Before you met your significant other, if you were best friends with your laptop, and if Siri was the only woman willing to talk to you without being paid, then this wedding cake article could be for you.
Since you are reading this, you are probably finally about to boldly go where no man has gone before. This probably means that you have finally met that special someone – that person who “gets it.”
Getting married is a bond of love that should last for ever. If you are now really ready to move out of mom’s basement and start planning your wedding, there are ways to make your wedding really reflect who you and your spouse are.
Whether you fell in love because you both like superheroes, outer space, steam-punk, middle-earth or Japanese Anime, you can have a the perfect wedding cake that encircles your geeky passions if you look hard enough for it.
Don’t adjust your band-aid-taped glasses, because below is an extensive look of cake ideas that could help you figure out the right cake for you!
I am versatile. I have done a couple of country / rustic weddings over the last few weeks and had NO problem dropping the tech look to make it work. Rather than my regular sweet DJ booth, I went for the barrel look here at a fun wedding at Burlap and Beams of Athol, NY.
This venue had some great old barrels available and we took advantage of it and made it work! A rustic theme can really make your wedding a success.
BARN VENUES – There are a few great “barn” venues in the Albany, NY area to consider, if wanting this rustic feel. One as we said is Burlap & Beams. ANother is Pat’s Barn in Troy NY , and another is The Pruyn House in Latham, NY.
Here are a few pictures to give you some ideas.
Wagon for Flower girl
Antique Decor
Suitcase Card Holder
Old loved ones pictures
For more ideas including crafty crepe paper flowers and a do-it-yourself rustic photo booth click here -> COUNTRY THEME WEDDING in ALBANY
If you liked this, please consider us to DJ your event! Call Ken at 518-506-3305
Here is a 10-year-old “Princess Theme Birthday” that we were the DJ for at Saratoga Springs, NY’s Museum of Dance. They had a princess dress up booth/photo booth, colorful uplights, a great twisty balloon maker (Balloon Girl Jenny
Princess Theme Birthday DJ at Saratoga Museum of Dance
) and also our DJ set up!
SOME PRINCESS BIRTHDAY IDEAS
“Princess Parade” – Have all the girls come in costume as their favorite princess. Then have them line up outside the room and come into a big parade. I used IZ’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” as the music backdrop.
Group Photo Opp – Have all of the kids and parents line up in a horseshoe formation with the birthday girl in the middle. Take a number of fun shots!
Coloring Contest – Photocopy a number of different princess-related pages out of Disney coloring books for a great table pastime.
Twisty balloons rule!
Lip Sync – We had the girls sing into inflatable microphone (much like the inflatable guitars) along to the new Frozen movie.
Limbo – You can never go wrong with the limbo!
Twisty Balloons – New twisty balloon sculptures are like never before! Check out this “Little Mermaid” ballon. It really puts a twist on the idea of old ballon twisting and it is also a work of art!
DATES TO KNOW BEFORE PLANNING YOUR WEDDING IN 2014 –
If you want success at your wedding, attendance plays a big part.
There are a billion things to think about when planning your wedding in Albany NY or around the world, but what some people do not take into account is the importance of the actual date selection itself on the calendar.
NEVER NEVER NEVER select a wedding date because that is the only day a wedding hall has open. There could be a reason it is open that nobody has booked for that day! Do your homework and figure out what else could be happening that day before selecting.
What are the days around they day you are thinking of choosing? What other things could be happening on this date that could create competition? Choosing a “Holiday Weekend Wedding” can totally have it’s pros and cons, but however, sometimes the nostalgia is not really worth it, in the end.
THE PROS OF PLANNING A HOLIDAY WEDDING –
1) HOLIDAYS ARE EASY TO REMEMBER
2) HOLIDAYS HELP PROVIDE YOU WITH A THEME TO FOLLOW
3) GUESTS MAY HAVE OFF OF WORK – Another great thing about planning a holiday wedding is that your guests will have an extra day off of work 9usually a monday) for recovery and travel time. Or, a holiday weekend can allow for a better Sunday wedding, which incidently, is often more affordable that a Saturday wedding works out to be.
