. Main Fairfax, MO

660-686-3313

KG BudsKay Graves, Designer/Owner

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709 West Sheridan AvenueShenandoah, IA 51601

papertrail709@gmail.comPhone: 712.246.1639 Fax: 712.246.6168

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Watts Cleaners408 S. Main | Rock Port, MO | (660) 744-2200

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BridalPage 32

We pride ourselves on delicious, creative menus & beautiful presentations to make your wedding day an event to savor!

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10. Relax seriouslyPlanning a wedding can be stressful, but when the day arrives, everyone will have more fun if you can overlook any little mishaps (and theres always something that goes slightly awry) and let loose. Think about it: Do you have fun at parties where the host is incessantly on edge? To avoid sabotaging your good mood, assign any last-minute tasks to a bridesmaid, relative, or your wedding planner and designate a friend who, if they observe you getting stressed, will ply you with a cocktail or two.

5. Consider your venueOf course, your budget will be a huge factor in determining where you throw your wedding, but picking an interesting reception site can go a long way toward keeping guests entertained. Many museums will let you rent out their exhibit areas, and zoos often have banquet areas with the animals in full view. Even an otherwise bland reception space can be dressed up with dramatic decor or specialty entertainment (like a photo booth), so be sure to talk to your site manager about your options.

6. Work your seating chartTheres nothing more uncomfortable than being the one couple at a table where you dont know anyone and everyone else went to high school together particularly if you can see friends laughing it up five tables away. A well-played seating chart is a cost-free way to make sure your guests spend time with people they like or even to set them up with someone new!

7. Put a time limit on toastsYes, its nice to hear words of encouragement and well wishes, but unless your friends are moonlighting as stand-up comedians, an overly long toast can easily go from sentimental to excruciating. Limit the number and length of toasts to a few key guests (think: maid of honour, best man, your parents), and let everyone get back to the party.

8. Bring in theclowns?Remember that scary clown/magician from your eighth birthday party? Todays specialty performers are nothing like that. The options for wedding entertainment span from tricked-out DJs to belly dancers to singing waiters these people are pros at making sure weddings arent boring.

9. Think beyond wedding cakeWedding cakes are still a staple, but consider expanding the selection for those with a sweet tooth were talking a full dessert bar with everything from apple pies, truffles, cupcakes, lollies, along with local delicacies like fried Mars bars or home-made cookies. The dessert bar can double as your wedding favour by setting out gift bags or boxes for your guests to take a snack for the road.

by Sean Cunningham Source: theknot.com

10 Ways to keep your wedding from being

1. Make introductions the night beforeA wedding brings together two families and sets of friends which usually means a big group of people who dont know each other awkwardly attempting small talk. The solution? Invite relatives and out-of-town guests to the a special dinner the night before to break the ices. By the time the wedding rolls around, your guests will have met in a more relaxed atmosphere the evening before and (hopefully) keep the conversations going at the reception.

2. Stick to the scheduleNo one expects things to run with military precision (especially when it comes to rushing your older relatives), but you dont want to force your guests to idle around while you take your formal wedding pictures. This is where the cocktail hour comes in. Set up a lounge or shady courtyard for your guests to mingle, and equip the area with snacks, drinks, plenty of places to sit, and even a little music to set the mood and keep the party atmosphere alive.

3. Dont let guests go hungryTwo words: hors doeuvres. Even if you plan on serving a full dinner at your reception, its a good idea to have a few nibbles for your guests to nosh on while they wait for you and your new spouse to make your grand entrance lest your guests get bored and cranky. Mini empanadas, soup shooters, vegetable skewers, even fried arancini balls are all great options (go for one-bite canapes so guests can chat while they snack). Your guests will be refreshed from the ceremony and grateful for the sustenance.

4. Plan an exit strategyIf you really want guests to be able to enjoy themselves at your reception, arrange for transportation to get them home safely afterward. Some couples choose to throw their reception in a hotel banquet hall and block off rooms for their guests, while others hire a shuttle service to run throughout the night. This extra consideration gives guests the freedom to relax (drink) without worrying about getting home safely when the party wraps up.

BORING Guests and well-wishers expect to see at least one cake at wedding receptions. But wedding guests should not be surprised if they attend a wedding and notice two cakes sharing the spotlight on the dessert table.

Groom's cakes have existed for generations but have fallen out of favor in many parts of North America since the 1970s. Now groom's cakes are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

A groom's cake traditionally represents something masculine, providing a contrast to the oft-feminine features, such as floral bouquets and frilly gowns, that dominate many weddings. Groom's cake designs often reflect a particular hobby or interest of the groom's.

Historically, groom's cakes are chocolate, a sharp contrast to traditional wedding cakes, which tend to be vanilla and white. Tradition once called for single women at the wedding to take home a slice of the groom's cake to sleep with under their pillows. It was believed the cake would help them have sweet dreams of the man they would eventually marry.

Women today are likely no longer snuggling up to fondant and mousse cake slices at night, and wedding

cakes are no longer relegated to vanilla cake with vanilla icing, which may account for the waning popularity of groom's cakes. Yet with wedding cake bakers showing off their creative prowess on television or through their own artistic bakery displays, it's no wonder that couples looking for something unique are once again embracing the tradition of groom's cakes.

Couples who are mulling whether or not to add a groom's cake to their menus should consider the following tips.

Make sure it is highly personal. Groom's cakes typically reference hobbies, affiliations or interests of the groom. Some men may want their cake to showcase the logo of their favorite professional sports team, while others may want a cake inspired by a favorite superhero.

Involve the groom in the process. Despite the name, groom's cakes may not always involve the groom. A cake may be designed or selected by the groom's bride-to-be or his mother. Some forward-thinking brides may want to encourage their grooms-to-be to select their own cakes and offer input on their designs.

Find a bakery that has experience in whimsical cakes. Groom's cakes are very often intricate structures and sculptures. The groom's cake may be more labor-intensive than the traditional wedding cake, so couples may want to shop around for a cake chef with the experience to pull off the design they desire.

Experiment with flavor combinations. Because the groom's cake is all about that special guy, the flavor of the cake should be centered around what he would enjoy. The sky is the limit on flavors and can include traditional chocolate, candy bar-inspired flavors, coffee, coconut, or even a bacon-infused cake.

Consider serving the groom's cake at the rehearsal. Some couples prefer to serve the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner rather than having two cakes at the wedding. Guests may not be able to fit two slices of cake after a large wedding meal, so serving the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner may be the best of both worlds.

The bride - and her cake - typically steal the show at the average wedding. Therefore, a groom's cake can be a special touch that allows the groom to bask in his own wedding-day spotlight.

Grooms cakes make a comeback