Last summer, I was invited as part of a press group to tour Cleveland for three days. Having no expectations whatsoever, I hopped on the plane, and had an experience that far exceeded my expectations. I had no preconceived notions about the city and its surrounding areas … good, bad or indifferent, so I was prepared for a totally unbiased, open experience. The team at Positively Cleveland (who promotes Cleveland tourism) had a wonderful itinerary for us full of food, adventure, culture, fun and more food (truly!). I will be doing a few postings about my experiences in the city, but I just had to share this one first.

About an hour away from Cleveland lies the village of Sandusky, which we were told meant “cold water” to the American Indians (who knew?), and it is set on the coast of Lake Erie. On its main street lies a great bakery, WKCafe, owned by Wendy Kromer (WK), and it is such a feast … for the eyes and the palate! Wendy herself has an interesting story, and it seems as though she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Born and reared in Ohio, Wendy actually started at the age of 21 being a Paris runway model, and after 10 years of success, her heart beckoned her back to the US, via NYC, where she entered pastry school. What started out as a love for food burgeoned into a desire to create edible art. Twenty years after leaving her hometown of Sandusky, Wendy returned to open up Wendy Kromer Confections and WKCafe.

 While still in NYC, Wendy entered a cake design contest on a whim. She not only won first place (amazing!), but she also caught the attention of the team at Martha Stewart (yes, this is a true story … don’t you love it?). Wendy has been a part of the Martha Stewart Living team since 1995 having roles as a contributing editor, co-author of “Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes”. Chances are that if you are familiar with Martha Stewart Weddings (as every bride should be) or Martha Stewart Living, you have seen either her adorable cookies or impeccably decorated cakes gracing the covers and inner pages. Truly, from successful runway model to one of the top cake artists, everything that Wendy touches turns to … gold (okay insert *sugar* instead).

Well, needless to say, it was quite a treat to visit WKCafe and to meet Wendy. It was delightful to eat lunch (a yummy chicken salad wrap with a HUGE chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with sea salt … jealous yet?) and browse through her confections as the picture story below will tell. Enjoy this visual treat!

Wendy offers ready made items for wedding and other cakes … confectionary decorations. They are so artful!

Wendy has also coauthored a book with Martha Stewart, entitled Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes.

Before we get to her stunning cakes, I thought I would show you some of her sweet cookie creations. They are so fun and detailed!

Ok, ok … enough teasing. Enjoy these amazingly beautiful cakes from Wendy’s shop.

Thank you again, Wendy, for sharing your shop with me … it was a fun treat to be able to see the beauty of your creations! If you would like to fan WKCafe, just head on over and check them out here.

Question

“Dear Exclusive, a family friend mentioned something she did for her daughter’s wedding that sounds like an awesome idea; I just don’t know where to find it. Instead of having your typical alcoholic bar [for the reception], they had a coffee bar. They hired a coffee shop and had someone work the wedding making lattes, mochas, frappachino, etc. as if they were in a café. I am a coffee addict, and if I could find something like this for my wedding, it would be very fitting for those who know me well. I am wondering if Lynchburg has [a service] like this that I could [hire for my event]. I had never heard of this until a few weeks ago, so I don’t really know where to look.” - Lucy

Answer

Who says that choosing to forego alcohol means you can’t have a fun and exciting reception, with pretty stemware and unique, signature drinks? An event where your guests stay late and dance the night away because they are having too much fun to leave? While a fine wine and a mixed drink may taste and look beautiful, having a successful event is not dependant upon whether or not you choose to serve alcohol.

In comparison to the cookie-cutter punch station of the past, today’s bride has near limitless possibility when it comes to showing off her individual style and taste. Whether you choose to incorporate alcohol or not, a little creativity and the right planning can satisfy your taste buds and allow you to wow your guests with a reception full of delicious and eye-catching beverage surprises. Your wedding planner can work with you to choose a caterer or beverage vendor who can design a specialty drink bar or create signature drinks that incorporate the colors, scents, and textures embodied in your wedding theme along with your own personalized tastes.

Specialty coffees have become a mainstay for just about everyone, and are especially perfect for the cooler months. You can fashion your own self-serve coffee bar complete with special flavored syrups, toppings, and gourmet cookies to delight your guests and add the warm and cozy vibe of a chic café. Another option is to hire your favorite coffee shop to set up and run a serviced coffee bar to woo your guests with a variety of specialty drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, or frappachinos. With its growing popularity, many local and chain coffee shops now offer this service – including right here in Lynchburg! Love your skinny pumpkin soy latte? Why not make that your signature drink for the evening?

In addition to thinking “outside the box,” when it comes to reception style, it’s also important to think outside the glass! The use of assorted specialty glasses of all shapes and sizes add sparkle to your table, and can be used for everything from sugar-coated lemonades, mock mimosas, and sparkling ciders, to iced-coffee and delicate cordials.

Have fun with garnish! Fresh fruit, edible flowers (like pansies and nasturtiums), herbs, or branches can enhance your drink and add that extra pop while tying in with your wedding theme.

