Wedding Supplies Expert

If you are starting to plan your wedding and you type ‘wedding supplies’ into Google, you could easily spend the next few weeks trawling through the top 10 websites as they have so many things to offer. The number of items you are made to think you need is overwhelming. And even when you narrow your ‘must have’ list down to say wedding favors and party supplies, the choice within each category is again too much to take in. If your budget is limitless then by all means buy the lot, but most of us will need a plan to ensure we do not get carried away.

So before you start your research use our checklist below to decide what wedding supplies you need. It is recommended that you do this first before you get caught up with the great images of every item under the sun that you could want. I’m not trying to be a kill joy here and by all means add in the odd thing that takes your fancy, but do not lose control as can be sooooo easy!

Photos by stevie withers, 96dpi and Tracy Hunter.

The checklist is split into the various stages of the day to try and keep the process a bit more manageable.  You can then be sure that you have good coverage for each phase and that you have not forgotten something huge.

Once you have your plan, you need to find a supplier. If you are hoping to choose and order everything online from the comfort of your own home, then you will find many big suppliers from just one online search. My second recommendation would be to have a quick look at a few of the top sites and then pick one. Most of their pricing is similar and their ranges are so huge that you can always find something in your budget. So save yourself some time and try and avoid cross referencing between sites as you will still be there after the wedding day has passed!

Pre Wedding Supplies

• Invitations (Have you considered photo wedding invitations for something a bit different?)

Bridal Accessories

• Bouquet
• Jewellery
• Shoes
• Tiara
• Wedding gown & veil

Wedding Ceremony Supplies

• Aisle runner
• Ceremony vow examples
• Flower girl basket
• Flowers
• Guest book
• Pen holder
• Pew bows
• Ring bearer pillow
• Sand ceremony set (alternative to unity candle)
• The rings!
• Unity candle & candelabra
• Videographer/photographer
• Wedding programs

Wedding Reception Supplies

• Bridal party gifts (groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girl, ring bearer)
• Cake & wedding cake supplies such as Cake boxes or bags, Cake knife & server set and a Cake topper
• Centerpieces (flowers, candles, balloons or something a bit different)
• Decorations
• Disposable cameras
• Menu cards
• Place cards & holders
• Table accessories – tablecloths & napkins
• Toasting flutes

Wedding Party Supplies & Beyond

• Car decorating kit
• Favors
• Floor decals or other decorations

On November 16, 2010, Royal Wedding fever hit, with the announcement that Prince William and Kate Middleton were finally engaged. Prince William, second in line to be King of England and Kate, soon to be Princess Catherine, will marry on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

The lucky people of England will enjoy a public holiday on this day to celebrate this rare occasion which will be watched the world over. The global interest in this historic event has already seen significant investment by manufacturers of Royal Wedding memorabilia hoping to cash in as enthusiastic royal watchers and fans start collecting their piece of history.

Buckingham Palace has issued rules on what souvenir manufacturers can produce in terms of William and Kate wedding merchandise. Items must be permanent and significant – tea towels, t-shirts and aprons are out, whereas mugs, china plates and biscuit jars are in. While this may be the official rule, manufacturers will still be trying to get in on the act and you can expect to see t-shirts and the like being sold in their thousands but they will not hold any long term value.

If you are looking to collect some Royal wedding memorabilia as an investment you will be well advised to take note of these rules as they will affect the long term value of such items and determine what will become sought after by collectors in the future.

 

So what William and Kate Royal wedding collectibles are on offer?

 

China products

The first official souvenirs issued by the Royal Family, available at palaces and online, are bone china mementos. A tankard, plate and pill box are all decorated with the couple’s initials, the Prince’s coronet and wording to commemorate the marriage. They come in a presentation box and should make a solid investment. Unfortunately the faces of the happy couple are not anywhere to be seen which may impact on the desirability of these pieces.

For high quality fine porcelain china commemorative plates and mugs, look no further than the Aynsley collection. This highly sought after 4-piece set includes an engagement plate, loving cup with two handles, tankard mug and coaster. Despite being hand painted, these items are currently very affordable but are likely to rocket in price as the supply dwindles.

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Coins

Commemorative coins are another good investment when it comes to Royal wedding memorabilia. They will be embossed with the important dates and will increase in value over the years to come especially if they are made from silver or gold or are part of a limited edition run. The official coin from the Royal Mint features the Prince in profile with Kate looking at him in an informal pose. It also refers to the future Princess as Catherine. It comes in silver and gold options and prices start at £9.99.

