Cake is a staple at weddings, but let’s face it – not everyone likes cake. There’s no explaining it, but for those without a taste for cake, there are plenty of other dessert options from which to choose.

• Cheesecake. It’s almost like cake, but so much richer and creamier! And, really, who doesn’t like cheesecake? It’s easy to do up cheesecake just like a regular wedding cake, with tiers and towers. Plus, cheesecake can be made in a variety of flavors – white chocolate, chocolate, pumpkin, caramel and so on.
• Cookies. They don’t call them Mexican Wedding Cookies for nothing. A delicious display of a variety of cookies – served with glasses of ice cold milk, plus the standard coffee and tea – waxes nostalgic of your childhood. Go for a few of the standards, such as chocolate chip and peanut butter, and then add in a few exotic such as the Mexican wedding cookies and macaroons.
• Pies. For a casual, down-home wedding, an assortment of pies provides a delicious end to a comforting meal. Try some one-crust pies like lemon meringue and pumpkin, and then add in the classics such as apple and blueberry. You can also include cobblers, crisps and fruit tarts for a little bit more variety.
• An Italian spread. No one does dessert like the Italian. Between cannolis and tiramisu, these rich, luscious desserts will have yours guests forgetting there is even such a thing as wedding cake. There’s Italian cream cake, biscotti, pizzelle and gelato – in short, something for everyone!
• Cupcakes. OK, so this is a little bit of a trend. But if you want something cake-ish that’s not quite wedding cake, tiers of cupcakes are the way to go. They’re individual (so you get to skip the cake-cutting fee) and if you provide cute little boxes, guests can wrap them up and take them home. Offer at least two flavors (vanilla and chocolate, naturally), but spring for an exotically flavored third, like mojito or key lime, if you can.
• Chocolate. Who says you need anything more than chocolate? Set up a truffle station and watch your guests go crazy. Pick from delicious treats such as dark chocolate, cherry cordial, white chocolate, caramel-filled and more. For something extra, set up a chocolate fondue as the centerpiece of each table and surround your guests with an assortment of fruits like strawberries, apples and pineapple. Let them dip to their heart’s content.
• Butlered mini desserts. It works so well when you have passed hors d’ouerves, why not do the same for desserts? Choose a few sweets that work well in the small size, such as individual cherry pies, beignets, mini lemon tarts or petit fours and use your waiters to pass them around, letting each guest choose as many as they’d like.  If you have the budget, this is also an excellent addition to wedding cake.
• Candy apples. This is a perfect treat for a fall wedding. Dip the apples in caramel, then serve them plain, or dress them up with chopped nuts, raisins or even M&Ms. Pair these with another small fall dessert, such as carrot cake or poached pears. Don’t forget the apple cider!

The right music can be everything to a wedding reception. From the cocktail hour to the entrance songs to the last dance, the majority of a wedding reception is spun around tunes. But deciding whether those tunes should come from a DJ or a band is a tricky task for a couple. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each:

A band — the pros

There’s no doubt that a band provides an atmosphere that a DJ can’t. After all, it’s a live performance, and there’s something electric about that. It’s likely that the band leader is a born entertainer, which is just what you need for the emcee of the night. He or she can get the crowd out on the dance floor and raring to go.

If you’re looking for a special kind of music, such a big band or swing, then a live band is really way to go. The sound quality will be better than with a DJ.

A band — the cons

For most people, the cost of hiring a band for their wedding reception is prohibitive. With bands ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, that’s a lot of money to put out there for just the music, especially because that music will take breaks during the reception. After all, these are humans — they occasionally have to take a few moments away from their instruments and microphones to eat, drink, and use the restroom. You can flip on a CD for the breaks, but it will change the whole atmosphere and people are likely to flee the dance floor when that happens.

With a live band, you don’t get the variety that you might with a DJ. After all, a band has to learn the tracks, whereas a DJ can just find the record. If you want a particular song played, you have to make sure the band knows about it with plenty of time to learn it.