A fun and whimsical non-alcoholic beverage option is to have an Italian soda bar stocked with a variety of flavored syrups for your guests to choose from. Want to make it vintage? Serve your drinks in old-fashioned soda glasses, and use straws colored to match the theme of your wedding.

Want to go fresh? Have a bartender serve freshly squeezed lemon or limeade in martini glasses (upscale) or old-fashioned mason jars (timeless and relaxed). Looking for something more unique? Made-to-order smoothies, Italian ice, and homemade milkshakes are fun and crowd-pleasing spring and summertime drinks. For those a little more daring, have non-alcoholic shooters served in stylish glasses passed around the room.

You can even create an entire bar devoted to your drink of choice. One of the most popular, specialized bars found at weddings this season is the “bubble bar,” which features an assortment of sparkling wines or fruit spritzers.

Consider having a variety of specialized beverage stations or wet bars set up around the reception room as it is a great way to keep your guests occupied and mingling, moving from one place to another as they sample your special drinks.

A little creativity and artistic presentation can go a long way to giving you the look and feel you want while leaving your guests in awe for years to come. Working with a local wedding planner, you can come up with a fabulous plan for an exciting evening with the most delicious and exquisite beverages.

Your guests will have a wonderful experience and they might even forget that their drinks are non-alcoholic.

Thank you to RS Exclusive for their wonderful, fun posting on different drink choices!! If you want to check out their brand new website, be sure to click here … there are lots of pretty things to see! All photos are from Flickr (hover over photos to find out who!).

For the first 12 days of December, I am reposting my personal favorite photography postings. There are just so many that deserve attention once again … and these postings are not only getting attention, but they are getting a prize. That’s right! On December 13th, voting will begin to determine the best posting of 2011.

The photographer who submitted the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Gerald’s in Wyndhurst (what a great way to take a break and have a nice meal out during the holidays!). The couple featured in the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Charley’s in Lynchburg and also a $25 gift card to Starbucks … what a great date night!

So, whether you vote for the couple that speaks most to you and has that special spark, you root for the couple that has the most creativity or you even choose your favorite based on whose photography most aligns with your personal style, take a moment each day to look at the postings so that you can help us determine Hill City Bride’s winning couple and photographer.

It goes without saying that this wedding is close to my heart because of the bride and groom, plus I love the fact that so many HCB vendors were involved in their special day! Without further due, here is today’s favorite:

I love looking through wedding photos … especially when they are filled with details, and this wedding is no exception. Well, maybe it is a teeny bit of an exception. You see, this is a special wedding – the wedding of one of HCB’s very own vendors, Brad Bennett of Shaking Hands Productions. I could not think of any better posting to kick off Hill City Bride’s 2011 year!

Combine that with the fact that it was photographed by Adam Barnes of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography, took place at Riverview Manor and the flowers were done by Elisha Dudley of Petal Flower Company; and you have a big event for the whole Hill City Bride family!! As a sidebar, I was given free reign to look through the photos and choose them myself, hence the lengthy posting.

A few neat details are included in the photographs, such as the use of pears … 280 of them were picked from Riverview Manor‘s property, and they functioned as place cards for the wedding. The location table cards (as you will see “Hershey, PA” below) represented all of the different places they had been as a couple, and the cross roads sign showed some of the distances that people had traveled for the wedding. One guest hailed from Germany!

Have fun perusing Brad and Lyndsey’s wedding photos, which took place in September of 2010.

I wish heartfelt congratulations to Brad and Lyndsey … a beautiful couple both inside and out. I hope that they have a wonderful lifetime together, and I am so glad that they are a part of the Hill City Bride family! Also, be sure to visit the lovely website of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography … it is definitely a feast for the eyes.

I love shopping local because I know that I am putting money back into my community while supporting my friends. Sometimes it seems like more effort than just going to a big box store, but it really is worth it. Plus, I really enjoy supporting my friends (and making new ones!).

I asked the advertisers of HCB to come up with some creative gift giving and holiday entertaining ideas to make your holidays easier.Yes, I know that they are known as “wedding” vendors, but they really are so much more. All of the ideas contain clickable links on the business name. Take a peek …

For those who love fashion and accessories:

For the girl who likes a little sparkle, why not stop by Celebration on Main Street in Downtown Lynchburg? They offer jewelry and accessories for special occasions … you may even find a little “bling” for yourself for New Year’s Eve!

For something very special, why not stop by Bowen Jewelry in Downtown Lynchburg? They offer gift certificates along with beautiful jewelry that will bit any budget. My personal favorite is their estate line … so many beautiful items to choose from!

Are you in need of a dress for the holidays? Well, stop by Church Street Bridal in Downtown Lynchburg. They have a wonderful selection of beautiful gowns (not just for brides, but also for special occasions … trust me!) in a plethora of colors to choose from.

For help with your holiday (or future) entertaining:

If you are hosting a Christmas get together, why not take the time to relax a little? Love Is in the Air can help you with your catering and centerpiece needs … it’s the holidays, and you deserve to enjoy your own event.

