Now let’s say someone like Ms. Nancy, who has been in the event and food industry for years, decided to lend out a helping hand. In this blog Nancy will be giving out tips and references for some of your most pressing wedding day questions!

When we asked Nancy on her top picks we took into consideration budget, theme, and event size. We all want that picturesque wedding but when it comes down to the nitty gritty we have to get those details in!

Let’s start with venues, when looking for a venue you have to ask yourself, how many people have you invited? What area are you looking for? Parking availability?

Nancy’s top picks

1. Safari Texas Ranch. An outside/inside hall  perfect for those who want to get married while the sun sets. A large venue located on the outskirts of Houston in Richmond, Texas.
2. The Grove Houston. A small venue located in the heart of downtown Houston. Perfect for a small wedding with your closest friends. Great central area to accommodate out of town guests.

The Grove

Next, Nancy gave us tips on top catering companies who can supply and demand for any crowd size!

1. Meridians and Gatherings Banquet Centers and Catering. Whether you are having Italian or BBQ, this company provides great food in great quantity.
2. Mandola’s Deli. Another great place for Italian. Known for their eggplant parmesan, this family owned restaurant has all your favorites.

Now for the big one, THE DRESS!

1. BHLDN is a lovely bridal shop located in the Highland Village Area. For high end dresses tailored just for you, this is the place to visit. Sister shop to Anthropologie, you will fall in love with their designs.
2. Anika’s Fashion. Located off of Gulf Fwy, this shop has a large variety of beautiful designer dresses that will also accommodate your wedding budget.

www.geodun.com

And to add just that last extra tip, the perfect photographer!

1. Our friend and website photographer, Jennifer Vera Photography, has impeccable creative taste and provides the best captured moments on your special day.
2. Jaqueline Michael Photography, is a husband and wife team who provide quality photos at an affordable price. Specializing in all of life’s biggest moments.

Jennifer Vera Photography

Now with a great list of vendors, your wedding planning now can become a little less stressful.

Vendor List.

1.http://www.safaritexasballroom.com/

2.http://www.thegrovehouston.com/

3.http://www.houstonbanquet.com/

4.http://mandolasdeli.com/catering/

5.https://www.bhldn.com/stores-houston

6.http://anikafashion.net/

7.http://jenniferveraphotography.com/

8. https://www.jacquelinemichael.com/

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One thing you won’t need to worry about is missing a step when it comes to planning one of the most important pieces to your wedding: your wedding cake!  Nancy’s Cake Designs will break down the process of planning for and purchasing a wedding cake so you don’t miss a beat!

1.  Let’s start off with what we call a vision board. This board can be anything that inspires your dream wedding and it’s overall look. Your board can can be physical but most will keep it digital now a days.  Photographs found in magazines can be placed on a physical board.  Pinterest boards will allow you to pin dozens of cake ideas which will help our team capture the essence of your wedding.

2.  Once you’ve nailed down the style, theme, or look, we then draw our attention to the color scheme that you would like to implement onto your cake. These colors can be reflective of the bride’s dress (i.e off white vs ivory) ensuring that the tones and shades  of the cake will compliment her dress on the wedding day rather than clash with it.

3.  You’ve gotten through the toughest part.  You know what you want and can now begin your search to find your cake designer.  Wedding cakes are difficult to ship so looking for a local designer is key.  You can start by doing your research online to find your local wedding cake bakeries.  Go through each designer’s website and check out their galleries.  See if some of their work matches the look that you are trying to achieve.  Pick your top 5 and skim through their testimonials, reviews, and social media pages.  Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top three, call and schedule your cake tasting!

4. Now you can move on to the cake tasting, a favorite here at Nancy’s Cake Designs!  It’s time to put your taste buds to the test and try various cake flavors, frostings, and fillings.  The consultation is where you’ll get the chance to discuss design, elements, and added accessories that will make your cake uniquely you.  During your consultations, you’ll also have the opportunity to request a quote for your cake.  Don’t forget to ask for the delivery quote!  You’ll need to have your venue’s address to get an accurate estimate.   Now that you have all the information you need, you can make a decision based on flavor while staying within your budget. Yeah!

5. The fun’s not over yet! You will also want to explore the option of adding a groom’s cake to the festivities! Grooms cakes are a great way to show off some playful creativity through design and theme. They can be based off the the groom’s favorite hobbies, shows, sports, or anything else that might give the cake some character and your wedding a show piece.

6. As you finish planning the last details of your cake you’ll want to add any additional accessories including cake toppers and cake stands. These accent pieces can be found at local crafts or party stores or ordered online.  Be sure to drop off your cake stands or toppers with your designer before the wedding day and they will take care of the rest.

7. One question we hear often is: what should we do about our top tier cake?  Tradition has it that the bride and groom will remove the top tier and save it for their first year anniversary.

7.a Here are some options you could consider.  It is possible to wrap it in seran wrap and place it in your freezer until your first year anniversary date arrives.  You will want to remove the cake from the freezer and leave it in room temperature for 4 -6 hours before unwrapping and eating.

