"Tossing the Bouquet"

Time to toss the bouquet!  Our florist kindly offered to prepare - as a gift - a "Tossing Bouquet."  This way, Maggie could retain her bridal bouquet as a keepsake.
(The above picture, and picture to the left are our actual flowers).

But remember…I was not at the hotel when the flowers were delivered to Maggie -- there is still that, 'as yet not divulged situation that created havoc in our wedding day prep'…  so I did not realize until 3 minutes before Maggie was going to toss her bouquet that THERE WAS NOT A THROW AWAY BOUQUET!

What to do???  I ran - in those fancy shoes of mine :-) - to the head table, and started pulling flowers out of the arrangement.  Even in my haste, I tried to get a nice variety  :-)  But then I realized… when Maggie threw the flowers, they would go all over everywhere, as they were not tied together.  I glanced around and spied… bridesmaids' bouquets!  I grabbed one and began pulling off the satin ribbon which covered the flower stems.  My lovely sister-in-law, Teresa, helped me.  We quickly wound the ribbon around the "new" bouquet, inserted pearl headed pins to hold the ribbon, and DONE!  We had a bouquet.  (FYI, underneath the satin ribbon of the bridesmaid's bouquet was green florist tape holding the flowers together.  I'm not sure who's bouquet I robbed… but thank you!)

At this point, I calmly walked into the tent and handed Maggie her "Tossing Bouquet."  At least that's how I WANT to remember it.  Maybe I looked frazzled and haunted… but her Bridal bouquet was saved, and some lucky girl caught my creation.

http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

http://weddinghub.hellomagazine.com/motherofthebride/2014/08/wedding-flowers-honored-ladies/   Please visit my new blog for HELLO! Magazine on-line (the Wedding Hub) I'm "Mother of the Bride"

My First Anniversary

Our first anniversary…January 24, 1985.  We lived in Simi Valley, California in a 3 bedroom apartment. No we didn't need three bedrooms, but that was all the complex had available.  We soon purchased our first home in Ventura, California, and left Simi.

The top picture is Mary Paredes Karnes' version of "Staging"  :-)  The tablecloth is hand crocheted by my Grandmother - whom our baby, Julia, is named after.  That is a full champagne bottle to the top right of the picture - left over from our wedding.  I'm going to make a note to tell Kenny tonight that he MUST keep a bottle from Maggie and Rob's wedding for them to share on THEIR first anniversary.

As our anniversary is in January…thus the Chrysanthemum in the photo.  Please note the candles, they are placed in candle sticks that my dear friend and bridesmaid, Yvonne, gave us for our wedding.  I continued the tradition that my parents started, and gave Maggie and Rob a special piece from our home.  This is what we gave them…And don't forget the champagne glasses - which were featured in an earlier blog...and the keynote piece - the top layer of our cake…just like I promised yesterday!

I'm sad to say I don't remember who froze the cake, where it was stored, or if it tasted good.  But it sure looked pretty!  I had saved our cake topper to place on it for the picture.  It looked OK after a year, but I recently ran across it - and it didn't travel well…  Maggie's and Rob's cake topper, on the other hand, being made our of porcelain, can be handed down for generations.  Thanks for that thoughtfulness, Debbie!
The above picture is about a year before we were married, but it dates us a little.  Not sure if I'm happy or sad that it's a little blurry…

http:my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

"Preserving Your Wedding Cake"

The above photo, if this is your first time reading my blog, is of Maggie and Rob's wedding cake.

The photo to the left is a photo taken by my friend, Lisa.  She took it at a wedding she recently attended, and I lifted it as I thought it was so beautiful.  I am guessing the leaves and vines are fondant, but the flowers are real.  I'll ask her and get back to you…

Today I promised to tell you how I preserved Maggie and Rob's top wedding cake layer.

It was very easy, the only thing you should do in advance is make sure you have a very large Tupperware-type round bowl - about 18" across and 6" deep, a board of set the cake on, plastic wrap, foil ---- and this is the most important --- room in your freezer!

Step #1 - Choose someone reliable to commit to preserving your top layer.

Step #2 - Safely wrap and preserve any cake topper you may have used.  Hopefully, the future generations would like to use it.  I love how Debbie chose a porcelain ornament so it can be handed down.

Step #3 - The experts say to freeze the cake 30 minutes to 2 hours ahead of the process.  I think this was recommend because some cakes are frosted in butter cream and thus the frosting is not firm.  I did do this, but as Maggie's was covered in fondant, I don't think I needed to.

Step #4 - Whatever you choose to set the cake on, whether it be a plastic cutting board, a piece of wood, or cardboard, wrap it in foil to protect the cake from tasting like the platform.

Step #5 - Cover the cake in 2 layers of plastic wrap.