THE CONS ON SELECTING A HOLIDAY FOR YOUR WEDDING –
1) TRAVEL INCREASE – Traveling costs are traditionally more on holidays, bottom line. Your costs and the the cost for your guests’ airfare traveling and/or hotels are often higher on holiday weekends, due to supply and demand of travelers.
2) GUEST ATTENDANCE – Choosing a holiday wedding might hurt your wedding guest attendance list. Let’s face it. People are creatures of habit, and nobody likes change. Some families have other regularly scheduled commitments and traditions for on-going standing holiday weekend and, more often than not, these are traditions are ones that some people would not want to change, no matter what the cause.
Holiday Inn Express Wedding of Latham NY
HOLIDAY WEEKENDS FOR 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 17, 2014 Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 26, 2014 Memorial Day
Friday, July 4, 2014 Independence Day
Monday, September 1, 2014 Labor Day
Monday, October 13, 2014 Columbus Day
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Veterans Day
Thursday, November 27, 2014 Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, December 25, 2014 Christmas Day
3) RELIGIOUS DAYS –
While you may or may not recognize a number of religious holidays, your guests might. Think about religious holidays when choosing your wedding date. There may even be church restrictions on if you are allowed to marry at these times, so you may have to make some calls if you go against this one.
Palm Sunday
April 13, 2014
March 29, 2015
March 20, 2016
Easter Sunday
April 20, 2014
April 5, 2015
March 27, 2016
Passover (begins at sunset the night before)
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Friday, April 22, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset the night before)
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset the night before)
Thursday, September 25, 2014, until nightfall on Friday, September 26, 2014
Monday, September 14, 2015, until nightfall on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Sunday, October 2, 2016, until nightfall on Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset the night before)
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
Wednesday, December 17, 2014, until nightfall on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, December 7, 2015, until nightfall on Monday, December 14, 2015
Saturday, December 24, 2016 until nightfall on Sunday, January 1, 2017
DJ TIPS – MORE WEDDING DATE SELECTION TIPS
COSTLY HOLIDAYS – Valentine’s Day will make your floral bill shyrocket, and New Year’s will make your venue more too!
PERSONALLY SIGNIFICANT DAYS – Check your own calendar for college reunions, family weddings, anniversaries or other events, like big conventions or festivals in your city (call your local chamber of commerce), and any annual occasions that involve your family or close friends.
HOLIDAY WEEKENDS – Holiday weekend weddings have pros and cons. You’ve got an extra day for the festivities (and recovery!); plus, a Sunday wedding is often less expensive than a Saturday one would be. However, costs of travel and hotels may be higher. And if you’re looking to marry around Valentine’s Day, be wary of your floral bill, especially if you’ve got your heart set on red roses — they’ll likely be more expensive than at any other time of the year. Likewise, reception sites often charge a higher fee for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Also consider the impact of a holiday weekend on your guest list: Some families have standing plans or traditions that they’d prefer not to miss.
If you are planning an outside wedding and are really into the rustic crafty country look, I just did a wedding at Lakeside Farms Pavillion in Ballston Lake, NY. The bride and groom really got into the theme and did a super job. Here are a few of their crafty little ideas.
MESSAGE TABLECLOTHS – This bride and groom wanted a crafty feel for their wedding, so in addition to making their own flowers they used nicely decorated brown paper for their tablecloths. Then, they actually wrote each guests name on the place setting and encouraged their guests to write messages of well wishes on their tables throughout the night.
Tea Candles
Burlap Runners
Provide Crayons for Guests To Write With
Guests Write Messages on The Tablecloth
At the end of the reception, they rolled up the messages like giant scrolls with the intent to publish all of the messages on their special wedding web site that they had created for the event.
