Awesomely Awkward Cake Toppers #2: I love you THIS MUCH

I couldn't wait another moment to share more awesomely awkward cake toppers. This edition is brought to you by love. Oh, you thought I meant the bride & groom's love? Well, aren't you a Sunshine Sally! If this is love, I'd be scared to see them angry. Yeesh!

This topper says "You're not good enough to be on the cake with me. I'd rather kiss a frog."
Nice!

  

She was told the groom just needed a little shove on his wedding day. She took it the wrong way. 

I want the piece with extra blood on it please.

Should we be frightened that this seems to be a cake trend??

    

I love you so much I could just strangle you! Or stab you in the back.
Is it just me or is it scary that the knife-wielding bride is smiling?

Half-dead Spiderman + MJ with guts hanging out = a topper nobody will ever forget. 

No matter how much they try.

"Yes, honey. I love your cats."
Seriously, how much do you really love them?

Disclaimer: 

These stores are chosen by me and have not solicited this post. If you make a purchase because of this post please let the shop owner know you came from my blog From Moments to Eternity.

I was not financially compensated for writing this post. This is not a review. 

The pictures belong to the shops featured. 

Please contact me if you would like to have your shop featured in an upcoming post.

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Awesomely Awkward Cake Toppers #1: That's just weird

Why stand on a soap box when you can scream you're strange from your cake top! Yes folks, I've found some disturbing cake toppers for your viewing pleasure. And by "pleasure" I mean "wha???" Let's jump in!

From the happy mind of Megan Bogonovich come these awesomely freakish lovelies. 

 

This is my deer husband. 

And she's my monkey wife. No, she's not on my back yet!

 

Gee, your new hubby's a real stallion. 

Hey, isn't my wife a cool cat??

Uh... yeah.

My hubby's a love machine. No, really. A MACHINE!

Did you think he was a bit robot-like in that ceremony? Nah.

Just when you thought you would never see a squirrel wed a giraffe. Well.. think again!

No, really. THINK... ABOUT... IT. 

 

(She does have nice traditional human-human toppers, if you're interested.)

When two mermaid mice find love it's wonderful, isn't it? 

Everything's better with bacon, right? Right?!
NO.

I know this isn't a cake topper but  I couldn't resist showing you this true disaster of a cake. Those are bullet holes in the middle, shot from the gunman on the tier below, a bomb has exploded on tier #3, some guys are sawing thru teir #2's column and I'm pretty sure that's a dead guy next to the crashed airplane on the bottom. Even your extremely talented baker thinks this marriage is doomed.

Oh my.. so many toppers, so little page space. I'll be posting another!!

Disclaimer: 

These stores are chosen by me and have not solicited this post. If you make a purchase because of this post please let the shop owner know you came from my blog From Moments to Eternity.

I was not financially compensated for writing this post. This is not a review. 

The pictures belong to the shops featured. 

Please contact me if you would like to have your shop featured in an upcoming post.

****

More than words. What your flowers are saying!

In Victorian times flowers took on much more than making a pretty tabletop. Called floriography, this coded language gave individuals a way to communicate feelings that were not allowed to be expressed openly. This is where the "tussie mussie" (small bouquets) sprang from. Add special meaning to your wedding day with some secret flower choices.

