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November 23, 2009 by Mandy Maxwell

Wedding Cakes of Extreme Porportions!

One look at the extreme grooms cakes by Crystal Wedding and you can see what sets them apart from other bakeries. The craftsmanship on their unique wedding cakes is mind blowing! Who would have ever thought to build LSU Stadium into a cake?? (Well they did! Several other Stadiums too.) The patience that the mother-daughter team put into their cake design is really remarkable.

Experience is definitely needed to create these masterpieces. Growing up in her mother Mary Boudreaux’s bakery, its no wonder Crystal Williams joined the team. Together they have some 50 years experience under their belts. Knowing the importance of quality, they and their staff bake and cook in the finest of American, French and European traditions. Everything made by hand with the freshest ingredients.

Speaking of traditions, ever heard of a King Cake? They are a uniquely New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition perfected by the Lafayette, Louisiana bakery. It looks like a giant festive pastry that serves 20-25 people! All cakes have a small trinket inside and who ever finds it in their piece has the privilege of buying next years cake! How festive! (They also ship these anywhere!)

A Mardi Gras themed party is not complete without the King Cake, but if its a wedding coming up Crystal Wedding’s is your go-to source in for all your wedding planning needs. They have everything you need from toasting glasses, chair covers and cake toppers, to floral centerpieces, candelabras and topiaries. But of course, wedding cakes and grooms are their specialty! So if you are looking for an extra special wedding cake with an artistic flare Crystal Wedding is your place!

October 19, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Top 5 Traditional Wedding Cake Photos- Part Two!

Last month we featured the top 5 traditional wedding cake photos that displayed a unique way to personalize this kind of wedding cake. This month we’re featuring photos of some of the most brilliantly decorated, excellently made, exquisite tasting traditional wedding cakes that we’ve found. If you’re shopping for a traditional wedding cake from a local cake bakery, Wedding And Party Network offers these photos as inspiration.

*climactic music from an epic movie soundtrack*

#5 Multi-Tiered Multi-Shaped Wedding Cake

Want to turn your traditional wedding cake into something remarkable and unique? Add a few tiers and change the shape of the base tier! This four tiered wedding cake features three round tiers and a square tier at the base. More than just shape, this cake also features unique icing patterns that quickly stand out to guests. Each layer is a different icing pattern which means you quadruple the level of fun! And is it just my imagination or do I spot a unique cake platter at the bottom? *wink*

This multiple style wedding cake was submitted by Toria Dolce Fine Desserts & Wedding Cakes, a wedding cake bakery in Ashaway Rhode Island.

#4 Winter Wonderland White Wedding Cake

Need a quick tip for enhancing your traditional wedding cake? Make it seasonal. You don’t have to add color or any other contemporary accent if you choose not to. Simply ask for unique icing patterns and seasonal accents like this wedding cake has. Given a winter theme by the bride, this cake features snowflake patterns in the icing as well as several shimmery silver snowflakes. If you’re going to adorn a cake with flair, use accents that play up the season of your wedding.

This Winter wedding cake was submitted by Sue’s Sweets, a wedding cake bakery in Rahway New Jersey.

#3 Buttercream Icing Cake With Decorative Fondant Accents

This cake has so many elaborate fondant decorations that it is hard to pick a place to begin describing it. The baker started with three layers of cake covered in classic white buttercream icing. White fondant accents were used to create the look of ribbons flowing from the top layer to the bottom as well as flowers and other decorations on each tier of the cake.

Adding unique decorations or elaborate and feminine decorations is a fun way to make sure that your cake is not too traditional or boring but rather full of attraction and beauty. Elegant is always best for traditional wedding cakes but personalized decorations help make it a reflection of your elegance.

This elegant wedding cake was submitted by A Social Event Caterers, creative caterers in Montgomery Alabama.

#2 Split Tier Strawberry & Buttercream Wedding Cake

Amassing tall tiers of delicious cake is a surefire way to make your traditional wedding cake stand out without adding any other decorations. If you want to liven your cake up a little more, try a split-tier wedding cake like this one featuring three square tiers atop a silver cake platter, a small split filled with strawberries, and a round tier on top with more strawberries instead of a cake topper.

Another unique feature of this cake is the ivory floral lace icing pattern which is just enough of a color contrast to stand out against the white buttercream icing covering each tier. These may be just three small ways to personalize the wedding cake but together they make one dynamite attraction at the reception!

This beautiful split tier wedding cake was submitted by Beautiful Weddings On A Budget, a wedding coordinator in Fort Campbell Kentucky.

