it's time to cut the cake.

Like in most wedding details, trends in wedding cakes evolve over time. Buttercream frosting was one of the traditional frostings used on cakes until fondant became the frosting of choice. Now with advanced tools and techniques - buttercream frosting can look as smooth as fondant. This is great news for all since buttercream frosting tastes better, has more natural ingredients and costs less than fondant! But please note - if you're getting married outside, you want to keep the cake in a shaded area or even go as far as having the baker alter the ingredients to make sure the frosting will hold up in the warm weather. Below you'll see a few images of wedding cakes with a buttercream frosting.

*This insight into the world of cakes and frostings can be credited to the world wide web and the show, Cake Boss. If you haven't seen Cake Boss, you're missing out. Seriously.

videography.

The wedding industry currently seems to be flooded with talent. With the hussle and bussle of your big day, it is great to have the moment captured in video, so you can go back and rewatch one of the most beautiful moments of  your life. This can be done by hiring a videographer. There are so many ways and styles of capturing your big day, but at Willow we tend to be drawn toward the artistic and stylistic approach.

Here is a videographer based in Minneapolis who we are currently obsessed with. The company is called Capture Studios, and their work is phenomenal. Be prepared for tears.

Gene + Jill // Two Pease in a Pod from capture studios on Vimeo.

save the date.

He proposed. She said yes. The journey continues...

After getting engaged, the bride and groom to be experience a whirlwind of emotions. There are many steps to be taken before two become one on that special wedding day.  Organization is key.  It's important to have a game plan from the start so you can enjoy the engagement/wedding planning season of your life. After many venues have been narrowed down to one and a date has been picked - you need to communicate to all your loved ones when your special day is. Save the dates serve the purpose of letting people know the date of your wedding while giving insight into the couple and the style and creativity that people can expect on the big day. Below you'll find a save the date Kara helped design with one of our brides and grooms.

it's all in the details.

Hello from Savannah, GA!
I am writing from this lovely southern city, where I am working with Habitat for Humanity all week.
This town is darling. There are so many cute cafes, candy shops (where you can sample the infamous pralines), and lots of good restaurants.

This week, I am working with one of my brides to pick out her hairpiece for the wedding. She is a beautiful brunette, who is free-spirited and a bit bohemian. She stumbled upon a fabulous headband designer on Etsy. Check out some of her fabulous pieces. Her name is Myra Kim, and her Etsy shop is called Twigs and Honey.

Style 148

Style 106

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On your wedding day, you should feel like a million bucks. And feeling that way can come down to the smallest detailed edition to your ensemble. So whether you want a fancy updo, or flowing bohemian curls, a headpiece is a great way to add some flare to your look.

click click click.

There are many pieces that make up a wedding: flowers, the dress, catering, DJ, programs, decor, rings and so on and so forth. Many months, days and hours spent making arrangements and decisions for one of the most special nights of a person's life. The day comes and goes with the blink of an eye so it's important to make sure the memories are captured perfectly. Choosing the right photographer is just as important as choosing the right man or woman to marry. Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but it probably is second to that :). We want to make sure we continually expose you to the different photographers we love in the hopes that you will fall in love with one of them.

The first photography company we want to showcase is Paper Antler. Jonny and Michelle Hoffner make a magnificent pair in life and photography. They both have an unique eye and great execution. Kara and I went to college with them so it's great to have known them in many stages of life; from crazy college kids, to dating, then marriage and now business partners. Jonny and Michelle are preparing for a great adventure in 2012 called Fifty Nifty. They are hoping to do 50 weddings in 50 weeks in 50 states and donate $1,000 from each wedding to support an anti-human trafficking organization, She Dances, for a total of $50,000. You can watch the Fifty Nifty promo video here.

Make sure to check out Paper Antler, you won't be disappointed!