Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Regional Favors, Cake and Centerpiece Ideas

While I'm scouring the web for exciting new party favors and ideas for you, I sometimes think of what modern products I might use today in place of what I had at my own wedding 13 years ago. Enter the cake bags:


You see, kittens, I was not the sort of girl who dreamed of expressing herself through the medium of wedding planning. I had not particularly thought about the necessary elements, nor did Hubbs and I have vast amounts of capital to invest in a lavish party, and my main concern was getting to California for a totally bitchen' honeymoon.
My grandmother, however, had different ideas. There were certain touches I must have, such as custom printed napkins and cake bags. The bags are used to package up leftover wedding cake for people who want to take some home. Or whatever. I probably still have 250 left, and I'll just have to save them for our 20th anniversary.
If I were getting married today, I'm not sure I would have such a large cake that I would end up with so much leftover. In fact, I would recycle the best centerpiece idea I've ever had (used at my brother-in-law's wedding several years ago): Centerpieces = Small (6-8 servings) Wedding Cake Replicas. The bride and groom cut the largest cake, which is for themselves and the wedding party, then they come around to each table to chat and cut cake for all the guests. If I did that, there would be no need for leftover bags. That said, however, such bags might be handy if my party favors were cookies.
Of course, if I were getting married today, my grandma would still be coming to the party (86 and still rockin'), and she'd be disappointed not to have the sacks (in the Region the word is "bag;" about 50 miles south of Lake County it morphs into "sack"). That being the case, I would definitely use the recycled paper option pictured above.
Seeing said cake bags on the web is testament to the fact I am not the only bride who had to have these, but I have yet to see this Calumet Region practice done in Indianapolis -- and we're only about 200 miles away. An anthropologist at heart, I'm always interested to see what other small touches are incorporated into weddings across America. Please write in and tell me what you've seen, and whether or not cake bags are big in your neck of the woods!

Another recycled paper option: boxes. Oh, how I love little present boxes at a place setting! If you are excited by beautiful ribbons and papers, be sure to visit A Gift Wrapped Life to see the most gorgeous gifts ever wrapped.

2 comments:

  1. Doesn't the cake get smooshed in a bag?

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  2. SR 2: yep. It's a hot mess by the time it gets home. I can remember being little and waking up on Sunday mornings after my parents had been at a wedding. The cake blobs would be on the counter waiting for me, a consolation prize of sorts. It's a really odd practice, in my opinion!

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