Green is the new white for today’s brides–metaphorically speaking. Environmentally conscious couples are often appalled by the carbon footprint of traditional weddings and are seeking ways to express their earth-friendly values as they express their love. As Green Wedding shows, there are alternatives–products and services that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous and stylish celebration. Featuring stories of couples who have “gone green” on their wedding day, this authoritative guide by New York Times Style correspondent Mireya Navarro explains how couples can green their dream wedding, and why this is important. The book presents ideas for maximizing the sustainability of every aspect of your ceremony and reception–from choosing (and reusing) wedding attire, to offsetting the global-warming impact of your guests’ travel, to designing a menu (including cake and Champagne) that’s seasonal, local, and organic. And because environmental responsibilit (more…)

From Booklist

Never have the to-be bride and groom had so many options for personalizing their wedding day–and for saving bucks. Michaels (as in, yes, the stores) to the rescue. Fifty-plus projects, ranging from decorated cakes to scrapbook pages, will fill the days between the announcement and “I do.” Here, editor Kopp has wisely divided the embellishments into five different decorating styles–glamorous, pink, modern pastels, whimsical, and modern bold. In each section, there’s at least one wedding cake, one invitation, one thank-you note (here’s to etiquette, at last!), among other items to fashion. Complete instructions, color photographs, a frequent tip (like craft stores do sell embossed invitation kits . . . duh!), and five galleries of quick-and-easy projects for last-minute needs. Who could resist a polka-dot daisy cake or a pearl-trimmed thank-you note? Generous credit to the seven designers, however, doesn’t mask one issue: fondant icing is difficult for exp (more…)

The Perfect Wedding Cake is an inspirational guide for the bride and groom on how to choosea wedding cake that reflects the style of their wedding. It covers everything they need to know, including how to selecta cake design and baker, when to cut and serve the cake, and how toselect delicious flavor combinations and a cake to complement the season. For those who want to bake their cake at home, the book includes basic but delicious cake and frosting recipes created by a leading pastry chef that can be executed in a home kitchen. Thirty-five full-color photographs of gorgeous wedding cakes showcase a wide variety of inspirational styles and types-from traditional tiered cakes to contemporary alternatives such as jewel-like single-serving cakes-created by some of the most respected chefs working today, including Sylvia Weinstock, FranÁois Payard, Gail Watson, and Ron Ben-Israel. An extensive resource guide of the top wedding cake bakers in the United States compl (more…)

Amazon.com Review
Although the wedding cake is usually one of the last details engaged couples settle on before the large day, it’s just as important for setting the tone and style of the celebration as the flowers or the invitations. An elegant, towering Croquembouche studded with golden almonds and wrapped in clouds of spun sugar sends a different message than a rich-looking Gianduja Truffle Cake decorated with fresh fruit and dusted with gold powder or a White Chocolate Satin Apricot Cake adorned with flowers (click to see photos). Chef Dede Wilson believes that wedding cakes should be aesthetically pleasing, but above all should “reflect the tastes, beliefs, and desires of the bridal couple.” With the aim of creating cakes that taste as good as they look, Wilson lends her expertise and creative spirit to the marvelous constructions in The Wedding Cake Book. As much a cookbook as a source of inspiration, The Wedding Cake Book takes bakers–novices and expe (more…)

Mich Turner is London’s top cake designer for society and celebrities alike. She has refined a easy and modular approach—start with a dozen basic recipes and let the icing, glazes, and finishing touches be the key to perfecting the design. Here, she focuses on the wedding cake and offers inspiration and guidance to brides-to-be as well as to caterers, chefs, and wedding planners. The cutting of the cake is one of the most cherished memories of any wedding. This portfolio of Mich Turner’s stunning cake designs is organized thematically, from simple sunny cakes redolent of a springtime garden wedding to opulent more autumnal chocolate multi-tiered sculptural cakes. Mich also shows how to present the cake to create drama and a real sense of occasion, including advice on every detail, from the type of tablecloth to use and how best to display candles, flowers, and ribbon. Mich Turner’s wedding cakes are regularly featured in Brides, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar, (more…)

Review
“Renowned sugar artist Kerry Vincent shares not only her breathtaking cakes, but the how-toÕs on these signature recipes.” — Elegant BrideCake Design wins Respect in State. A one-woman ambassadress for sugar art she is not shy about promoting the art. — The Daily Oklahoman — October 10, 2001IT TAKES THE CAKE, as VincentSays “most of us are in the business of creating cakes for serious money.” — The National Culinary Review — March 2002Queen of Gumpaste. Completely self taught, Kerry is internationally known for her spectacular and botanically correct sugar flowers. — Pastry Art & Design — December 2001Queen of Sugar, she is more like ginger than sugar but the spicy gal’s sweet stuff has earned her worldwide acclaim. — The Tulsa World — February 20, 2002Top Tier – rolled fondant the new contender for oohs and ahs among the brides. Romantic walks you through it. — Chef Magazine — February 2002“Kerry Vincent’s not a cake decorator—unless you call Mich (more…)

Of all the decisions that go into planning a wedding, choosing the cake may be the sweetest. Much more than dessert, this beloved wedding symbol should be as special as the bride and groom themselves. Whether youenvision a majestic cake blooming with fresh flowers, a pristine fondant-covered masterpiece, or a homespun take on strawberry shortcake- or even if you don’t know where to begin- Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes will provide you with more than 100 delicious and inspiring ideas for timeless and beautiful confections that are perfect for every style of wedding.Not just visually inspiring, these pages are filled with information you won’t find anywhere else. Martha Stewart and Wendy Kromer, the master baker and decorator who has been creating cakes for Martha Stewart Weddings for more than a decade, guide you through everything you need to considerwhen selecting a cake- and even how to bake and decorate one yourself. Novice and experienced bakers alike will fin (more…)

Make the cake? Yes, you can. If you love to bake and are willing to plan ahead, you can make a spectacular wedding cake–and you do not have to be a pastry chef to do it! Let prominent wedding cake expert Dede Wilson guide you through every layer of the process–from choosing among flavors and styles to baking, assembling, and decorating your way to a beautiful and delicious cake. This accessible cookbook not only gets you ready for the massive event, it helps you lend a truly personal touch to the celebration. “If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfect guide. She helps you bake with confidence every step of the way to a delicious personalized result.” –Donna Ferrari, BRIDE’S magazine

From the Inside Flap
“I do not believe in cakes that are made for beauty and ceremony only. I believe they should be eaten—and enjoyed! In fact, the majority of the time my cakes are used as the dessert, as opposed to a symbolic addition.” —Ded (more…)