Everyone loves a Scottish wedding! I know I won’t forget my big day back in 2000. I was blessed with glorious sunshine in Largs, Ayrshire.

These wonderful memories spring to mind on hearing that the Autumn/Winter 06 issue of the Scottish Wedding Directory is out tomorrow on the 1st July.

The Scottish Wedding Directory is a directory and 480 page magazine, split into two - The Directory and Scottish Wedding Venues.

The Directory features 750 wedding suppliers and is crammed full of ideas, advice, adverts, and pictures. In addition there are articles on everything from the latest trends in wedding gowns for Scottish brides to musicians, transport, photography, stationery and flowers. Also look out for a number of great competitions to be won!

The Magazine “Scottish Wedding Venues” offers comprehensive information on wedding venues throughout Scotland. This includes the “Gazetteer “ which enables you to quickly scan all the available venues and their facilities. There are also features on unusual venues, marquees, catering and a whole lot more!

This special 2 magazine package can be bought over the internet for £6 via this link. Delivery within the UK should take a minimum of four working days and includes postage and packing. You can also buy it from all major newsagents.

I would also highly recommend you checkout their website for every wedding service imaginable. For example whilst looking for stationary suppliers in Scotland I came across the very company I used, namely Isis Stationery. We combined the English rose and Scottish thistle motifs to represent the marriage of an Englishman and Scottish woman!

Finally before you leave the site sign up for their monthly newsletter, the form is on the left side of the homepage. Here is a link to the April newsletter called "Something New".

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If Money Is An Issue :
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♥ The easy way to get a 70% off your wedding cake cost!

Learn much more by clicking here.

THE BEST WEDDING TIPS ON THE INTERNET

Each week you can receive a great wedding tip by simply filling in this form:

First Name:

E-mail Address:

After you have clicked on the "Send My 1st Tip" button follow these 6 easy steps to ensuring you receive a free unique wedding tip every week.

The most important step is that you you click on the confirmation link in the email sent immediately to your inbox - if you don't you won't get your wedding tips!

A TESTIMONIAL :

"Hi Elle, I just wanted to give my thanks for the generous, often funny and thoughtful planning tips I have received. Our wedding is in just over two weeks time. It's the first time we're getting married (as for many people), and inevitably, there are things we had not considered. I really appreciated many of the planning tips for this reason, also because they were very practical and down-to-earth. Great job, and many thanks again. It must be great to know you are making a positive difference to the marrying couples that receive these. Best Wishes" - Marcela Read more testimonials here

P. S.

You will also send you a Free "Wedding Dress Ideas" Report with your first tip!

An innovative couple from London have come up with a unique favor for guests at their wedding - betting slips! What a great idea - much more fun for the guests than almonds or a book of commemorative matches!

Newlyweds James Walton, 31, and Faye, 30, came up with the idea of creating "The Faye and James Wedding Special" bet which cost £1 and was for a treble win: England to win the World Cup, England to win the 2005 Ashes cricket series, and Carlisle to win the League Two title 2005/2006. Faye told the News and Star "We decided to give out betting slips as it was a bit different and sporty." James' family are from Silloth in Cumbria so they are ardent Carlisle football fans. Their local footbal team became heroes (and managed to win some of their wedding guests their bets) when they won the League Two title in May this year. They also gave out different variants on the treble bet and so far two of the bets have been successful. If England win the World Cup next week more of their guests will be cashing in!

The couple also gave the female guests at their wedding lottery tickets. Whilst none of the female guests won the jackpot three women managed to win £2, £10 and £40.

This couple's creative choice of favor is a variation on the new trend of giving lottery tickets to guests as wedding favors. Nowadays couples planning their wedding are looking for alternative favor ideas to show their guests in a unique and creative way how much they appreciate that guest sharing their special day with them. Lottery tickets, lotto tickets and scratch cards are definately an up and coming trend and always bring a smile to guest's faces (especially when they win!). Who doesn't love to scratch off lotto tickets? How exciting would it be if one of your guests scratched their lotto ticket and won $100 or even $10,000!

To keep pace with this new trend most wedding favor suppliers now provide envelopes, cards, scroll ribbons or miniature favor boxes to attractively present the lottery ticket, scratch card etc to the wedding guests. The most popular option nowadays is to conceal the ticket in an envelope or a custom-printed favor box. Confetti.co.uk offer cute silver coloured cards with "Lucky in Love" printed on the front at £4.99 for a pack of 10.

Bliss Weddings suggest that you place the ticket in a glassine envelope and add a penny minted in the same year as your wedding so that the guests can use it to scratch their tickets. Additionally they offer a range of personalised labels which you could use to decorate the envelopes. They sell 50 glassine envelopes for $7.99.

This great card is available from PartyBlock and it can either be left blank or can be personalized with a message from you to your guests, along with your names and wedding date.

If you are on a budget or if you just feel like being creative you could use some card to make holders for the lottery tickets yourself and decorate them to match the theme of your wedding. You could choose some card to match your wedding colors and cut it into postcard size pieces. Cut slits into the card and tuck the corners of the lotto ticket in so that it is secured in place in the middle of the card. Add some narrative to the card, such as "Lucky in love" or "Wishing you riches from the New Mr. and Mrs. XXX". Remember to add your names and wedding date too.

Whilst being an economical choice of wedding favor, at just $1 per lotto ticket, the tickets will also bring a fun element to your wedding day. I'm afraid there are no guarantees that your guests will win anything but there is a definite guarantee that they will have fun trying!

To read more about fun and unique wedding favors click here.

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Wedding shoes have been important to the complete bridal ensemble ever since Prince Charming slid the glass slipper onto Sleeping Beauty's delicate foot. Today, it's important to make sure that the shoe you choose matches the style of gown you are going to wear, and with so many types of gowns and weddings this is quite a dilemma!

Are you getting married on the beach, in a church or in a rustic chapel? The range of shoes you may select from could include flip-flops, jeweled heels, leather boots or even the proverbial glass slippers with little kitten heels. There are a few things to keep in mind, however:

1. Remember to keep comfort in mind :

Your wedding gown is going to be the real focus of attention. In many cases, you gown is going to cover most, if not all, of your shoes, so don't choose a shoe that is excruciatingly painful because it is "gorgeous" if you know it is going to be painful by the end of the day. If you don't normally wear three inch heels, don't wear them on your wedding day. Choose a slender one-inch heel in an attractive style instead so that you will be comfortable. Or better yet, a lovely ballet-style flat that compliments your dress. Of course, if you are used to heels, by all means wear them!

