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Would You Say Yes to a Cupcake Proposal?

partysugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:50:48 -0700

I was browsing the YumSugar Community - brides to be: did you know there is an entire group devoted to Wedding Talk? - when I stumbled across these adorable cupcakes. Reader and foodie Kbussanich says that her boyfriend surprised her with the proposal and cupcakes!

The cakes were created by the Flour & Sun Bakery in Pleasantville, NY, and were a mix of chocolate and vanilla cake with vanilla icing that was dyed bright blue. When she heard Kbussanich's answer was yes, the bakery's owner sent over an engagement gift of seasonal (pumpkin and apple with cream cheese frosting) cupcakes. While I'm not a fan of public proposals, the idea of cupcakes at home is incredibly sweet. What do you think? Would you say yes to a cupcake proposal?

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Homemade Cupcake Tower Is Pretty Delicious

partysugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:40:20 -0700

A couple of weeks ago I helped assemble a cupcake tower for a friend's wedding. The cupcakes were created by Grace Park, an experienced home cook and avid baker. Although this was Park's second time baking a wedding dessert, making and transporting over 100 cupcakes is no easy task.

After testing several recipes with the bride, Park selected two flavors of cupcakes - chocolate raspberry and lemon pound cake - and topped both with a Swiss meringue frosting. The recipes were from The Australian Women's Weekly Cupcakes and Fairy Cakes cookbook, and the final look of the cupcake tower was inspired by this cake.

For those interested in making wedding cupcakes, Park recommends practicing in advance, thinking out storage, and arranging for helpers to transport the finished cakes. Have you ever made a wedding cake? Or wedding cupcakes? Share your experience below!

To look at a gallery of the cupcake process and check out the completed tower, read more.

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A Rustic Wedding on the Russian River

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:50:26 -0700

After helping my friend create 60 pom-poms, I was delighted to see the napkin rings make their debut on her big day. The unique wedding was held at Patianna Organic Vineyard with the highlight being a fabulous picnic reception down by the river. The groom's brother, chef Taylor Quimby, orchestrated the entire menu including a variety of appetizers, a family-style dinner, and an extensive dessert bar. Between my pictures and the photographer, Tom, we captured a spectacular and incredibly scrumptious meal! Check out all of my favorites.

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How to Host a Stylishly Vintage Bachelorette Party

partysugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:50:28 -0700

Throwing a memorable bachelorette party is tricky. The event should be festive and fun, but not gimmicky and gross. There's a fine line between elegantly tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top tacky. Does anyone really want to wear a headband with a giant dildo in public? I don't think so. Recently I went to a wonderful bachelorette party that succeeded in celebrating the bride-to-be in a traditional yet sophisticated way. It was delightful, so I took pictures to share the experience and ideas with you! The soirée was inspired by 1950s housewives and retro glamour. Here, you'll find all of the little details that made this party fabulous.

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All About Bubbly: A Guide to Champagne Jargon

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:15:10 -0700

Whether you're celebrating a wedding, honeymoon, graduation, or just the fact that it's Friday, you're probably raising a glass of champagne. Of course, not all sparkling wine is classified as champagne, and that's just the start of the confusing jargon. To help you choose the bubbly that's right for you, I've put together a guide to all of the relevant vocab, so you can sort out the doux from the cru.

Champagne: Sparkling wine produced in the French region of the same name. The "champagne" definition was protected by the Treaty of Versailles, but since the US never officially signed the treaty, some American producers use the champagne name, too.
Prosecco: A sparkling wine produced in Italy, mostly in the Veneto region.
Cava: Spain's contribution to the champagne family, named for the cellars in which it is produced.
Sparkling wine: A catchall term used for any bubbly without a specific regional designation, often applied to American wines.

For a closer look at all the adjectives you'll see on a label, read more.

Brut: A dry variety of sparkling wine, and the most common.
Extra brut: The driest of the dry. Also sometimes called brut sauvage.
Extra dry: Not to be confused with "extra brut," these wines are only slightly dry - a midpoint between sweet and dry champagnes.
Sec: Slightly sweet, even though the name actually translates to "dry" in French.
Doux: The very sweetest sparkler, typically served as a dessert wine.
Demi-sec: A bit sweeter than sec, but not as sweet as doux.
Cuvee: A rather confusing term that basically means that the bottle comes from a blend of wines, often kept secret by the maker.
Grand cru: A wine that comes from the highest quality vineyards.
Vintage: A wine produced from a single year of grapes, versus nonvintage, which combines several years.

