Ditching the Wedding Cake Entirely

Here's a liberating and economical twist on wedding-day dessert: NOT having a wedding cake at all. My friend who snagged her wedding cake for $13 wins the cheap wedding cake contest hands-down... but for those who won't come across this option, don't be afraid to Just Say No to wedding cake.

Why no cake? Maybe you don't even like cake! Some people don't. My husband and I could have easily passed on the wedding cake extravaganza... it didn't even occur to us not to. There are some exciting wedding-dessert alternatives that will let guests satisfy their sweet tooth without frosting.

Some wedding-cake alternatives to consider:

Cupcakes. You may be able to strike a deal with a local baker who doesn't even have to know they're for a wedding. (Pssst! When people hear it's for your nuptials, they're more likely to hike up the prices).

Other alternative: have a bunch of happy bakers who also happen to be invited to your wedding show up with a dozen cupcakes each in a designated flavor. One cupcake tree on each table, what could be more fun?

These cupcakes are clearly NOT in the frugal bride's price range. Pic courtesy of FlickRiver.com

Pic courtesy of APieceofCakeinChicago.com

Pastries. Talk to your wedding caterer, who may be able to pull some strings and get you pastries on the cheap that have been purchased by an outside vendor. This will then permit you to slice off the cake-cutting fee. Napoleons, cream puffs, eclairs... mmm, who doesn't love pastries?

Pic courtesy ChadsChocolateFountains.com

Chocolate fountain. I had posted the NJ chocolate fountain website on an earlier blog... if you're really into chocolate, this could be a bride and groom dessert dream come true! Serve with fruit and cookies for dipping.

Pic courtesy Yelp.com

Cheesecakes. Big fans of the New York cheesecake? Mmmm... how about a table of cheesecakes in a variety of flavors, from lemon to chocolate to blueberry?

What to Ask Your Wedding Caterer

What are your most popularly requested (and enjoyed) entrees and sides?

Asking this question will give you a good idea of what types of meals to include for your wedding dinner. Whether it's a sit-down meal with food selections available to each person, or a buffet where guests get to sample a few different entrees at once... you want to offer choices that will appeal to a variety of palates and preferences.

A good rule of thumb (which, if the caterer is a good one, will likely already have in place) is to provide options that include either fish, red meat, chicken or vegetarian meal/pasta.

What types of cuisine do you specialize in?

Many brides and grooms decide that they'd like the wedding-day menu to reflect their heritage. Do you both come from Greek families? Then you might search for a caterer who can create an authentic Greek wedding menu. Even if you are of mixed backgrounds, it still can be fun to offer cuisine from one specific corner of the world. Perhaps Spanish food, including favorites like tappas, chicken and seafood paella, and rodiccio are at the top of your list. Or maybe you'd like a menu with a fresh, Asian theme that includes sushi, spicy Thai, and other eastern elements. If you do go with an ethnic menu, just be sure that the caterer can also provide options for more simply prepared meals that can be enjoyed by picky eaters and people with special dietary needs.

This brings us to the next question: do you accommodate special dietary requests? 

Don't forget that some of your guests may have allergies, food intolerances, and medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which would limit options for what they can eat. A good wedding caterer will be able to take requests for these guests. Inquire as to whether the cost of specially prepared meals is included in the per-price plate, or if there is a fee for adding to their menu.

Do you offer wedding menu packages, and what is the cost of each? 

Our wedding caterer provided a list of buffet choices that we were able to pick and choose for each category (red meat, fish, chicken, pasta). A buffet meal typically costs less than tableside service, because it requires fewer employees.    

Is the food prepared in advance in your own kitchen, or do you require a kitchen on-premises? 

This question is important for DIY weddings where the caterer comes in from the outside (as opposed to the type of wedding venue that includes on-site catering). Ask whether their staff will require access to a kitchen that includes ovens, food storage facilities, etc. and then communicate this to the wedding hall people so you can be sure all your bases will be covered on the big day.

Do you offer a kids' menu, and if so, can the children be served first? 

Feeding the kids first is a win for everybody. You can't go wrong with a simple menu that includes kid favorites like chicken fingers, fries, and simply prepared pasta. Children get hungry quickly, and feeding them on time will certainly stave off potential meltdowns, which will be key during a formal occasion such as a wedding. Advance-serving kids' meals also allows all of the parents in attendance to oversee their children's dinner ahead of time. This way, by the time their own meal is served the responsibility is out of the way and the parents can enjoy their food without interruption.

The Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses Trend

One recent wedding trend that fits nicely around here with our quest for budget-friendly wedding options is the mismatched bridesmaid dress idea. It seems that creative brides are finding a number of ways to offer flexibility to their 'maids that meets a variety of concerns: budget, body type, complexion, and style preference.

This is not to say that your bridesmaids should be permitted to go all willy-nilly with their dress selections. The mismatched bridesmaid dress theme should definitely have some legit parameters going in, presumably with creative direction from the bride herself.

For example, you might tell your maids: "Everyone wear black!" or, "I'm going with a vintage springtime look, so let's all do chiffon pastels in the color and dress style of your choice."

Or, perhaps there is a designer out there who's showing a rainbow of dress styles with slight variation - say, off the shoulder, strapless, tea length, floor length, above the knee, etc, all of which would coordinate well with each other.

Below, some samples of what we mean by mismatched bridesmaid dresses. Consider how this trend could work for your wedding party!

Contemporary meets vintage with these artfully blended styles in muted tones.
Pic courtesy of http://exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com

Romance abounds: flowy, short dresses in an array of dusty, floral shades. Pic from http://visualartspeakers.com

Summer wedding daydreams, dressed in peachy cream. Notice the variety of open-toe shoes on display here.
Pic source: http://weddingbee.com

Wedding Accessories – "Everything but the Dress"

Pic belongs to weddingfactorydirect.com

Frugal NJ brides, take a look at WeddingFactoryDirect.com for competitive pricing and bulk discounts on all the wedding essentials you'll need in addition to your wedding gown.

They have everything to complete your look including wedding-day jewelry, hair accessories, wedding shoes, gloves, veils, bridal flip flops, purses and more. Also check out jewelry and hair accessories for bridesmaids.

In addition to wearables, you can pick up other wedding-day essentials such as wedding decorations, cake cutters, monograms, champagne flutes and other key items.

This website has a large selection of wedding items and you will indeed benefit from their bulk pricing.

www.weddingfactorydirect.com

Phone: 1800 790 4325

Email: info@weddingfactorydirect.com

South Jersey Wedding Deal: $79pp Wedding Package at Centerton Country Club

Pictures courtesy of CentertonCC.com

I recently came across an ad in the Celebrations advertiser for Centerton Country Club and Event Center. They are located in Pittsgrove, NJ and recently renovated their venue. Features include a 10,000 square-foot grand ballroom, spacious dance floor, and romantic French doors that overlook a perfectly manicured golf course.

The ad states "complete wedding package for $79." I am not sure for how long they are offering this price, but it's worth exploring if you're a South Jersey bride in search of a good, all-inclusive wedding package.

They also promise, "unique presentations and creative ideas for every budget." 

Centerton Country Club has a handful of Google reviews, all listed at 5 or 4 stars (five is the max) with positive feedback from satisfied clients. So, pretty good, it seems.

For more info, visit http://centertoncc.com or call them at 856-358-3325. Emai is sales@centertoncc.com.