Weddings
What to expect
Wedding Cake
consultation & tasting
Simplifying
Ceremonies
Tips to streamline your wedding day
The 411 on Flowers
The many ways to incorporate floral arrangments
Special Supplement to the
cake consultation & tasting
y name is Holly Stewart, and I am the owner and operator of Holly Cakes in Jacksonville Il. During my 20 years of working in the cake industry I have noticed that some brides and grooms don’t know what to anticipate at a cake consultation, but I am here to help. Following are some helpful hints of how to be prepared for your wedding consultation and cake tasting.
While cake tasting is often a favorite experience for couples, there are pertinent questions that need to be answered in order for
me to provide the best experience. I recommend bringing a small notebook to keep track of your favorite flavors and combinations.
One of the first questions I ask is, “Where are you getting married, and is the reception at the same venue?” This is important if I am expected to deliver and set up. While I do not charge for in town delivery, I do charge to drive out of town. The further the distance the higher the charge. Many times I have more than 1 wedding, and it’s imperative that I plan an efficient route from venue to venue. If the wedding and reception are at the same venue I prefer to deliver before the wedding to avoid being in anyone’s way. If the wedding and reception are in separate venues, it provides me with a little more leeway with the delivery time, as I can get in and out much easier.
Next, I always ask how many people will be invited. This is probably the most important question since it will decide how many servings to order, and there are several factors to consider. I try my best to guide couples as I don’t want anyone with tons of leftovers, but I also don’t want anyone running out of dessert 2 minutes into service.
Beautifully Unforgettable...
I have always explained that typically 15% - 20% won’t attend, particularly those that have to travel a distance. Therefore, if the guest list is around 200, you can expect between 160 – 175 attending. However, do send an invitation to Great Aunt Betty in Texas. She won’t come to the wedding, but she will send a card with money! Lol!
Another factor to consider while determining servings is the bar. To be blunt, do you have friends or family members that are drinkers? Most, if not all, of those folks will not be interested in cake. I mean, if it’s still sitting out at midnight, it may be a sweet treat for a tipsy guest, but typically I wouldn’t count the drinkers as part of the cake servings.
tasting. Also, it’s absolutely fine to bring a parent, a best friend, and of course the partner, but don’t show up with the entire bridal party. There isn’t enough room for everyone, and it tends to cause problems due to too many opin-
Holly recommends bringing a small notebook to keep track of your favorite flavors and combinations.
When thinking of all these factors, do keep in mind that nothing is set in stone from my perspective, and numbers can always be changed. I tell all of my couples that it’s best to have a starting number, but this should always be adjusted once you start receiving RSVPs. That way we can add or negate whatever we need to get the right amount of dessert for your wedding.
Now to the fun part, the cake design and the flavors. What are you interested in? Do you want a simple cake for cutting and sheet cakes for servings? Do you want a big tiered cake? Are you more interested in lots of cupcakes of varying flavors? I am here to provide couples with whatever kind of experience they are envisioning, and I always try my best to do so.
As far as cake design is concerned, the prices on the menu are typically for simple buttercream decorations. If there is fondant involved or a difficult design the cake will most certainly be more costly. I prefer that couples show up with photos of the designs that appeal to them. Inspiration photos help me see your vision. If there are multiple photos, we can take what you like from each to build a custom cake just for you. Also, it helps me to see your vision more clearly.
Do understand that I do not provide your cake topper, or typically the flowers for the cake. Most everyone makes the centerpieces for the tables, the bouquet and boutonnieres, and I request that you purchase the flowers so they match your aesthetic. It doesn’t matter if the flowers are real, or artificial. I have used them all. Many times the real flowers are left in a refrigerator, or I’ve even had the florist leave a bucket of flowers for me. It all works for me. Just leave everything near the cake table and I take care of it. I show up with an entire kit just for trimming and assembling the flowers for the cake.
Once the design has been determined, you then get to choose cake flavors. While it is your special day and you deserve to get what you like, you aren’t the only person eating the cake, and you’re certainly not eating the whole thing yourself. Remember that not everyone likes exotic flavors or filling. By all means, get a tier or the cutting cake the flavor you enjoy most, but maybe get some plain flavors for the Plain Janes too. Everyone deserves a piece of wedding cake even if it is only vanilla with vanilla frosting.
This is when the notebook comes in handy. If you and your fiancé have kept notes on the favored flavors, then it will be much easier to determine what flavors to choose.
My final tips, expect to pay a deposit the day of your consultation. If you’re not ready to commit, then expect to pay for the consultation/
ions. Furthermore, avoid bringing children. They are often unpredictable and almost always a distraction. Get a sitter for an hour or so and enjoy the tasting without unnecessary distractions.
I hope this provides helpful tips on what to expect. I love talking to brides and grooms. I enjoy what I do and I try my best to make the experience smooth and painless for all involved. People spend so much time planning for this one
spectacular day, and it makes my heart happy knowing I get to be a small part of such a special occasion!
