Thursday, January 26, 2017

Play Lists

This is a really random topic as I was actually researching Valentine's Day gifts. The radio is on playing "Gold" tracks and a song came on that reminded me of someone - long lost now. I did give my husband a cd I compiled some years ago for a Valentine's gift of "our" music - he didn't recognise any of it!!!!! Have you had a similar experience?


It will serve him right if he gets a bunch of balloons. Now there's a gift I would LOVE!!!
Back with more on Valentine's Day at the beginning of next week.







Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Small Wedding Cakes




I have been talking with bakeries in the Niagara region today about providing a small wedding cake for our "eloping" couples. Not everyone wants a cake but there have been several couples in the past who have enjoyed a cake and glass of sparkling wine after their ceremony. Co-incidentally Martha Stewart Weddings featured small wedding cakes today so here is a selection of them. I would point out that it isn't always just the look of the cake but the also the flavour(s) used. The cakes in North America tend to be more of a madeira sponge type rather than fruit and the icing is usually butter cream which is lighter than standard royal or fondant icing as is used here.

This Groom's cake was his favourite carrot cake

Raspberry crème and almond cake

Little cakes were added to each table. Flavours varied from shaved coconut cream to lemon chiffon to chocolate mousse ganache

Toppers featuring wedding words were on top of cakes flavoured with passion fruit curd, blackberry meringue buttercream and an almond cake with salted caramel filling.

The pale blue rose swirls cover a mint chocolate cake

This is a buckwheat cake with pickled blueberry and lemon cream

A hexagonal chocolate cake covered with vanilla buttercream with crushed pink rock candy added!

Small vanilla or chocolate gluten and dairy free cake with a plain topping


Ombré ruffles covering a coconut cake with ganache filling. The seahorses toppers is significant as seahorses mate for life


The elephant also mates for life and is on a cake with layers of chocolate fudge, biscuit and Bailey's spiked coffee!

These mini cakes were the place settings. All were covered in black and white but some were carrot cake others were pink Champagne flavour.

A yellow cake with chocolate buttercream filling. The Unicorn topper is from Etsy.

Coconut cake with vanilla frosting and lemon curd

Sugar succulents looking very realistic


Serve each of your guests a mini personalised cake

The two tier cake is chocolate ganache and whipped cream, one of the others is carrot flavoured and the third is Nutella hazelnut. 

Tiers of coconut passion fruit and ginger lime.

Blackberries and ivy decorated this cookies and cream flavoured cake.

A frosted olive oil cake topped with fresh strawberries and macarons


A very simple cake covered in gold fondant making a very big statement


Orange blossom honey sponge layered with kumquat Champagne confit topped with vanilla bean meringue buttercream

A S'mores delight. Chocolate cake with marshmallow crème, graham cracker crust with toasted marshmallow icing








Sunday, January 22, 2017

Nottinghamshire Aspect

There's new new magazine out in Nottinghamshire tomorrow - Nottinghamshire Aspect



If you see one, do pick it up and take a look at pages 134 & 135. There's a superb article on Maple Leaf Weddings - it's so exciting!!!


Don't forget we're here to help.





Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Usually red!


It's snow time in Ontario! The temperatures are going up and down like crazy and there is no snow!! Freezing rain, ice, rain but not much snow right now. Fortunately for the skiers and boarders our local resort, Blue Mountain,  "makes" snow - pretty impressive it is as well. Basically, in layman's terms,  they shoot water into the air high enough for it to fall as snow!!



What this got to do with the blog title? Our signature photo shows a bride's red wellies in the snow.



I saw this photo the other day and thought it was a good alternative!


Another thing, you could have a wedding in the snow at Blue Mountain.

Such is the way my brain works!! 

PS. Don't ever be tempted to wear wellies for more than 10 minutes in the snow if you haven't got boot liners in them - your feet will be cold, freezing cold.





Tuesday, January 10, 2017

MAPLE LEAF WEDDINGS: Dove Release

MAPLE LEAF WEDDINGS: Dove Release: We have added a new, exciting and thoughtful element to our services - a Dove Release .   W hite doves are the perfect choice to signify...

Dove Release


We have added a new, exciting and thoughtful element to our services - a Dove Release.  White doves are the perfect choice to signify eternal love, peace, new beginnings, prosperity, serenity, release, and hope.


The dove handler will explain why the doves are being used for this event, and reassure your guests that they will be travelling home to their dove loft located in the lush fruit landscapes situated between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. These beautiful white rock doves nest in their loft safe from predators and are released for exercise at least twice a day flying throughout the Niagara Region for training. The rest of their time is spent in their open-air aviary and frolicking in their country gardens.




When the handlers arrive at the event, they set up, introduce themselves, and after the wedding license has been signed show the participants how to hold their dove(s) and release it (them) from their hands or from a cage(s), whichever they prefer. We encourage them to choose a loved one to bring and read a poem as well because it has a lovely impact. We can explain to the bride and groom's guests the symbolic representation of the doves from the perspective of family unity as doves mate for life and are very family oriented because of this they return to their home ... our home, so there is no need to worry for we are not just setting them free.

Rustic Travelling & Display cages

Cinderella Display Coach


We can offer display birds as well and are happy to entertain guests after the ceremony by letting them pet, hold, and take photos with these birds while answering questions. This is often very exciting for guests as keeping doves and pigeons, is quite rare.




Old Dutch Capuchine Pigeons



These gentle pigeons will add finesse to your elegant occasion. At a wedding your Groomsmen will enjoy being represented by these distinguished, tuxedoed birds as they line the aisle of your ceremony or are stationed about a room or garden, each in it's own luxurious and appropriately adorned cage or all together in one beautiful cage for display. 

 Tiny White (Joyful) Zebra Finches



Guests will begin to chuckle when they hear these sweet, tiny birds laughing away in conversation with one another. Have them tweet merrily as they greet your guests entering your event or place them at the side of your loved one who has passed to celebrate their life and love of nature.