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Stamps

Stamps are always popular with collectors and as all Commonwealth countries will issue their own commemorative stamps for the William and Kate wedding there will be plenty to choose from. Why not build a themed collection over the coming years by collecting all related stamps that will no doubt be available to not only commemorate the wedding but also the birth of any children.

 

Replica jewelry

The Kate Middleton Engagement ring is better known as the Princess Diana engagement ring as Prince William gave his mother’s ring to Kate. This ring is very famous, absolutely beautiful and iconic. It’s large, stunning deep blue oval sapphire is surrounded by small diamonds. You can get your own replica of this highly sought after ring design online to use either as an elegant engagement ring of your own or to dress up that party outfit. And who wouldn’t want their very own part of this modern day fairy tale? Prices vary from under $100 for a sterling silver ring with cubic zirconias to thousands of dollars for a white gold ring with sapphires and diamonds.

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Other William and Kate wedding merchandise

THIMBLES: Commemorative thimbles are something of a tradition dating back over a century. They have collectible value and are available printed with a portrait of William and Kate. Those that are embossed made from precious metals are the ones to look out for.

READING MATERIALS: This is the sort of collection you can accumulate without spending much money. Keep anything you can find in newspapers and magazines about the engagement, wedding and beyond, including photographs, add to it with books and you will have a unique collection which if it is kept in immaculate condition will be of interest to collectors. If you are just looking for a good read on this royal love story, then this book is a good choice.

Please click for current price.

DOLLS: Yes dolls, you will be able to buy dolls of the happy couple, but until the wedding dress is seen on the day any purchased pre-wedding will be speculative. If it is a doll you are after, you are better to wait until after the big day.

DVDs: Similar to the dolls the official DVDs of the wedding will not available until after April 29th.

 

Tips to build up a valuable Royal memorabilia collection

There have already been crazy ideas for royal wedding memorabilia hitting the market from limited edition beds, to new cocktails and life size cardboard cutouts of William and Kate, but if you want to buy something as an investment here are a few tips:

• Don’t buy anything that is not of a high quality. Inferior products will be on offer for minimal as well as exorbitant prices so make sure you protect your investment by buying from a reputable company.
• Try and acquire an extensive and themed collection.
• Ensure you store your collection well to keep it in mint condition. Keep anything boxed or packaged as is.
• Look out for fine bone china pieces as they hold their value. High quality china as well as hand painted versions are the ones to collect – see the Aynsley collection above.
• Cups and mugs with portraits of Prince William and Princess Catherine are likely to become collectors pieces.
• Commemorative plates are another good option and will be available both before and long after the wedding to mark such events as anniversaries or the birth of their children. Those with portraits of the couple will be the most desirable.
• Portraits are the key to the future popularity of an item.

Overall bear in mind that any real increase in value is not likely to be seen for another 30-40 years so buy for future generations rather than yourself!

There are two main focal points of any wedding – most importantly the bride’s dress but secondly the wedding cake. But what is used to showcase the delicious and stylish cake? One of the many wedding cake stands on offer of course.

Not only is the stand important for supporting the cake and its various tiers, but it also has to display it beautifully.

As with everything to do with weddings, there are many different styles of wedding cake stand to choose from. So where do you start?

Please click for prices on the full range of wedding cake stands

Here we have put together a collection of 7 different styles of wedding cake stands so you can see what is on offer. Below you can then find a buying guide giving you some pointers on what to think about when choosing the right stand for your big day as well as some other ideas to help you with this exciting decision.

 

Gold wedding cake stands

These beautiful beaded 18″ gold wedding cake stands offer something a bit different to the run of the mill silver look. Standing 5″ tall, they have been hand crafted to be a stunning centerpiece to your wedding cake supplies. They really are gorgeous and will showcase your wedding cake elegantly.

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Tiered Wedding Cake Stands

These 3 tiered wedding cake stands from Wilton look really graceful and sophisticated. The overall design is 14″ x 29″ and is easy to assemble. The cake plates are clear and will hold 6″, 8″ and 10″ round cakes. The scrollwork is a cream colored metal and the graceful curves allow you to add a few dainty flowers for additional embellishment. The look is one ideal for a traditional or garden themed wedding. Don’t miss these cheap wedding cake stands.

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Floating wedding cake stands

This floating design is another favorite from the Wilton wedding cake stands range. The three heart shaped tiers are supported from behind to give the appearance of them floating in the air which will not fail to impress your guests. The white enameled metal back support can be used to add extra decorative touches if adorned with flowers or ribbon. The plates have scalloped edges and are non breakable. The only possible downside to this dramatic looking stand is the fact that you need heart shaped cakes to fit on the plates, but Wilton also sells heart shaped baking pans if you are making the cake yourself.

