{Bridal Confessions} I Chose a Vegan Wedding Cake

Hey Ya'll! I'm Princess Askew, the newest blogger here at deLA. Livin' life a little off kilter, hence the Askew and I have a bridal confession. I like cake but I'm having a LOVE affair with Red Velvet!  

I adore the flavor, texture, and color; I can't get enough.  It just looks and smells decadently rich, like good dark moist potting soil. Not that it smells like dirt but it is a grounded and savory flavor and when you inhale deeply, it fills up every possible nook and cranny, lingering for a sweet reward later on. But I am getting a little ahead of myself.

Photo via Tang Cakes

There are so many choices when it comes to wedding cakes, flavor, colors, decorations. We have seen the amazing creations by high end cake companies, the over the top designs, the layer upon layer of expensive confectionary. Lovely, fabulous, delicious in their own right. I'd eat them all! 

Photo via Fancy Wedding Cakes

So given my STRONG feelings Red Velvet, drool, it may be kindof CRAZY that I decided to try a vegan wedding cake.  WHAT no EGGS, no MILK, NO BUTTER? Are you nuts? You will serve your guests flavored cardboard! I know, all that crossed my mind. A non-vegan hears the word vegan and thinks: BORING and TOFU. I am NOT about boring and I don't do Tofu.

I chose to go vegan because of my excellent friend, co-worker and vegan baker extraordinaire Jack, who doesn't DO boring either. I've tasted heaven sent delicacies but I must admit, I still had some misgivings. His cake may LOOK good but how would it taste?  I mean the man makes a chocolate ganache like you have never had in your life, we are talking GET YOU HIGH ganache. If the wedding cake was anything like his other creations, we'd be just fine!

Photo via Simply Recipes (Not Jack's Ganache but it looks like it)

Flash forward: Our wedding day, it's hot outside the air is under the tent, and there sits our vegan wedding cake in all her shining glory.  Will she withstand the heat, will her vegan-ness come though, i.e cardboard, will the scrolls Jack so lovingly placed on the sort of crusted over frosting, stay put long enough to photograph? My trusty baker friend had worked days to devise, create, construct a cake mounting plan; spent hours slaving in the hot kitchen and many more hours just for the frosting.  It sure looked good but looks can be deceiving. 

Photo by DP Photography

DJ announces, "And now time to cut the cake." The moment of truth; after months of waiting, and talking and testing - Jack actually made a complete second cake in the event something happened to the real one - collaborating, creating....oh my god, it was here and I was there with my new husband and then...we sliced effortlessly through that creamy off white frosting, which matched my dress by the way, and released that savory, decadent, rich soil smell I had been waiting for, wafting in the air around me.  

Photo by DP Photography

I closed my eyes and savored my Red Velvet bliss....
no vegan cardboard, no tofu, nothing boring in the least.

I don't remember much about my wedding reception, the day flew by so fast. But I do remember it stopped long enough for me to enjoy a little slice of heaven.  It may have been the love Jack added - this was his present to us - that made it taste so sweet but let me tell you, if I ever get married again, I am going vegan all the way cause it is possible to have a great cake and be ethical in our food choices. 

Photo by DP Photography

Ingredients:

Cake: Flour, water, soy milk, beets, undutched cocoa powder, sugar, white vinegar, baking soda, red food coloring, vanilla, chocolate extract.  

Icing: powdered sugar, shortening, soy margarine, vanilla, coconut extract, soy milk, corn syrup.

LOVE.

It was almost, ok not really, fat free AND red velvet. My two favorite things. So here's to making your wedding AND your cake your own way. Remember, there is no right or wrong, no handbook, no do or don't list...don't let them tell you that you can't have a vegan wedding cake. They are delish!

What is your Bridal Confession? We'd love to know all the juicy details! We'd love if you would become a FACEBOOK fan and a follower on TWITTER...great conversations happening.

Have a delicious day,

Princess

P.S. I talked to Jack who wrote up his own version of the Red Velvet 2010 incident.  He also said he used over 22 pounds of sugar for both cakes. Thanks Jack!

{Real Wedding} Practical Planning at Commander's Mansion, Mellissa & Juliano

Hello deLovliests! I wanted to give you a super quick Real Wedding preview to end your day off right.
This is actually my own Commander's Mansion wedding and our photographer Darren Pellegrino did an amazing job that simply needed to be shared.

No, I am not THAT self-centered in terms of NEEDING to share my OWN wedding.  I worked really hard at the Practical Planning, thrifty, and DIY side of this day and it is something we hope to continue to expand and encourage here at de Lovely Affair - getting more, paying less and helping you create a wedding in-line with your absolute vision AND of course, including those pieces that really bring it all home. That's our biggest and best wish for all you!  Enjoy and there is SO much more to come!

Do you have a super thrifty or practically planned wedding you would like to share? Go here for Submissions or shoot us an email! We'd love to hear how you achieved your dream wedding.