Visit BridalShoes.com

2. Match fabrics as well as colors :

Many brides try to get shoes dyed to match their gowns and then are disappointed when they don't match because they have looked only at the price and gone with the cheapest material possible. If you choose a different material than what your gown is made from, the dye, no matter what color you attempt to use, will not "grab" the same, and the light does not reflect in the same manner. Satin, peau-de-soie, silk, brocade and other materials all have different reflective and dye qualities. You must choose shoes out of similar materials to get a good match.

Visit Shoes.com

3. Don't assume high price means best fit :

Having said that you should pay for good quality material, we won't claim that high price ensures the best fit. The only way to know what shoe fits you best is to try the shoe on. Each brand will run different, and some shoes will fit in one size in one brand and another size in another brand. If you want to dance the night away on your wedding day, be sure to walk around in a few pairs and check the fit so that you find a pair that not only looks great but fits comfortably. You may be surprised to find that some very inexpensive shoes have a fantastic fit.

Visit Shoebuy.com

4. Consider looking at shoes that aren't "bridal shoes" :

If you will be doing a lot of dancing, look into purchasing shoes from a store specializing in dance shoes. Ballet or ballroom shoes are designed to be extremely comfortable and come in a wide range of styles and colors that are extraordinarily versatile and attractive, with plenty of give and flexibility. Once you try these on, you may find yourself going back to these stores for special event shoes beyond your wedding day.

Visit BellissimaBridalShoes.com

5. Save money for your bridesmaids by going neutral :

If your bridesmaids are wearing pastels, consider allowing them to purchase off-white or white shoes. If they are wearing rich, deep tones, go with bone, taupe, muted metallics or even black for their shoes. Remember, if they are wearing floor-length gowns their shoes aren't going to show, and really, they aren't the center of attention - you are. Your bridesmaids will thank you for the opportunity to invest in comfortable, attractive shoes they can wear again and again instead of a pair of mint green heels that will languish in their closets and be tossed after they gather dust for months.

And last but not least visit QualityBridalShoes.com

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Lion Television are looking for brides who have not yet started their wedding planning to feature in their new wedding planning show which will be shown on BBC1.

They claim that if you agree to be featured on their new show they "will help create a truly sparkling wedding" - sounds exciting!

Read more about how to apply at Confetti.co.uk.

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What better way to let your guests know the date of your wedding than a personalized save the date fridge magnet! Save the date cards are quite a new concept in the UK although they have been a trend in the USA for a long time. They are a fun and unique way of announcing your wedding date to your guests in advance of sending them out a formal invitation, so that they can be sure to keep the date free. You can choose fridge magnets to send to your wedding guests as engagement announcements and save the date reminders. All of your family and friends will enjoy receiving such a useful and stylish wedding date announcement.

Here are some of the advantages of sending a save the date fridge magnet to your wedding guests:

♥ As mentioned above, these are quite a new concept in the UK so your guests will be very excited to receive this novel wedding date notification.

♥ Unlike traditional paper wedding date announcements, fridge magnets will never get thrown out! The recipients will undoubtedly find them useful - your unique fridge magnet will be sure to get pride of place on their refrigerators, filing cabinets and desktops as a reminder of your fantastic news.

♥ Traditionally save the date fridge magnets are sent out between 3 to 6 months prior to your wedding date but you could send them out as early as 12 months before the wedding date. This is particularly relevant if you are planning a destination wedding where accommodation and flights might need to be booked well in advance.

♥ Save the date cards are a particularly good idea if your wedding date falls during the summer months when your guests might be planning their vacations or during a public holiday, such as Easter or Christmas, and for out-of-town and overseas guests who will need to make travel arrangements in advance for your wedding. Out-of-town and overseas guests might even want to plan their vacations around your wedding, so the earlier you can let them know your wedding date the better. This will help to ensure that your guests can get the best deals on flights and other travel and accommodation arrangements they have to make.

♥ If you need to let your guests know about your wedding well in advance yet do not want to rush your decision when choosing your wedding stationary, then why not send out save the date fridge magnets. Once you have sent them off to your guests you can relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding planning, safe in the knowledge that your guests are all aware of that special date which they must keep free!

♥ I think the main advantage of sending out save the date fridge magnets is that you get to enjoy designing a unique fridge magnet – this might be one of the most fun parts of your wedding planning! If the theme for your wedding is going to be quite elegant and thus your wedding invitations are likely to be sophisticated then this is where you can show your guests you and your partner’s fun personalities - choose a wacky fridge magnet design which get your guests talking!

♥ The advantage of a fridge magnet over a save the date card is that they are durable, long-lasting and it is highly likely they will be displayed in one of the most prominent parts of your guest’s home – their fridge! They are very unlikely to forget your wedding date when they are visiting their fridge at least a couple of times a day!

Top tips for choosing your fridge magnet

♥ There is no need for your save the date fridge magnet to match the wedding invitations which you intend to send at a later date. This is your chance to have some fun. Choose a design which offers a true reflection of you and your partner’s personalities, your relationship and your style

♥ Let your imagination go wild – save the date announcements are not meant to be formal! Having fun is very important at this early stage of your wedding planning!

♥ You should definitely consider adding a photograph of you and your fiancé as this really adds a personal touch.

♥ However, this is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding so perhaps you would prefer to stick with the theme and style of your wedding whilst still selecting a creative and unique fridge magnet. You may want to choose fridge magnets which exactly match your wedding invitations.

♥ Some fridge magnet design companies give you the option to print anything you like on your fridge magnet (within reason!).

♥ There are so many creative and unique designs out there to choose from. There are new trends in save the date fridge magnets emerging every day as they become more popular worldwide. I have highlighted below some websites which have a great selection and which seem to accommodate most individual tastes ranging from the beautifully elegant to the totally wacky! Have a look around the various websites to see which magnet design suits your personal taste.

♥ It really is simple - just choose a size or style, a design or image and decide if you want to add any personal text.

Choose a shape and size

♥ The norm for fridge magnets is to choose a rectangular one.
♥ Also available are square and oval fridge magnets
♥ Slightly more expensive (but they do look great) are heart shaped magnets
♥ You can choose from various sizes ranging from 3" x 2" up to 7 1/2" x 8 3/4"
♥ The fridge magnets are available in both horizontal and vertical layouts

Choose a style and image

♥ Do you want your fridge magnet to be highly personalized or simply to bear your name and wedding date? If you prefer you can choose from a stock catalog of images ranging from sunsets to seasonal images such as snowflakes or falling leaves to animals such as dolphins.

