Thursday, October 14, 2010
Don't you love options? Yesterday we shared a different but just as classy way of decorating for your reception. Today we're relying on Down South Delights Catering to help us think outside the cake plateau.
Recently, the catering company shared options via their blog for brides who seek different dessert and sweets for their guests. These brides still have cake, what 's a wedding without at least one pretty cake?? But sometimes, not every person wants cake and offering many options can really surprise and thrill guests. If this is something you've toyed with, here's some insight...
Featured Favorite Blog Post: Let Them Eat Cake - Down South Delights Catering
Fresh peach crumble & brandied apple tarts (Tabitha: Um, yes please)
A very popular trend emerging is for brides to opt not to have a large wedding cake for guests as a dessert option. Instead, a smaller ceremonial cake for the bride and groom to cut for photos then a different dessert for the guests. This year we have had many brides ask us to create mini dessert displays, ice cream buffets, southern inspired dessert tables, and many other decadent options.
This past weekend, we had the oppurtunity to cater at Wolf Dens Farms in Brentwood for a large southern inspired family style meal. The bride chose to have pumpkin & apple pies along with cheesecakes with an array of toppings. Guests were much more interested in these options than the typical cake.
Several weddings that I have attended on the east coast always have a large cookie buffet of homemade cookies from recipes from family members. The cookie buffets double as both dessert and the favor with personalized take home bags, similar to candy buffets. If a large cake is not in your reception plans, below are some yummy options to consider.
Cheesecake truffles and Makers Mark bourbon balls
Banana pudding shots
Toasted almond cookies and Spumoni mousse parfait
Fresh key lime tarts, Coconut creme bites & Oreo mousse
Their blog is full of delicious desserts and dishes and I found a few more dessert alternative to cake that I would, personally, have at my wedding!
Fruit tart with shortbread crust and lemon pastry cream (Tabitha: There isn't one thing in this that I would not want to eat)
Visit Down South Delights' website and check out their picture gallery, and look for more inspirational dishes and catering ideas on the Down South Delights blog. I will warn you to not read on an empty stomach!
(All pictures courtesy of Down South Delights Catering)
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Why should us girls have all the fun? We get to pick the flowers, the colors, the food, we have our gorgeous gown, fun shoes, right down to the pretty cake. Lately bakers have upped the ante and shown that they can create a cake worthy of a groom's dreams just as well as they can give us girls our fantasy cakes. Grooms cakes have taken on fun shapes, inspired by favorite television shows, sports teams or hobbies. Our readers and the bridal community submitted the grooms cakes we're showcasing today, and I had so much fun look at each of them. Hope you like them too!
Signature Cakes by Vicki - SignatureCakesbyVicki.com
What red blooded groom isn't going to love a cake shaped like his favorite game console or a classic guitar? Or for the groom/couple that loves to travel, the vintage luggage bags are pretty amazing.
The Bake Shoppe - TheBakeShoppe.com
No cake sends good wishes that say "Live long and prosper" like The USS Enterprise from Star Trek. For the NBA fan, a replica of the Staples Center in Los Angeles shows his team pride.
Merging two loves in one for the U.T. fan who loves to canoe.
Submitted by Jennifer Hillen. Photographed by Carol Reach Photo.
The Sweetest Day - TheSweetestDay.com
This cake was submitted by an ABG reader and bride Lindsey Deweese Baldwin, made specially for her Indiana University fan husband.
Classic Elegance - Billie Mochow
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Submitted and photographed by Gregory Byerline.
This was such a fun post to do, thank you to everyone who submitted photographs. Be on the look out for our next reader/bridal community submission for more of your favorite wedding details!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Grooms
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Friday, September 24, 2010
A few months ago, we invited all of our readers - from brides and photographers to cake artists - to send us their favorite Nashville wedding cakes. The submissions poured in and it's amazing how many beautiful cakes there are from our local bakers! We have (with much deliberation) narrowed it down to a few of our favorites and by "a few" I mean a lot. I hope these incredible designs - ranging from ultra modern to creatively classic - inspire you to design your perfect wedding cake. We'll be back with groom cakes on Monday. Enjoy!