Step # 6 - Then cover the cake in 2 layers of foil.

Step #7 - Store the whole think in the Tupperware Bowl and freeze.  Don't forget to "burp" the Tupperware to get the air out!  This will preserved your cake for up to a year.

Most of this info was gleaned from: Susannah Chen - www.yumsugar.com

Tomorrow --- Pictures from my first anniversary, and our cake!

http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best - my new mystery!  (It's about a wedding planner!  :-)

"Cutting the Cake!"

It really was a beautiful cake…The picture to the left showcases well the spun sugar flowers.  My cousin, Kim, an amateur cake baker who could be professional, were she so inclined, did not even realize they were not fresh.  Kim said had she known, she would have gotten up close for a better look!

 Kenny decided last minute to order some macaroons to go with the wedding cake and coffee after dinner.  They are Rob's favorite cookie, and quite the hot dessert right now- and a true delicacy.

So we had some wedding cake left over - the top layer, of course, but that was planned.

 It was nice to have the extra cake.  Kenny didn't even get to have a piece at the wedding, so he enjoyed some the next day.  And Rob's Grandmother, who was unable to attend as Papa was ill, was able to celebrate in a small way, with some cake.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you how I preserved the top layer. I had a post earlier on how to accomplish this, but since I now have actually experienced it, I have tweaked the process a little.
Please enjoy the photos of Maggie and Rob cutting the cake.

Photos: Patty Cloherty
http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

"The Cake!"

 Look closely at the cake.  Those are not real peonies and delicate roses... but pink and lavender spun sugar confections!  Wasn't Lilly, our baker, an artist?

Maggie and Rob chose ivory for the cake color, as Maggie's dress and the table linens were not pure white.  In these lovely pictures, the cake looks more yellow than ivory, its actual color, but either way, it was just beautiful.  The sweet cake topper was Debbie and Bob's engagement gift to the bride and groom - as was the cake!

Much research and tasting was done to make the cake and frosting choices.  The ultimate decision...  a white chocolate 4 layer round cake, (15", 12", 9", and 6" layers), with white chocolate cream cheese, and French Mousseline filling - all covered with the preciously mentioned ivory frosting and fondant. The embroidery…Zotas.

The models in the cake pictures are the darling paternal cousins of the groom.  :-)

A word to the wise…when negotiating with your caterer, make sure you have it in writing that he/she will cut and serve the cake.  When were were signing the contract, our caterer made a point of stressing that she would do so.  I have never organized a wedding, other than my own 30 + years ago, and wondered why she was making such a big deal of it.

Then I heard from one of my California friends.  She had been to a wedding, with a wedding planner no less… and no one would cut and serve the cake.  When the caterer was approached about taking on the task, the mother of the bride was told, "That's not in our contract, so we're not doing it."  And she didn't.  The gorgeous wedding cake was butchered.  Had it been my job to cut the cake, the results would have been just as ugly….

Thanks again, for the beautiful pictures, Patty Cloherty!


http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

"The Photo Booth"

The Photo Booth:  It was a last minute decision, but a good one.  It was just a little extra that we let slip through the cracks.  Maggie really wanted to do it, I think, but as everything started to add it, she just let it go...until Kenny and I went to a good friend's son's wedding.  They had a photo booth, and it was so much fun.  I know they are a regular on the party circuit, but I had only been in one as a teen.

After deciding we really DID want one...everyone was sold out.  The photo booth industry was good to us, however, and everyone I called kept recommending someone...they were all booked, though.  But Rob was tenacious, and found us "Justin."  He came early and stayed late.  I was very happy with his services, but I am not going to post his website as a reco, until he delivers they promised CD with all the guests pictures on them.

And yes...I had my picture taken, but will not post.  I am too shy to make silly faces, and my kids said I took all the fun out of my own photo booth experience.  I look the same in all of them - just a silly smile on my face...

Please enjoy these candids, and tomorrow...the CAKE!!!

http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

"The Father/ Daughter Dance"

The Father - Daughter Dance...if nothing else will bring tears to your eyes, this may.  It did to mine.  As I watched my husband and our bride dance, all l could think of was that darling little girl who did, and still does, hero worship her dad. The first picture is of Maggie, age 3.  She desperately wanted her hair cut in a "bob" like her big sister KK, and I, with a heavy heart, let her cut her long hair.  I still have the envelope with her hair from that first major cut in my dresser...   She looks cute, though, doesn't she?

The next two pictures are of Maggie and Kenny dancing their dance.  Maggie chose James Taylor's
"Smiling Face" as their song.  Not necessarily designed as a slow song, but she insisted.  If I had to chose, I'd say James Taylor is Kenny's favorite artist, and he always told all the girls he thought of them when he heard it.  It was lovely.

Thanks, Patty C for the pics!

http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best