A band — considerations

You might be thinking, “Hey, I’m just going to book my favorite cover band for the night.” After all, you love grooving to them at the bar, and they know all your favorite songs, right? Unless this cover band has experience playing weddings, you might want to rethink it. After all, music in the bar is very different than music at a wedding, and will this band really be able to take you through the entire affair, from cocktail music and beyond? Will they remain appropriate enough for grandpa’s ears? These are all very serious considerations.

A DJ — the pros

If there’s one thing that’s great about a DJ, it’s the variety they offer. They’ll have the music that will make your college friends happy and the tunes that will make Ma and Pa happy. They can play the country music that he loves, and the Norah Jones jazz that she loves. There is no one-size-fits-all for a DJ that a band can have, and that — along with the cost — is probably the main reason they’re becoming a more popular option.

But that cost thing, that’s a big one. Whereas a good band starts at a couple thousand dollars, a DJ can be had for $1K or less. That’s typically the driving force, isn’t it?

A DJ — the cons

Some DJs like music, but they just aren’t a performer. DJing in a club — where they’re not required to open their mouths — is a far cry from a wedding, where they’re expected to take charge of the event. This is why you should always go check out a gig for the DJs  you’re interested in before booking. There, you can see their personalities and how well they move the event along.

Rubbery chicken, be gone! Too many brides opt for the standard wedding fare of chicken, steam veggies and some potatoes as the main course for their wedding. Sure, it’s an option if you have a really small budget or don’t have the time or energy to put into it, but it’s likely you want something better than that.

Here’s how to choose the right menu for your wedding reception:

• Consider the season. You don’t want to serve hot chowder during a June wedding, nor is a summer fruit medley appropriate for a December reception. A seasonally inspired wedding menu will make your meal so much more special.
• Consider the time of day. You don’t need to serve a full meal if your reception is taking place from 2-5 p.m. Appetizers or even if cake and beverages are sufficient. You are, however, required to serve it if you’re celebrating at your reception during a typical meal time (i.e. if the reception is taking place from noon-4 p.m. or from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. If your budget doesn’t allow a full meal to be served, then pick a time of day when your guests don’t expect to be fed a full spread.
• Decide how much of your budget will be allotted to the meal. For a moderate budget, it’s likely you won’t be serving crab cakes and filet mignon. But it’s possible to serve delicious, unique meals for less money. For example, a creative pasta dish will probably be less expensive than a less exciting cut of fish. For some caterers, a buffet meal is more expensive, but for others, plated meals will be a higher cost. As mentioned before, having a reception during a non-meal time of day is best for small budgets.
• Pick how the wedding menu is going to be served. Let’s go along with the assumption that you’re going to be serving a full meal. How are you going to serve it? The most common choices are plated meals and buffets. In addition to those two choices, you can also serve your meal family-style (which means the dishes are placed in the middle of the table, and the guests serve themselves from the platters) or through stations (such as a carving station or a pasta station). Certain foods lend themselves better to different ways of being served.
• Choose a theme for the wedding menu, if you want. This is an excellent way to serve a unique, delicious meal without resorting to high-priced menu items. Sure, steak and lobster might be exquisite, but a rustic Italian feast or a Hawaiian-inspired meal will probably have guests just as excited.
• Don’t forget about those with dietary needs. You should always offer a vegetarian option, and you should also be aware if a guest needs a gluten-free meal or other special need. A considerate guest will inform you of this need immediately upon receiving the invitation. When interviewing caterers, make sure to ask if they’re willing to accommodate these special diets, if necessary.
• For a memorable meal, make room in your budget for a special touch. This might mean hiring a sushi chef for the cocktail hour. For coffee-lovers, offer to-go cups of specialty java as favors. Think about what type of culinary (or beverage) touches might really showcase your personalities, and try to incorporate it into the wedding reception.