7.b A alternative option would be to place an order for a small 6” cake replicate of the top tier of your wedding cake 2 weeks before your anniversary to enjoy a freshly baked cake.

You did it! You’re now covered on all  bases when it comes to planning your cake for your wedding day.  Some wedding details can be easy to overlook but we hope we’ve made your checklist complete!  Whether you are a planning a small wedding at home or a large wedding at a venue, your cake wedding process can be fun and custom tailored just for you!

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There is something about a vintage-inspired look that catches the eye. Ethereal colors and a relaxed industrial urban setting make a wedding that much more appealing. East Downtown Houston’s newest gastro lounge and restaurant, Chapman and Kirby, helped capture the perfect glam-vintage feel. Our team at Nancy’s Cake Designs brought together a curated group of Houston vendors to achieve the vintage essence.  Let’s take a closer look!

Minimalism is in and was the inspiration for our cake.  Attention was brought to the flower accent, using neutrals and darker shades of blush and white; colors also found in the bride’s bouquet.  A delicate undulated border wrapped around the base of the cake bringing forth an elegant feel.

Given that the style of the shoot was more vintage-industrial we wanted a bouquet that would reflect the softness and femininity behind the bride. The clean pale colors really helped smooth the edges without taking too much attention off the bride herself. This was a perfect floral contrast incorporated into our vintage shoot.

The venue, Chapman and Kirby, is perfectly tucked away inside Houston’s, EaDo District. The gastro pub is known for its 1920’s eccentric vibe, classic cocktails, and the eye catching interior that attracts guests from all parts of the city.  The interior and exterior of this space are absolutely breath-taking and spacious enough for mid-sized guest list.  Combine the beautiful setting with an attentive staff, and you’ve found your dream venue!

We were ecstatic to bring together vendors that could put together another very important element to a wedding: the table setting.  The table décor tied in an elegant minimal look with soft dark blues while giving a flashy finish with the gold beads around the plate. The calligraphy on wood and on the menu added a personal and handmade feel toward the table ensemble.

And to top it off! The vintage dress was a MUST for the overall shoot to come together. The laced and beaded dress is an authentic vintage find from the 1970’s, a style that has been ushered into today’s modern day. The egg shell white dress made the bride stand out while the veil became the paintbrush stroke of the Gatsby era for an overall stunning capture.

Thank you to this special group of curated Houston vendors and creators.  Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

Photography: Marlen Mendoza // Venue: Chapman and Kirby // Dress: Vida Antigua // Floral Arrangements: Pom Pom Florists // Calligraphy: Love That Sticks Ministry // Cake: Nancy’s Cake Designs // Table Plate Chargers and Linens: House of Hough // Models: Manet Castañeda and Sebastian Delgado

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Our Red Velvet cake has become a staple holiday sweet. The chocolate notes join peppermint candies pairing colorful aromas with a deep rich base. A new spin to your wedding cake that makes the taste unique and unforgettable.

If you are more of a coffee lover our Mocha flavored cake is perfect for your holiday wedding. Straying away far from the traditional flavors, you’ll highlight your night with with bold, chocolate notes and a coffee roast with a full body finish. This cake is absolutely perfect and will leave a lasting impression while satisfying the immediate sweet tooth.

Last but not least is the traditional carrot cake; a cake filled with depths of flavors that is an absolute crowd favorite. Warm familiar flavors such as a nutmeg and cinnamon stay true to the holiday taste and spirit. Top that off with a cream cheese icing for a smooth sweet finish or pair it with coconut shavings to give an elegant look to your wedding cake.

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The day is spent with family and friends, while dancing and eating; coming together in celebration to formally introduce her to adulthood. The components behind creating this special day are carefully thought out and planned. From themes to colors, to the presentation of the young woman’s tiara and shoes, these moving parts are vital to incorporating “girl to young woman” symbolisms throughout the event while celebrating la festejada.

When it was time to create the cake for Jade, our quinceñera, we worked on creating a contemporary look based on her inspiration boards.  Jade was looking for a modern design with a elegant feel. We took into consideration her color palates and floral arrangements as well as the colors of her dress and even her invitations.

The cake decor is just as important for a quincenera as it is for a wedding.  The white 3 tiered cake was complimented with the colors pink and peach. Floral bouquets were placed on each tier creating volume and height; a minimal elegant approach.

In the end we were thankful to be a part of her celebration through our cake creation; it was a part of such a special and cultural moment in this now young woman’s life.

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Perhaps as a child your dream wedding was comprised of church bells, white doves, and a big fluffy dress. Today’s weddings have evolved.  They are about about making them an expression of yourself, molding your celebration into a reflection of who you are today.  Our clients, Luana and Tony dreamed up their perfect wedding and nailed it when it came to creating a one of a kind celebration that was a reflection of their relationship and their culture. Luana and her now husband Tony, gave us a glimpse of what the art of unique weddings entail.

In a comfortable backyard here in Houston, the Brazilian couple performed their marriage in a roda or circle, with friends and family. The small crowd joined together to bless Luana and Tony with their energy and love as they said their vows and conjoined as husband and wife. The perfect picturesque wedding unfolded as the sun set and as their guests shared stories and laughter amongst the newlyweds. As the day ended, everyone enjoyed their delightful summer wedding cake made by yours truly.  This wedding was a breath of fresh air and overflowed with authenticity and vibrant ethnic culture.

