beach wedding invitations

Sometimes all the fun is in the details and a wedding is no different. It is easy to get lost in big wedding worries and forget that planning a wedding is supposed to be pleasurable as well as memorable. One of the best ways to inject fun and personality into a wedding is in planning the decorations for the wedding reception. Here are some great ideas for centerpieces to put on the tables at the reception.

1. NatureThis is the most popular category for reception centerpieces. This category includes not only flowers, but plants, trees, herbs, and found objects, as well.*Buds: one of the most elegant ideas for a centerpiece is also one of the simplest: a single rose in a bud vase in the center of a white tablecloth.*Twig trees: put a small, gnarly tree branch into a vase and decorate with flower buds, wedding favors, or ribbons in wedding colors.*Floating garden: intersperse floating lilies, rose petals, or other flowers with floating candles in a large, clear bowl. *Roots: sprout potatoes, carrots, or onions and show off the roots by upending them in a vase. It makes a simple, striking centerpiece.*Topiaries: bunch flowers and greens together at the top of a stick or flower stem to resemble a topiary, a sphere-like tree design. Put in clear vases in the center of the table.*Bonsai: use bonsai trees and Asian flowers as table decorations.*Single color: overwhelm the senses with a profusion of flowers in the wedding color. You can use blooms, petals, and buds of many different kinds of flowers.*Orchids: potted or cut orchid flowers make striking, elegant centerpieces. *Herbs: Use cut herbs in decorative glasses with a single flower in the wedding color, or pot herbs in colorful, decorative pots and place them at each place setting as favors. Include one flower in the wedding color.*Hanging baskets: suspend colorful hanging baskets above the tables at the reception. Trail vines of flowering plants out of the pots to nearly touch the tables.*Fountains: place small, working tabletop fountains in the center of the tables at the reception. Float flowers in the fountain and surround the fountain with decorative stones and more flowers in the wedding color. *Spring: Use beeswax candles interspersed with daisies for a spring wedding.

2. Handmade*Tulle: create "flowers" out of bows and tulle, nested in a froth of more tulle.*Lace: place handmade or antique doilies in the center of the table or under each place setting. Sprinkle with crocheted or knitted flowers to be given as favors.*Petit-fours: arrange petit-fours or other pastries or candies in wedding colors in the center of the table. Can be used in lieu of a wedding cake.*Carved pumpkins or fruit: use pumpkins carved with the wedding couple's names or with romantic designs for an autumn wedding. Use fruit carved to look like flowers for a summer wedding.

3. Inanimate:*Tealights: use a profusion of tea lights in a large, crystal bowl for a simple centerpiece.*White: white candles of all different sizes make another simple centerpiece.*Martini glasses: put tea lights in an assortment of wine, martini, and champagne glasses engraved with the wedding couple's names and the wedding date in the center of the table. Give away as wedding favors.

Chocolate Fountain hire has been on the increase in the UK since approximately 2004 when several UK companies set-up business. After attending a large fashion shows, markets and food festivals, enterprising individuals came across the concept as product of interest. Many companies test the local or national market, finding that chocolate fountains are a worthy business opportunity.

Many businesses move into the wedding market after attending wedding shows in their local area. On attending weddings in the early years, fountains were mobbed! Women in particular could not get enough of this easily eatable chocolate supply. Add in a colourful display and variety of delicious dips, the chocolate fountain soon became a popular feature of evening wedding receptions.

A chocolate fondue provides weddings with a unique centrepiece, during the changeover from daytime celebrations to the evening reception. In addition to the traditional buffet, DJ and dancing, the fondue fountain offers interactive fun, allowing guests to chat, laugh and relax into the evenings entertainment. For those not wanting to spend extra funds on a wedding cake or expensive evening catering, a chocolate fondue fountain can be the answer. Whether brides opt for an out and out luxury display with matching colour theme, delicate petals and decadent dips, to a simply small - medium sized fountain with strawberries and marshmallows, the overall effect is the same - a memorable evening for all.

As time progressed, fondue fountains continued to become more and more popular and accessible to the UK Wedding market, as a result of the many companies springing up across the country. The several large companies from the early years (2004 -2005) were continuing to trade, proving the ongoing success of the niche.