Amaryllis	Pride
Ambrosia	Love is reciprocated
Anemone	anticipation, unfading love. Price Range: Moderate.
Apple blossom	Preference
Aster	Symbol of love, daintiness, talisman of love,trusting
Azalea	Take Care, temperance, fragile, passion, Chinese symbols of womanhood
Baby's breath	Innocence, pure of heart. Price Range: Inexpensive
Bachelor button	Single blessedness, celibacy
Bells of Ireland	Luck
Buttercup	Riches
Calla Lily	Magnificent beauty  Price Range: Expensive
Carnation (general)	Fascination; distinction; love. Price Range: Inexpensive
Carnation (red)	Deep romantic love, passion, "My heart aches for you," "Alas; for my poor heart!"
Carnation (green)	secret symbol of the followers of Oscar Wilde
Carnation (white)	Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, faithfulness
Carnation (pink)	A woman's love, a mother's love, "I'll never forget you," "Always on my mind,"
Carnation (purple)	Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable, unreliability
Carnation (mauve)	Dreams of fantasy
Carnation (solid color)	Yes, affirmative
Cherry blossom	Feminine beauty
Chrysanthemum (red)	“I love". Price Range: Inexpensive
Daffodil	chivalry, return my affection. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Dahlia	Elegance and dignity
Daisy (general)	Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity. share your feelings.
Daisy (red)	Beauty unknown to possessor. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Freesia	Meaning: Innocence. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Forget-me-not	True love
Gardenia	You're lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck. Price Range: Expensive
Hibiscus	Rare delicate beauty
Hydrangea	heartfelt gratitude for being understood. Price Range: Expensive
Iris	Good news. A message of faith, wisdom. Price Range: Moderate to expensive, depending on variety
Ivy	Dependence, endurance
Jasmine	Unconditional and eternal love (in the Philippines)
Jonquil	"Return my affection"
Lavender	Devotion
Lilac (purple)	First emotion of love
Lilac (white)	Youthful innocence, memories. Price Range: Moderate to expensive. The French lilac is more flower-like and can be used as such in bouquets and arrangements.
Lily (white)	Purity
Lily (scarlet)	High-souled aspirations
Lily (orange)	Desire, passion. Price Range: Moderate to expensive
Lily of the Valley	Sweetness, Humility, Returning Happiness, Trustworthy. Price Range: Expensive. These small, fragile, bell-shaped flowers are considered traditional marriage flowers.
Moonflower	Dreaming of love
Orchid	Refined beauty. Price Range: Expensive
Oxeye daisy	Patience
Peony	Bashfulness; Prosperity & honor (China); Masculinity & bravery (Japan). Price Range: Expensive
Phlox	Harmony, "Our souls are united", "We think alike"
Plumeria	Perfection, springtime, new beginnings
Primrose	Eternal love
Protea	Courage
Poppy (general)	imagination
Poppy (red)	Pleasure
Poppy (white)	dreams, modern, peace
Poppy (yellow)	Wealth, success
Rose (red)	True love
Rose (blue)	Mystery, attaining the impossible, love at first sight
Rose (white)	silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility
Rose (black)	Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirth
Rose (yellow)	Friendship, jealousy, infidelity, apology, a broken heart, intense emotion, dying love, extreme betrayal
Rose (pink)	Grace
Rose (dark pink)	Gratitude
Rose (light pink)	Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy
Rose (burgundy)	Unconscious beauty
Rose (coral or orange)	Desire, passion
Rose (lavender/violet)	Love at first sight
Rose (red + white)	United
Stephanotis	Marital happiness. Price Range: Moderate. These trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their meaning.
Sunflower	Short-stemmed meanvPure and lofty thoughts. Price Range: Inexpensive to moderate in season
Sweetpea	"You have my thanks", Pleasure. Price Range: Moderate
Tulip (red)	Undying love. Price Range: Expensive.
Tulip (purple)	Forever love
Tulip (white)	One side love
Tulip (yellow)	Hopeless love
Violet (blue)	Faithfulness
Violet (purple)	Daydreaming
Violet (white)	Modesty
Violet (red + yellow)	Joy, happiness and excitement
Violet (thornless)	Love at first sight
Wheat	Wealth and prosperity

Flowers with Negative meanings
Certain flowers & plants have less desirable meanings attached. You might reconsider having them in your bouquets if you're superstitious. Or you can ignore those traditions and create all new meanings for the blooms you enjoy. Just for kicks, here's that list.

Christmas Rose: Scandal	Red Poppy: Consolation
Fig: Idleness	Rhododendron: Danger
Foxglove: Insincerity	Striped Carnation: Refusal
Larkspur: Infidelity	White Poppy: everlasting Sleep
Lavender: Distrust	Yellow Carnation: Disdain
Marigold: Grief	Yellow Chrysanthemum: Slighted Love
Mulberry: I shall not survive you	Yellow Lily: Falsehood
Raspberry: Remorse	Yellow Rose: Jealousy
Red Carnation: Alas for my poor heart

When are my flowers in season?

Choosing wedding flowers that are in season can save you some money. Most florists can special order out-of-season buds but you'll be paying premium prices for the privilege. Keep your wedding purse fuller by checking this list for the blooms in your season.