#1 Ivory Stacked Fondant Wedding Cake

I cannot think of a cake in recent memory that dazzled me quite so much as this incredible wedding cake. This is three layers of ivory stacked fondant covered in a chantilly lace icing pattern and decorated to the hilt with green foliage decorations. The combination of ivory, white and green is beautiful. It’s homage to an elegant time when these colors were everywhere and elegance along with opulence ruled the day.

This beautiful wedding cake is a stunning reminder of the finer things in life. When shopping for your wedding cake, think “lavish decorations” even for small, traditional wedding cakes and you’ll find incredible treats like this.

This stacked fondant wedding cake was submitted by Just Ones Cakes & Catering, a unique bakery in Albuquerque New Mexico.

September 18, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Top 5 Traditional Wedding Cakes Photos – Part One

Traditional is the name of the game for September. For those interested in traditional wedding cakes with a hint of personality, these wedding cake photos are for you! I’ve included some pointers on putting a personalized spin on traditional wedding cakes so sit down, relax, let your mouth water and enjoy some wedding cake photos!

*Game show countdown music*

#5 Traditional Wedding Cake With Green Ribbon

All it takes is a small touch to make a traditional wedding cake come to life. Each of the three tiers on this wedding cake is wrapped at the base with beautiful green ribbon. It’s a simple touch but it adds so much to the feel of the reception. Also, green drew out the color of the leaves used in the floral decorations.

Another great touch makes this wedding cake a favorite. The top outer edge of each tier is lined with pearl drops of buttercream icing. On top of layers of flavor, this is a beautiful look and an even better taste.

This colorful wedding cake was submitted by G. Elliot Catering, talented caterers in Tampa Florida.

#4 Wedding Cake With Red Ribbon On Unique Platter

Not only is this a stand-out cake because of the scarlet ribbon used on each tier, it’s also a favorite because of the unique platter on which it rests. Small or larger, elaborate cake platters make a world of difference to a traditional wedding cake which typically does not feature the kind of across-the-room eye-catching designs of other wedding cakes.

This beautiful wedding cake on a unique silver cake platter was submitted by Krazy Ladies Catering, fun-spirited caterers in Meridian Mississippi.

#3 Four Tiers Fondant Wedding Cake

Many tiers are always a helpful way to personalize the wedding cake because the sheer height of the cake grabs attention quickly. This four tiered round wedding cake is completely covered in white rolled fondant. Each tier has pearl icing accents for an extra touch. Another stand-out feature are the edible wedding cake flowers used as a cake topper. What a neat addition!

This fondant wedding cake with edible flowers was submitted by Designs In Sugar, creater of gumpaste flowers for wedding cakes in Collierville Tennessee.

#2 Wedding Cake With Pearl Icing Accents

“Beautiful” is the only way to describe this fantastic traditional wedding cake. It’s not color or height that draws the eye to this cake. It’s not a unique platter or cake topper. It’s the design all of it’s own and that’s why it is a favorite traditional wedding cake for September. Each of the three tiers is covered in a delicious buttercream icing and given extra appeal with pearl icing designs up and down the sides of each tier. How beautiful!

This buttercream wedding cake featuring pearl icing style was submitted by Toria Dolce Fine Desserts & Wedding Cakes, a wedding cake bakery in Ashaway Rhode Island.

#1 Precious Moments Wedding Cake

If ever there were a moment for fanfare, this would be it. This traditional wedding cake veers a bit from the most traditional and uses a few classic accents to give it a personal touch. For starters, there are four tiers of wedding cake covered in buttercream icing. Yum! Next a different icing pattern is used on each layer.

To top it all off and make this cake #1 on the list, this cake has a Precious Moments cake topper. Talk about a fun way to personalize any wedding cake! Brides marrying now are very familiar with Precious Moments and other unique licensed characters. Adding their likeness to the wedding cake topper is a great way to make the cake truly feel like it belongs to you..

This sweet wedding cake was submitted by A Social Event Caterers, brilliant caterers in Montgomery Alabama.

August 21, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

August’s Top 5 Wedding Cake Photos

This month’s theme is “contemporary wedding cakes” so I’ve decided to spotlight some of the most popular and all-around favorite contemporary wedding cakes from Wedding And Party Network’s bakeries. I’ve even included details so you’ll know where to buy similar cakes and what to ask for when you’re shopping for a wedding cake. Enjoy!

*circus style fanfare*

#5 Wedding Cake With A Taste of Blue Flowers

This wedding cake is a nice blend of traditional and modern. For a slight contemporary flair, blue flowers were used as a cake topper and icing decorations of the same color were used on each tier. For a very quick dash of modern attitude, liven up your wedding cake with color.

