Wedding Recap: Our Cake!

Chicago had it's first snow of the season today, and this event is making me nostalgic for my winter wedding! It's hard to believe that our 2 year anniversary is quickly approaching! I have yet to share pictures of our lovely wedding cake, and decided it was high time to do so, in case any other winter brides are looking for inspiration.

My husband and I knew we wanted a traditional round cake, though square was our second choice, and even that minor detail was a tough decision! We met with Dottie Lovely, aka "The Cake Lady," and she helped turn my vision of a winter-themed cake into reality. I loved that she used snowflakes and pearls, while combining the gorgeous silver, blue, and white flowers we had in our wedding.

I could not have been happier with the final result, but the best part was that the cake tasted amazing! We chose buttercream because it tastes far superior to fondant, and had layers of red velvet, marble, and carrot cake, so there was something to please everyone.

And on to the best part: Cutting the cake!

All photos by Seth Kammueller

A Winter Bouquet

In my search for the perfect winter bouquet to compliment my white and silver color palette (also including touches of navy), I recently stumbled across a couple of examples that I adore.

This first picture is my absolute favorite. Including metallic pine cones in the mix is just brilliant. I've always loved peonies and know I want to include them in my bouquet, and I love how they are mixed here with ivory roses.  I was never sure about mixing ivory and white flowers before, but I have to say, this has assuaged by fears. Lastly, in case you're wondering what those little grey/silver balls are, they are called silver brunia, and I am now obsessed with them as well. Who would of thought that you could actually find silver flowers to include in your bouquet?

Another lovely winter bouquet below also features silver brunia.  I think the green is very pretty as well, and love the little pieces of crystal bling scattered throughout! It's not really my style, but I do think this would go well with a snowflake themed wedding.

Vendor I Heart: Punky Jane

Wow, this is a crazy unique idea that I never would have thought of, but am totally loving (I guess this is why I'm a blogger, not an artist!).  Etsy seller Punky Jane makes custom sterling silver jewelry that commemorates or counts down to important dates in the lives of her clients.  I think these would make great presents for the holiday season, birthdays, anniversaries and, of course, weddings! One idea: give these as bridesmaids gifts, having each one mark a special day in their lives, such as the birth of their child.  After all, they always say the best gift you can give a bridesmaid is one that has nothing to do with your wedding!  While you're at it, how fun would it be to purchase one for yourself to count down to your wedding day, and then wear it afterward for sentimental value?  Lastly, don't think that Punky Jane's cute creations are just for ladies.  You can purchase calendar key chains for the men in your life too!  Bonus: he can never again claim to have forgotten your anniversary :)

Vendor I Heart: Julie the Fish Designs

It can be really challenging to find gifts for your bridesmaids, especially if you have a diverse group of girls with different personal tastes.  One vendor that is sure to be a hit among all your bridesmaids, however, is Julie the Fish Designs.  I found her Etsy shop and adored her custom jewelry.  I had silver necklaces custom made for my bridesmaids with their names engraved on them, and chose pearl accents to match my wedding theme (she can do any birth stone as well).  She also offers a variety of bracelets, necklaces, and key chains for any special occasion.  She was a great designer to work with and I know my bridesmaids will love their necklaces!  At only $22 per necklace, I highly recommend you hightail it on over to her shop.