Photos and article courtesy of Holly Stewart
Tips to streamline a wedding day
Marriage is a social institution that is thousands of years old. Marriage has undergone changes over the years, but plenty of people are still tying the knot and hosting amazing wedding celebrations.
Prospective brides and grooms may be inclined to host more simplified and streamlined weddings in order to save money and time.
A total of 2,065,905 marriages were recorded in the
BEAUTI FUL LY EVER AFTER
United States in 2022. Statistics Canada indicates 98,355 registered marriages took place in 2020. Prospective brides and grooms may be inclined to host more simplified and streamlined weddings in order to save money and time. Finding ways to streamline a wedding is not necessarily that challenging.
• Keep the ceremony short. While this may not always be an option for couples who are having a traditional religious ceremony that is beholden to the rules of the faith, some couples can opt for a shortened ceremony that is more direct and to the point. A streamlined ceremony can stick strictly to the exchange of vows, rather than including readings, musical interludes, candle lighting ceremonies, and more. Couples who want religious ceremonies can speak with their officiants to see how they can stick to tradition, but keep the ceremony more succinct.
• Communicate roles for the wedding party. Having designated people to handle a variety of tasks at the wedding fosters efficiency and can save time by moving things along. It also allows for smooth transitions during parts of the ceremony. For example, the maid of honor traditionally holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony. But other bridesmaids can be enlisted to hold items or fix the bride’s train or veil as well.
• Select one venue. Holding the wedding ceremony and reception in the same place cuts down on travel time and logistical issues for both the guests and those involved in the wedding. It also reduces necessary costs for transportation.
• Choose a nearby location. Asking guests and vendors to travel great distances can add time to the wedding festivities. Selecting a centrally located ceremony site and reception hall will streamline many of the steps people would have to take to attend. It also might remove the need to arrange overnight accommodations for the wedding.
• Hire a wedding coordinator. A professional planner and coordinator will keep the wedding moving along on time and ensure a smooth process. This professional can remain emotionally neutral, solve problems and ensure that everyone is in the right place.
Streamlining a wedding and making it more efficient can save time and money.
3 tips to create a reasonable wedding budget
Weddings are momentous occasions in the lives of couples. Recently engaged couples likely know that weddings can be expensive. The experts at the online wedding resource Zola estimated that couples would spend around $36,000 on their weddings in 2025. If that figure produces some sticker shock, couples can rest easy in the knowledge that such estimates reflect a host of variables, not all of which are applicable to each wedding. It also can calm couples’ nerves to develop a budget as the first step in wedding planning. Once a budget is worked out, couples can then use that to guide their decisions.
The need to budget for a wedding may seem obvious, but couples, particularly those tying the knot for the first time, might not know where to begin. Couples facing such a situation can consider these three budget-building tips for their wedding.
1. Identify where funds are coming from. Parents of the bride were once the traditional sources of wedding funds, but that’s less common than it used to be. According The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average age of marriage in 2024 was 32 years. That means many couples are now on relatively firm financial footing by the time they get married, prompting some to pay for the entire affair themselves. Couples looking to establish a wedding budget can first identify who’s helping to fund it. If couples are going it alone, then this is a simple step in the process. If parents and other relatives offer to pitch in, couples can count such offers toward the total amount of money they have to fund the big day.
2. Consider working with a financial planner. Another strategy to building a budget is to work with a professional to determine how much you can afford. Many couples now live together prior to getting engaged, and Zola notes that more than half (53 percent) even shop for rings together. Advanced wedding planning can be a wise move, particularly for couples
footing the bill on their own or with minimal assistance from family members. A financial planner can help couples determine what they can afford and offer tips to grow their existing wealth with an eye on paying for their wedding.
3. Identify your priorities. The Knot reports that venue and rentals accounted for slightly more than one-quarter (27 percent) of couples’ wedding budgets in 2025. While venues and rentals are typically the biggest expense when planning a wedding, couples building a budget should identify their biggest priority. Some might want a stunning venue, while others might feel a backyard ceremony is perfect for them. Identifying your biggest priorities and then devoting enough funds to those areas can guide the budget-building process.
Weddings can be expensive. Budgeting can help couples get the wedding they want without breaking the bank.
The many ways to incorporate floral arrangements
Flowers showcase the beauty and pageantry of the natural world. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The earth laughs in flowers,” and Lady Bird Johnson is quoted as saying, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Flowers are inextricably tied to some of the most import-
ant events in a person’s life. Flowers wish people well, console those who are mourning, and symbolize love and affection.
Flowers are an essential component of wedding day celebrations. Flowers symbolize love, fertility and new beginnings. According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, the average cost of wedding flowers in 2025 was $2,723, which serves as a testament to how important flowers can be on these special days. Flowers are incorporated into many facets of a wedding. Couples planning their weddings can give thought to the many ways flowers can enhance this special day.