Spring
Anemone: Blue, red, pink, white. Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Bells of Ireland: Green. January-October
Boronia: Pink. April-May
Casa Blanca Lily: White. January-October
Daffodil: Yellow. January-Early May
Delphinium: White, Blue. April-October
Hyacinth: Purple, Pink or White.
Lilacs: Violet or White.
Narcissus: White.
Peony: Pink or White. Late Spring – Early Summer
Ranunculus: White, pink, red, orange, yellow. February-May
Star Gazer Lily: Pink, White. January-October
Sweetpea: White, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple. December-May
Tulip: Many colors like white, pink, yellow, red, and purple. December-April
Waxflower: Pinkish purple and white.

Summer

Alstromeria:  orange, pink, yellow and cream, other colors
Bells of Ireland:  Green  January-October
Chrysanthemum:  White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
English Lavender:  Purple
Forget-me-not:  Blue
Freesia:  White, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple
Gerbera Daisy:  Pink, Yellow, Orange, Red, White
Hydrangea:  White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Iris:  Purple, Blue, White
Larkspur:  White, Purple, Blue, Pink
Liatris:  Pinkish Purple
Lily (asiatic/oriental): White, Pink, Yellow, Orange
Lisianthus:  Purple, White, Pink
Matsumoto Asters:  Pink, Purple
Monte Casino Asters:  White, Purple
Queen Anne's Lace:  White
Snapdragons:  Pink, Yellow, Orange, White, Other Colors
Solidaster:  Yellow
Statice:  Purple
Stephanotis:  White
Sunflower:  Yellow, orange
Tuberose:  White
Yarrow:  White, Pink, Yellow
Zinnia:  Red, Orange, Pink


Fall
Aster:  White, Pink
Chrysanthemum:  White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
Dahlia:  Many Colors
Marigold:  Yellow, Orange, Red
Statice:  Purple
Zinnia:  Red, orange, pink
Dried Leaves


Winter
Amaryllis:  Red, White
Anemone:  Blue, red, pink, white  Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Bells of Ireland:  Green  January-October
Camellias:  White, Pink
Casa Blanca Lily:  White  January-October
Cosmos:  Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors
Daffodil:  Yellow  January-Early May
Forget-me-nots:  Blue
Holly:  Green with Red Berries
Jasmine:  White
Narcissus:  White, Yellow
Poinsettia:  Red, White
Ranunculus:  white, pink, red, orange and yellow  February-May
Star Gazer Lily:  Pink and White  January-October
Star of Bethlehem:  White
Sweetpea:  white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple  December-May
Tulip:  Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple  December-April
Waxflower:  Pink, White

Available Year-Round
Baby's Breath:  White
Bachelor's Button:  White, Pink, Red or Blue
Calla Lily:  White, other colors
Carnations:  Many Colors
Delphinium:  Blue, White, Purple
Eucalyptus:  Blue, Silver
Gardenia:  White
Gladiolus:  Many Colors
Heather:  Pink
Lily of the Valley:  White and Pink
Orchid:  Pink, White, Purple, Other Colors
Protea:  Pink
Rose:  Many Colors. higher priced near Valentine's Day
Scabiosa:  Purple, White

2013 wedding flower trends

Choosing the blooms you'll have in your wedding is almost as important as a color theme. Flowers should accent, not distract. If you have different styles of bridesmaid dresses for each person, the flowers can help pull them all together.  Here are some trending flower options projected for 2013. Don't forget to check when your favorite blossoms are in season!

Dahlias - Variety of white, pinks, reds, oranges, purples. Large or small blooms. Check out this recipe you can bring to your florist for Burgundy Dahlia and Eucalyptus wedding bouquet from Wedding Chicks. 

Mums - Ranging in color from limey greens to fiery orange, mild pinks and whites. Similar in style as dahlias but more compact softer petals. 


Peonies - ball-like blossoms reminiscent of ice cream scoops in white, light yellow or pastel to dark pinks. Petals can be slightly fragile. Old-world charm.

Brunia Berries - More of an accent flower than a main bouquet character. Small round berries on stalks. 


Succulents - Not blossoms as they are actually leaves that resemble buds. Possibly an alternative to flowers if you're extremely allergic. Mostly green colors but some have tinges of rose pink, purple or red.