This wedding cake with blue flowers was submitted by Beautiful Weddings On A Budget, a wedding coordinator in Fort Campbell Kentucky.

#4 Fruit Basket Wedding Cake

This is one wedding cake that’s almost too unique to top! It is shaped like three stacked harvest baskets ready to be filled with summer fruit. The cool thing about is that it’s a wedding cake! “Unique” and “contemporary” are almost interchangeable when it comes to wedding cakes so this one was sure to make the cut.

This harvest basket contemporary wedding cake was submitted by Toria Dolce Fine Desserts & Wedding Cakes, a wedding cake bakery in Ashaway Rhode Island.

#3 Asian Inspired Wedding Cake With Red Flowers

This is a very beautiful wedding cake with red flowers because red is an important color in Asian weddings. Red and white paired together are very powerful colors in many Asian cultures so this wedding cake is the perfect blend for a happy couple.

The three tiers at first appear to be just normal square tiers of buttercream icing and tasty cake but no! Black ribbons around the base of each tier provide a small accent for both the white color of the cake and the bright red flowers used to adorn each tier. A few Asian wedding decorations and the theme is set!

This Asian inspired wedding cake was submitted by Gourmet On The Go, delicious caterers in Victorville California.

#2 Pink & Black Polka Dotted Wedding Cake

You can’t get much more contemporary than this funky wedding cake! This is four tiers of fun as far as any modern bride is concerned. Hot pink and black polka dots come together brilliantly against a solid white cake. Pink flowers used as cake toppers and as decorations around the base of the cake help create an inviting display for this incredibly modern wedding cake.

This polka dotted wedding cake was submitted by Bake My Day, a wedding cake bakery in Louisville Kentucky.

#1 Black & White Mini Fondant Cakes

Elaborate fanfare is much deserved for this wedding cake–or rather wedding cakes. Black and white colors were used to create a very modern color palette. As opposed to a cupcake wedding cake, this couple chose small mini cakes covered decorated to look like tiny gift boxes. Each small cake was covered in fondant for a very precise finish. The top tier is a small cake for the couple with a fun black and white cake topper to finish out the look of the cake. From top tier to bottom tier, this definitely deserves to be the #1 contemporary wedding cake of the month.

This awesome mini fondant wedding cake display was submitted by Just Ones Cakes & Catering, an Albuquerque New Mexico wedding cake bakery.

July 31, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Hunting For Wedding Cakes in Huntsville Alabama

Have you ever tried to find a wedding cake bakery in Huntsville Alabama? If you don’t know the right place or are new to the town, it can be hard to find the right one. Instead of spending all of your time aimlessly searching for the perfect wedding cake, get started right on your search for a Huntsville bakery that will make your wedding cake. Here are suggestions for getting your dream wedding cake in Huntsville, Alabama:

Start by asking friends and family for suggestions — Wedding cake bakeries in Huntsville are as unique as the beautiful wedding cakes that they create. Therefore, finding the perfect one is going to take an outside opinion from someone who has used a Huntsville bakery before.

Sample wedding cakes at your local bakery — No two wedding cake bakeries are created the same! Once you know which bakeries you wish to consider, call and make an appointment for a consultation. It sounds a little scarier than it is. A consultation with your wedding cake baker can be the difference between fantastic and flop so call and ask for a sampling and consultation before you make your final decision.

Research the wedding cakes that you like — It’s always helpful to know what wedding cake styles interest you before your consultation with the bakery. This will also help you know that you are picking the right one. Some wedding cake bakeries in Huntsville specialize in unique designs while others are more traditional. Finding the one for you means knowing which style of wedding cake you want first.

Have allergy information on hand during the consultation — If you think your Great Aunt Gertrude will have a bad reaction to a very sugary icing, this information should be known during your consultation. Any allergy information or taste preferences should be mentioned during the initial visit to your wedding cake bakery.

That’s it! Now finding your ideal wedding cake is as easy as visiting a few local Huntsville wedding cake bakeries!

July 29, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

What Wedding Cakes Designs Are Popular In Louisville, KY?

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I’m getting married in Louisville Kentucky because my fiance’s family is from there. We’re stationed in Wyoming so his parents have agreed to plan everything but want me to choose the type of wedding cake I want. I have no idea what to do for a traditional Southern wedding because I’ve never been to one and I think I would offend them if I chose something that I want like a modern wedding cake in red and black. What should I do? ~ Maleigha

The Celebration Advisor: You’re well within your rights to get a contemporary wedding cake if that is what you want. However, it is understandable (and applaudable) that you want to make your future in-laws happy with your choice. If you truly want something with a bit more style and unique appeal, consider these wedding cake designs that are popular with southern brides in Louisville, KY.