♥ If you are not feeling very creative you can select a pre-designed fridge magnet from one of the wedding categories on the fridge magnet websites. They will create a colorful fridge magnet for you and add your basic wording. You don’t have to add lots of embellishments to your fridge magnet – it is your choice!

♥ If you are feeling creative and choose to design your own fridge magnet you will find plenty of ideas and eye-catching designs at the websites I have listed below. There are many design options available. You can choose from a sophisticated design style of magnet to a fun magnet.

♥ You have the option with most of the fridge magnet companies to choose a black and white image, sepia or the full spectrum of colors. You should try to use bright, bold colors that will make an impact so that your wedding date will stay in the thoughts of even the most absentminded guests! Most websites provide you with a choice of background colors and patterns and lettering styles.

♥ If you have already chosen the color theme for your wedding then why not use this to guide you in your fridge magnet design. Include graphics or colors that make sense to the location and time of year your wedding will be set in. For example use shades of blue for an oceanside or beach wedding or choose yellow roses, white and yellow daisies and tulips in pastel colors for a spring wedding.

♥ If your wedding has a theme (e.g. beach wedding, medieval wedding, Las Vegas or other destination wedding) then why not reflect this in your choice of design for your fridge magnet. For example if you are having a beach wedding choose a fridge magnet design with palm trees, a tropical beach, seashells etc.

♥ The best way to personalize your fridge magnet is to use an image of your own. You can use many formats but jpeg, bmp, gif or pdf formats seem to be the most acceptable amongst the fridge magnet manufacturers. Note that if you are submitting your own artwork, please do follow the artwork specifications given on the fridge magnet website you decide to use so that delays in proofing time can be avoided.

♥ If you decide to go with the popular option of using your own photo then you can either choose a pre-designed layout for the photo and wording or have one tailor made to your requirements. There are lots of options with photos on fridge magnets and the great thing is that as your photo is unique, no one else will have designed a fridge magnet quite like yours!

♥ How about using your engagement photo to announce your wedding date?

♥ One of the hot trends at the moment is a strip photo like a photo booth. You and your fiancé can pull funny faces and hold up cards with writing on them. For example:

• We're getting married
• Save the date
• 20th April 2007
• Be there!

or simply

• Save
• The
• Date
• 20th April 2007

All you have to do is submit the sequence of photos to the fridge magnet company and they will take care of the rest. This is a popular choice so you will find most fridge magnet companies can provide this design.

♥ Alternatively you could have a photo taken of you and your fiancé holding up cards with numbers on them in each hand to signify the wedding date and have a title along the top of the magnet saying “Save the date”.

♥ Other photo options are:

• Using a photo of you both taken at the wedding venue
• Using photos of you both as children mocked up

♥ For something a bit different you could choose a glow in the dark fridge magnet.

♥ Photo calendar magnets are one of the most popular types of save the date fridge magnet. The magnet is designed to look like a mini calendar month with the date you have chosen for your wedding circled or decorated so that is stands out.

♥ What better way to ensure that people add your important date to their calendar than to send them an actual calendar! These fridge magnets have a 15 month calendar beneath a photo or image of your choice with tear-off calendar pages. You can choose for the months to run from January, April, July or October.

Wording

♥ The basic wording on a save the date fridge magnet should include:
o Your names (first names are fine unless some of the recipients do not know you very well)
o The date of your wedding
o The city or town where the wedding is due to take place (unless you have not yet finalized this)

♥ If you have set up a wedding website remember to include this address also so that guests can keep up-to-date with your wedding news.

♥ Because save-the-date cards magnets are a recent trend in the UK some guests may not have received one before and might misinterpret this as the actual wedding invitation. To avoid any confusion include wording on the fridge magnet along the lines of “Invitation to follow” or “Wedding invitation and details to follow” so that guests know that (a) they do not have to respond to the save-the-date magnet as they would a formal invitation and (b) they can expect more details in the future to assist them with arranging travel, accommodation, childcare arrangements and gift list details.

♥ Just as there are many design options for fridge magnets, so too are their innumerous options for narrative that you print on your magnet. You can have choose up to 6 lines of narrative to be printed on the horizontal magnets and up to 8 lines on the vertical magnets. If you would like to include a poem or some optional romantic sentiments but are lacking ideas have a look at this website PhotoMagnets.com which has some lovely choices of wording.

Other points to note

♥ Save the date fridge magnets range in cost from $0.50 each for very basic small ones. There is something for every budget, you just have to do a bit of research by looking at the websites I have listed below. My best advice to you is to shop around as some of the fridge magnet companies have special offers if you order certain amounts and some even offer free shipping.

♥ The smallest order is usually 20 fridge magnets but obviously the more magnets you order the cheaper each they are.

♥ Do make sure that you order them well in advance as they can take up to 5 business days to be produced and shipped.

♥ You can mail out the fridge magnets in exactly the same way you would a wedding invite, with a normal postage stamp – they are very thin and light. Most of the fridge magnet companies provide you with a card for you to slide the magnet onto and an envelope.

♥ Remember that you should only mail out your save the date fridge magnets to people who you definitely intend on inviting to your wedding – so make sure that your guest list is finalized before you start to send them out. Once you have asked your guests to keep the date free you cannot then un-invite them!

Fridge magnets are not just for announcing your wedding date. You can also choose fridge magnets as the perfect way to send your guests personalized thank you messages after your wedding or wedding shower invites.

Fridge Magnets as wedding favors or thank you cards

♥ A novel idea for a wedding favor is to give each guest (or each couple) a fridge magnet. If you prefer not to design it yourself then check out the beautiful collection at BridalPeople.com. If you choose to personalize your fridge magnet and present it as a favor or thank you gift to your guests then this truly is a creative and unique way of thanking them for sharing your wedding day which will last forever. There are plenty of options for wording and designs to put on the fridge magnet:

♥ You could simply thank them for sharing your special day and include the date on it as a reminder (they’ll never forget your anniversary then!).

♥ You could have a photo of the two of you with a special message from you both to your guests.

♥ You could have a short love poem or some words which are meaningful to both you and your partner with an appropriate graphic.

♥ Why not include your new address on the fridge magnet – this will save you having to send out change of address cards when you get back from your honeymoon!

♥ If you prefer you could personalize each fridge magnet by having each guest’s name put on it. These could double up as place-cards for the tables during the wedding banquet.

