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From a well known wedding magazine, Spring-Summer 2009 issue:
SAVE THE LAST SLICE...
7 steps to preserving your top tier
1. Instruct the catering staff to take off the top tier of the cake and box it for transport.
2. Appoint a "cake captain" (one of your family members or friends)to take it home.
3. Once the cake is home, remove the sugar flowers and set them aside.
4. Chill the cake well before wrapping it up so the icing hardens. This way it won't stick to the plastic wrap and make a mess.
5. Wrap the cake in several layers of plastic wrap-not aluminum foil, which can cause freezer burn.
6. Seal the wrapped cake in an airtight bag and place it in the freezer.
7. Snag a ribbon (from your bouquet, your hair, or a gift) and then tie it around the cake package so you don't mistake it for anything else.
TIP - Consider ordering a fresh cake tier in the same flavor as your original wedding cake for your one-year anniversary. Like anything else, after a year in the freezer, your cake will be a little bit stale. Some cake bakers say to store cakes for no longer than two months and to forgo the first anniversary tradition. If you do decide to save your cake for the full year, focus on the nostalgia, not the flavor!
YOUR OFFICIANT
This person is crucial: The officiant will help set the tone of your ceremony and work with you to put together the perfect words for the day. You need someone whose beliefs coincide with yours and someone who is also as modern or traditional as you desire. Here are some ways to begin a focused search:
1. Start with your house of worship.
2. Ask for recommendations from other brides and browse the web for non-denominational officiants.
3. Consider having a loved one perform the service. If it's legally binding in your area, go to TheMonastery.org to find out how someone can be ordained as a Universal Life Church minister.
MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICIANT
Basic Questions to Ask:
1. How long is your typical ceremony?
2. Can we write our own vows or help personalize the ceremony?
3. Can you provide us with standard vows if we don't write our own?
4.Can we include close friends and family members in the ceremony?
5. Are there any papers to be filled out or filed?
6. Do we have to attend premarital counseling?
7. Do you permit photography and videography during the ceremony?
8. Can another officiant(of another faith or from a different place) take part in the ceremony as well?
9. Will you give a sermon or speech? If so, can we see a copy of what you'll say beforehand?
10. For a civil service, can any religious elements be included?
11. Will you perform the ceremony outside of a house of worship?
12. Will you travel within the area?
13. Will you conduct the rehearsal?
14. Ask about fees. Some religious officiants may only require a donation to the house of worship. Others have a set fee.
YOUR CEREMONY MUSIC
Before you make any music decisions, check with the officiant or the ceremony location to understand the guidelines. Then do the following:
1. Figure out how formal you want your ceremony music to be. Traditional? Completely secular? Or a mixture of both?
2. Choose a genre like classical or pop. It helps to have a cohesive sound to the ceremony.
3. Name any must-play songs. Think of songs that hold special meaning - a favorite hymn, the song that was playing in the car on your first date, and so on.
4. Decide what type of musicians you want to perform at this time. A few popular choices are an organist or pianist; a vocalist; a bagpiper; a string quartet; or a harpist. A few unique ideas are to hire a couple of classical guitarists or a bluegrass band with a banjo; find a jazz group with a muted trumpet; hire a reggae band with a steel drum; or even commission a country singer to perform and play acoustic guitar.
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HOW TO FIND POTENTIAL CEREMONY MUSICIANS
1. Browse local wedding magazines.
2. Go to bridal shows.
3. Browse the web.
4. Ask recently married friends, family members, the officiant or your ceremony site for suggestions.
5. Seek out local university music department professors and students.
BOOKING YOUR CEREMONY MUSICIANS
1. Do you have a playlist for us to choose from?
2. Are you open to playing things not on this list?
3. Can you suggest pieces that fit our style?
4. Will you attend the rehearsal?
5. What will you be wearing at the ceremony?
6. Have you ever performed at our site?
7. How soon before the ceremony will you arrive?
8. What equipment do you require? What of that do we need to provide?
9. For an outdoor ceremony: What will you need if it rains? (String players will need to protect their instruments.)
10. If you're ill on the ceremony day, who will be your backup?
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