Vendor Series Interview No. 15, Arie Kidder Custom Cakes

I met Arie at the Expert Panel meeting for Seacoast Bride Magazine this winter and she graciously brought us some cake samples to enjoy... what talent she has, in both baking and designing her cakes. Check out her website and enjoy the interview!

Arie Kidder Custom Cakes

Arie Kidder



Some of her incredible creations!






KP: What is your favorite part of the wedding process?

AK: My favorite part of the wedding process is collaborating with the bride and groom on the flavors and design of their wedding cake. I most enjoy having the opportunity to bring my experience to the table and feature their unique personalities and tastes in my work.


KP: What do you love most about your job in the wedding industry?

AK: I love being able to contribute to a couple's very special day, plus it is such a happy occassion (the wedding)!


KP: What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

AK: The biggest misconception about wedding cakes is that it is "easy" to do. Having your cousin or aunt make the cake may sound like a great idea, but then I get the frantic last minute call when the relative backs out or the bride suddenly loses faith in their abilities! Go ahead and let your relatives make a children's birthday cake, but your wedding cake is a one-shot-deal. Leave it to a professional!


KP: How did you get into the wedding industry?

AK: I started decorating cakes as a young girl in my grandmother's bakeshop. As I got older and better at it, my grandmother let me work there and decorate all the birthday cake orders. Not long after, it made sense to handle wedding cakes too. After culinary school, I sought out to train specifically in the field.


KP: Tell me one vendor other than in your industry that you highly reccomend. Why?

AK: I wish I could recommend more than just one wedding vendor! We who are in the wedding industry, love what we do, and just hope to make a living doing it. Support local vendors, especially the small ones who really take pride in their work!


KP: Tell me one vendor in you industry that you highly reccomend. Why?

AK For wedding cakes in the Seacoast area, I like the work of Owen from Confection Art. I also like Owen himself! He is very talented.


KP: Favorite wedding story- funny or serious.

AK: One of my favorite wedding stories is this: When I was pregnant with my youngest child (now 4), I had been careful to schedule my last cake order well in advance of my due date. Well, the baby decided to arrive 6 weeks earlier than planned, and caught me with a wedding cake that was not quite finished! As I was recovering from an emergency c-section surgery and on morphine, all I could talk about was my cake! Luckilly, my husband who also has a culinary degree, had seen me make hundreds of cakes, and was brave enough to take on the job of finishing it! The cake was not exactly what it should have been, but it still turned out beautiful, and the bride's family was so understanding of the situation. The best happy ending was that we had a healthy baby girl!


KP: What other part of the industry would you not want to work in? Why?

AK: I dont think I can choose a field I dont want to work in, but I do know I do not have the patience of professional photographers. The amount of time they put in during (photographing) the event is just the tip of the iceberg. People do not know how much time they put in after the event, going through all the photos and editing. I have much respect for the Photography field.


KP: What differentiates you from your other industry peers?

AK: To differentiate myself in my field, I really take pride in putting my best work forward. The cake has to be fresh and delicious, and the decorations and details have to be perfect. It helps that I am a perfectionist!

Bands vs. DJs

I'm sure I'm going to get a hefty response for blogging about this, especially since I'm married to a jazz pianist/DJ. I get this question asked to me SO many times from my full coordination clients. This is what I'm hearing from brides today about the pros and cons of both options:

First, the classic reasons NOT to have a DJ or to DEFINITELY hire a band:

1. I want the crowd to really get into dancing so I HAVE to have a band. A DJ just won't cut it.

2. DJ's are so cheesy- they always have props and light shows... tacky tacky tacky!

3. My guests expect a certain level of sophistication from us so we have to have a band.

4. Live music just kicks things up a notch.

5. My guests want to be entertained throughout the night and a band is just the thing!

Now the reasons why a band is NOT selected or why people LOVE DJs:

1. I just can't afford a great band, I'm playing it safe and going with a DJ.

2. I want a lot of originals to be played- no one can sing like Michael Jackson!

3. There isn't a lot of room at my reception venue and I don't want the band to take up too much space.

4. I want a lot of current music and I know a band doesn't know all of those songs.

5. We have a very diverse group of guests and I want to be able to have music for everyone to enjoy!

There are a lot of points that I happen to agree with here, but I want the experts to tell you their side of the story. That's why I'm going to be posting interviews from DJs, bands, and ceremony and cocktail hour musicians to tell us why they should be hired and what the pros and cons are of their individual industry. Stay tuned over the next few weeks and learn a bit more about one of the most popular and talked about aspects of a wedding!