Polka dot wedding cakes are very popular with Louisville brides (and brides across the country) because they are unique and can feature any variety of colors. While the overall design may not appeal to your in-laws, two tiers of a polka dot wedding cake keep the design from being overwhelming.

The second wedding cake photo depicts a very beautiful, contemporary round wedding cake that many people will get on board with. Though round wedding cakes with ribbons around the base of each tier aren’t particularly unique, adding an accent like edible cake flowers or draping fondant will help. Wedding cake bakeries in Louisville Kentucky will have many talented pastry chefs who can make helpful suggestions.

The last wedding cake photo is one that should excite you because it’s design is simple enough to be liked by traditionalists but contemporary enough in color and form to appeal to you. Red, white, black and silver or a two-color palette will help your Louisville wedding cake bakery create an exquisite cake for your wedding!

Polka dot wedding cake photo and sunflower wedding cake photo courtesy of Bake My Day, a local bakery in Louisville Kentucky.

Red and white contemporary wedding cake photo provided by Just Ones Cakes & Catering, a wedding cake bakery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

July 27, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Buttercream or Fondant For An Outdoor Wedding In Salt Lake City?

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I’m getting married outdoors in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s late enough in the year that it should be cool (so the almanac says) but my mom is still worried about me getting the buttercream icing that I want on my wedding cake. Do you think it’ll be ok or should I try something else? ~ Leigh

The Celebration Advisor: An outdoor wedding in Salt Lake City sounds, well, a little precarious if you have opted for a buttercream wedding cake. However, there are many kinds of buttercream icing so it’s a good idea to ask your local baker which type they use.

Buttercream icing for wedding cakes with a high sugar content tend to last longer under heat. The more common types of buttercream icing, French buttercream and Italian buttercream, have a higher fat content and therefore do not withstand heat as well. Once you have discovered which your Salt Lake City wedding bakery uses, you can judge from there.

As much as we all hate to hear this, your mother is probably right. A stiffer icing will most likely last longer. Fondant wedding cakes are popular with modern brides and allow a wide range of shapes and designs. Buttercream icings soften when cooled but fondant was designed for cakes that need no refrigeration and can last a while. Therefore, the rolled fondant icing on wedding cakes tends to harden slightly when left out.

Your biggest decision is whether or not you want to go against your mother even if it is your wedding. You can find buttercream icing wedding cakes that will hold up for a short time (a few hours at best) during your outdoor wedding. If you wait until just before time for the reception to display your wedding cake, your cake should be fine if your wedding cake baker uses a stiffer buttercream. If you want to avoid an argument, go with what mom says on this one and agree on a high-sugar buttercream or a rolled fondant wedding cake icing.

July 26, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Help! I Need A Wedding Cake Bakery In Fort Smith, AR!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: You probably get this a lot but I just moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas to be closer to my sister who moved here when she got engaged. I’m helping her plan the wedding. We don’t have a clue where to find a bakery that will make her wedding cake quickly. Are there any here? ~ Molly

The Celebration Advisor: Molly, Fort Smith is loaded with incredible wedding cake bakeries! Decide what type of cake you want and the rest is easy as pie…er…wedding cake.

Fort Smith AR bakeries have been making some of the state’s best wedding cakes for as long as anyone can remember. Whether your sister wants a large wedding cake or something smaller, there’s a bakery in Fort Smith for her. If she wants a fun flavor or something whimsical she’s also in luck! If she can dream it, Fort Smith wedding cake bakeries can create it.

Fort Smith is positioned in the part of Arkansas where several major towns are within reach. Even if she has to go outside Fort Smith to somewhere like Bentonville, she’ll be able to find the wedding cake of her dreams.

Just a suggestion, try talking with the future in-laws (if they’ve lived there for a while) about who they think should make the wedding cake. This will be helpful information for your sister, a great way to get you both more involved with her new family, and a fun way to make her new in-laws feel like a part of her wedding. All of this simply from asking where to find Fort Smith’s best wedding cake bakery!

July 23, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Little Rock Shines For Wedding Cakes Also!

I recently read Rob discuss birthday cakes for people in Little Rock, Arkansas. However, Little Rock shines for more than just their birthday cakes. Local bakeries in The Rock also make some to-die-for wedding cakes. How do I know? Glad you asked!