♥ You could personalize the fridge magnets further by having specific magnets made for each of your bridal party (e.g. one for your bridesmaid with a special message of thanks, one for your best man etc).

♥ Alternatively you could have a photo of you both on your wedding day made into a fridge magnet and send them out to guests after your wedding in place of thank you cards. This would be a lovely reminder for your guests of your wedding day, as well as being useful. You could use an official wedding photo or a photo of you both looking more relaxed on your wedding day which might be more informal.

♥ You could also send these fridge magnets out to guests who were unable to attend your wedding but who you want to say thank you too (e.g. people who were too ill or too old to make the journey).

♥ Something a bit different from a normal photo fridge magnet as a thank you gift is the mini-word magnet. This consists of a large photo magnet personalized with your own choice of wording and it is attached to a magnetic sheet which holds 55 die cut mini words. These are a mixture of romantic and fun words which are easily pulled apart to create words, phrases and poems on your guest’s fridge door. They are available in vertical or horizontal forms and cost approximately $2.95 each when you order 100. They are available at PhotoMagnets.com.

Car Door Magnets

♥ A novel new concept is the car door magnet. As the name suggests, they are magnets which you put on the car doors which bear the wording “Just Married” with your names or “Newlyweds”. They cost $29.50 for 2. These are bound to raise a few laughs on your wedding day as you drive off into the sunset!

Invite to bridal shower

♥ Rather than sending out a traditional bridal shower, bachelorette party or hen night invitation, how about sending a fridge magnet instead – what a unique idea! There are lots of fashionable and stylish designs for you to choose from this website.



Make your own fridge magnets

♥ If you are constrained by your tight wedding budget and cannot afford to splash out on designer fridge magnets then why not try making your own. With a little effort and for a very small cost you could have beautiful personalized fridge magnets.

♥ You can buy the peel-and-stick magnets in bulk at most office supply stores (approx $8.95 for 50 individual business card sized adhesive backed magnets) and then decorate your own stickers for the front by using your pc and printer in conjunction with your own photos or clipart. Here are the exact instructions of how to make your own peel-and-stick fridge magnets.

♥ I totally recommend BrilliantWeddingPages.com which explains with easy-to-follow instructions on how to make fridge magnet wedding favors. Take a look – you have nothing to lose!

The fridge magnet websites I recommend are as follows:

i4image.co.uk
CritterZone.com
MagnetQueen.com
MagnetStreet.com
PhotoMagnets.com
TheAmberCat.co.uk

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Hollywood star Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban exchanged wedding vows today in a twilight ceremony at Cardinal Cerruti Memorial Chapel at St Patrick's Estate in Manly, Sydney. The gothic-style sandstone church was set on a cliff top overlooking Manly beach and the Pacific Ocean – very dramatic!

Keith, who arrived at the beachside suburb of Manly in a blue four-wheel drive vehicle, wore a black suit, white vest and black tie with a white rose on his lapel.

The majority of the 230 guests attending the black-tie wedding were Australian friends and family. Amongst them were celebrities including Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Baz Luhrmann, Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng, Murdoch's Sydney-based son Lachlan and his wife, model Sarah O'Hare. The wedding guests were ferried from their luxury Sydney hotel to the Chapel in a convoy of luxury sedans and minibuses.

The Chapel and marquee where the reception was being held were decorated with a cornucopia of beautiful flowers including white freesias, gardenias, lilies and orchids – typically generous of Nicole and Keith is the fact that these were later donated to the Sydney Children's Hospital.

The wedding party arrived at the Chapel in a convoy of cream Rolls-Royce wedding cars. It was made up of Nicole’s sister Antonia, as maid of Honor, Isabella, 13, Nicole’s adopted daughter with ex-husband Tom Cruise, and Antonia's daughter, Lucia, who was a flower girl. Standing by Keith at the altar were his brother Shane, who acted as best man and his good friend Marlon Holden, as usher. Nicole’s adopted son Connor, 11, was also expected to act as an usher.

Nicole arrived at the church for the candlelit ceremony accompanied by her father Antony as the sun went down, waving and smiling to the crowds from her cream Rolls Royce limousine. As predicted, she was wearing an elegant ivory-colored empire-waisted wedding gown, reportedly designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, and this was set off by the simple yet elegant posy of white roses which she carried. The stunning bride wore her hair flowing around her shoulders and adorned her ears with drop pearl earrings. Nicole chose to wear a sheer veil which she kept on throughout the ceremony until she finally lifted it to say her wedding vows. A guest from the wedding told People "Nicole cried all the way to the church in the car and then she cried all during the ceremony and had to wipe her eyes under the veil. It was the most emotional and beautiful ceremony. Nicole looked ethereal with her veil floating, like a vision in white. ... Keith cried when he looked at her.”

The traditional Roman Catholic ceremony was officiated by Father Paul Coleman, a Jesuit priest who has been a Kidman family friend for more than 30 years. The wedding ceremony was said to have lasted 35 minutes and included gospel readings, a lecture to the couple on the secret of keeping their love alive and a string quartet from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was expected to perform also. As the church bells chimed at 6.25pm the crowds of fans and paparazzi outside the Chapel cheered as this signaled that Nicole and Keith had exchanged their vows.

The reception kicked off shortly after 7pm as the newlyweds and their guests moved into the dramatically floodlit white marquee which was erected on the lawn of the St. Patrick's Estate. There the guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and champagne as jazz music played. For the wedding meal the guests were expected to dine on tuna as part of entree, a choice of Tasmanian Atlantic salmon or lamb for the main course with baby carrots and a celeriac and potato mash on the side and a raspberry and mascarpone dessert to finish the meal off.

As for entertainment at the reception Hugh Jackman (who as well as being a great actor is also an acclaimed Broadway musical star) and Crowded House's Neil Finn were expected to perform. Nicole had been kept in the dark as to what to expect for the evening entertainment as Keith was keen to surprise her. He reportedly planned to serenade his new wife with a selection of songs from his latest album, Be Here - he favored the love song 'Making Memories Of Us' as it is said to perfectly capture his feelings towards Nicole.

Security for the wedding was planned months in advance and it certainly looks as if the well-laid plans paid off. Police, black-suited security guards and a high wire fence ensured that the wedding did not fall prey to any uninvited guests.

According to People Nicole and Keith released a statement with an official wedding photograph to the waiting media stating, "We just want to thank everyone in Australia and around the world who have sent us their warm wishes.”