Desserts... The Not So Traditional

Now for NOT so traditional desserts

Desserts by Marie Gerli Catering

Photos by Emilie Inc.

Pies and Bunt Cakes, oh my!




Followed up, of course, by Mini and Regular sized Gummy Bears.



Now, some people don't like Chocolate fountains... they think they're passe. These can get messy for sure, but how can you resist all of the fabulous goodies you get to smother in chocolate?

Photo by Beacon Hill Photography



A very popular option, although not cutting-edge as some people feel it still is... the candy bar. This can be color coordinated to the wedding like the one below, or it can be filled with your favorite items.

Photo by Stacey Kane Photography



Photos by Stacey Kane Photography

And for the GRAND FINALE... my personal favorite... a custom chocolate buffet. Truffles, milkshake shooters, mousse, cookies.... you name it, it's here...










Ready for dessert now?

Vendor Series Interview No. 7, Hair That Moves

We work with Lena Hartford as often as we can because our clients LOVE her. She's really wonderful to work with and very calming to our brides on their wedding day. She also happens to be my personal hair stylist so I guess I'm a bit biased here... Check out her website and enjoy the interview!


Hair That Moves

Lena Hartford



Examples of her fantastic work!











KP: What is your favorite part of the wedding process?

LH: My favorite part of the wedding process for me is helping the bride get her veil on to take photos and stand back and watch her beauty and happiness.


KP: What do you love most about your job in the wedding industry?

LH: My favorite part of the wedding industry is that I can help people feel their best of one of the most important days of their lives.


KP: What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

LH: The biggest misconception of "the hair industry" is that anyone can "do hair". I guess this is true, anyone can, but to find something that you really love to do in your career is unique. I LOVE to do wedding hair.


KP: How did you get into the wedding industry?

LH: I have always loved formal hair. After 13 years of weddings and proms in a salon, I met a wedding planner that cracked open the door to the serious wedding industry that I didn't even know was there. Thank you!


KP: Tell me one wedding vendor other than in your industry you highly recommend? Why?

LH: This is a hard one. I am not sure if I have one favorite. I have lots of vendors that I enjoy working with. The most important thing that sticks out in my mind about vendors is which one will fit the bride and her personality the best. I am sure most vendors are great.


KP: Tell me one wedding vendor in your industry you highly recommend? Why?

LH: This is hard too. I will have to say Joanne from Joya Beauty. I am still in awe at her skill and her ability to take complete control of a stress filled room and calm it down. She is so great at her craft.


KP: Favorite wedding story- funny or serious

LH: I would have to say the story that is sticking out in my head is a wedding we had in Rhode Island. The bride was newly preganant and the groom had her wedding gift delivered to the room while we were getting her ready. It was the most beautiful baby book that he had filled out and added pictures too of their new baby and of themselves. She shared the note he inluded in the book that had the room in tears for several minutes. It may have been the sweetest wedding gift ever!


KP: What other part of the industry would you not want to work in? Why?

LH: I dont think I could ever be a planner. There is so much involved and I am amazed at what planners are able to pull off!


KP: What differentiates you from the rest of your industry peers?

LH: I would like to think of myself as different than some others in my industry for several reasons. 13 years of expereince and punctuality and the amount of detail and effort I put into making a wedding day run smoothly. Being equipped to be onsite with a bride is a huge help. Everything from being in contact with the brides and wedding vendors to the bride's consultation. Making sure that the bride and her wedding party have a schedule for the day of the wedding to allow them the piece of mind that hair is completed on time. It is a special service different than most.