Did you think the first dance was the only special song you had to choose for your wedding reception? Think again! You’ll need a song for the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the father-daughter and mother-son dances, the cake-cutting and bridal party entrances. It can be tough to know where to get started with these, so we have put together a list of songs that might inspired you for every moment of your reception. Just pick the category of wedding reception songs you need, and start dancing.

Wedding songs for father-daughter dances

This is a special moment for both you and your dad. Make sure he’s on board with your song choice. A great way to decide together is for you to create a CD of your favorite tunes, and let him choose a song from there.

1. “Father and Daughter,” Paul Simon
2. “He Didn’t Have to Be,” Brad Paisley (perfect for step-fathers)
3. “My Girl,” The Temptations
4. “Unforgettable,” Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
5. “When you come back down,” Nickle Creek
6. “Ready, Set, Don’t Go,” Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus
7. “Stealing Cinderella,” Chuck Wicks
8. “My Wish,” Rascal Flatts
9. “Then They Do,” Trace Adkins

Wedding songs for mother-son dances

This moment is just as special for a mother and her son. While there aren’t as many songs specifically written for this moment, there are plenty of meaning tunes that will make the dance special.

1. “Don’t Blink,” Kenny Chesney
2. “What a Wonderful World,” Louis Armstrong
3. “In My Life,” The Beatles
4. “Mama,” Boyz 2 Men
5. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” Toy Story soundtrack
6. “I Hope You Dance, “LeeAnn Womack

Wedding songs for the bouquet toss

Get your girls out on the floor and ready to dive for the bouquet!

1. “Single Ladies,” Beyonce
2. “Girls just want to have fun,” Cyndi Lauper
3. “That’s What Girls Do,” No Secrets
4. “This One’s For the Girls,” Martina McBride
5. “Umbrella,” Rihanna
6. “Maneater,” Nelly Furtado

Garter toss wedding songs

It’s the guys’ turn — they’ll be ready to tussle over the bride’s garter if they have the right mood music.

1. “You Give Love a Bad Name,” Bon Jovi
2. “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Michael Jackson
3. “Bad,” Michael Jackson
4. “Push It,” Salt N Pepa
5. “Girls,” Beastie Boys
6. “I’m too Sexy,” Right Said Fred

Cake-cutting songs

This is bound to be one of the sweetest moments of your life — until he squashes that cake in your face, that is!

1. “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Def Leppard
2. “How Sweet it is,” Marvin Gaye
3. “Sugar, Sugar” The Archies
4. “Sweet Child of Mine,” Guns N Roses
5. “Candy Man,” Christina Aguilera
6. “The Sweetest Thing,” U2

Bridal party entrance songs

Take your cue from your wedding party’s personalities — or just pick from these friend- and party-centric tunes.

1. “I’ll Be There for you,” The Rembrandts
2. “With a Little Help From my Friends,” The Beatles
3. “Let’s Get in Started,” Black Eyed Peas
4. “Please Don’t Stop The Music,” Rihanna
5. “Don’t Stop Believing,” Journey
6. “This Will Be,” Natalie Cole
7. “Get This Party Started,” Pink

As always, you are welcome to leave a comment with your suggestions for wedding reception songs.

The ring is on your finger, and it’s finally time to tell it to the world – you’re getting married!

But, wait! Out of common courtesy, there are certain people who should know about your engagement before the rest of the world. Without a doubt, if there are children involved, they should be the first to know about the impending marriage. After all, it will affect their lives the most. Following that, both the bride and groom’s parents and the rest of the immediate family should be informed (barring any estrangements, naturally).  It’s likely that the parents already know, but siblings, grandparents and maybe a special aunt or uncle might be hurt if they aren’t immediately in the know.