If you have “visions of sugarplums dancing in your head”, but you do not have time to make any sweets yourself, you should give La Bella Torta a try (really, do!!). They offer cookies, pastries, gift baskets and pies … or a gift certificate towards a special occasion cake would be a wonderful option, too.

Many times music makes (or breaks) a party, right? We’ve all been there! Well, Official Entertainment can help with your own celebration, or you can give gift certificate for their services … how fun would that be? From the Big Band sounds of the 40s to the Billboard’s Hot 100 of today, they have you covered.

Photo booths are a TON of fun, so guess what? The Virginia Photo Booth Company is offering a 25% discount on any of their photo booths during 2012 when you purchase one as a gift … what a fun option for a party!

Do you have an event coming up or know someone else who will soon? The gift of an intimate event space is perfect! Tresca on 8th is known for their big, beautiful ballroom, but they also have a lovely space upstairs with comfortable conversation areas for up to 60 people. It is a great place to host a shower or other small affair.

For any occasion, RS Exclusive can help out … whether is in in the area of decor or coming up with a fun color coordinate “candy bar”, a certificate for their services will help out even the most savvy hostess.

For those who love memories (or anyone!):

The gift of memories is one that will last a lifetime, so why not create some with Stone Blue Productions? A gift certificate would be perfect for any type of photo session … they also offer canvas prints and quality albums for showing off those great moments. As Jeremiah said, “Great memories are always in style.”

Need a gift for a whole family? Consider a gift certificate from Jane Bradley Photography for a fun filled family photo session. It is a gift that they will treasure for years to come!

Who doesn’t love a sale? If you purchase a gift certificate for a session with Visions by Heather Photography, you will receive a $50 portrait credit in December … either keep the credit for yourself or add that in as an extra little gift for the recipient. How fun!

KD Burke Photography has a style all their own, and they offer gift certificates for all of their services … sessions, prints and the like. Give memories as a gift this year.

For those who love to shop:

If you have never been to The Farm Basket, you are really missing out! They have a lot of gift ideas … from Vera Bradley to items to help out in the kitchen, they really do have an amazing selection. When in doubt, give a gift certificate, which can be used towards merchandise or even a delicious lunch (my favorite is the chicken salad!!).

At Your Service Events Planner offers Carlson Craft gift certificates, which would be perfect for those who love things that are personalized.

Have you been to The Corset Corner lately? Not only do they have beautiful, quality intimates, but they recently opened an entire gift section of their shop on Main Street in Downtown Lynchburg.

For a little pampering:

If you want to give the gift of beauty or pampering, why not consider a certificate to one of our spas? SPA 4109 or Bodyworks Day Spa and Salon are sure to treat your recipient right (or even you … wouldn’t you love a massage during all of the holiday hustle and bustle?). Both stores are in the Boonsboro area and also offer lots of little pick me ups (such as shampoos and beauty items) that make wonderful, luxurious gifts.

If you are looking to stuff that stocking (whether it be for a man or a woman, mind you), Mary Kay has plenty of offerings … from nail polish to soothing lip treatments, they can add that “oomph” to an otherwise blah stocking.

For a new look either pre or post holiday, consider paying Mitchell’s Salon on 7th in Altavista a visit … they are in the hair business, which is their definite area of expertise!

To surprise the man in your life:

For the man in your life (oh yes!), why not schedule a session with DulceNoche, a division of Allegra’s Studio, and present him with a Little Black Book (filled with sultry photos of YOU). Yes, you can still have your session and images back by Christmas.

Speaking of fun photos, you can stop by Boudoir in Boonsboro and pick up a little pretty something for yourself or even another family member … they offer pretty lingerie along with pajamas that are “Christmas morning photo appropriate”, and they also have accessories and other fun things, too!

And, finally, to beat those holiday blahs and bloats:

Are you worried about how you will look and/or feel for those holiday parties? It Works has a whole line of vitamins to keep you healthy along with their slimming body wraps … who says you have to leave the holidays with extra fluff around your middle? No muffin tops here!

If you want more ideas, just check out all of the links to the right … I love our family of vendors, and I hope you will support them this Christmas season.

Some weddings are submitted by request … as in I see them on the portfolio of a photographer, and I simply MUST have them to present to the HCB readership. This is one of those weddings. Honestly, I adore the photography style of Heather Cheatham by Visions by Heather … she has a way of capturing things so that they are so real. I just feel like I could step into any one of her images and actually be present where the photo was captured.

Also, I want to take a moment to brag on the capabilities of another spectacular HCB vendor, Love Is in the Air. These ladies constantly amaze me, and it seems like they can do anything … ok, scratch the “seems like” … these ladies CAN do anything!! They are responsible for the catering, cake, decor, linens, arbor and the bridal party flowers. Amazed?? I am!!

Ok, without further delay, enjoy this wonderful wedding photographed by Visions by Heather and given its panache by Love Is in the Air.

Wasn’t that refreshingly beautiful? I love the lodge feel, yet it has an upscale twinge filled with color. Thank you again both to Visions by Heather and Love Is in the Air for this gorgeous, inspiring wedding.

Also, do not forget about our amazing giveaway going on right now for a piece of monogram jewelry! Just click HERE to check it out and enter.