Custom Wedding Photo Backdrop
CUSTOM CRAFTY PHOTO BACKDROP – This next idea is very novel and acts as both decor and entertainment. My bride and groom also created and painted their own custom backdrop for photos, borrowing from the photobooth idea. The difference here is it had their names, the wedding date and other important tidbits splattered all over it
What this couple decided to do to create their custom backdrop was to make a tri-fold chalkboard-looking bacadef by hinginging three pieces of plyboard together. The boards were painted in black and decorated by white writing and designs.
To add to the entertainment value of this decoration, they also left a box of silly costume accessories and props for the guests to use while posing in front of their creation. Some things in the box included feather boas, crazy hats and even costume jewelry.
Finally, they strategically placed their crafty backdrop in a corner and let the fun begin.
Mini Chalk Board Table Signs with Flowers
CREPE PAPER FLOWERS EVERYWHERE – Who says you need to spend a fortune on flowers? The crafty bride and groom at this particular wedding made all of their own flowers out of pink and white crepe paper. It was really quite impressive.They covered the whole pavillion with baskets bouquets and bunches of these decorations, and even hung massive ones form the rafters. Any flat surface was subjected to the pink and white attack.
Each flower was different. Some were solid colors, other were multi-colored. Some flower arrangements were tiny and placed and displayed in baskets, while others where giant blooms were attached to actual tree branches!
What a great idea! Below is a video on how to actually make a crepe paper flower, yourself. Enjoy!
A great list of ideas for your Country Western Theme party
The Hoedown Throw-down – Country Western Theme Party – Cowboy & Indian Theme Party – Western Corporate Event – Old West Theme – Old West Theme Wedding – Wild West Theme Wedding
Howdy, partner. I recon you are thinking about throwing a hoedown as a Country-Western theme party. Yeah, you can slap on a cowboy hat and put some straw in ‘yer teeth, but that and a mason jar of moonshine may not be enough!
If you really want to stike gold and find true success in your theme party, you really have to go all the way; close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. If you don’t look at the whole picture, by the end of the night, there may be no one left but tumbleweed.
This comprehensive list of party invitations, decorations, table settings, centerpieces, and fun ideas can help make your shindig be one that no one will forget.
Wanted Signs Make Great Invitations!
COUNTRY WESTERN RSVP INVITATIONS
At the get-go, round up your western theme party guests with something that screams country. Statistics have shown that the more time you spend on paying attention to fine details on your invitations, the better your turn out will be. Rustle up your people in the country spirit.
WANTED SIGN INVITATIONS – I am sure you have seen the old “wanted posters” from the old west movies where a villian is out there and a reward is being offered on their head, dead or alive. How about this format for your invitiation on parchment? If you don’t have the money for the fancy paper stock, dip it in coffee to age it or burn the sides. Roll the poster up with all of the party details on the inside, and tie it with some cheap twine, or maybe a bandana.
COME IN COSTUME – Before thinking about what decorations to choose, make sure to instruct your buckaroos to dress like the old west. This way, pictures of the night will look right in key with the tone of the theme. Tell them you are dressing the role and hope for the same. List out ideas for the uncreative and lazy guests suggesting such country fashion staples including: western bolo ties, leather fringed vests, spurs, cowboy hats, bandanas, cowboy boots, holsters, toy guns, toy horses, or whatever they can rustle up that fits the bill.
COUNTRY WESTERN PARTY ATMOSPHERE SETTING
Location is everything. If you hold your party in a place that already lends something to the country-western theme, then you are half way there. Let’s say you were holding the party in a very modern place. The fixtures and decor that is already set will work against you. However, a rented barn like The Pruyn House in Latham, NY, or the or ranch, this would be a great setting for all your favorite to gather at. If you can pull this off for your venue, you have a lot of your must-have decorations already built in.
SHUTTER DOORS – These are a “must-have” decoration to set up the old western bar shutter doors wherever you can. This will make your guests enter in style.
