2015 Trend: Nude Wedding Cakes with Fresh Flowers

We have been following the 2015 wedding trends very closely and there is one trend that we have become obsessed with.  The trend of using fresh flowers on nude wedding cakes, it has us licking our lips for more. Everyone loves cake, but let's be honest the more fondant we were using to make a cake, the less all of us were enjoying it. Fondant has given us the ability to create some of the most beautiful cakes around, but most of the time it just doesn't taste that good.  The latest trend of using fresh flowers on a "nude" cake takes fondant out of the picture and opens up a whole new way to think about cake.  First off when I say "nude" cake this is what I mean:

 A  bunch of layers of cake and filling almost frosting free. In some cases frosting is lightly spread across the outside of the cake and sometimes they skip it altogether.  You can play with the flavors of the filling and the types of cake to change up  the colors and taste.  You start with this bare palette and add some flowers to spice up the cake and give it a special feel. Couples are using everything from roses to succulents and each cake that we find looks more tasty than the last. Here  are some examples that we feel in love with:

So beautiful and so tasty, the options are endless.





























~Blumz by JRDesigns
OurPrettyWedding.com

10 Great Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Photo from MarthaStewart.com

Weddings are getting more and more expensive every year, this is causing a lot of brides to cut back on their dream wedding.  We don't think that you should have to sacrifice your dreams for the budget, so we came up with a few great hacks to help you stretch your funds to make your wedding a dream come true.

1- Have your wedding in off peak season-
November, and January through March are the best times too book a lower cost wedding. Plan your wedding during these months and you will automatically get more bang for your buck.

2- Hold your wedding and reception in the same spot- 
There is less to buy, less travel, and some places may even cut you a discount for renting the space out for the entire day.

3- Buy flowers that are in season- 
If you buy flowers that are out of season it could be up to triple the regular cost. Talk to you florist and find out what is is season before you design your centerpieces, bouquets, body flowers and other floral arrangements.

4- Don't serve a main course-
Skip the main course and serve cocktails, appetizers, and dessert instead. Make sure your guests know that you won't be serving a full dinner but there will still be lots of tasty treats to snack on throughout the evening.

5- Use fresh flowers on the cake instead of sugary ones-
You can use seasonal flowers that match your theme to decorate the cake instead of sugary ones, this will save you lots of money and look beautiful!

6- Give out one favor per couple instead of one favor per person- 
Give a going away gift to each couple instead of each person, make it something that they both will enjoy and they won't even realize that you cut the cost of favors in half!

7- Serve special cocktails-
Come up with a few special cocktails for the night and list the choices with ingredients at the bar for the guests. Then, you can purchase what you need in bulk instead of having to stock a full bar.

8- Email your save the date cards-
These days everyone is on the internet, even grandma. Save a lot of money on your invitations by sending the save the date digitally instead of through snail mail.

9- Take advantage of talented friends and family-
Do you have a friend who loves to DJ, maybe an uncle whose great at taking pictures? Ask them if they would be willing to help you out as a wedding gift!

10- Talk to people who already got married-
Ask friends and family who recently got hitched what they did to save money. Ask them if there was anything that they would have done differently and learn from their mistakes and triumphs!

~Blumz by JRDesigns

OurPrettyWedding.com 

Creating the Perfect Wedding Reception Tables

When a bride is planning a wedding there are so many things to focus on that it can become overwhelming.  The flowers, the dresses, and the venue are the first things that come to mind, but there is so much more to wedding planning.

Each table at your reception will be a reflection of the new union, and there are a lot of different ways to present yourselves.  Your linens, centerpieces, flowers, and napkins will make the first statement to your guests about your style as a couple.

Here is a list of things that you need to to think about when you are planning out each reception table.

Tablecloths- You will need to choose the size and color.  This can include an under cloth, an over cloth and table runners. The table clothes must hit the floor so pay close attention to the size!

Napkins- Napkins are usually made of cloth and match the underlay on the table.  It is also important to make sure that the catering company folds all the of the napkins the same when they place them onto the tables, presentation is key!

Charger plate- Also known as a show plate, this decorative plate adds color, texture, and elegance to each place setting. It rests beneath the dinner plate and salad plate and usually stays on the table until the entree is finished.

Flatware- You can choose anything from plastic to gold and everything in-between, just makes sure that it matches your table decor and that there is enough for each person to eat all the courses of their meal!

Glassware- What kind of glasses will you need? Will you be doing a champagne toast? Will  your guest be drinking beer or wine? Make sure that you have the correct stemware for all of the drinks that you will be serving.

China- This includes the dinner plates, appetizer plates, soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates, dessert plates, coffee cups and saucers. You can keep them all the same, or switch it up, whatever style reflects your taste.

Chairs- Some venues will provide you with chairs and others will ask you to rent the chairs, this is the first thing that you need to determine.  The second thing that you must decide is if you are going to have chair covers, chair backs, or chair caps. If you are using chair backs or chair caps you must make sure that the chairs are in good enough condition for parts to be showing, if they are not you would want to go with full chair covers.

8-Budget- Know what kind of budget you are working with before you book an appointment, the more realistic you are with your planner the happier you will be with the end result! 

The best way to get what you want is to gather a few pictures that you like and meet with a consultant.  They can go over what would work, give you prices, and make your dreams come true.

~BLUMZ by JRDesigns

OurPrettyWedding.com 

Blumz by JRDesigns Mother's Day Contest

Did you know that every flower has a meaning?  The type and color of the flowers that you give to someone special can hold a lot of significance if you know the meaning behind the arrangement.  Flowers are always a great gift, but flowers that have a special meaning are even better!

In honor of Mother’s Day, we thought it would be fun to teach all of you the meaning of some of the most common seasonal flowers by creating a contest based on some of our favorite springtime florals. Blumz has compiled a list of the meanings below and we are giving all of you an opportunity to win a special arrangement for Mother’s Day.  Using the meanings of the different flowers listed below, write a paragraph describing what you love or admire about your mother, your wife, or someone that served as a mother figure in your life. For example, I would describe my mother as a Sunflower. She is bright, beautiful and resilient. My mother makes it through the hard times with incredible inner strength and a strong faith.

Now, it’s your turn. Describe your mom, or a mom that means a lot to you. To enter, please write a paragraph and post it on our Facebook page. Remember if you haven't “liked” our page we won’t be able to see your post. Please post it on our wall (not your own wall) and tag Blumz by JRDesigns in the post. We will announce the winner of this contest on May 6th.  The Winner will be able to come pick up an arrangement that will include a few of the flowers that they used to describe the special mother in their life.  Imagine how much it will mean to mom when she finds out the meaning behind the floral arrangement that you give her this Mother’s Day.

TYPES OF FLOWERS AND THEIR MEANINGS:

Roses- Grace

Tulips- Love

Babys Breath- Pure of Heart    

Alstroemeria- Friendship

Solidage- Strength

Statice- Remembrance

Stock- Happy Life

Snapdragon- Gracious Lady

Monte casino- Patience

Lily- Ambition

Liatris- Joy

Daisy- Hope  

Fuji Mum- Honor

Carnation- Lovely

Calla-Faith

Bells of Ireland- Good Luck

Hydrangea- Gratitude

Iris- Courage

Ranunculus - Radiant

Sunflower - Resilience

Hyacinth-Playful

Aster- Elegance

Peony- Compassion