Baby’s Breath -  Traditionally an accent piece and still used regularly as such. Gaining popularity as a stand-alone bloom. When used as the main bouquet character, it can feel light and airy. 


Ranunculus - Compact petals in round blooms with a flat top. Similar to peony but less ball-like. Come in a variety of colors. 



Anemones - Open blossoms with dark centers. They can make an impact with contrasting colors.



Garden roses - Timeless roses appeal to many. Come in a variety of colors. Great for garden weddings.



Clematis - Star-like open blooms in a variety of colors. Grow on trailing vines which can also be used as greenery in bouquets. 

2013 Wedding color trends!

I love this little blog. It's growing now & there's alot to find that can help you plan the perfect wedding. Check out this post about 2013 colors that will make your day *POP!*
I'm digging the springy greens, bright blues & popping purples. Oh LA LA! I also read on another blog that gold is coming back in place of platinum & silver. Pairing with soft rosy pinks & bright blues make it luscious & sweet.
How did you choose your colors?

Why price should not be your first question for wedding vendors

For most brides, the first thing they ask vendors is the price. How much is this going to cost me? What they don't realize is there are other questions more important to ask before you consider price. Most brides aren't truly looking for bargain basement deals, but they are trying to get the most bang for their buck. Here are some suggestions to get you started with wedding vendors you're considering.

The 2 most important questions you should be asking ANY vendor...
- Are you available on our chosen date?
- Will you travel to our chosen location?
If they're not available or won't go there, it won't matter what their prices are!

The 3rd question to ask any vendor is: How much wedding/event experience do you have?
If they've only done a handful (or none), are you ok with their inexperience to save a few dollars? Or would you prefer someone with more experience? Another way to gauge their experience and professionalism is to check if they have reviews from past clients. Several happy reviews are better than no review or, worse, negative ones.

DJ/Live Band: What type of sound system do you use? Are lights included? Are you willing to let folks use your microphone? Can we supply our own music? Do you bring a request list to choose from or take guest requests?

Officiant/Church: Can we meet with you in person? What type of ceremonies do you offer? Are there any rules we must follow to hire you? Do you write the ceremony with us? Can we customize our ceremony or write our own vows?

Photographer: Can we meet with you in person? Do you have samples of your work? What type of equipment do you use? Is a photo CD/DVD included in any of your packages? Do I have to order/purchase my prints separately?  Many now do that so their prices are lower upfront but you actually pay more when you include all the prints you need. Be careful!

Videographer: Can we meet with you in person? Do you have samples of your work? What type of equipment do you use? Can we include music? How do you deliver the video, on DVD, flash drive, a website or download? Do you edit the video or can we edit it? Some will allow you to take all the video & edit it yourself.

Ceremony location: Is there anything NOT allowed here? Can we bring wine/food in as part of our ceremony? Can we decorate as we'd like? Is there a built-in sound system we can use? What type of lighting is there? Can we use candles?

Reception locations: Do we have to use a in-house caterer or can we hire an outside one? Can we bring our own food/liquor? Is a bartender included? Are waitstaff included? Do we need to clean up by ourselves? Can we decorate as we'd like?

Ceremony musician/singer: Are you comfortable performing in front of crowds? What type of music can you perform? How much time you do need to practice before our date? Will you get the written music or recorded accompaniment yourself or should we supply it?

Transportation (Limo, etc): How much time do we get the vehicle/driver? Can we supply drinks/snacks or do you fill the bar? Can we decorate the vehicle? What areas do you travel to?

Florist: What flowers would be in season for my chosen date? Are you able to get out of season flowers? Is there a delivery fee or can we pick up the order ourselves? Do we need to return any of the vases? Some will give you a discount if you do!

Seamstress: Would you be able to alter our specific dresses? How much time will you need for fittings & alterations before my chosen date?

Menswear Rental: When do the men need to pick up their attire? When does it need to be returned? Can we order specialty items like top hats, gloves, etc.?

Rental Goods (chairs, tables, decor, candleholders, etc.): Do you deliver? When can we pick it up? When does it need to be returned? Can we order special items through you?

Wedding Coordinator/Planner: How many weddings have you worked at? What types of things do you coordinate? Will you work with my Master/Matron of Ceremonies?