Living only a few hours away, I’ve been to many weddings in Little Rock. What stood out and what still stands out from each is the wedding cake. I’ve tasted so many different varieties of wedding cakes that it’s almost easy to tell the bakeries apart. I’ve tried buttercream and fondant icings. I’ve had tall wedding cakes, short ones, skinny ones, fat ones and the whole gammut in between.

Why Little Rock AR Wedding Cakes Are So Special

I’ve been to many other weddings across the country and I can honestly say that I’ve never put a better wedding cake in my mouth than a few I’ve tried in Little Rock. It’s not just because I’m an Arkansan that I find my tastes to be biased. It’s simply because Little Rock bakeries who specialize in wedding cakes put the most heart into their products. They want you to feel what they felt when making it.

They want you to taste the passion that surrounds you at the wedding. They want your tongue to experience the blissful flavor of life that just can’t be escaped. Little Rock wedding cake bakeries have a grasp on what it takes to make the perfect wedding cake bar none. If that sounds good for your palette, wet your whistle with some champagne and wash down a piece of the city’s best kept secrets.

July 23, 2009 by Celebration Advisor

Top Five Wedding Cake Picks For July 2009

As you all know, a wedding isn’t actually complete without a wedding cake. From the simple traditional cake to the elegant three-tier, the wedding cake is a focal point of any wedding reception. After reviewing several wedding cake pictures from the WPN photo gallery, my top wedding cake picks for July are:

**drumroll David Letterman style**

#5 Pink Rose Tiered Wedding Cake

The extremely fine detailing and delicacy is what makes this wedding cake so unique. The use of delicate wedding flowers to accentuate the beauty of the cake is amazing. My favorite design element of this particular wedding cake is all the light pink and and dark pink roses that were used between each tier. After all, pink is my favorite color which for me is a definite plus.

Although hidden under amazing wedding flowers and buttercream frosting, a delicious chocolate wedding cake resides. So as a big fan of chocolate, you can see why this stunning cake had to make it on my top 5! This cake was submitted by Sue’s Sweets, a Rahway New Jersey Wedding Cake Bakery

# 4 Contemporary Black & White Wedding Cake
Wow, where do I start with this dazzling black & white wedding cake. This cake puts the fun in funky. The different layers of black and white designs are what caught my eye as soon as I saw this cake.

This clearly shows what a fun and contemporary couple the bride and groom are with the square and irregularly shaped tiers. It’s not everyday a wedding cake is designed with polka dots or zebra stripes, which is why this contemporary cake was also a must in my top 5! This wedding cake photo was submitted by Photographs by Lawrence, a Marietta, Oklahoma Wedding Photographer.

# 3 Beach Wedding Cake
This awesome wedding cake is perfect for any beach-themed wedding. It is so striking I don’t think I could bite into it without feeling a little regret. You can feel the essence of the beach in this three-tiered wedding cake. Each layer contains beautiful authentic sea shells and intriguing frosting designs.

This extraordinary cake makes me feel like I’m really in a beach atmosphere. From its seashells to the replicated brown sugared sand, I couldn’t possibly have left this wedding cake off my top 5 list. This Tampa Fl wedding cake photo was submitted by G. Elliot Catering, a Tampa FL caterer.

#2 Trendy Wedding Cake

A trendy color blend of light pink, chocolate brown and pale mint green makes this is an awesome wedding cake. I would consider it fun yet still very elegant. When it comes to wedding cakes, the more contemporary the better! Although the cake has traditional round stacked layers, the detailed frosting and color scheme for the cake make it stand out. This cake is definitely trendy and contemporary wedding cake.

It’s not every day that pink and brown shades are used as the color palette for a wedding cake. And that’s fine with me, of course. Using pink with brown is an awesome choice. Like I said before, pink is my favorite color which is why this wedding cake couldn’t be left out on my top 5! This contemporary wedding cake photo was submitted by Gourmet On The Go, a Victorville, CA wedding cake bakery.

#1. Elegance In Red – Square Wedding Cake
It’s the moment you have all been waiting for! My number one wedding cake pick! Bright white fondant icing, dark red roses, and red ribbon make this square wedding cake a beautiful display. Although the design of this cake is simple, you can’t deny its exquisite look for the wedding. The smooth pure white fondant makes a perfect foundation for the rich deep red accents. I have chosen this square wedding cake as my number one pick because its sure to get some ”ooohs” and ”aaaahs” at any wedding reception. This roses and fondant wedding cake was submitted by Just One Cakes, an Albuquerque NM wedding cake designer.

So these are my top five wedding cake picks for July. Next month we’ll choose the top five wedding cakes for August and you can help! If you like a wedding cake from the photo gallery and would like to see it in the top five for August, Let us know: Vote For August Top Wedding Cake.