Vendor Series Interview No. 5, Praez Occasions Couture Invitations

Through our recent joining of Facebook, we discovered Praez Occasions Couture Invitations, a fabulous custom invitation studio located in Hamden, CT.. Funny enough I grew up in Wallingford,CT which is the next town over! Small world right? Well, these two ladies really have their designs together... take a look at their website for more incredible designs and enjoy the interview!

Praez Occasions Couture Invitations


Zeb and Rae



Their incredible invitations!






KP: What is your favorite part of the wedding process?

Z&R: Our favorite part of the wedding process is the design process. Whether it's event design, dress design, or invitation design...it's all about the manifestation of the bride and groom's dreams . For us, there's nothing like seeing the bride's (and groom's) face when they come to pick up their invitations, and they're exactly what the couple envisioned, or better than they expected. It's wonderfully rewarding to know that we help them make memories that they'll cherish for years to come.


KP: What do you love most about your job in the wedding industry?

Z&R: What we love most about our job is that we are purveyors of fine details that make each invitation distinctive and special. We absolutely love to shop for jewels, papers, fonts, and unique materials that set each design apart from each other, so the client gets a truly individual expression of their own.

KP: What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

Z&R: The biggest misconception about our industry is where invitations fall on the bridal priority list. Often, invitations are one of the last things considered, which is a huge mistake. The wedding invitation sets the tone for the event, and are part of the overall scheme of the event design. They tell your guests what kind of event they are expecting to be a part of - average or exquisite. This dictates the guests' behaviors and attitudes about the event - how to dress, and even more importantly, how to gift.


KP: How did you get into the wedding industry?

Z&R: We started as graphic designers, providing in-house printing services. The demand for our invitation designs increased so much and so consistently that we had to create a separate business entity just for that service. And we haven't looked back!


KP: Tell me one wedding vendor other than in your industry you highly recommend? Why?

Z&R: Another wedding vendor (not in our industry) that we highly recommend is Matthew Wagner (Matthew J. Wagner Fine Photography). His work is simply jaw-dropping. He doesn't just capture a shot, he captures a memory, a moment in time. You can feel the raw emotions of the couple and their guests just jumping out of the photo at you...it's awesome!


KP: Tell me one wedding vendor in your industry you highly recommend? Why?

Z&R: A wedding vendor in our industry that we would recommend is designer Sherri Weese of Simply Unique Invitations, because she has a similar affinity for clean designs and fine embellishments, particularly her collection of Swarovski brooches!


KP: Favorite wedding story- funny or serious

Z&R: Our favorite wedding story so far comes from one of our current clients, Tracy and Mike. They're getting married May 2009. When they came to get their invitations, it was Tracy (the bride, of course) that was completely into it, and excited, while Mike was very laid back about the whole thing. Just prior to the delivery of their invitations, Tracy asked that we print all of their recipient's addresses on the mailing envelopes. She absolutely loved her design, and after seeing the physical sample, could not see having the envelopes done any other way. It took Mike so long to get his part of the guest list finalized, she released us to print her envelopes only, and deliver his envelopes blank because it wasn't a real priority for him, and "he'd probably have them done in crayon!" Within about a day or so after delivery, Tracy called back to say that Mike was ready to go with his guest list, because her envelopes were so beautiful that he got jealous, and wanted his done too!


KP: What other part of the industry would you not want to work in? Why?

Z&R: We most definitely would not want to be a wedding or event planner. It's enough work bringing the invitation to life, we couldn't imagine replicating that kind of effort on every other aspect of the wedding as well!


KP: What differentiates you from the rest of your industry peers?

Z&R: What separates us from our industry peers is our professional design services. We do not use templates, we create custom designs for each client based on their personal style, their distinct vision for the wedding, and other factors that we learn about during our initial consultation. We also create new design concepts several times per year, because not every couple knows what they want at first, and seeing the latest bridal trends and our cutting edge ideas can be extremely helpful in defining the look of their ensemble. The icing on that cake is that we don't impose high minimums and or spending thresholds, so we can accommodate any size event, any size budget.

