To cake or not to cake!

One of the harder questions when it comes to wedding planning is what to serve to your guests. Whether to go with a traditional wedding cake or the new trend of serving cupcakes or going into a completely different direction with pie or another dessert favorite like ice cream sandwiches. The key is to pick something that you both enjoy to eat and fits your personality and theme of your wedding. Here are some examples of past clients choices:

Review: Babycakes Cake Pop Maker

To continue my very unhealthy obsession of Cake Pops, I was further drug deeper into my addiction last week when I went to our Kohl's grand opening and found on the bottom shelf in the appliance section a Babycakes Cake Pop Maker. I was so excited when I found this, I forced stopped myself my jumping up and down like a little kid on Christmas. I thought that this would be great way to make my Cake Pops more round and be easier to make and clean up.

So today, I finally tried it out after going to the store to buy my favorite cake mix, Funfetti. After mixing the batter and warming up the Cake Pop Maker which only took about three minutes, I read over the directions and then decided to try out one Cake Pop before a full batch of 11. After several tests, what I found to work the best was to fill the Cake Pop molds using a tablespoon. This was a lot easier than filling each mold using a zip loc bag with batter and it was a lot less messy.

The first Cake Pop was a clear success. The next step was to see how they would cool and hold up when I melted my candy and coated the Cake Pop. I was very surprised how quickly the cake pops cooled. After placing a candy coated stick into the Cake Pop and refrigerating for about 15 minutes I coated about 10 Cake Pops without any problems.

The only drawback for the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker was that the bottom half of the Cake Pop cooked faster than the upper half so I had to be careful not to overcook the Cake Pop and in the middle of the cooking process, I flipped each Cake Pop over for even cooking.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my $24.99 purchase from Kohl's. I would recommend anyone who loves Cake Pops just as much as I do to buy the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker.

Vendor Spotlight:Oona Copperhill

I started my business in 2002 after getting my master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Montana. It was then I moved to the Seattle area and began covering beautiful weddings all over the Puget Sound and beyond.

My favorite part about working with couples is capturing all of the little moments that make a wedding unique to them. I love documenting love and emotion and laughter and I also love making beautiful images of the details, the setting, and all of the elements that each couple has chosen for their day.

A great wedding photographer must be able to not only capture all of the beauty of the day but to also tell the story visually and evocatively. I take great joy in crafting photos that do both. I also believe that because of my training as a photojournalist, I offer my clients more extensive coverage than they might find with many other photographers.

When looking for the right photographer, I would give two pieces of advice. First, make sure you love their work and that you’ve seen a large sampling of it to be sure they are both talented and reliable. Second, choose someone you like! Your photographer will be a part of your wedding day - at some of the most intimate and momentous moments of your life. Be sure you feel comfortable with the person you’ve chosen and that it feels like a great match.

I’ve noticed that photojournalism has become a very popular buzzword and most people want a healthy dose of candids in their wedding images these days. This is a fantastic development because I believe these can be some of the images you will treasure most. But when you are considering a photographer, just be sure their photos really reflect this style if that’s what you want. As it’s grown more popular, even photographers with a more traditional and formal style have taken to calling themselves photojournalists. A great photographer can give you beautiful candids as well as portraits and it will show in their portfolio!

Oona Copperhill Photography
253.549.5825
www.oonacopperhill.com

Alpha Phi Conference Wrap-up

This weekend, Elegant Affairs had the immense pleasure of coordinating the Alpha Phi Pacific Northwest Regional Conference for the fifth consecutive year. This year's conference took place at the beautiful Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California, just a hop, skip and a jump from the airport.

Work began back in the late summer when the venue was selected from about a half-dozen hotels. Once the venue was selected work began with the PNW Regional Team to develop a theme. We decided on a Glee themed.

A logo was created that best represented the theme:

Actually planning the conference for the 220 attendees living two states away was made easier with assistance from the Doubletree Event Manager Ariadne Glyptis. It was great working with her because she gave us great ideas how to have the best conference ever along with all of the help from theAlpha Phi PNW Regional Team.

The best part of the planning was coming up with the idea of Friday night's "Dessert Bar." Again, to go with the Glee themed, we rented two slushy machines from San Jose's Party Time Rentals and had a great candy bar comprised of M&Ms, Candy Bars, Skittles and pretzels to go along with the cherry and blue raspberry slushies.

Another highlight of the weekend was Saturday night's Diva Off where we had two of our regional team members act as Sue Slyvester and Will Shuester to introduce our chapters who participated in the Diva Off. (Click on the link to watch the video)

Wedding Dress Shopping

According to Martha Stewart Weddings…

"A dress is distinguished not only by its fundamental shape, but also by its fabric; decorative details such as tucks, pleats, ruffles, and flounces; and embellishments like lace and embroidery. The various cuts of sleeves and necklines can work with nearly every style and also make a dress unique.”