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The wedding cake is an age old, well established tradition. Rumour has it that a single tier was broken over the heads of the happy couple, or flung at the bride’s head! But that was in the days before confetti, and thankfully that practice no longer occurs (except in soaps), or else many a bride would be spending their wedding night in A & E! Today, wedding cakes are considered to be the focal point at the reception. It has its own place and often serves an ornamental purpose (as well as an edible one), which explains why both the cake and table are so elaborately decorated. It also provides the bride and groom with that all important moment of cutting into the cake together, and feeding each other the first slice (while hoping that the snaps don’t end up in a glossy gossip weekly!)

Todays wedding cake has come a long way from the traditional (and still yummy) three tiered white iced fruit cake. Thanks to trends emanating mainly from the US, cakes now come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colours. And why have fruit cake, when there’s the choice of fudge cake, sponge cake or cheesecake in a myriad of flavours, containing different fillings, toppings, icings, and frostings. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

However, despite this magnificent selection and overwhelming possibilities, there are those who, for many reasons, don’t want a cake of any kind, but still want the ‘cutting the cake’ pic for the wedding album. So are there other alternatives to wedding cake? The more adventurous types will be pleased to learn that there is, and they’ll be spoilt for choice!

‘CAKES’ FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Many of these ideas may be especially useful, if you’re wedding has a certain cultural theme:

♥ Dummy cakes are used in both India and Japan (although in India the top tier tends to be real). They look like the real thing, and is an excellent way of cutting down on costs. The only downside is that unless your guests enjoy the taste of cardboard or wax, they won’t be able to tuck into it.

♥ The French Croquembouche is a worldwide hit. Little choux balls filled with cream or crème patisserie (flavoured or unflavoured – it’s all good) stacked like a pyramid, stuck with caramel, topped with spun sugar and decorated with almonds. It can’t be cut into, so you’d have to smash the top of it with a hammer. Great fun I’m sure!

♥ Brazilians have the ‘Bem Casados’ as their wedding cake replacement – even though it is a type of wedding favour. This consists of two pieces of pastry sandwiched together by a sweet sticky cream, similar to caramel (doesn’t that sound divine?). They come in a range of shapes including doves, rings and hearts.

♥ Another ‘favour-come-wedding cake replacement’ is the wanda served in Italy. A type of cookie, the wandas are arranged on a separate table so that it resembles a cake. A dance is then started by the bride and groom, in which the guests join in and dance their way towards the wanda table. Each person then takes a wanda. Working up an appetite on the dance floor, followed by an attack of the munchies – sounds like another Saturday night out for me, but don’t worry if you’re not much of a dancer, as non-dancers are also allowed a cookie!

DESSERTS

Those who don’t want a cake can opt for sweets which double up as the dessert course. These can be arranged in tiers like a traditional cake. Cute little individual portions will look great too.

♥ Pavlova
♥ Jelly – Not as childish as it sounds. Filled with fruit and made with sparkling wine or champagne, it makes a great treat for the grown ups, especially in the summer. Just remember to include one alcohol free version for the kiddies!
♥ Blancmange
♥ Tiramisu
♥ Mousse or ice cream ‘cakes’

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAINS

Chocolate fountains have become party must- haves in recent years (may whoever invented this receive many blessings) and although most couples have a chocolate fountain alongside their cake, there are some who have chosen to replace the cake with the fountain. They come in a choice of plain, milk, white and pink, yes PINK, chocolate, and dipping foods include, fruit, marshmallows, mini doughnuts, profiteroles, fudge and cookies. For something a little different, try Turkish delight, nougat, honeycomb, shortbread, or dried fruit.

For those of you who are a little more health conscious, you could always opt for a delicious fruit fountain. Made from yummy crushed fruit, I’m sure you could find something to match your colour scheme (unless of course it’s navy blue).

TOTALLY UNIQUE

♥ If you’re a big fan of doughnuts, then why not select a tower of doughnuts? An idea that’s already a hit Stateside, it could prove to be quite popular here. After all, who doesn’t like doughnuts? As with cakes, you can choose a variety of fillings.

♥ Ever seen one of those wedding game shows, where one couple have to plan a wedding for another? Well I saw a really unusual idea, where instead of a cake, boxed truffles were arranged on tiers to resemble one. Unfortunately, the ‘happy’ couple were not so happy when they saw their cake, but this is a great idea for chocoholics.

♥ I don’t think you could get more unique than a tower of mini Yorkshire puddings filled with fruit and cream. It might sound strange, but one couple actually did opt for this distinctive (and no doubt delicious) creation. Kind of like an English croquembouche!

♥ My pancake chomping mate Kaz is the inspiration behind this next idea for a pancake tower. A stack of pancakes which are served to guests with a choice of fillings. Great for all pancake addicts (I know I’m not the only one)! A truly unique idea which I have yet to see (and scoff). Thanks Kaz!

♥ One bride who hated cake, but loved pie, had several tiers of different flavoured pies. This is sure to be delicious served with cream, custard, or ice cream.

SAVOURY DELIGHTS

In case you couldn’t tell, I have a serious sweet tooth. However not everyone is the same, and some people may prefer more savoury treats.

♥ Cheese cake. No, I’m not talking about an American style cheesecake topped with blueberries, but various types of cheese stacked to resemble a wedding cake, and decorated with fruit. It can be served with fruit, crackers, cold meats, chutneys, pickles and warm bread. That sounds tempting, even to me!

♥ If you’ve checked out Wedaholic, I’m sure you’ve come across the pork pie feature. Ingenious!

♥ You’ve heard of a chocolate fountain, so how about a cheese fountain? Ok, I’ve never actually seen one, and I don’t know if it exists, but as there are people out there who love cheese fondue, we’re bound to see one sooner or later.

So there you have it. There’s so much choice for those of you who don’t want a run-of-the- mill wedding cake. And it certainly beats arguing about fruit or sponge – though personally, I’d have both!

Til next time!

Lesley Anne

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The last thing any bride wants on her wedding day is to spend it counting the minutes until she can take her uncomfortable wedding dress off! When choosing your wedding dress it is of the utmost importance that, as well as choosing a stunning dress which makes you look and feel beautiful, you have to choose a dress you can move freely in which is comfortable for you to wear - after all you are likely to spend all day in that dress. I was reading an article today which made me realise that some brides really do put aesthetics over practicality when it comes to choosing their wedding dress.