Corporate functions, birthday parties and trade shows have taken a bigger share of the business but weddings remains the largest revenue stream. So returning to the question of is chocolate fountain hire a 'must-have' for weddings; the author concludes that in 2010, every UK wedding must have one!

Choosing a country wedding theme for your big day can be a lot of fun. If you are a country girl at heart, you will enjoy researching and planning your big day.

There are many great options for this type of wedding. From your dress to your flowers to your wedding cake, you can turn your wedding day into a fun country event.

Choosing a location is an important first step along with choosing the season that you are getting married. Getting married in the spring or summer allows you to take advantage of great flower choices, and fall also has a lot to offer.

Below are three ideas for a country wedding theme.

Country Western Theme

A western theme wedding starts with what you wear. You can wear a western wedding gown, complete with lace and cowboy boots, and your fiance and groomsmen can wear cowboy hats along with their boots.

For your centerpieces, consider unique western containers for your flowers, and try to think of other western-themed items that can be used as decorations.

Of course the entertainment you choose will be important. A good country western band can make your reception one to remember, and there are many DJs that specialize in this type of wedding.

Garden Theme

A garden theme wedding allows you to be a little creative with your planning. Have your ceremony in a garden surrounded by beautiful flowers or under a floral wedding arch.

Depending on the season of your wedding, you should have many nice options for flowers. Use flowers in all aspects of your decorations including your cake and guest tables.

For wedding favors, give your guests small potted plants or flowers. Another option is to send them home with cookies shaped like flowers.

Sunflower Theme

Narrowing your theme down to one flower is another nice option. Sunflowers make the perfect fall wedding theme, and they definitely fit in with any type of country wedding theme.

The rich colors of fall foliage create the perfect backdrop for a sunflower wedding, but a summer wedding is also an option. Work with a good florist to find out when sunflowers are easiest to get in your area.

Sunflowers can be used in your wedding invitation design as well as your centerpieces and other places where a little color is needed. Find wedding jewelry and accessories decorated with sunflowers to finish off your wedding day attire.

The wedding cake is the most delicious aspect of your wedding. It is one of the things that the guests take a look at in the wedding reception thus, it should be one of the things that the couple should look into. If the couple wants to get the best cake adorned with the best decoration for their guests to marvel at, below are some useful tips.

Before you decide to buy a wedding cake for your wedding, know your budget. There are actually many cake decorations to choose from. Cake stores have a wide array of types and designs when making a custom-made wedding cake but keep in mind that the prices vary as the base and the ake decoration vary.

There are many types of wedding cake bases available in the market today. Of course, it is important that the cake taste delicious but aside from that it is also important to make it attractive and marvelous. So, you need to be meticulous in choosing decorations suitable for your chosen wedding theme, your taste and your budget.

The classic wedding cake decoration is the butter cream. Although it is still commonly use these days, there is now the growing trend of fondant, a smooth icing that is easy to mold. The advantage of making wedding cakes out of fondant is that it will make the cake last for hours. This type of decoration will spare you from the worry that it might melt; it would be a disaster! Moreover, it can stand for hours of waiting until the cake cutting ceremony. Fondant cakes remain intact so they remain as marvelous from the start of the reception to the time when the couple gets their first share of the cake and until it is serve for the guests.

Nevertheless, there are still people who prefer frosted cake decorations. This type of wedding cake decoration, on the other hand, is mostly used for chocolate cakes.

Now for the more detailed wedding cakes, flowers are embedded on all sides and layers of the cake. Flowers are traditional decorations but it doesn't mean that you have to follow the traditions here. You can be creative and use other types of decors to adorn you wedding cake. Others deviate from the traditional use of flowers and use geometric shapes instead.

For the cake topper, lovebirds have become a popular option. Cake tops actually serves as a concrete representation of the couples personality and love for each other. They are great keepsakes for the newly weds to take home as a remembrance of their special day.

The kind of wedding cake you'll have on your wedding day really depends on your decision whether you want to be more traditional or to be more creative and unique. It's also up to you to mix and match several design ideas. The important thing is you end up marveling your wedding cake and so as your guests.

While weddings still take the lead in cake stand design and interest, most people do not find themselves thinking outside the box when it comes to their cake stands. Unless you are a professional, you may not realize the realm of possibilities available to you to create a one of a kind cake display. It may also be tempting to simply rent a stand or the like, but really this robs you of the opportunity to take something else as a keepsake for your wedding and possibly even give it to your children later on.

