Category:Tips & Trends’
Wedding Flowers for Each Season
- by Stephanie
If you can spring for fresh flowers for your upcoming reception, we highly recommend it! There is no better way to add that extra flair to your wedding than with fresh flowers. Plus your reception space will be filled with the fresh aroma of these gorgeous additions.
A way to keep down costs for your fresh flowers is to purchase ones that are in season. You can even combine in-season flowers with flowers that are available year-round to make it more cost-effective. Here is a list of flowers that you can get all year round and by the season. Happy searching!
Year-round florals: 
Aster (if from Africa)
Gerbera (Gerber Daisy)
Winter (December-January)
Aster (US grown)
Filler foliage: Ivy, Holly, Baby’s Breath, Wax Flower, Hypericum Berries
Spring: March – May
Filler foliage: Banana leafs, Heather, Wax Flower, Baby’s Breath
Filler Foliage: Mint, Baby’s Breath
Fall: September – November
Filler foliage: Ornamental Cabbage, Hypericum Berries, Euonymus, Heather, Baby’s Breath & Wax Flower
Wedding Day Emergency Kit
- by Stephanie
You’ve always invisioned your wedding or event going off without a hitch and one way to curb disasters is to be prepared for the worst. We totally recommend putting together a small kit for the “just in case” moments you might have at your wedding. You never know if Aunt Linda just might spill her third glass of wine on you when she’s giving you that 10th hug of the night…so here is a complied list of items you might want to bring to the church and reception hall, just in case…
The Essentials:
- Extra copy of directions to reception
- Cell phone
- Numbers of all participants in wedding
- Numbers of all vendors
- Driver’s License
- Cash
Beauty:
- Nail polish (2 shades)
- Clear for runs
- Shade being worn
- Nail file
- Nail polish remover
- Cloth headband (for pulling back hair while applying makeup)
- Compact mirror
- Makeup (for touch ups)
- Curling iron (humid or outside weddings)
- Hairdryer (rainy weddings)
- Hairspray
- Bobby pins and barrettes
- Brush and comb
- Perfume
Hygiene:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Floss
- Deodorant (roll on or spray)
- Feminine hygiene products (tampons, sanitary pads, etc)
- Breath mints
First Aid/Medicine:
- Bandages
- Neosporin
- Allergy medicine (Claritin, Benadryl, etc)
- Aspirin and pain relievers
- Pepto Bismol, Alka Seltzer or Tums
For the “What ifs”:
- Wine Remover (Satin Devil Fruit and Red Wine Remover)
- Small hand towl (for stain removal on dress)
- Wet wipes and tissues (for tears and spills)
- Lint brush
- Extra earring backs
- Travel size sewing kit (with small scissors)
- Extra buttons
- Double-sided hem tape
- Extra pantyhose
- Flat shoes for the reception
- Foot cushions
- Crochet hook (for bustling)
- Umbrella
- Mini flashlight
- Swiss army knife
- Smelling salts
- Static guard
- Febreze (the small bottle)
- Tide Pen
- White chalk (for covering up stains on dress)
- Q-tips
- Super glue
- Visine
- Purelle
- Bottle water
- Snacks
- Hand Lotion
- Straw (so that you don’t spill your drinks on you as you are getting ready)
- Baby powder
- Safty pins
With all of these items, you’re sure to curtail the the typical wedding day debacles!
Wedding Cake 101
- by Stephanie
For many brides, the wedding cake is a centerpiece to their big day. We have seen (and tasted!) literally hundreds of decadent wedding cakes here at Plaza Lecea and would like to share with you some of the tips of the trade.
Cake types: White, Chocolate, Marble, Yellow, Specialty Flavors
For starters, figure out what type of cake that you want to serve your guests. White? Chocolate? A specialty flavor? The typical white and yellow cakes are often jazzed up with fruit or cream fillings. Chocolate is no longer solely for groom’s cakes; we’ve seen a push for brides that love their chocolate to end up on their cake and their grooms! Try a specialty cake such as German Chocolate, lemon, strawberry, carrot cake or a marble cake (chocolate and white cake combined). Although most brides do not know all the cake flavors, the bakers do. Make sure to ask them for the extensive menu when you walk into their store for your tasting.