The First Moment- why brides and grooms should see each other before the ceremony

I have a lot of brides who cringe when I ask them if they'd like to see their groom before the ceremony... "It's tradition, I don't want to jinx anything," is a common answer. Do you actually know how this tradition came about? Kate Mann looked into it and found this excerpt from Emily Post:

Can’t I see my fiancée before the Wedding on the big day?

Q: My mother insists that I not see my bride-to-be on the day of the wedding until the ceremony. Is this customary in today’s weddings?

A: Most couples today have disregarded the musty old superstition of the bridegroom not seeing his bride before the ceremony on the day of the wedding. The superstition stems from the days when marriages were arranged and the groom might never have seen the bride. There was a chance that he might take one look at her and bolt – so it was often safer for them to meet for the first time at the altar! This, of course, is a custom that these days certainly does not need to be followed, unless of course it’s something you both feel strongly about.


So, since that really isn't the case too often anymore, why not consider this taboo? Not only is it a great way to schedule your photos and ensure you ENJOY your cocktail hour, the moment is always magical- beyond words actually. That's why I asked three fabulous photographers in New England to send me some of their favorite "First Moment" shots... take a look and tell me you wouldn't love to experience this yourself?

Photos by Emilie Inc.




Photos by Liesl Clark, Claris Photography










Photos by Claudia Kronenberg

What you need to know about "Seasonal Flowers"

More than once a week I get a call from a bride looking for "seasonal flowers," hoping to be able to save money on her overall flower budget. Every time I field this question, I answer with saying, "Other than peonies, lilacs, and lily of the valley, there really is no such thing as "seasonal flowers." More and more resources on-line and in print tell brides to pick blooms in season in order to be budget conscious. I am here to set the record straight on flowers. Florists get their flowers from all over the world, many from South America and Holland. These blossoms include some of the most popular flowers available: roses, hydrangea, calla lilies, tulips etc. We don't pick our own hydrangea in someone's backyard in Maine to get them when they're blooming "in season." These flower farms grow specific types of blossoms for extended longevity and consistency. I suppose while I'm on this rant I should also say that there are some flowers that florists give a bad name concerning price. Here's another record to get straight: Orchids are not THAT expensive. Sure, they're more expensive than carnations and button poms, and for their size they're more expensive than hydrangea per blossom, but they are very reasonable to work with in select floral arrangements and add a great texture as well. Here are some photos of individual flowers and if they have a particular season I've mentioned it... Otherwise you have free reign on all of these throughout the year.

Hydrangea- all year, depending on color. Antique Green is available in the fall when the nights get cooler, although you can get a hold of it in the spring when it's a light pink and green combo which is also beautiful. The periwinkles, purples and hot pinks are great in the summer, but are available for the most part, year round.. Mini green and regular green shouldn't be a problem either. Photos from Sierra Flower Finder

Blue Hydrangea

Hot Pink Hydrangea

Antique Green Hydrangea

White Hydrangea

Light Blue Hydrangea

Roses- I know some brides don't like roses because they think everyone uses them, which is true for a very valid reason. Roses come in almost every color imaginable and they also come in different forms- traditional, spray, garden. They're a great way to add a specific color without breaking the bank... here are a few of our favorites.

Dark Milva

Black Magic

Amnesia

Esperance

Marjolik Spray Rose

Garden Rose

Peonies are bride's FAVORITE flowers.. we think they're really beautiful, full of fragrance and texture. The downside is they are available at a reasonable price from May to Mid-June... you can get them earlier and later in the year but their per stem price can sometimes triple or worse.

White Peonies

Light Pink Peonies


Hot Pink Peonies

Coral Peonies


Red Peonies


Orchids: There are a lot of different types of orchids: cymbidiums, dendrobiums, mokaras, vandas, plus many others...they work really well out of water, by the full stem, or the individual blossom. Here are a few of our favorites we work with all summer long.

Cymbidium Orchids



Dendrobium Orchids



Mokara Orchids





Vanda Orchids are some of the most expensive orchids, so we only suggest them if you want that really purple/blue color. Definitely a splurge item here.