Teenager Carly O'Brien considered her own comfort to be a low priority when she chose the wedding dress for her recent marriage to landscape gardener sweetheart Michael Coffey, 17, at St Peter's Catholic Church in Gloucester. Not only was her wedding dress made up of 30 layers of material (including an 18m train), metal hoops and 3,000 Swarovski crystals but this resulted in her dress weighing a breathtaking 159kg - it could earn the title of being the world's heaviest wedding dress! The voluminous dress is believed to have cost Carly's father approximately £25,000.

Carly, 16, took inspiration for her dress design from her role model Jordan and the dress she wore for her wedding last year to Peter Andre. Carly even went as far as arriving at the church in the same horse-drawn glass carriage that Jordan used.

It took family and friends 9 hours to help Carly into the dress and the tiny-framed bride (she has a size 4 figure!) then had to be pushed up the aisle by 10 guests as her dress was so heavy that she could not walk in it. She was also unable to stand up or walk during the reception so she spent the remainder of her wedding day sitting down!

Carly's wedding guests allegedly commented that she looked more beautuful in her wedding dress than Jordan, so I guess for this bride that was the most important thing!

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Further to my blog I posted last week with my top tips for encouraging guests to mingle at your wedding I have just discovered a novel idea which is sure to get your guests mingling - MissChief's Original Forfeit Cookies!

These cookies offer a modern alternative to fortune cookies. When you break them open each one contains an original forfeit (there are over 200 different forfeits in the complete range). The forfeits are a great way of encouraging your guests during the wedding reception to have a laugh amongst themselves and get them interacting and talking. I imagine even the shyest guests will feel compelled to participate in the forfeits as they are so much fun! The forfeits range from performing a short belly or pole dance, to re-enacting the scene from When Harry Met Sally, to telling an embarrassing story about somebody sat at the same table. They are designed to encourage the guests at each table to get up to mischief at your wedding!

However, unlike typical fortune cookies, these cookies are delicious as well as fun. They are not your usual crescent shaped cookie, they are Italian golden sugar wafers with each end dipped in 73% single origin dark chocolate. The cookies are contained inside a beautifully designed cigarette-style box which contains 11 individual dark chocolate dipped cookies, plus one white chocolate dipped group cookie (this contains a forfeit for the whole table to participate in) and a rules card so that your guests understand what they are expected to do. These cookies are ideal for placing on each table at your wedding reception - make sure you place a disposable camera alongside them so that your guests can capture each other's michevious behaviour!

Also available from the same company are Hen Night Forfeit Cookies (which I have seen in action and which are great fun. They contain great forfeits (which are not so racy that they will shock your more faint-hearted guests) which really encourage your friends who may not know each other very well to participate in the forfeits together and most importantly to have a laugh. Intimate Forfeit Cookies (which are quite racy) are perfect for you and your partner to share on a romantic weekend away.

The cookies are available from from Getintomischief.com for £9.50 including postage and packaging or from Confetti.co.uk for £13.99 including postage and packaging.

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I am impressed to hear that Chantelle Houghton, winner of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, has chosen none other than Elizabeth Emanuel to create her wedding dress. Designer Emanuel became famous for creating Princess Diana's wedding dress in 1981. The ivory silk and taffeta wedding dress became famous for its 25ft train and bodice which was hand-sewn with 10,000 pearls and sequins.

It is quite a choice for 22 year old Chantelle - 5 months ago she was an unknown promotions girl from Essex and now she is having a bespoke designer wedding dress made for her. Emanuel’s new label Art of Being will make Chantelle's dress.

Chantelle is due to walk up the aisle with fellow Big Brother housemate, Ordinary Boys singer, Samuel Preston, 24, this summer. According to The Sun the loved-up couple have booked picturesque Stock Brook Country Club in Essex as their wedding reception venue. It looks, from their choice of swanky wedding reception venue and wedding dress designer, that their wedding will be a classy affair. That will suit Preston as he was recently heard commenting that he would rather die than have an over-the-top wedding like Jordan and Peter Andre’s pink extravaganza!

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Hi Everyone,

I had this question regarding double weddings:

"I am unsure how we should approach this double wedding. We have a lot of ideas about sharing a cake with different flavors in each layer and our fiancées have both agreed on a donut cake, since they are police officers. We have decided on colors for the wedding, and many other items, but we have not discussed how to do the ceremony. We know that it will be two back to back ceremonies, since our dresses are completely different and we are a little selfish and want them separate, but who should go first? Or how should we decide? I don't want to upset the other bride in anyway, but I am unsure how we should do this."

This was my reply:

I think it is such a lovely idea to have a double wedding with your friend. I expect most of your guests will never have attended this type of wedding before so I understand that you are probably anxious about making the right choices for the ceremony.

When considering a double wedding, it is one of the most important questions any bride-to-be has - who goes first? No matter how generous you feel towards your friend on her wedding day, as a bride yourself you will want to shine on your special day and have the limelight directed on you as you walk down the aisle and take your vows. There is nothing selfish about feeling like that!

Although the logistics of your double wedding might seem complicated, with efficient organization prior to the wedding ceremony, everything will run just as smoothly as it would for a single-ceremony wedding.

Traditionally the elder bride enters first and does everything else first as well. If you, your friend and your partners are all agreeable though there is no reason why you can't switch it round and have whomever is the youngest of you and your friend walk down the aisle and perform her vows first. However, it might be the case that you and your friend are the same age or you might both feel that the "age" issue is not an appropriate means of deciding who will go first.

With a double wedding there is always going to have to be a certain amount of compromise between the couples organizing the event. I shouldn't imagine that reaching a fair decision about who should have their wedding ceremony first will be a huge problem between the two of you . After all, you must enjoy a special relationship with your friend already if you have come this far in your wedding planning and have decided that you want to share your wedding day with each other.

You and your friend might both feel virtuous telling each other that you don't mind who goes first but you want the decision to be fair to both parties. If the thought of tossing a coin, pulling straws or shaking a Magic 8-Ball to come to the decision does not appeal to you, then perhaps you should consider if any of the following points are appropriate to either of you - they might well help you to reach that important decision of who goes first!

♥ Are there any specific reasons why one of you would prefer to have their ceremony first? For example, do either of you suffer from stage-fright or nerves and prefer to get the ceremony finished with early on in the day so that you can relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding day?

♥ Would one of you prefer to have more time available to get ready on the morning of the wedding? If so, then perhaps you would be glad to have the later slot for the ceremony.

♥ Do you or your friend have young attendants (flower girls or page boys) who are likely to perform better earlier on in the day?