Once these people know about the engagement, you can tell everyone else. There are a few different ways you can do this:

• Make some calls. On the night you get engaged, you’ll probably be using an awful lot of minutes on your cell phone announcing your engagement.
• Throw an engagement party. You can use the invitations to announce your engagement, or you can wait until the party starts to tell everyone the news. There are a few things to keep in mind: Everyone you invite to the engagement party will rightfully expect an invitation to the wedding. Therefore, you should invite anyone that you’re not absolutely sure will be a potential wedding guest. Additionally, if the guests know beforehand that it’s an engagement party, some might want to buy you a celebratory gift. You can either start your registry a little bit early (you can always add more later) or you can specify on the invitation that you request no gifts (but be prepared for a couple of picture frames or serving platters anyway).
• If you don’t want a party, you can just send out engagement announcements. If you get engagement photos done early, you can include those on the announcements. Again, people who get these announcements will probably expect an invitation to the wedding.
• Submit a newspaper announcement. These announcements are typically paid advertisements that run on a designated page in the newspaper one day a week. The cost is determined by how many words are printed and whether or not a picture is included. Occasionally, newspapers can get backed up with engagement and wedding announcements, depending on how much space is allotted for them and how many people are submitting, so send it in early. It can take up to a month for the announcement to actually appear. Once you’ve decided which paper you would like the announcement to run in (Your hometown paper is the likely choice), contact the lifestyles editor, who will usually be able to answer your questions: How much does it cost, are there any special guidelines, what size the picture can be and when the deadline is. Expect your announcement to be edited for the newspaper’s specific style, as well as for grammar and syntax.
• Set up a wedding Web site. These sites have been growing in popularity as a way to stay connected with wedding guests that live in other locations. Many sites offer free limited Web sites, or you can just go ahead and register a domain such as “www.jackandkateswedding.com, if you have some Web skills. This site can be pretty basic — time, date, place, info on the bridal party, and the registry information (include it here, and not in the invitation!). If you want, you can get much more elaborate, and include more wedding details so your aunt in Albuquerque can stay abreast on all the planning details.

What are your experiences with announcing an engagement? If you have any more tipps for announcing an engagement, please leave a comment.

Don’t fall prey to these wedding-planning blunders like some unfortunate brides before you:

1. Spending money on things that aren’t important to you. Just because your mother-in-law thinks you should spend $400 on wedding favors doesn’t mean you have to. If giving your guests token favors isn’t important to you, then put that money somewhere that IS important, whether it’s the menu, the dress of the honeymoon. Wedding vendors are constantly going to be trying to talk you into spending more than you anticipated on their services. Learn to just say “no.”
2. Drinking too much the night before the wedding. Whether your bridesmaids want to take you out for the bachelorette party or your rehearsal dinner has free-flowing beverages, getting trashed the night before you walk down the aisle is a bad idea. Not only will it ruin what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life because you’ll have a headache — or worse — but you’ll also have bloodshot eyes, baggy under-eye circles and blotchy skin. That’s not exactly what a blushing bride is supposed to look like.
3. Thinking that because it’s your wedding day, you can do whatever you want. That’s the exact definition of a bridezilla. It’s not just YOUR day, it’s your FIANCEE’S day as well, so don’t forget about him.
4. Booking a ceremony or reception hall before finalizing the guest list. If you fall in love and put a deposit down on a reception venue that only holds 100 guests, but then your future in-laws come to you with their third of the guest list, and it tops out your guest list at 145, what are you going to do? It’s going to be a tough decision to cut 45 people. Follow a wedding planning checklist to make sure that you’re getting things done in the proper order, and you won’t run into a blunder like this.
5. Not paying attention to the legalities. This could be in regards to the marriage license — there are rules that vary by states, and if you screw things up, your marriage license might not be valid. Certain states have waiting periods (for example, three days between when you receive the license until when you can legally marry), and some have time limits (the marriage has to take place within 60 days of the license being issued). Be on top of this at least a month before the wedding.
6. Forgetting to book a block of hotel rooms. If you have a lot of guests coming from out of town, it’s courteous for you to block off a certain number of rooms that the hotel then offers to guests at a discount. If you forget to do this, the guests could have a hard time finding a room near your wedding, especially if you live in a seasonally touristy town or there’s a big event going on in your city the same weekend.
7. Underpaying invitation postage. If you send out a big batch of invitations right at the two-month mark, you’re perfectly on schedule. Except what happens when they’re returned for insufficient postage? That will throw the whole schedule off track and your guests won’t enough notice of the wedding.
8. Not setting up a formal time line for your wedding. Things will be chaos if people don’t know where they’re supposed to be and when. Type out a timeline that indicates the start and end time of the ceremony, the introduction of the bridal party, the time dinner is being served, when the toasts and first dances are, and when the cake is being cut. Hand this out to people who need to know — the DJ or bandleader, the officiant, the maid of honor and best man, and the head of the catering staff. This ensures that no one is taken by surprise.
9. Choosing a menu that most people won’t eat. It’s great if you want to have more than the standard chicken, potatoes and steamed vegetables served as your meal. But if you choose a duo of veal and lamb without any other choices, you’ll likely alienate many of your guests, who will then go hungry (or binge on wedding cake).
10. Putting off wedding dress shopping. The wedding dress process can take time. Not only is it unlikely you’ll find the dress of your dreams the first time you shop, but even if you do, alterations can take months. Occasionally a bride will find an off-the-rack dress that she can take home and not worry about, but it’s more likely that your dress will take at least six to eight months to be ready.

