New Contest for May: Win $, Have Fun, Share Opinion

New Contest! Play to win in May's latest game we're titling, "Weddings: That was then, This is now."

We want your opinion on tradition VS the modern in weddings.

In watching the clips from the royal wedding, we were all reminded of traditional weddings rituals from the selection of the cake type (fruit cake? seriously?) to the invitations, etiquette acts, the guests, the dress code and months of special events surrounding the engagement through the actual climax of the kiss. The royal British couple represent the next generation of the bride and groom. Their unique style was shown despite the overall traditions that were executed throughout their planning and ceremony.

How to Play:
This month's contest will start today and run through the end of May. To participate, you will need to add a comment to the Treats Bridal Suite wall on the facebook page. Your comment must include:

That was then: ______. This is now: ____.

You will need to fill in the blank with your own word or phrase that communicates the comparison from the traditional to the modern in weddings. Your comment may reflect your opinion in the royal wedding, or overall culture of weddings you've observed.

How to Win:
Here is how the winner will be selected:

- Each person who follows the instructions above with a comment including "That was then/This is now" will receive 5 points.

- For each "LIKE" the comment receives, the commenter will receive an additional 2 points.

- For each person who "LIKES" a comment, he or she will receive 1 point for each "LIKE."

- For each guests who attended the Treats Bridal Suite in March and registered for a prize have automatically received 5 points.

Sound like fun? OH! You probably want to know what you win... Well, here you go! The winner will be announced at the close of this contest the first week of May. He or she will have received the most points and will win gift certificates totaling $100 to Granny's,Mancino's and Yoders Sports Center, courtesy of iHEARTplymouth.com.

Wedding of Royalty

Wedding season has arrived. With each new blossoming tree and sprinkles of color appearing in our now awakened flower beds, we have a new sense of hope and spring in our step. This morning's hallmark wedding of British royalty was watched by millions all around our world. We're sharing this video from E!Online in case you have been living under a rock didn't have a chance to view any snippets:




For the next contest at Treats Bridal Suite, we would like you to share your royal opinion with us on our facebook page.

Information about the contest will be provided shortly... Stay tuned in!



Shared image and video are courtesy of E!Online.

Something Old, Something New, Something...Personal: Food

Our final post about everything personalized. The last and probably one of the easiest to customize: food. You probably thinking its pretty clean and cut but read below to see if there are any ideas to spark your creativity.

Food

As said earlier about my cousin Halee, her husband, and she shared a cake with all their guests at the rehearsal dinner. Maybe you could take this a step further. Take desserts or candy that you and your fiancé have a weakness for and create a sweets & treats bar. This small element will be fun for people to see. Make this even sweeter by maybe framing a little note that explains why you picked the sweets you picked for the bar. If you’re not into candy but maybe you enjoy ice cream sundaes, do a sundae bar. If you love mixed drinks each of you pick your favorite and have them be the specialty bar drinks. Pick fun bottles and glasses to play up these sweet little ideas.

Hope you have enjoyed reading about all these sweet ideas. If you missed some of the articles, make sure to check and look to see what you've missed. Opportunities with all these ideas are endless and I am sure you can come up with more. Play with the idea of personalizing and let your wedding have some fun. Truly make it an event that you and your guests will always remember.

Something Old, Something New, Something...Personal: Readings and Vows

As with the last 'Something Personal' blog article, readings are vows are also hard to change up as they are usually the same. One way to change up this part of the ceremony, or rehearsal dinner, or reception is to get help and advice from professional speechmakers. Take a look at treatsbridalsuite.com to read about Toastmaster's, are group that is there to improve upon your speechmaking skills and ability.

Readings and Vows

Perhaps you have a special religious reading that means something to you or your fiancé; of course the wedding is the perfect place to share this. But have you or your significant other ever shared a song lyric with each other? Have either of you written a poem or written a song (silly or serious) for one another? If so, incorporate something like this into your wedding or read them at the reception. Your wedding may even be able to be themed around this shared moment.

