What, When, & Wear?

Years ago around Christmas time, a miscommunication led me to wear a cocktail dress to an engagement party that was supposed to be a "drop in and out for a quick drink in between Christmas shopping in your sweats" party. 

.....Needless to say, I dropped out faster than Cinderella at midnight.

Awkward moment #okayI'velostcount: That feeling of walking into a room to notice you are severely under or overdressed. We've all been there.

I thought of this story the other day after I received a text from a panicked girlfriend asking what to wear to a wedding she was attending as a date. She really liked the guy and was going to know no one there, so her wardrobe decision was critical. As we swapped pictures of potential outfits, I realized just how to tricky weddings can be when it comes to what to wear. I began to think about all of the weddings I've attended and how often I see women dressed improperly dressed for the occasion.

Choosing proper attire is all about taking into consideration the season, time of the wedding, and the venue where it is taking place.

1. Season: Spring or Summer
Go for a fun floral dress. You want to wear something colorful. Stay away from black or navy. Too dark you'll look like you're going to the office. Most importantly, do not wear white.

 Winter and Fall

During these seasons you can tone your color down. Anything too bright will draw attention and take away from the bride, which we never want to do. 

2. Time 

Rule of thumb: the later the wedding, the more formal. 

Most use 6:00 p.m. as the standard before and after time (before 6 p.m. is casual, while after is more formal.)  

3. Venue: 

The Venue plays a huge part in what to wear as a guest. If it's a backyard or beach wedding, a casual dress with flats would work perfectly. If it's in a church or more elegant setting, go for a nice "After 6" dress with heels. If the ceremony is in a church, wear something with a sleeve or at least wide straps. This may seem "old school" for some, but you can spare a few nasty glares from grandparents this way. ;)

Get these down, and you'll be flawless. Happy attending :)

Your Top Tier on Your One Year

I've talked to numerous friends about the tradition of the Wedding Cake. Most of you know the deal- boxing up the top tier after your wedding, freezing it, and eating it on your first anniversary. Adorable idea right? Imagine: a romantic dinner over candlelight, sipping champagne with your special someone while indulging in decadence that sends you on a buttercream-filled journey back to that beautiful day.....ahhh, could not get much better. As wonderful as that sounds, that journey can take a "chilling" turn from warm and fuzzy to, well, cold and still fuzzy-when you unwrap your cake to find a freezer burned mass with the consistency of a week-old toasted bagel in front of you.
We've done some research, and have found what we think is the best way to preserve your cake so it can be delicious 365 days later.

Here at the EP, we always delicately box up your top tier and send it home safely with you. Once it's home, our friends at The Knot recommend that you should do the following:

1. Remove the sugar flowers and set them aside.
2. If your cake is on cardboard, remove and put on a plate, or wrap the cardboard in plastic wrap. This will prevent your cake from tasting like cardboard. (Yuck!)
3. Chill the cake well before wrapping it up so that the icing hardens. This way it won't stick to the plastic wrap and make a mess.
4. Wrap the cake in several layers of plastic wrap -- not aluminum foil, which can cause freezer burn. Make sure to wrap it as tight as possible. Some bakerys recommend getting a sealing device for the best results.

Remember:

Some cakes freeze better than others. The more delicate the cake ingredients, the drier your cake will become in the freezer. Cakes with a longer shelf life: Chocolate, hazelnut, almond, and carrot cake. Cakes that may not last as long in the freezer: white cake, cake with fresh fruit, and cakes with whipped cream fillings.

Consider Ordering A Copycat Cake

If you have a cake that won't hold up in the freezer, do as many couples do and order a fresh cake tier in the same flavor as your original wedding cake for your one-year anniversary. Even if you have a heartier cake, Sylvia Weinstock, of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in New York, recommends storing cakes for no longer than two months, and forgoing the first-anniversary tradition. Like anything else, after a year in the freezer, any cake will be a bit stale. If you do decide to save your cake for the full year, focus on the nostalgia, not the flavor. 

*for more ideas on preserving your wedding cake, visit www.theknot.com. 

As always, happy planning,...and happy eating!