Fillings: Strawberry, Lemon, Custard, Chocolate Mousse
Who said there can only be one flavor to a cake? Brides are now infusing different flavors into their cakes with exotic fillings. You can now choose fillings from Almond Crème to Italian Rum. Fruit infused custard has become a wedding cake’s best friend with its delicious creamy taste that will have your guests hoping that there are leftovers. For the bride with not as much of a sweet tooth for rich creamy fillings, there are also simple fruit spreads that can be placed into the cake.
Cake by Cake & More
Frostings: Butter cream, Fondant, Royal Icing/Gum Paste
First thing to think of when you are picking out your frosting is whether you are going for looks or taste. Butter cream frosting is light, yet rich in flavor, adding to the overall sweetness of your cake. Fondant on the other hand is great for creating smooth, seamless cakes but it is not as tasty as butter cream. Just like fillings, butter cream can have flavors added to it to make your cake a fruity sensation from start to finish. Fondant, although made out of sugar, tends to taste a bit bitter due to the amount of dye added by the baker to give it the desired color you request. An upside to fondant though is that you can virtually make your cake any color you want. Also fondant is better to bring out an intricate piping detail that you might want on your cake.
Shapes: Round, Square, Petal, Hexagon, Oval
Round cakes are timeless and very traditional. They can be decorated with various items such as a cascade of flowers or beautiful satin ribbons.
Times are changing though, and we have seen more and more brides go with more modern and contemporary shapes lately. Square cakes are being used by brides not looking to stray too far from tradition, but wanting something just a little different.
Petal cakes, also known as scalloped cakes, give a flowerlike shape ideal for garden weddings. This cake is very elegant and can look too bold with a lot of detail added to it. White icing with piping white detail is recommended for this particular cake.
Cake by Exclusive Cake Shop
Hexagon shaped cakes have entered into the wedding realm as a show stopper. This six-sided wonder has become a favorite with brides for its ability to be picture perfect without putting a single decoration on it. For the brides preferring décor, you can place pearl piping along the seams of the cake or place elegant flowers such as orchids or calla lilies at each cake base.
Tiered cakes with multiple shapes also known as topsy-turvy cakes and have become a new fad for the fun and fancy bride. In the spring, these cakes are perfect for bridal tea parties with an Alice in Wonderland twist. The crazy shapes and way they are set up give the appearance of tipping over, but the cake is as steady as stone. The eye-popping optical illusion will have your guests remembering your party through the ages.
Alternatives to Traditional Cake: Cupcakes, Pies, Cheesecake, Candy Bars
Cupcakes by Cupcake Couture
Tiers of cupcakes are easy distributed among your guests and are perfect for a bride on a tight budget. Pies have also begun to hit it big at weddings as well, and are showing up more as the alternative to a groom’s cake. An uncommon, but still delicious option added to the wedding cake list has been cheesecake. Cheesecake may not be traditional, but it is absolutely ideal for hot summer weddings. Candy bars with specialized labels for the bride and groom are also a “sweet” parting gift for your wedding guests. There are other alternatives as well. We’ve seen cookie cakes, ice cream cakes, and more!
Toppers: Traditional, Glitzy, Unique
Although the traditional bride and groom cake topper is an option, most brides are choosing to use flower cake toppers to give their amazing cakes some extra oomph. A monogrammed letter has also become a popular cake topper for modern brides looking to add a little bling to their cakes without going too overboard. The bride and groom topper has not disappeared, but it has been giving a new humorous twist on some occasions. Cakes have been spotted with the bride topper dragging the groom to the altar, or the groom impatiently waiting for the wedding to be over to make it to a big soccer match. There have been many weddings where we have seen love birds placed on top of the cake as well. There are a variety of options for cake toppers that will fit every bride’s style.