There is one last article to go, stay tuned to read more.

Something Old, Something New, Something...Personal: Flowers

Customizing, personalizing, and specializing is what there articles are all about but there are some things that are just so difficult to really change and make your own. Thats what this blog is all about, finding ways to set your wedding apart. How can you change up your wedding bouquet? Read below.

Flowers

The bouquet is always pretty traditional with beautiful flowers. Why not add some baubles or trinkets to liven up your bouquet. With tiny charms that remind you of an event or a loved one, your bouquet will mean so much more. Be creative and see if your bridesmaids or relatives can help you with some ideas.

Come back to read our last few articles about customizing your wedding.

Something Old, Something New, Something...Personal: Pictures

Hopefully you've been following along and reading all the articles we have been posting about personalizing your wedding. If not, look at earlier blogs and read all about the ways to make your special day truly special in every way.

Everyone has the traditional gorgeous engagement photos but they all are sometimes posed the same way. Wouldn't it be nice to show you and your fiance in a more natural, usual "you" way? Use pictures from past vacations or past photos taken for general use. These will set your wedding apart from all others because no one shares pictures of you and your fiance besides you and your fiance so put them out their for all to see!

Pictures

If you have taken pictures with your fiancé that are not just engagement photos but instead fun or interesting, place those on the table or even frame them for centerpieces. If you went on vacation together or have pictures with each other at certain places, pull elements from the photos to the wedding. If you both went to the beach together, perhaps use a few photos of the two of you, place those, sand, shells, and flowers as an addition as center pieces or as decoration. Take advantage of these captured moments.

The next article is on its way! So check back to read more.

Cutting Into The Groom Cake: New Trends of the Groom Cake

The final article on the modern twists of grooms cakes. Read below to get the final slice of information on grooms cakes.

New Trends of the Groom Cake

Nowadays, groom cakes have gone to a new level. Brides and grooms are expressing their sense of humor and really giving the guests something to talk about! Cakewalk owner and designer Alexis Davis Because iHEART Brides is always in search of interesting stories and photos of wedding fun, we thought we would share some images that have made us smile. We hope they will inspire you and make you smile too! Feel free to add comments below of other links to pages with photos of beyond-ordinary grooms cakes!

Something Old, Something New, Something...Personal: Centerpieces

You've been following and reading about all kinds of different ways to personalize and set apart your wedding from all the others. We have talked about groom cakes and music and now its time for center pieces. Now, If you are having your center pieces professionally done, have no fear. Tell your professional what YOU want in the center piece, and be specific. It is your day, and your time to shine so show you and your fiance's relationship to all your guests.

Center Pieces

When picking containers or vases, put flowers in containers that are special to you and your fiancé for the wedding. Perhaps you both love wine, then use wine bottles as vases. Use proposal elements to influence your reception. Perhaps your fiancé proposed using M&M’s that said, ‘will you marry me?’ If so you could use M&M’s as a favor or as centerpieces.

Stay tuned for more ways to personalize your wedding ideas!

Cutting Into The Groom Cake: The Legend of the Groom Cake

Now for the fun part, the history of the groom cake. Now whether you do your cake traditional or modern this article and the photos will give plenty of inspiration. Plus the grooms cake is where the groom gets to have some fun.

The Legend of the Groom Cake

Some legendary groom cake tales say that all the single ladies can sleep with the groom's cake under their pillows after the wedding. The cake will give the mistress dreams of her future husband. Considering many grooms cakes are made with dark contrasting colors and flavors opposed to the traditional fluffy white wedding cakes, perhaps there is a bit of mystical powers. Some groom cakes are drenched in brandy or other liqueur and then taste delicious on that one year anniversary.

Easter Desserts by Cakewalk, Now Available

Are you looking for a special Easter desserts? 