Shopping Tips
Bring someone whose sense of style you trust to the bridal salon, but limit the size of the group: Too many opinions will muffle your own.
• Wear a small heel and presentable undergarments.
• Don't be hesitant to talk price; a saleswoman can prevent you from falling for a dress you can't afford.
• If you love the way a dress looks, make sure you also love how it feels. Raise your arms as you will when you dance, and sit down in it. You'll feel more beautiful if you can move freely.
• Don't assume you'll lose weight before the wedding; order the dress based on your current size. It's easier to take in a dress than to let it out.



Ball Gown
Introduced by Queen Victoria, re-imagined by Dior in the 1950s, and never long out of fashion, this is the most romantic of all bridal silhouettes. It features a small waist (natural or dropped) and a voluminous skirt with petticoats. Most flattering to women of at least average height with hourglass or full figures, this style's skirt will overwhelm a petite or a particularly buxom bride. Depending on the fabric, the skirt can appear weightless or heavy.

A-Line
This enduring style's name comes from the triangle (or "A" shape) between the narrow bodice and outer edges of the wide, ungathered skirt. Suitable for a variety of fabrics, the A-line is versatile: It may or may not have a seam at the waist, which may be higher or lower than the natural waistline; and the close-fitting bodice may be strapless or have any type of neckline.

Princess
Closely related to the A-line, with a slender bodice and broad, ungathered skirt, the architecture of the princess gown is based on the most basic element of sewing: the seam. Uninterrupted, full-length vertical seams begin at the neckline, skim the natural waist, and slide over the hip bones, with universally flattering -- and slimming -- results. The seams may be piped, beaded, or otherwise accentuated.

Empire
After the French Revolution, Napoleon's wife Josephine popularized this neoclassical dress with a very high waist; the sheer materials she chose caused a sensation. The cropped bodice of the Empire style flatters the small-breasted woman but not a more buxom bride; the raised waist creates a long line, ideal for a petite bride. The skirt may be straight, slightly flared, or even as wide as an A-line.

Sheath
If you are comfortable with showing off your curves, consider the slyly constructed sheath, popularized in the 1950s by Marilyn Monroe. This body-hugging profile is artfully sculpted with darts, tucks, and seams. The effect will differ depending on the weight and drape of the fabric. A great choice for a tall, slim-hipped woman, the sheath is equally becoming to a petite, slender bride. Avoid this style if you have wide hips but narrow shoulders.

Slip Dress
Some women prefer minimal display over the lavish ornamentation common to wedding gowns; for the most body-confident among them, the simple and revealing slip dress is a stunning choice. This cut has its origins in the clingy gowns favored by 1930s Hollywood actresses. Suitable for those lean and trim, tall and petite, this dress usually features flowing fabric and a sinuous bias cut, elevating it from the humble undergarment for which it is named.

Fabric Glossary
The fabric determines how your dress floats, whether it clings to or stands away from your body, and if it absorbs or reflects light. Color makes a difference too. Natural whites are broadly flattering; stark whites look glamorous against dark skin but overwhelm the fair. Ivory or eggshell whites have yellow undertones, which complement pinkish skin tones; traces of pink in champagne whites favor olive complexions.
The best bridal fabrics are made of natural fibers -- usually silk, sometimes cotton or wool. Listed here are the ones that you are most likely to find.

1. Taffeta: A crisp, structured cross-weave, with a lustrous, dull, or moire finish
2. Shantung: Plain-woven silk fabric with an irregular, slubbed texture
3. Satin: A family of fabrics with a high gloss face and matte reverse; double-face satins are glossy on both sides
4. Faille: A fabric with crosswise rib that closely resembles grosgrain ribbon
5. Crepe: Woven with twisted yarns, this lightweight, soft-pebbled or crinkly fabric often has a dull surface
6. Charmeuse: Fluid, smooth fabric, with exceptional drape; dull or semi-lustrous
7. Jacquard: Textured fabric displaying a complex, variegated weave or pattern
8. Chiffon: Sheer and lightweight fabric with beautiful drape; matte finish
9. Organza: A sheer, fine mesh with a dull luster and a stiff body. Sometimes made with cotton and called organdy
10. Velvet: Plush fabric with a soft nap; may be patterned or embossed
11. Pique: Textured medium- to heavyweight fabric with raised rib
12. Eyelet: Woven fabric pierced with a pattern, then stitched around the holes
13. Chantilly Lace: With delicate floral and ribbon motifs on a net ground
14. Alencon Lace: Also called needlepoint lace; ornamental patterns are outlined with heavy silk cord on fine net ground
15. Guipure Lace: With raised, sculptural motifs bridged together or sewn onto coarse net; also called Venise lace
16. Point d'Esprit: Sheer net lace with dots, typically used in layers for a skirt or as an overlay for the dress bodice
17. Embroidered Tulle or Net: Tulle or net ground with patterned overwork