TOWN BANNER – Welcome your guests with a long banner at the entrance to the party that says something like “Company Hoedown” or some other creative title that follows the theme. This should look like what you would see in the movies when the town was celebrating something, with the Sheriff or town Mayor on a stage. HAY – Set the stage for your event with real hay bales outside the entrance. You can also put bales of hay around in the corners, and if possible, put handfuls of hay all over the place! If your venue will allow, cover the floor!!! This really sets the tone, when possible! ROCKING HORSE – Set these up for photo ops! People of all ages will have a blast rocking out! HOBBY HORSES – Get those cheaper horse heads on a stick and lay them around for fun! VARMINTS – Place rubber rattle snakes all around the ground, but fear not, your cowboys and cowgirls will surely be able to handle them. CACTUS – Get some real cactus plants for decorations. If it isn’t in the budget, try cactus cutouts. TUMBLEWEEDS – A number of large tumbleweed balls to kick around would really be a mood setter. SADDLES – Borrow or rent a horse saddle and put it somewhere like on top of one of the bales of hay. WASHBOARDS & WAGON WHEELS – These are also a great touch! COWBOY BOOTS – Western boot danglers are an easy and fun party decoration. Use them all over the room or highlight a special area, like the buffet. Either use real boots from a thrift store, perhaps, or cutout paper ones. WANTED POSTERS – Hang up silly wanted posters all over the walls with funny crimes listed under the mug shot. You can personalize the posters with the host/hostesses pictures or even ones of key guests. LABELS – Mark “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls” signs on your bathroom doors. LASSOS – Make giant lassos as wall decorations. XXX BOTTLES – Make ‘em think they are drinking that moonshine! NOOSES – While this may not be great at a children’s party, a properly tied noose may be a great conversation piece in a sick and twisted way! They are also great in case you need an impromptu hanging of a guest who had one to many drinks and is acting ornery. BAGS OF GOLD – Make prop bags of gold so people can stage shoot outs for photo ops, as well! INDIAN STUFF – Focusing on the cowboy stuff sometimes makes us forget… Don’t forget the Indian decorations. Hatches, head dresses, teepees, buffalos, war paint… this avenue opens up even more fun!
3) TABLE PLACE CARDS
There are many ways to show your guests to the chow line and still stay within the theme. One way to do this is with the selection of country western themed table place cards.
CUSTOM COWBELLS – Make a ringing impression with customized cowbells. Buy cowbells, paint the name of each guest on the outside and attach the seating details to the ringer inside. Country Western Cowbells can be found in bulk at novelty and craft stores, or discount mass merchandisers online. BANDANAS – Roll up and ribbon-tie a cowboy bandanna for each person as a seating card. Tie off the seating card with their name and table number and you have a party favor, too. HORSESHOES – Another idea for seating cards is plastic toy horseshoes. Print the name and table number of your guests on each one. GUEST ACCESORY TABLE – Set up a table by your place cards with a baskets chock full of bandanas and cowboy hats, Marshall and deputy badges, and bolo ties. Make sure this is near the front door so your guests can fill out any gaps in their costumes, or lack-there-of costumes. Putting your guests in the garb will allow them have the full country western theme party experience.
Bring The Fun to the Table
4) TABLE DECORATIONS
When it comes to rustle up some grub for the guests, make your theme hit the dinner table. While you don’t have to go too crazy, you should at least have something that barbeque sauce and cornbread goes well with. But what about the décor?
TABLE CLOTH / LINEN – Use checkered toppers over red linens for great looking tables, for a little more pizzazz. Denim table covers are another way to go, too. NAPKINS – Use solid red and solid white napkins, alternating for every other place setting. Another fun idea is to use metal sheriff’s badges as napkin rings, by pinning the middle of each napkin. If a badge is too costly, buy cheap twine and tie each napkin in the center. WESTERN THEME CONFETTI – Don’t forget to sprinkle western confetti around. Look this up online. They make all different shapes like cactus plants, cowboy hats, guns, sheriff badges and more. It’s a great finishing touch! COWBOY HAT NACHOS / CHIP AND DIP HOLDER – You can use a real cowboy hat, turned upside down and line with a check napkin or bandana to hold chips. You can place bowls inside the hats, too, if you are hesitant about napkins.