Cake Topper Resources: http://www.justcaketoppers.com/ or http://www.weddingcollectibles.com/
Tips & Trends: Dining Options
- by Stephanie
When deciding on what type of service style you would like for your reception, consider budget, time and formality of your event.
Sit-down dinner:
If you want a formal atmosphere and have the budget for a multiple course dinner, a seated meal is your best option. Seated meals typically require more time for service, so if you are limited with time or really want to get out on the dance floor right away, this may not be the best route to go. Fun ways to incorporate your couple personality into your seated meal would be with personalized names for each course or doing fare from your first date—like Italian if you went to Maggiano’s on your first date).
Also remember when doing a seated meal you will want your food to be served on china, which typically runs $4-$10 more per person depending on the stemware, flatware and plates that you choose. One of our caterer’s, Columbia Culinary Team makes sure that all of their food is served on china and is included in your package price. Brides always ask about the price difference between seated and buffet meals and seated meals only cost more than buffets because of the amount of staff needed to serve all of your guests. Approximate one server per every two tables so that your guests are not waiting for too long to get their next course.
Buffet or food stations:
Buffets are the most popular style of food service at Plaza Lecea. Many brides and corporate clients like the variety offered with food and the lower cost of service. Lots of guests enjoy buffets because they can pick and choose what they want to eat and the amount. Don’t worry too much about running out because every caterer brings a little extra to make sure that everyone will get a plate! Don’t forget to ask your caterer about added décor for the buffet as well. We always love the trendy stuff that An Event to Remember and True Flavors bring over when they do buffet services at our facility. Also remember when choosing a buffet, you have the option of serving your food on nice acrylic plates (standard) or you can upgrade to china.
Worried about guests standing in line for too long? We love having our overhead screen and projector in the Boardroom because guests are able to watch slideshows of the couples while they wait. They never complain while oohing and ahhing over the couple’s childhood pictures!
We have had a lot of fun food stations at Plaza Lecea. One of our favorites was Hill Country Catering’s pizza station for a recent Quinceanera. The teens (and adults!) got to choose what toppings they wanted and in less than five minutes they had their own personal pizza ready to enjoy. We have also had stations based on ethnicity and locale:
Mexican Comida: Quesadillas, nachos, fajitas, tacos
Asian Cuisine: Sushi, pot stickers, and different types of rice
Classic American: Mashed potato bar, pizzas, mac-n-cheese (w/yummy bacon, mushrooms and chicken toppings!)
Italian Fare: Pasta bar with different veggies and proteins (sausage, chicken)
Family style:
Family style service has really caught on in the past couple of years. What is family style, you ask? Our best way of explaining it is kind of like a buffet at your table. Servers bring out large platters of food and you get to share those platters amongst the table. So if you don’t really dig asparagus, or want an extra helping of scalloped potatoes, you can help yourself! It also gives your guests an opportunity to get to know each other because people really bond over food and those extra helpings.
Family style does require more staff to ensure that your guests are served in a timely fashion, but it’s worth it in the end. Absolutely Delicious Catering and Columbia Culinary Team specialize in family-style service. Remember that like a sit-down dinner, family style service takes time! Generally speaking, make sure you have at least an hour to an hour and a half for service.
Cocktail reception:
If you don’t wanna spring for an elaborate meal, or if you and your soon-to-be hubby want to have a casual reception, hors’ duerves are an awesome way to serve food and show off your personalities. All of our caterers have appetizer options to choose from (some of our fav’s include Absolutely Delicious Catering’s Chicken Diablo and Spice of Life’s Meatballs) but they also can create a completely custom and unique menu for your reception.
Just remember to start your reception a little later if you are planning to have a cocktail reception because if guests arrive at 5:00 p.m. for the event, they are most likely expecting a full meal.
Bon appetit!