Being in the industry for over 7 years now I have seen trends come and trends go.  Some trends I love and some...well, not the biggest fan.  But, I love watching the different ideas come across my table!  Right now, brides are going back to the classics! I love it!  I am seeing more brides select all white cakes with a classic scroll.  They choose to bring in their wedding colors with some fresh flowers.  One reason I love all white cakes is because it's grand and elegant!  Let's face it, when will you ever host an event so romantic and exquisite ever again?  Save the color and casual for another celebration.  The clean and crisp look of the white buttercream with a tasteful white scroll gives the cake an elegant and grand look that cannot be matched by any other event other than a wedding.  Soften the cake with some adornments like fresh roses and viola, the perfect timeless wedding cake! 

Thanksgiving is just a few days away!  I am looking forward to a slow wedding weekend (as I take on less cakes to allow family time).  I am looking forward to spending quality time with my family and enjoy our yearly traditions of football and shopping.  And I can't wait to dive into my mom's buttermilk pie...something I get to eat once (maybe twice) a year!  Yes, I could bake it myself, but it's just not the same when you have to do the work!  LOL!

In honor of the season of giving thanks, here are a few ways you can thank your guests on your wedding day:

1. Donation to your favorite charity - when I first saw a couple do this I instantly fell in love with it!  Rather then personal favors make a donation to your favorite charity in honor of your wedding guests.  Then, make a cute place card with a sweet note thanking your guests for attending and on behalf of them have made a donation in their honor.  If it's not a well known charity, make a little poster board to place in your reception that explains the charity and what it does.  Love it...it's money well spent, nothing goes to waste, and I'm sure a touching gesture your guests will enjoy. 
   
2. Thank you cards - if you are choosing assigned seating, this would be a nice gesture.  At each table setting, place a small thank you postcard.  The front can be a sweet picture of the bride and groom and on the back write a personal note to each individual (or family) thanking them for attending the wedding and what their relationship with you means to you.  It's a little time consuming, but would be so meaningful to your guests.
   
3. Share your favorite treat - choose your favorite treat (honey, candy, chocolates, just to name a few) and bottle it up in a super cute container.  Tie a little bow around it with a small tag thanking your guests for attending your wedding celebration!
   

One question I get asked many times from couples is whether or not to save their top tier.  Of course, they have heard from one friend that the cake tasted horrible a year later, while another friend swears is was just as tasty as the day they got married.  Well, which friend is right.  Answer...both of them!  If done correctly, the cake will just as moist and flavorful as the day you married!  But, if the directions are not followed to a T then your delectable cake will taste like freezer burnt cardboard.  Here are a few tips to properly preserving the top tier of your wedding cake:

1. Wrap the cake in saran wrap several times.  The key is not to allow any air to the cake.  So, wrap it well.  Yes, the side will get squished a bit and your design won't be all nice and pretty, but the cake will taste great!
   
2. Put the cake in a box.  Most bakers will provide a cake top box for you.  If they don't, any local supply store will have them...as will Hobby Lobby and Michael's.  Ask your baker if they do provide a box top and if not, bring one to the wedding and give to your catering staff or coordinator.  I recommend getting an 8 inch square box (5 inches tall).  I wouldn't recommend a container as the seal won't be as tight.  Place the wrapped cake inside the box and then wrap the box in saran wrap several times. The key here is to keep air out!
   
3. Store in the freezer.  Immediately place your cake in the freezer and do not touch it!  If you are planning to move I recommend keeping it at a parent or friends house (one whom you trust not to eat it...lol).  You don't want the cake to thaw and re-freezer, as that will cause freezer burn. 
   
4. Let it thaw naturally.  The day before your anniversary (or whenever you plan to indulge), remove the cake from the freezer and place the cake on your kitchen cabinet.  Let it thaw naturally overnight.  The next day unwrap your cake and enjoy!!
   

Unless you have a very unique design, adornments give a cake that extra pop.  It ties the cake in nicely with the rest of your reception and puts the final touches on it, bringing the cake to completion.  My personal favorite adornment...flowers!!  There is something about flowers that softens the look of a cake and just makes it...beautiful!  There are 3 "types" of flowers one can use.  Here are a few pros and cons to each: 

Fresh Flowers: I'll be honest, fresh flowers are always my favorite.  I love them because they are natural.  They tie in with the bouquets and centerpieces perfectly because they are the same thing!  The colors are gorgeous!  The smell is marvelous!  And, you can manipulate them (something those decorating the cake appreciate).  You can place larger flowers in certain areas and then fill in the gaps with smaller flowers or greenery.  You can also fold or bend a flower to fit into the spot you need, making everything fit just so.  Some brides are concerned with the pesticides used with flowers.  My opinion, I'm not concerned.  Flowers are kept in clean water in refrigerators.  If there are any pesticides used they have been washed off by the stems soaking in water for hours and the spritzers florists use to keep them fresh at the venue.   

Sugar Flowers: These are great options for the bride who wants the 100% edible cake. Bride's who select sugar flowers can easily get a sugar high from all those sweet beautiful adornments on a cake.  Additionally, brides can rest assured that the cake will be completed all at once by the baker who is delivering the cake as they are the only one providing cake items.  One drawback from sugar flowers is that they break very easily.  I always bring extra with me.  But, if one falls or the table is bumped and the flower cracks it cannot be replaced.  Also, sugar flowers cannot bend.  So, you cannot manipulate a flower to fit.  Therefore, they do tend to stick out a bit and the flow of the flower placement isn't as smooth.  The last "con" is expense.  Sugar flowers are hand made.  The materials to create them aren't cheap...and the time it takes is even more costly.  So, if you are leaning towards sugar flowers be prepared to increase your cake budget.

Silk Flowers: For those looking for an alternative to fresh flowers, but don't want the cost of sugar flowers, silk flowers are a great way to go.  The brides cake photographed above chose burlap flowers to match the burlap in other areas of the wedding.  It was a great way to tie in the cake.  Silk flowers can somewhat be manipulated to blend in with the cake, but it depends on the type of flower.  One thing to consider when choosing silk flowers is the size of the cake.  Many silk flowers are huge, and they can't be sized down.  So, if you are having a smaller or thinner cake and place a huge flower on it, the look is a bit off.  Definitely consult with your baker when choosing silk flowers to make sure you are purchasing the right thing.  While you don't have to worry about the flowers breaking, or pesticides...the cleanliness of a silk flower is less than desirable.  Next time you are at Hobby Lobby just notice all the people touching the flowers (especially kids).  And when they are dropped on the floor...no worries, a sales rep will nicely place them back in their display to be sold.  At the very least, I recommend wiping the flowers down before placing them on the cake.