Smile at strangers today,

Super Secret Plans | Brazil Here We Come...Another Wedding!

deLoveliest dears! As you may have heard me mention, I am getting married AGAIN in Brazil for my husband's family. Sadly, only a small number could make it from Brazil to share our first special day at the Commander's Mansion in Watertown.

Photo Credit: Darren Pellegrino

So we are doing it again! Mr. de comes from a large family and it seems only right that we also share this important milestone with them too. Plus we will be having the ceremony in the family church where his parents were married in Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil.  Super SWOON!

Photo Credit: Source

So the date is set! YAY! January 14, 2012, I will be walking down the aisle again and I want YOU ALL to come along for the ride. I'm handing out front row tickets here on de Lovely Affair and can't wait to share my step by step journey to the altar. You might say, Easy Peasy, you've planned it all once, you can plan it all again...yes and no. I planned a wedding here in Boston where I understood the language, the customs, the norms (or anti norms in some cases for me), the religious traditions and even barriers. There are significant obstacles for me in planning a Destination Wedding without planner in a language that I mostly don't understand. BUT if you know anything about me, you know I am up for the challenge.  It is going to be a wild ride!

Here is my official pitch to you: Please follow our story from our first planning steps to the final "I Do." This is culture and tradition at its best and if we do NOTHING else on this blog, I hope that we have encouraged you to incorporate a little more of who you are and where you come from in your wedding. Become a fan on FACEBOOK, follow us on TWITTER and follow de Lovely Affair blog.
Stay tuned for the good stuff.  We will bring you up to speed as it happens and share a little more of our SUPER SECRET PLANS!  Sneak Peak looks a little something like this! 

Enjoy the sun and smile as often as you can!

{Real Wedding Roundup} Wedding in Tuscany + Going Greek in Boston

This is has been a super busy week, meetings, meetings and more meetings with a little bit of work thrown in there. The Boston wedding scene is phenomenal community with venues like the Commander's Mansion - where I held my wedding, and Beantown Bride - the only Boston wedding blog to visit....EVER.  So with all that said, while it APPEARS as if I have been neglecting my duty online ---- ok well that is true, it is ONLY because I have been bustin' my hump on the other things that all make this possible.....and now you know. 

Today, a Real Wedding Round Up...I love Real Wedding Round Ups - those round the net roamings that I do to come up with fabulous and inspiring real weddings.  I started this blog because when I got married where were no resources dedicated solely to modern multicultural couples and their weddings...so I decided to start one. YAY! My husband is from Brazil and so for our first Real Wedding Roundup, let's head to that gorgeous country down south for Renata and Fabio's wedding in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo as interviewed by Para Ti Novia. A quick excerpt...and gorgeous photos.

Real Wedding: Renata & Fabio in Ubatuba, SP

Everything was very spontaneous. We are surfers and wanted something very clean, beach style, hippie chic and  natural. We choose the local typical flowers. Good for the budget and matched perfect with the place.  The lace at the clothes is typical from Brazil. Plus, the beach is all ready pretty and special for us we didnt need much to make it beautiful. .In Brazil at the new year´s eve we used to wear all white. We belive it brings positive vibrations, purifications.  

Here's the rest of the interview.

There are some real stunners out there and this Real Wedding from Beantown Bride is no exception.  In fact, it makes my little wedding lovin' heart go all pitter patter!  I particularly love this wedding because of all the small cultural touches they added - easy additions that can evoke a sense of family and cultural pride. Here is an excerpt:

Beantown Bride's Real Wedding: Lindsay and Alex at the Fairmont Copley Plaza
Blogger: Kristen Castillo
Photography courtesy of: Allegro Photography

The bride wore an Elie Saab gown while her groom was dressed in Calvin Klein. Jessica's Country Flowers of Burlington, Conn. created stunning arrangements in rusty orange, yellow and green using flowers such as roses, orchids, and calla lilies. Candles accented the flowers and added romance to the reception. Wine corks were used as escort card holders; wooden wine crates served as appetizer displays; and guest tables were numbered by Sonoma wine bottles. The wedding cake from Cakes To Remember was a caramel tiramisu topped with milk chocolate butter cream. The groom honored his father, who is from Crete, by giving guests olive oil wedding favors.  

Here's the rest of the story...

And last on our RW Roundup, a couple who took their vows in Tuscany from Destination I Do Magazine blog...yet another stunner.  Here is a quick excerpt...

This Real-Life Couple Took Their Vows to Tuscany
Written by Courtney Cox
Photos courtesy of Lisa Poggi Photography
Wedding planning by Weddings in Tuscany

Some people assume that having a destination wedding means a lot more work, money and effort. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. By picking an awe-inspiring destination, it’s easy for a couple to let the wedding’s surroundings do the talking – so to speak. 

This is exactly what Jessica and Jordan did. They chose to say “I do” in the countryside of Tuscany, Italy. With such a breathtaking backdrop, the couple left the details minimal and simply highlighted the area’s natural beauty.  

Here's the rest of the story.


Well there you have it...our Real Wedding Roundup. Have a deLicious day!


Mellissa