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Acres
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it was meant to be. With room for 225 guests, a welcoming bed and breakfast, and spaces that flow from fields to fireside, it’s the kind of place where memories linger long after the last dance.
BOUQUETS
Wedding bouquets are some of the first arrangements people think of when planning a wedding. Historically, wedding bouquets contained herbs that were designed to ward off evil spirits. Today, one is much more likely to find a gathering of many beautiful flowers tied at the stems with ribbon. Bridesmaids carry bouquets as well, and flower girls toss flower petals along the aisle during the processional. Bouquets typically coordinate to the theme of the wedding and the color scheme. A bride’s bouquet tends to be similar in design to her bridesmaids’ but may feature more muted colored blooms to complement her gown.
BOUTONNIERES AND CORSAGES
Boutonnieres and corsages are customarily bestowed upon wedding party members and the parents of the happy couple. They also may be gifted to additional special people attending the wedding, such as grandpar-
ents or other guests of honor.
ALTAR ARRANGEMENTS
Floral decorations also may be placed around or near the altar for the wedding ceremony. Jewish celebrants may place flowers on a chuppah to add beauty and elegance. Flowers also are commonly used in Muslim wedding ceremonies, appearing in floral arches or even as a stunning floral wall during the Nikah to separate the bride and groom. During religious ceremonies, couples should heed the requirements of the house of worship and ensure that flowers are modest and within the parameters set for the faith.
AISLE DECORATIONS
Flowers may be used on the seatbacks or on the sides of pews. Small flowers, ribbons and greenery are hung to enhance the ambiance of the space.
CENTERPIECES
Flowers are a focal point during wedding receptions, taking up prime real estate in the center of tables. Knowledgeable florists can create pieces that are beautiful and will not obstruct the view or comfort of guests when seated. Additional floral arrangements may be included to enhance additional areas of the reception space, such as floral arches for photographs, vases placed near the seating chart and even flowers in the restrooms to make these spaces even more inviting.
TOSS BOUQUET
If a couple decides to adhere to traditional wedding customs, the bride will toss a smaller bouquet to eager single women ready to catch it. A tossed bouquet may feature fresh flowers or artificial silk flowers. This decoy bouquet enables the bride to return home with her actual bouquet to preserve it, but still participate in this classic tradition.
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Navigating wedding transportation
On a couple’s wedding day, some effort will be required to transport the bride and groom and wedding party participants and guests. Coordinating transportation is a task couples must add to their planning checklist.
Wedding transportation is perhaps best broken down into three categories: transportation for the couple and the wedding party, transportation for guests, and transportation for unique situations. These tips can make navigating wedding transportation needs go smoothly.
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COUPLE AND WEDDING PARTY
Ensuring that the couple and wedding party participants arrive to the ceremony (and later the reception venue) on time is essential. Couples and their attendants traditionally arrive in some sort of hired car, whether it’s a limousine or vintage/classic ride. It’s important to find a service that will pick up the couple (separately) and their bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as parents of the bride or groom and bring them to the ceremony site. Drivers usually wait for the ceremony to end before taking passengers to photography locations and eventually the reception venue. Vendors typically price for hourly service with a minimal rental period. Larger vehicles will have a higher hourly rate.
TRANSPORTATION FOR GUESTS
Although it’s not customary to offer transportation for all guests to the ceremony or reception venue, in the event of circumstances like hotel room accommodations close to the reception, couples may want to offer shuttle service between the reception center and hotel. If the wedding reception will be non-traditional, and take place at various stop-off spots, like a bar crawl, party buses or trolley service could be considered to keep all guests together.
UNIQUE SITUATIONS
Couples may want to enhance their wedding festivities with some specialized details that might require unique transportation situations. For example, a wedding that takes place on an island would require a ferry service or water taxi. Couples tying the knot during the picturesque winter season can go the extra mile and commission horse-drawn sleighs. Rustic weddings have grown in popularity. A charming hayride can complete the picture for a wedding reception held at a farm or in a converted barn.
AFTER THE FESTIVITIES
The couple also may need to consider transportation once the wedding has ended. Those going directly to a honeymoon may need a hired car to take them to the airport. Transportation also will be needed for any wedding party participants who did not take their own vehicles to the wed-
ding, but rode in party buses or limousines.
Wedding transportation may not be the most glamorous aspect of wedding planning, but well-coordinated transportation is a necessity that couples, their friends and family will appreciate.
A checklist of vendors to facilitate wedding planning
Planning a wedding is a significant undertaking. Though many tasks associated with wedding planning are enjoyable, the number of variables that must be coordinated can make the process feel a little overwhelming at times. Staying organized can make wedding planning a lot easier, and this checklist of vendors can be utilized by couples looking to stay calm as they plan their big day.