♥ Does the officiant have a preference as to which of the ceremonies takes place first? You have not said if you are getting married in a Church, but if you are you will inevitably find that the minister has the final word in deciding the ceremonial arrangements. It is worth checking with him when making your decision of who goes first.

Whilst sharing your wedding day jointly with your friend can add an especially meaningful aspect to your friendship, it can also cause problems in a friendship if either of you feel aggrieved about the decision of who should go first. You need to come to a decision which both couples are happy and comfortable with. Do make sure if you have any conflicting feelings over the decision which has been made that you resolve them as soon as possible. Both you and your friend should have a relaxing and unforgettable wedding day, not one that leaves you seething with resentment and ruins a friendship!

Whatever decision you come to, don't feel that either one of you will be taking second place to the other. Whether you walk up that aisle first or second, you can be sure that you will be the star of the show for your family and friends!

For more information about planning a double wedding including wording for invitations, reception arrangements, and top tips for organizing the logistics of it all, take a look here.

I hope that you have found this useful. Thank you for your question.

Good luck with your double wedding planning!

Kind regards,

Elle

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The bridal bouquet is probably the most important accessory for the blushing bride (well apart from the little piece of jewellery your husband-to-be is about to slip on your finger, but I’m a florist so I have to go with the flowers!) But what’s a bride to do when she wants an attention grabbing floral accessory, but thinks that traditional bouquets are so last century? Well I happen to like bouquets (and seeing as the overwhelming majority of brides won’t leave home without one I know I’m not alone here), but understandably, today’s bride who believes in the less-is-more philosophy, wants to stand out from the crowd, and that may mean ditching the mammoth bouquet in favour of something not just different, but minimal. This is especially true for those who are petite, and don’t want to be swamped by a huge bouquet, or those who want their gorgeous gown to be the main talking point, and therefore do not want it hidden behind fussy bridal flowers.

Minimal however, does by no means imply insignificant, and brides who are looking for something different are lucky in that there are many floral accessories for them to choose from, and each are as striking as traditional bouquets, and still possess that all important wow factor. (If however, you are like me and are a staunch believer in the more-is-never-enough philosophy, and would never walk down the aisle without something resembling a scaled down version of a local flower show, read on, as many of these ideas are also suitable for bridesmaids)!

SINGLE BLOOM

Ever considered a single long stemmed flower? Roses and lilies seem to be popular choices, but make sure that the flower head is quite large and fully bloomed – or you could end up looking as though you are carrying a long green stick! You could always add a little foliage and ribbon to make it look more substantial.

MINIATURE POSY

A dainty posy seems to be quite a hit in celebville. Jemma Kidd, make up artist and big sister of supermodel Jodie, chose a sweet little miniature posy, which she could clutch neatly in the palm of her hand. Christina Aguilera also had a similar posy consisting of two roses. An excellent choice for beach brides, or those wearing short dresses.

WRIST CORSAGE

A ‘hands free’ accessory so that you’re free to keep hold of you beloved all day! Some brides choose corsages which co-ordinate with their bouquet, if they are having one, but for those who want a less fussy look, a simple wrist corsage is ideal. The wrist corsage has been updated so that it includes an extension, where a smaller flower can be fastened around your finger.

POMANDER

A sphere of flowers suspended from a ribbon loop, a pomander is back in fashion, and not just as a bridesmaid’s accessory, as many brides are now opting for this exquisite accessory. Small or large flower heads can be used, but ideally they should be quite full (e.g. – rosebuds, carnations, peonies). As pomanders date back to Victorian times, they are perfect for Victorian themed weddings.

WIRED FLOWER

A really neat idea I came across, was a large ‘flower’ such as a rose or orchid, which was actually made of many petals of the same kind of flower, carefully wired together to create one large flower head. A work of art!

FLOWER FILLED HANDBAG

Very Sex in the City! A small beaded/sequined/embroidered purse or bag filled with flowers and/or trailing leaves. If you are using fresh flowers, ensure that the bag is strong enough to deal with the weight, and if you intend to use the bag afterwards (what am I talking about, of course you will), inform the florist, so that she (or he) will take extra care in lining the bag.

My absolute favourite - I love this idea for its sheer ingenuity, and because it is so unique. It also combines the two things women love – bags and flowers (maybe that should be shoes and flowers, but either way I can’t see any bride opting for a flower filled stiletto – no matter how different they want to be)!

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The rumour mill is grinding into action as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's
wedding day approaches. Rumours are rife that there might be more squeezed into Nicole's Balenciaga wedding gown than her size 6 figure!

Speculation that Nicole might be pregnant was fuelled by a photo taken at the beginning of this year of her chatting to her parents while Keith lovingly patted and stroked her stomach! According to reports, Nicole has also been photographed during recent public appearances with a slightly swollen belly. This always leads the media to believe that a slim woman is pregnant but we'll have to wait to find out as Nicole and Keith's representatives are refusing to comment on whether or not the soon-to-be newlyweds are expecting their family to grow later this year.

Lets keep our fingers crossed for her as this will be Nicole’s first biological child (she has two adopted children from her marriage to Tom Cruise, Isabella, 12, and Connor, 10). Nicole has been pregnant before - she suffered a miscarriage a few months after splitting up with Tom Cruise.

With her upcoming wedding and, hopefully, a baby on the way things are certainly looking rosy for this Hollywood star!

Click here to read more.

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Each week you can receive a wedding planning tip simply by using the sign up form just below my photo. In addition you will also be sent a free report I wrote for anyone stuck for wedding dress ideas.

To date these tips have proved very popular, here are some of the testimonials I have received:

"Thank you so much for all your information! You've made planning my wedding so much easier, and everything I need is right here at my fingertips! You provide an amazing array of money and time saving tips that I've never seen anywhere else. You're a real lifeline! Thanks again for your time and dedication to something as wonderful as a wedding." - Kellie, Oregon

"Your tips have been very useful .... our wedding is in a couple of weeks and everything is organised." - Louise, UK

"I greatly appreciate all the time and devotion that you have put into these wedding planning tips. They have been a tremendous amount of help towards the planning and work of my upcoming wedding. ...Once again, thank you so so much for all of your help. And I know that if I need some more help or tips, I will surely be re-visiting your web site. Thanks again so much. Great appreciation" - Stephanie, Toronto

To start receiving your very own wedding tips just watch the short 1 minute video clip below:

Or alternatively follow these 6 Simple Steps:

STEP 1.