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Square wedding cake stands

These hand crafted silver wedding cake stands are 18″ square and impressively deep. This could be the next family heirloom that you pass down the generations as it will never rust or tarnish. If you are planning a heavy cake, this is the stand for you as it can hold up to a whopping 60 lbs and will not sag.

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Wedding cupcake stands

Wedding cupcake trees are rapidly increasing in popularity due to their more contemporary feel. They also allow for individual cakes of varying flavors to satisfy the tastes of all of your guests. This lofty version has six tiers and can hold between 125-150 cupcakes. If you need less, then you can always embellish empty tiers with flowers or other adornments. You can also tuck flower heads between the cupcakes to make the look even more beautiful. The pretty plates have a romantic lace look to them and the center column offers exceptional support. The 18″ base plate has six sturdy feet and the other separator plates measure from 8″ up to 16″. The gap between the tiers is about 5″ so make sure your cupcakes are smaller than this. This cupcake stand will definitely rise to the occasion.

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Glass wedding cake stands

For a more unusual wedding cake stand arrangement try this set of three white iron and glass cake stands. The white scrolling is very attractive as well as the drop dangle accents. Each stand is a different diameter and height allowing for an attractive layout of three different sizes of cake. If you don’t like traditional wedding cake, you could also use these cake stands for varying desserts, such as mousse and cheesecake. The beauty of these cake stands can be tied in with other similarly designed wedding decorations such as candle chandeliers.

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Unique wedding cake stands

For something a bit more unusual why not go for this stepped wedding cake stand. There are six tiers of strong anodized aluminum disks supported by a chromed steel post and sturdy metal base. You can adjust the arms to any position, so as well as stepped or random you could achieve a floating look as well. These cascading wedding cake stands are truly exceptional.

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Wedding Cake Stands Buying Guide

To help you make a quicker and more informed choice between the range of wedding cake stands available here are a few things to think about:

Plate size – when you order your wedding cake, your baker will want to know how many guests you are having so they can ensure that there will be enough cake for everyone. Ask them the diameter of each tier so you can buy a stand that will be neither too big nor too small. Diameters usually range between 8″ and 25″.

Number of tiers – following discussions with your wedding cake baker, you will know how many tiers your cake is going to have. Obviously you need to ensure your cake stand has at least this number of plates, but you could also consider buying a stand with extra layers to adorn with additional decorations such as flowers. Most wedding cakes require 2-3 tiers, but for larger functions 5-6 may be needed. Remember each additional tier adds more to your cost in terms of the stand and the cake. You are also well advised to buy a higher quality stand if you are having more tiers as you don’t want it all collapsing on the big day.

Weight of cake – ask your baker for an estimate of the cake’s weight when finished and frosted. This will alter depending on the cake’s diameter and the type of cake (fruit is heavier than sponge). Make sure your stand has enough support for your cake. If you are having a particularly large or heavy cake you would be well advised to steer clear of floating wedding cake stands unless they are high quality ones that are guaranteed to hold the weight of your cake.

Style – try and match the style of your cake stand with the theme of your wedding whether this be simple, elegant, ornate or contemporary. There are also different finishes, materials, heights, shapes and colors to choose between. Stands can be made of metal, glass, acrylic and even styrofoam for the most inexpensive option. They can be unraised, on a pedestal or slightly raised wedding cake plateaus. A little height can create a more impressive look. One thing to avoid is mirrored plates which look great when staged for sales photographs but are terribly difficult to keep clear of dust, fingerprints or frosting on the day.

Other Wedding Cake Stand Ideas

Renting – you can rent wedding cake stands as they are typically a one off purchase so why bother but this can be expensive. Why not ask your cake maker or a friend who bought one for her wedding? The only trouble with this is your choice will be more restricted.

Make your own – if you are on a tight budget why not consider making your own cake stand. Find some cheap wedding cake stands and cover them with a beautiful satin fabric. Add real or fake flowers to the edge and you can create a work of art. You won’t be able to achieve the floating or cascading look but with some wedding cake pillars you can still have a great looking 3 tiered cake.

Themed – as well as making your own cake stand you can achieve an affordable option by thinking outside the box. This is often easier if your wedding has a theme – how about using a mini surf board or a piece of drift wood for a beach theme, or a pile of books for the studious couple, or a wheel for the car mad couple. Obviously whatever unusual cake stands you come up with will need to be cleaned or covered carefully before use.

Buy Now

Please click for prices on the full range of wedding cake stands

The finer details of your wedding are what define it and make it special to you. Wedding cake stands are just one such item where a little thought and research could pay off wonderfully by adding that extra special touch to the occasion.