The Bake Shoppe - TheBakeShoppe.com
Photographed by Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer
Left: Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography. Right: Submitted by newlyweds Jennifer & Reed Hillen. Photographed by Carol Reach Photo (CarolReach.com).
Signature Cakes by Vicki - SignatureCakesByVicki.com
Third image: Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography.
Maples Wedding Cakes - MaplesWeddingCakes.com
Left: Submitted by: A Music City Event. Photo by Jen Dunaway Photography. Right: Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography.
Photographed and submitted by: Gregory Byerline Photography.
The French Confection - TheFrenchConfection.com
Left: Submitted by bride Ashley Flippin. Photo by Myrick Studios. Right: Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline.
The Cupcake Collection - TheCupcakeCollection.com
Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography.
The Sweetest Day - TheSweetestDay.com
Submitted by bride, Lindsey Deweese Baldwin. Wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Publix Bakery
Left: Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography. Right: Photographed and submitted The Photographix.
Dessert Designs by Leland - DessertDesignsByLeland.com
Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography.
Tennessee Cheesecake Company - TennesseeCheesecake.com
Photographed and submitted by Gregory Byerline Photography.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering
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Thursday, September 16, 2010
Typically when I think of vegetables at a buffet station, I think of a platter of cold, grilled vegetables like asparagus, limp artichokes, slimey peppers and lackluster mushrooms. I still eat them, don't get me wrong - it's nice to strike a balance between all the heavier hors d'ouevres that comprise the rest of the buffet. But there are times I wish the vegetable options were given as much attention as the meat and deep-fried foods are in preparation and presentation. Well, someone at A Catered Affair must have heard my pleas because this week, they had a blog post on some of the vegetable station items, that are appealing both visually and in the flavor department. When we find great blog posts, we always like to share them with you...
Featured Blog Post by A Catered Affair - We Make Veggies Look Gooooood!!
Grilled Zucchini Firecrackers
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend eating at least three to five servings of fruit and four to eight servings of vegetables daily. However, a 2005 survey of close to 350,000 adults in the U.S. found that, on average, people in the United States eat 1.6 servings of fruit and 3.2 servings of vegetables, well below recommendations. This made me wonder, perhaps people aren’t eating as many fruits and vegetables due to the fact that they aren’t as attractive visually and tastefully! This is where Main Event Productions’, A Catered Affair, takes the stage and steals the show! Check out what we have done with a few fruits and vegetables…
Endive sppons with olive and sun-dried tomato tapanade
Teatime tomatoes
Bananas are healthy right? Banana pudding in mason jars - my favorite way to get healthy:). - Ashley (Image courtesy of Dove Photography)
Diamond fried flatbread with mascarpone filled fig
Visit A Catered Affair's Blog for more wedding menu ideas. All images courtesy of A Catered Affair.
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Posted by Tabitha |
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Happy Friday everyone!
We hope you've enjoyed our recap of Nashville Premier Bridal Show as much as we did visiting with the vendors and finding new ones to share with you all. Today's final installment of the week covers fantastic wedding cakes from our top Nashville bakers, caterers that get our appetites revved up and new wedding venues for Nashville brides!
CAKES
Signature Cakes by Vicki
The first booth we noticed when we walked into the hall was Signature Cakes by Vicki. Ashley and I get really excited when we see her cakes. They are, to say the least, works of art. Almost sculptural, how painstakingly detailed each cake is covered with sugar flowers that look almost real and ribbons that look like they're actually made of silk. They're exquisite in taste and look and are just irresistable.
Those aren't real flowers, but sugar flowers hand shaped and made by Vicki.
That green ribbon just softly cascading down the sides of the cake and the details - amazing!