Fill in your first name and email address and hit the button that says "Send My 1st Tip". Once you have done this you will be taken to the "Video Tips To Help You Sign Up To Wedaholic's Weekly Wedding Tips" page if you are not already on it.

First Name:

E-mail Address:

STEP 2.

Now check your email inbox for an email with a title like the one below:

Instead of "Elle" it will say your first name. If you don't see it within a few minutes (most of the time it takes less than a minute to arrive) please check your spam filters to see if it has been blocked out. If this is the case please ensure that the email address "elllebrown @ gmail.com" is entered as a safe address.

STEP 3.

Next open up this email and look for the verifcation link under where it says "CONFIRM BY VISITING THE LINK BELOW:", I have pointed it out in the image below:

It is very important that you click on this link, if you don't you won't receive your free wedding tips and ebook.

The Wedaholic tips list is called double opt-in, which basically means you have to confirm twice that you would like to receive the tips. This prevents Spam and ensures only the brides that want the tips get them. This is in accordance with the 2004 Federal CAN-SPAM law.

Once you have clicked on the verifcation link you will receive confirmation in the form of a pop up window that displays the message you can see below:

STEP 4.

Now check your email inbox again for an email with a title like the one shown below:

Click open this email to view your first wedding tip.

STEP 5.

Now the easy bit - reading the first tip at your leisure! Here is a sneak preview of the first one you will receive:

At the top of each tip I have posted a link to some of my best wedding planning articles. I encourage you to click on these links each week and read them.

STEP 6.

Finally check the first email tip for an attachment, this is your free wedding dress ideas ebook in pdf format. I have also included a link to it within the email.

Each week you will receive a wedding tip. Not all of them will be helpful but many brides have written to tell me how just one gem made all the difference on their big day - I hope this will also be case for you!

If you have any questions please email me at ellebrown @ gmail.com

Good Luck

Elle

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If you watched the Discovery Home and Health Weddings Live Show last weekend then you would have seen their feature on the latest trends with wedding cakes. One of the eye-catching cakes they showed, which they claim is becoming an increasingly popular choice with modern brides, is the Croquembouche.

What is a Croquembouche?

The Croquembouche is a tower of profiteroles (choux pastry puffs filled with vanilla pastry cream) which are coated in a thin crust of crispy caramel. The “glue” which holds the puffs together in their stunning pyramid shape is melted toffee or chocolate ganache. The delicious pyramid usually rests on a base or stand made of edible nougatine.

This unique tower of delicacies looks stunning but for extra effect you can choose to have them decorated further. There are plenty of creative ways of decorating the Croquembouche including:

♥ sugarcraft work including sugar flowers scattered around the top and sides of the tower

♥ webs of spun sugar cascading down the sides

♥ sugared almonds sticking out in between the puffs and scattered around the base - you could choose dragees to match the colour scheme of your wedding (have a look at the selection available on Confetti.co.uk)

♥ strings of light-catching crystals threaded around the base

♥ a small cake topper or ornament for the top of the tower

♥ small fresh flowers either studded around the base of the tower and/or sat on the top peak

♥ curls of ribbon matching the colours of your wedding theme

♥ drizzles of melted white, dark or milk chocolate cascading down the tower

♥ fresh strawberries or other fruit placed around the base of the tower

There are lots of variations on the Croquembouche fillings too to suit your own personal taste. Alternatives fillings include coffee, lemon cream, amaretto cream and strawberry mousse.

Who invented the Croquembouche?

The Croquembouche originated in France back in the early 18th century as their traditional wedding cake. Back then guests would bring their own sweet breads to the wedding reception and would use them to create a tower. The newlyweds would attempt to kiss over the top of the sweet bread tower as this was said to bring them prosperity and fertility for their future life together! When French patissiers invented choux filled pastries (profiteroles) these were brought to weddings instead of the simple sweet breads and they were balanced into a pyramid. The Croquembouche has certainly evolved since then, with many different variations of the original version being made by chocolatiers and patissiers all over the Europe and America.

The cutting of the cake

Traditionally the Croquembouche is served by the bride and groom hitting it hard with a sword and the bridesmaids catching the pieces in a tablecloth. Nowadays the more popular and functional option for cutting the Croquembouche are:

♥ The bride and groom pose with a knife against the Croquembouche for the benefit of photos being taken and it is then whisked away by the catering staff for dismantling and serving to the guests

♥ A metal hammer is often provided by the cake-makers for the bride and groom to knock the top of the tower off (perhaps a safer option than using a sword!)

♥ If the bride and groom are feeling very daring they could cut into the top section of the Croquembouche or simply pick one profiterole each off of the top of the pyramid and feed it to each other

How to serve the Croquembouche

The Croquembouche can be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, dessert at your wedding reception. Ideally if you are serving it in place of wedding cake you should allow a portion of 3 profiteroles per guest, or if you are serving it as the main dessert then allow a portion of 5 profiteroles per guest. A delicious idea is to serve the Croquembouche to your guests with a choice of raspberry coulis, chocolate sauce or fresh cream.

If you choose an informal catering package you could leave your Croquembouche for guests to break off pieces themselves.

If it’s good enough for Madonna …….

Madonna and Guy Ritchie chose a Croquembouche for their December 2000 wedding at Skibo Castle. Their bespoke confection featured pomegranates, golden tassles, green ivy and hot chocolate sauce. It was created by master patissier Eric Lanlard of Savoir Design, whose elaborate Croquembouche have garnered him a fantastic reputation and an A-list clientele.

Advantages of choosing a Croquembouche for your wedding

♥ Not only is the Croquembouche absolutely delicious but visually it creates a truly breathtaking centerpiece for your wedding reception – something to capture your guests‘ attention. Standing at a minimum of 18 inches high for the smallest version the Croquembouche definately stands out!

♥ Although they are becoming very popular the Croquembouche is still viewed as a unique style of wedding cake, so dare to be different!

♥ The Croquembouche is fully transportable and does not need refrigeration.

♥ Each profiterole is baked fresh on the morning of your wedding and then stacked up into a tower.

♥ You can have a tower of 700 pieces so there will be plenty to go around at your wedding reception.

♥ If you prefer to stick with tradition and have a tiered wedding cake at your wedding reception, perhaps you could have the Croquembouche solely as your dessert or choose a smaller one simply as an eye-catching centerpiece.

How much does a Croquembouche cost

The cost of the Croquembouche varies depending on what size you are going to require for your wedding reception which depends on how many guests you will be feeding. I had a look on the internet at Wedding-Cakes.co.uk who are