Pineapple-carrot cake with caramel-cream cheese filling, coconut cream layer cake topped with toasted shaved coconut, white chocolate sponge cake with fresh strawberry mousse filling and vanilla meringue buttercream, Key lime cheesecake. All cakes (12 servings) $32, cheesecake $30 (10 servs). EMAIL orders to Cakewalk:  sales@eatbettercake.com by Monday 4/18! Pick-up 10-1 Saturday 4/23.

Win $100 to Treat's Squire Shop

Winning $100 shopping spree to Treat's Squire Shop is as easy as a 1-2-3 Click! 

Here are the details:

1. Click on recently launched website: www.TreatsBridalSuite.com. 

2. Find your favorite business showcased on the site and then click on the "f" facebook button along the top of the site. This will take you to the Treat's Bridal Suite page on Facebook.

3. Add a new comment on Treat's Bridal Suite Facebook page by telling us your favorite business showcased and what you like about the newly launched online magazine + directory + planner + expo. You will need to select the "like" button to add a comment. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Plymouth-IN/Treats-Bridal-Suite/174306319273848 

Here is an example of a comment that could allow YOU to win a shopping spree to Treat's! 

All of the comments that are added between today, April 4th through April 30th will be entered to win the gift certificate!  Yes, you can enter at least once per day. We will be making the announcement of the name that is randomly drawn the first week of May on www.TreatsBridalSuite.com.  A new contest with new prizes for fans will be announced in May so stay tuned into the Treats Bridal Suite for some 'sweet' prizes and more!  

Cutting Into The Groom Cake: Serve it Up!

If you've been following our posts on groom cakes, then you know you're about to read about the crazy and the fun about groom cakes...and remember there is always more to come...

Servings of Cake

The groom cake can be presented and served in a variety of ways. Some brides and grooms use them as dessert for guests to enjoy after the rehearsal dinner. Some cakes are displayed next to the multi tiered wedding cake during the reception. These cakes can be cut and boxed for guests to take home as a wedding favor. As a momento to the bride and groom, it can be preserved in the newlywed's freezer and shared together on their first anniversary. In fact, some wedding cakes' top tiers will be created just for the bride and groom to share for this purpose.

To read more about groom cakes make sure to check back later to read and see more great grooms cakes by Cakewalk, a premier cake designer located in Plymouth, Indiana. 

Something Old, Something New, Something... Personal: Music

No bride wants her wedding to be ordinary. In fact every wedding should be extraordinary, but how can every single bride have a wedding different from every other bride around? Customization. The one part of your wedding that will be specific to you and your fiance will be the special, personal parts about your wedding because no one else has the same memories that you two have together. The last article was all about this personalizing your groom cake but today we're sharing an idea with you on how to add a personalized touch to your music selection. 

Music 

When making wedding favors or for music at the wedding make sure to choose songs that both you and your fiancé love. Ask your parents or relatives to see if there are any wedding or music traditions for the reception. Some brides burn CDs for favors so the guests can enjoy the special music loved by the bride and groom.

There is much more to come about personalizing your day so check back for the next article, coming soon.

Customized One of A Kind Gift Ideas

Don't you just LOVE this?

This is a great gift idea for your favorite newlywed couple! This item is designed by an artist who can customize your gift directly from their own Etsy shop.

Cute and Corky

What a great idea for a table name placeholder! We found this from a wedding blog called www.weddingbee.com. It has a lot of do-it-yourself ideas for the wedding planner. Check out the site for more information. And, for step by step instructions on how to make this corky element, click here!

TriAncilla Triathlon

May 21st of this year Ancilla will be hosting their annual Triathlon. This triathlon is USAT certified sprint distance triathlon and the race includes a 500 yard swim, an 11 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run. To participate in this triathlon you must register online and get ready to race!

The triathlon takes place on Ancilla College grounds, in Donaldson, Indiana. The college is located at the scenic area of the Poor Handsmaids of Jesus Christ Ministry Center. To learn more contact Todd Zeltwanger or visit the site listed above. The site also has downloads of all 3 courses for the triathletes to look at to get a feel for what they are up against. Register online as soon as possible to take place in this wonderful event.