Literally and figuratively speaking, these beautifully executed weddings are happening right in our backyard. As wedding paradigms shift, we find ourselves taking part of something more unique and authentic because we are sharing a part of ourselves.

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Level of formality

Wedding invitations communicate a lot about how formal a wedding is going to be, despite the fact that many people haven’t made an official decision about this when they write their invites. This is communicated in a number of different ways: design, print type, colour, wording and dress code. A classic design that looks like it could have come from the royal family indicates formality, as do premium print options like letterpress or foiling. A monochrome or muted colour palette often correlates with formality, while fun, colourful invitations tend to be more casual. Keep an eye on whether the wording of the invite is fun and humorous or stilted and formal, and remember to check the dress code. If all these things are pointing to a formal occasion, the cake should follow suit.

Motif

If there is a design element or motif in the wedding stationery suite, consider how you can carry that into the wedding cake. This might mean flowers that match those on the invite, sprigs of greenery, or cake toppers that copy part of the design. One great example of this is bunting, a popular motif at many weddings. It is often used on the invitations, and a bunting cake topper can easily be made to put on the wedding cake, or fondant bunting can decorate the edges of each tier.

Colour palette

Colour is the easiest way to tie together different elements of your wedding. Most people choose a range of complementary colours as their wedding colour palette, and try to make sure they choose things that fit within this group of colours as much as possible. Usually colours are chosen before the wedding invitations are ordered, but the invite can be used as a source for colour inspiration if nothing has been chosen sooner. If the wedding invitation features rich pinks and greens, it makes sense to carry those colours over into the wedding cake.

Mood

Sometimes it’s hard to put your finger on the precise reason, but a wedding invitation just has a mood about it. It might be whimsical or restrained, girly or sophisticated. It’s something about the combination of design elements, colours, wording and other details that just works together for the outcome. It’s possible to achieve the same mood in the wedding cake through entirely different means, or by variations of the elements in the wedding invitation. The result? Even though they don’t ‘match’, the two just go together.

Style

Wedding invitations typically come in a particular style, like geometric, floral or nautical. This may or may not be a central motif in the wedding as a whole, but it’s a great idea to echo the style of the stationery in the wedding cake. That means a geometric design or cake topper if the invite is geometric, or nautical style decoration. A trending style for both invites and wedding cakes is watercolour, which creates an artistic effect that really stands out and works with almost any colour palette.

It’s always important for a wedding to have a thread that runs through it, connecting different elements and making everything feel like it belongs. By planning your wedding cake based on the wedding invitation, you ensure the cake will be a perfect fit with the rest of your day.

This was a guest post by Maddison Wallace from Paperlust. Maddison is head of content at Paperlust. She is a communications professional who loves words and drinking cups of tea.

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The Naked Cake.

You read that right! Naked cakes are by far the most popular wedding trend of 2017, we should know, we make them! Now if you are new to the term “naked cake” we can break it down for you. A naked cake is a wedding cake with the majority of the icing removed from the outer layer, showing off the bread rather than the icing. This effect gives cake a more rustic look, creating a bohemian woodsy vibe. The perfect cake trend for your outdoor wedding, scenic getaway, and love for urban vintage.

The loving pet.

Pets are a huge part of weddings now! Most couples prior to their engagement begin sharing things like apartments, bills, and of course pets! Because of this, pets now have an important role in the couple’s relationship and thus a vital role in their wedding. Whether they wag their tails down the isle, or they are simply an honored guest at the couple’s table, pets are very much encouraged to partake in their owners’ special day.

The soft minimal color palette.

Whether it’s blue, rose gold, or teal each color is used in a soft minimal touch throughout the wedding décor. Still going off the rustic, urban vintage look, the minimalism in color not only brings out the traditional white of a wedding but also gives a contemporary elegance. Because colors aren’t necessarily clashing, the bride has more freedom to play with different shades giving things a softer tone.  Overall it makes wedding planning easier and who doesn’t want that?

And there you have it, Nancy’s Cake Designs top three wedding trends of 2017 (so far). We love being a part of these trends and are always looking forward to the next.

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To perfect a wedding cake, the baker must understand his or her tools and how best to use them. For example, how much cake batter does one put in a saucer, or how thick should the batter be? Years of experience and repetition sharpen their skills and with time create a better recipe.

Timing is also imperative.  As the bread rises, the expert baker keeps a careful watch as they rise, making sure each is baked to perfection.

Depending on the filling of choice, the baker creatively mixes and matches complimentary tastes that best suit the bread of the cake. Whether that is fruits or caramel fillings, the options will always leave guests hungry for one more slice.

Finally the cake is iced with crowd favorites like buttercream, fondant, or whipped cream frosting. A blank slate ready to be decorated.

It is time for the cake artist to dive in!  Keeping track of the time, he or she is ensuring that every step ( baking, frosting, and finally decorating) is done in a timely manner so as to capture the cake’s peak moments to then be created into an artistic masterpiece.

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