Got more champagne decoding tips to add? Share them in the comments below.
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Let's Dish: What Are Your Wedding Pet Peeves?

partysugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:50:46 -0700

When I chatted weddings with Gail Simmons a couple of weeks ago, she shared her tips for hosting an eco-friendly big day and let me know her wedding pet peeves. "When the wedding doesn't reflect the personality of the couple, that really bugs me." Also on her list: a menu that lacks creativity, and dessert buffets. "Twenty-foot-long tables covered in cakes and desserts - it's so wasteful, people take one slice and don't really need or want more than that."

I agree with Gail to an extent, I've never been a fan of buffets - but not because they're wasteful, because they promote overeating! My biggest pet peeve at a wedding reception, however, is a bad Champagne toast. Oh and running out of alcohol is a big no-no.

How about you? Now's your chance to get them off your chest: what are your wedding pet peeves?

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Party Foul: Not Greeting Your Guests

partysugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:30:42 -0700

At female-centric events like baby showers or bachelorette parties, it's easy for cliques to form and cattiness to flourish. Recently, my sister attended a bridal shower where the majority of guests went to the same high school. However some girls, despite knowing my sister, were cold and unfriendly. To make matters worse, the hostess did not say one word to her! While I understand that everyone present may not get along, it's totally unacceptable for the hostess to ignore her guests. It's up to the hostess to ensure that gossip and grudges don't ruin the party. This means that she must put aside any hard feelings and greet everyone equally.

Have you ever been to a party where the hostess made you feel unwelcome? Please share your stories below!

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Do You Know Your Drink Toasts Around the World?

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:50:27 -0700

The onset of Summer means many things: road trips, picnics, barbecues, watermelon . . . and weddings. Rarely does a June or July pass by when I'm not at or in a wedding celebration. Since lots of wedding toasts are to be had this time of year, I thought I'd put your multicultural toasting skills to the test. Do you know how to say "Cheers!" in every language? There's only one way to find out!

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Gail Simmons on Eco-Friendly Weddings

partysugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:41 -0700

Last week when I spoke with Gail Simmons about weddings, I was blown away by her inspirational ideas. Although she may not come across as a green goddess when she's judging Top Chef, she's actually very eco-conscious. Having an environmentally friendly wedding was very important to her and her now-husband, Jeremy. To find out her suggestions for throwing an eco-chic event, read more.

Send a save the date email. Instead of sending formal save the date cards, Gail chose to save paper. She let her loved ones know when and where her wedding would take place through a short, but sweet email.
Cut back on the invite. Gail examined every aspect of the invite and asked herself where she could use less paper. "I've never understood why wedding invites come with two envelopes. What is that second envelope for? Why is it necessary?" She ditched the extra envelope and sent information on hotels and lodging to only out-of-town guests.
Use recycled paper. This is a no-brainer! Gail printed all of her wedding stationary on regular sized, 100-percent recycled paper.
Don't waste the flowers. "Flowers are such a big thing, but they are wasteful. They cost so much money, are on a table for a couple of hours, and then what?" Gail came up with a clever way to lengthen the life of her wedding flowers. While she and her guests were dancing the night away, her wedding planner gathered the vases and wrapped each bouquet in craft paper. When her friends and family left the wedding, they were given a bouquet of fresh flowers to take home!
Give an eco favor. Gail's wedding favor was a reusable farmers market tote bag. "My friends still use them to this day."

Did you go green at your wedding? Share your stylish eco-tips with us below!

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Beachy Candle Is an Elegant Summer Centerpiece

YumSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:30:14 -0700

Recently, my honey and I had dinner at a restaurant that specialized in coastal American cuisine. While the succulent seafood was the real takeaway, I also made a note to replicate the beach-inspired candles for my next dinner party.

At the center of our two-top table was a nostalgic, uncomplicated piece: the flame of a single votive, flanked by beach sand, inside a short bar glass. This shockingly easy and inexpensive decoration would be perfect for a Summer pool party or even a beach-themed rehearsal dinner.

Have you ever created something similar?