Do you know about any other mistakes? Let us know and leave a comment.

Every bride knows the old wedding-day adage: Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Each phrase refers to an article of clothing or accessory that the bride should be wearing (or somehow carrying) on her wedding day.

The items are supposed to represent symbolize a happy new life and good luck for the new bride. Her “something old” symbolizes the bride’s history and past, though brides often choose to purchase antique or vintage items for this category. It’s nice to include a family heirloom in this category, as a way of showing your family that they’ll always be part of you even as you become part of another family. The “something new” refers to the new life on which she’s embarking and the optimism and hope which she embodies. “Something borrowed” is to “borrow” the good luck of a happily married friend or family member, in the hopes that the lender’s happiness will transfer over to the new couple. Finally, “something blue” has historical connotations, because the color blue used to symbolize purity and faithfulness. It was also a popular wedding color in which to be wed, as a popular saying was “married in blue, lover be true.”

The original saying actually had a final line: “And a silver sixpence in her shoe.” A sixpence is a type of old British coin. Different types of coins are sometimes substituted these days, though sixpences can be bought for this specific purpose. The sixpence symbolizes financial security and wealth.

There are classic interpretations on this traditional poem: an old handkerchief, a new dress, borrowed jewelry and a blue garter. But there are plenty of other options when trying to creatively include these traditional symbols into your wedding-day attire. Naturally, you can combine two categories into one item – using a borrowed piece of antique jewelry as your “something old” and “something borrowed” – but it’s lots of fun to seek out an item for each category specifically.

Here are some options if you want to do something different for your tradition:

Something old

• Mother’s or grandmother’s engagement or wedding ring.
• Antique lace tied around your bouquet.
• Vintage earring or other jewelry.
• Family wedding photo in a locket.
• Vintage or secondhand shoes.
• Your mother’s wedding veil.

Something new

• Sexy undergarments.
• New shoes.
• A shiny tiara or headband.
• A piece of jewelry that just happens to be a gift from your groom.
• A beautiful veil.

Something borrowed

• Mother-in-law’s pearl necklace or earrings.
• The bracelet your best friend wore at her wedding.
• A barrette or hair brooch from your sister.
• Your grandmother’s wedding ring tied into your bouquet.

Something blue

• Blue flowers in your bouquet.
• Sapphire stones in a piece of jewelry.
• Blue ribbon tied around your bouquet.
• Fun blue high heels.
• Blue undergarments or lingerie.
• Blue sash for your wedding dress.
• A blue button replacing one of the original buttons on your wedding dress.