This is one sharp centerpiece!
5) CENTERPIECE IDEAS CACTUS – A real cactus will really drive the point home with your guests. To brighten up your centerpiece, tie red and blue bandanas around the clay pots that the cactus plants are in. You can also accessorize the soil by sticking mini-spurs in the plant soil, or maybe a cap gun. ANTIQUITIES – Re-create a “western setting” in the middle of the table using antiques. For a really creative centerpiece, use an old metal coffeepot, an old style colored bottle, a bandana-lined basket (that you can fill with just about anything), some old-style metal coffee cups, and/or several bottles of fancy barbecue sauce. Just arrange these all together in the center of the table. STRAW BALE – A mini bale of straw might be the way to go, accessorized just right!
For kids’ tables, try a cowboy play set as the centerpiece. Not only will it look inviting to them, but also they can entertain themselves as they sit and eat. POKER CARDS – Throw them around randomly, like a game just went wrong and the players are in the road engaged in gun slinging!
A Mechanical Bull is a must if you can afford it!
6) ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT MECHANICAL BULL RIDE – While this can be really costly, if it’s in your budget, this is the greatest thing you could add to your party’s entertainment factor! WESTERN BOOT PIñATA – Rustle up your guests all together and try to break the western boot piñata. Fill the piñata with candy and fun toys that go with the western theme. MUSICAL HATS – Play “musical hats” to keep everyone entertained. Make sure to buy authentic cowboy hats and American Indian headdresses though, or the game won’t be nearly as much fun. LINE DANCING LESSONS – Bring in a local dance instructor to teach line dancing. Then later on during the dance part of the party, have the guests show off their new learned steps! You can also hire a professional “line dance caller” to entertain you with authentic square dancing emcee. CARD GAME TABLES – Texas Hold ‘Em, Poker, or Black Jack tables would be great! Set up chips that you can cash in for fun prizes! HORSESHOES – games / tournament with a prize to the winner(s)!
7) MUSIC IDEAS DINNER MUSIC – During this time, set the mood and use the legitimate country music that you can’t really dance to. Have real Country Western playing. You might also play other classic country artists like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings. COUNTRY MUSIC – Not everyone loves country music, but there are a lot of mainstream faster tracks out there today to keep the playlist somewhat in the theme. Check out artisits like Brooks And Dunn, Taylor Swift, Trace Atkins, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church for starters. WESTERN THEME POP MUSIC – Do not be afraid to mix up the playlist. All country music tracks may kill a party where people don’t really like it. While typical country music isn’t the best for fast dancing, there are some alternatives you can add to the mix to keep with the theme. Here is a list of non-country music songs that follow the western cowboy theme:
Wild Wild West – Will Smith Wild Wild West – Kool Moe Dee Apache – Sugar Hill Gang Cotton Eyed Joe – Rednex Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi Where Have All The Cowboys Gone – Paula Cole I Wanna Be A Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry Hoedown Throwdown – Miley Cyrus The Wild Wild West – Escape Club Rawhide – Blues Brothers The Good The Bad & The Ugly Theme Kid Rock – Cowboy Rhinestone Cowboy – Glenn Cambell Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks Back In The saddle again – Aerosmith Rhapsody – Cowboy Lover
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. It has been another one of Kenny Casanova’s “Massive Theme Party Checklist Editions”, much like his our 80’s Theme Party Blog, where we painstakingly share at great length the many things we have seen go well at certain types of parties. While you do not need to accomplish everything you see above, the more you can afford, the better.
…And it goes without saying, book an experienced DJ for your event, partner! And everything will turn out great. 🙂