When shopping for that perfect stand, it is a good idea to ask lots and lots of questions first. Find out what the stand is made of so that you know how to care for it. Also ask what kind of weight it can withstand. Most of the time your cake won't be too heavy for the stand unless it's very dense (like a cheesecake) and/or the stand is made out of a pretty flimsy material (like recycled paper.)

From the basic questions, you can begin to think of interesting designs for your stand. We all know the common arrangement of round or square cake tiers stacked one on top of the other from largest to smallest. Then the customization and personality is left entirely on the cake's decoration and the accessories on the table. But what if you could spice up your entire arrangement starting from the base?

Some cake stands even go from small to large in order. Others create an asymmetric display by offsetting the tiers in different directions. Outdoor weddings can take advantage organic made stands. Too green for you? Try one that is just made to look like it is branches and vines.

Almost any wedding theme calls for an extraordinary cake stand. Even the classic white dream wedding can use a spiced up version with colored metal filigree or crystal sculptures around the base.

Those with modern and urban tastes should be thrilled to know there are triangle cake stand, asymmetrical designs, and even build-it-yourself stands to allow you to layout the cake any way you desire. Outdoor weddings are complete with rustic decorations and cake stands to complete the look. Even destination weddings can be rounded out with cake stands designed to the area you happen to be in.

Top off the perfect stand with a cake that is made just for you from batter to topper, and you have a masterpiece. It is almost a shame to eat it, so be sure to take lots of pictures first!

Cupcakes have taken the world by storm - and while not a new invention - wedding cupcake towers have invaded receptions as a popular alternative to the wedding cake. Probably one of the most daunting tasks a couple has to make is selecting the wedding cake flavors and fillings - by using cupcakes the possibilities of cake combinations, fillings and decorations are endless. Wedding cupcakes can be elegant, whimsical, or anything in between.

Here are 5 good reasons why a wedding cupcake tower may be for you:

Wedding cupcakes cost significantly less than an elaborate wedding cake.Cupcakes are the perfect serving size. This means there is no need to order a larger size wedding cake than needed, no excess cutting, no waste and less money spent.Cupcakes can be ordered in different flavors and decorations to cater to both the bride and groom's taste (and even family allergies).They are easier to decorate - therefore great for the DIY bride or the couple on a budget.They are trendy without being "over the top" - many wedding cupcake towers even have a top cake tier for the bride and groom to have the "traditional" cake elements - a cake topper, the cutting of the cake and the ability to take the top tier home for the first anniversary.

Wedding cupcakes are fun and simple. Guest love to eat them because they are easier to eat than slices of cake. Brides love them because they can be easily customized to match their style or theme. If you are a classic bride, select a simple stand in traditional colors and decorate your cupcakes elegantly. If you are a themed bride, you may want to decorate your cupcake tower in themed colors, ribbons, material, flowers and other adornments. No matter what your style, you will want to select a wedding cupcake tower to suit your needs.

Here are 5 ways to create you own wedding cupcake tower:

Standard cupcake towers can be purchased online or in craft stores. Additionally your baker may have access to unique shapes or ideas. Or if you are the DIY type you can do an online search for tower patterns which can easily be crafted out of cardboard and decorated with decorative papers and fabrics.For the bride who has a handyman hubby to be, you can create unlimited shapes out of MDF plywood, sanded and painted. Simply create a pattern and have your guy cut and glue to your specs. These wedding cupcake towers can be made to nearly unlimited heights!Clear glass dessert / cake plates and trays are traditional. You can use these smaller ones on each reception table. With a bit of craftiness you can decorate the edges and glass with pretty patterns and paint.Think outside the box. There are display manufacturers who craft acrylic displays specifically for stores and bakeries. You make want to contact these trade manufacturers for these items. Clear acrylic cupcake towers make stunning pieces as they allow the beauty of the cupcakes to shine through.Don't forget to search the web for unique wedding cupcake tower displays. I have seen shapes made from wire in the form of trees, spirals, staircases, even box designs.

No matter how you choose to display your wedding cupcakes, don't forget to send your guests home with a sweet treat afterward. Rather than wedding favors - having your baker package and present your guests with a cupcake to take home is another stunning way you can incorporate cupcakes into your wedding day.