The Bake Shoppe - TheBakeShoppe.com
Absolutely just swooning over The Bake Shoppe's cakes. And not just because of how good they taste but also at how stunning they are! Their cakes were very contemporary, set up in a dessert buffet style by color scheme. Yellows, purples and greys - three fabulous colors for Fall each a complement to the next. My favorite? The low, round cake with the grey applique. I get so giddy when I look at it!
Bright, festive bursts of yellow! Also that cake stand is so pretty!
I'm in love.
Each color had variations: cupcakes, smaller cakes and taller cakes in the same scheme.
Crumb de la Crumb
Still absolutely giddy over cakes, Crumb de la Crumb's booth was also surrounded by sample seekers and, just like us, awestruck passers-by. Their style is classic, very posh cakes with a few more contemporary ones in the mix.
Ashley's fell in love with the cake on the right. It was simple but had touches of bling.
I love the square cake - the dots look like pink champagne bubbles!
Cakes By Rebecca - CakesByRebecca.com
It's such a skill to decorate cakes. And to cover them with such ornate details is cake decorating at a whole other level! Cakes by Rebecca blew me away - from the sugar flowers to the patterns to the shape of her cakes! So pretty! And it's so simple but isn't that chocolate wafer cake so fun!
Interesting how the white cake to the farthest right has a slightly taller top tier - that difference in proportion makes it stand out!
WEDDING / EVENT CATERING
Bucca di Beppo - bucadibeppo.com
Um, have you had their tiramisu? SO good! If you want to feed your guests hearty, delicious Italian food either for your rehearsal dinner or wedding, do consider Bucca di Beppo in Cool Springs.
Down South Delights
We just heart Down South Delighs Catering - long-time friends of ABG, we had to stop and say hi and check out their stylish tablescapes. Catering companies have also taken on the role of decor and event design that incorporates food into the overall look more so than just shoving it onto chaffing dishes to look so out-of-place.
VENUES
We came across a few new venues that look really promising. It's nice to know that venue options are increasing beyond the usual places, as much as we love all those places! A change of scenery, a different back drop, that all gives brides a chance to really flex their creativity muscles and gives them a great chance to achieve their vision for their weddings.
Kings Chapel - KingsChapelLife.com
Historic King's Chapel, just 15 minutes from the Cool Springs area boasts beautiful, free open space. The chapel itself has a beautiful interior that's classic chapel that could lend itself to a really romantic ceremony. Gorgeous hardwood floors, wooden pews - it's just screaming to be decorated with flowers. They now also have a clubhouse that has a state-of-the-art kitchen for your caterer to work from, and the clubhouse itself is perfect for dinners and wedding receptions.
Picture source: KingsChapelLife.com
Photo source: Joy Marie Photography
Cajun Lake Lodge - CajunLakeLodge.com
Located in Burns, TN Cajun Lake Lodge is a "unique event venue and country getaway" near the Montgomery Bell State Park. So you know it's going to be really picturesque out there. You could have your wedding by the lake out in the open, or you could use their pavilion for an indoor set up. It looks like it could be a lovely place for a garden party wedding. (Pictures from CajunLakeLodge.com)
CJ's Off the Square and Southern Events
I have a feeling classic red is going to be a big color for weddings. CJ's Off the Square and Southern Events (SouthernEventsOnline.com) shared a booth and decorated a table in a stunning country-chic theme. Very summery, beautiful colors, with little birds and gerbera daisies for accents. It was visually wonderful and such a great sight with which to end our day at the bridal show.
Lillie Belles - LillieBelles.net
Lillie Belles in Franklin has created a one-stop-shop by teaming with Garden Delights for event coordination and florals, Sara Gibbs Studio for photography, cakes by Classic Cakes and catering by Constant Craving Caterers. This ensures a full-service venue for your event or wedding!
Cakes by Classic Cakes
What a day! We had a blast; the show just proved to us that we are surrounded by wedding professionals galore. Do you think there are any we might have overlooked that you thought is worth mentioning? If so, share your favorites in the comments section below.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Wedding Venues and Locations
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