Caterer: What types of menus do you offer? Do you allow substitutions? Can we taste some samples?  Do you include kitchen staff (to refill buffet dishes) or servers?

Wedding Cake Baker: What styles do you offer? Can we taste some samples? Do you deliver the cake or can we pick it up? Is there a delivery fee? What range do you deliver in?

Finally, the question that can make your vendor search easier... Do you recommend any other vendors?
Many vendors have worked together in the past. They remember the good and the bad. You can tell them who you're interested in and see if they can give their professional opinion on that vendor's service. If you're thinking of hiring a photographer with a low price, wouldn't you want to know if they were rude or performed poorly? Some brides won't give a bad review online, but vendors often take notice of poor skills or low professionalism from others.

Wedding Trends

Many wedding pros have noted brides are seeking out "low cost" choices instead of trying to make their "dream" wedding this year. It's not about finding that perfect dress at any cost anymore. Brides are finding the discount racks, coupon deals and choosing items that are on sale.

What does this mean for wedding vendors and brides? It means lower prices are now the status quo. If your wedding vendor isn't trying to be competitive with their neighbors, brides may ask "What's really so special about XYZ company that I need to pay so much more for it?" That question often turns a bride away from high priced vendors and turns them on to the discount dudes. Not only does the bride save money, but often the small vendor will try harder to please you and be more willing to work with your personal wishes. The small vendor wants and needs to have happy customers to keep going. Small vendors are often locally owned and operated, giving you a totally different experience than an over-priced chain or franchise with cookie-cutter values.

• Local bakers will be glad to make your cake into an artistic masterpiece. While a grocery store bakery will have limited choices on what you can do.
• Small alteration shops will be sure to make your dresses look great for each girl AND have them finished on time. Major dress shops may not even offer alteration services, or the seamstress may be offsite which could delay getting the dress back to you if you're working on a limited time-frame.
• Photographers have the widest range of services provided when compared with competitors. Many do not include things like a photo DVD, access to print your own photos later (copyrights), online photo album (gallery), or an easy way to order more print products (pre-framed items, statuettes, keychains, etc.). Look for one that can offer items you want that are built-in to the price already and can offer extra items later in case you want those too.

So, don't overlook a small vendor because they have coupons, discounts, sales or are just lower priced in general. You could actually get more for your dollar by choosing them!

Check with your church

I've been in many different types of churches, temples and places of worhsip. Some are very grand and awe inspiring, some are quaint and quiet. As a photographer, it's important that I follow the rules for your chosen wedding location. Please check with your church about lighting options, where people can or cannot stand, what's allowed and most importantly.. what's not. Some churches do not allow flash photography at all. They may feel it's disrespectful to the ceremony, or it may damage parts of the church (in very old buildings). If you're able to get this info ahead of time, this will really help when I plan your formal photos and ceremony shots. I will often try to speak with the officiant to make sure I know the rules too. It's not only so I'm informed or reminded, but also as a way to show respect to the officiant and their function. After all... they're the person who will make YOU man & wife!

If you run into an issue with your church, please contact me. I can suggest alternatives or let you know how I may be able to work around the issue. Some issues cannot be avoided. I've had extremely dark churches where added lighting was required, but not allowed. I've had churches where photographers are not allowed anywhere BUT the balcony 100 feet away from the action. I've had portions of the ceremony where photos were not allowed, even without flash. I try to look at things from every possible angle to get the job done as best as I can. If that's not possible, I will let you know!

The best thing you can do is ask your officiant/church what's allowed & what's not inside the chapel (where the ceremony takes place), in other church areas (outside and inside, in case there's a spot you find pretty), during the ceremony. If you find the rules are too restrictive, you may want to consider another location.

An alternative is to have your wedding outdoors. There are many locations you can choose in West Michigan from perfect parks to beautiful beaches. Rental fees are often lower for these places than a traditional church. Some might even be free, if you're lucky.

"Freelance" officiants are usually not connected to a brick-and-morter church. They are much more likely to cater to your personal wishes and travel to your chosen location. They often have lower rates than the local clergy expects for their donations too. (Don't forget to ask your church clergy about their fee/donation. You might be surprised.) Freelance officiants are easy to find. Check online with OneWed.com, WeddingWire.com, yellow pages or your other wedding vendors. Some officiants will also act as your wedding planner for an added bonus.