Who are the principals of the company? Just myself
Any background or personal info you want to share with our audience about your company? I have been doing cakes & desserts for many years prior to starting it as my own business, for family & friends, who in turn were the ones that convinced me I should be doing it as a business. I had to be talked into making my first wedding cake, and have loved making them ever since. Being in this business has given me a real sense of accomplishment, and self confidence I never had before.
What is the favorite part of your job? I love doing wedding cakes, and having the couples send me thank you notes back saying how much they were pleased with the cake that I've made for their very special day.
What is your company's specialty? Wedding Cakes!
What is the best "hidden secret" people would be surprised your company offers? No hidden secret, other than being very confident in every product that I make to be a very good one, and satisfaction is my ultimate goal to all my customers.
What sets you apart from your competition? Originally coming from a small home town, I feel I truly give a very personalized service, and really try to get to know the couple & or other family members to were it feels like were old friends.
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding? If they are getting married in a very busy popular month, they also need to get their wedding cake ordered sooner than usual, especially if they have a favorite Cake business they particularly were wanting to go with. Our dates can fill up fast too, not just wedding location, etc.
Any other thoughts about your company we didn't ask or should know? I do a very personalized service, and usually only make up to 3 weddings per weekend so as not to make it seem more commercialized, or an in & out type of service.
I don't want to have so many wedding cakes in one weekend that I start not liking what I'm doing.
I deliver & set up the cakes, a service not every cake business offers, I also make my cakes fresh the day before, not ahead & frozen.
Be sure to tell your Vendors you saw them on IowaBride.com!
Looking for Unique! Scott Davis will set your wedding apart
Although Scott's musical roots and passion are in jazz, this Des Moines-based trumpet player has the resources and the talent to offer a variety of music styles to suit almost any musical taste. Whether it's a wedding, corporate event, festival, landmark birthday party or other type of special event, chances are you'll find what you're looking for.
Any background or personal info you want to share with our subscribers about yourself? I've been a musician in town for 25 years. I have played with the Des Moines Symphony, on stage at the Civic Center, and for 20 years, been a part of FreeStyle Variety Dance Band.
What is the favorite part of your job? Playing music, but then playing music for people, to be part of their celebration.
What is your companies specialty? We try to tailor our music to the event, and if I can't play the event myself, I can assist in finding other musicians.
What sets you apart from your competition? Quality music. Able to work well with clients. Flexible.
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding? Many people, when asked what they remember from attending a wedding ceremony, will mention the music if it's good. And live music can have just that much more impact than canned music or DJ's.
Thanks Scott! We've heard you play at several weddings and featured at our one of our Dream Wedding Series. Your level of talent and professionalism is unmatched!
Get Cool Stuff ONLY YOU will have like... This little Teddy Bear for your Flower Girl!
The IowaBride.com Fun Shop features quality apparel and fun items that make great gifts for your wedding party or just a neat way to say "Hey I'm the Bride" Check out our exclusive "Gifts for Flower Girls!" This little Teddy Bear will be her calming buddy when she is getting pictures taken. It will serve as a reminder for years later that she shared in your special day with you!
Did you know that Nicole from Nik Nak Designs has created some of the coolest designs exclusively for our brides? It's true and you should snap up a couple of goodies today!
Where are you from? Kyle and I were both born near Montezuma, Iowa. We attended preschool together but when my parents divorced right before Kindergarden, I moved to North Central Iowa. When I was fifteen I moved back to Montezuma and began attending high school there.
How did you meet? Kyle and I met while attending high school our sophomore year. He was go-kart racing at the time and my father was his main sponsor. I attended several of his races and we became inseparable. When it wastime to go off to college, he chose a technical schoolin Chicago and then eventually moved to North Carolina for more schooling while I attended an art school in Minneapolis. We survived a long distance relationship for just over 2 years by being practically glued to our cell phones!! I can't even count how many months we went over our minutes!
Do you have a proposal story? It was just like any other ordinary Tuesday evening. We had both come home from work and we were getting things ready to fly back home to Iowa for the holidays. (I moved down to North Carolina right after graduation.) He asked if I would like to open my present from him early so we wouldn't have to drag it on the plane. He told me not to get too excited about the gift because it was just something small and he didn't even have time to wrap it. He went into the next room and returned with box of candlestick holdersI has spotted on a shopping trip earlier that weekend. I couldn't believe he had remembered them!
I began opening the box and unwrapping the holders when I noticed a white jewelry box hidden underneath. He said the look on my face was priceless. I opened the ring box and he asked if I would marry him. I immediately burst into tears for 5 solid minutes. When I finally regained my composure I looked at him and asked, "Did I say yes yet?" We both laughed because we both knew the answer was obvious!
Planning on going on a honeymoon if so where? We are planning on going to Jekyll Island on the Georgia coast. We visited the area last Thanksgiving with Kyle's family. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Being from the midwest, I had never seen the ocean until I was 21 and moved to North Carlolina 3 months ago. I fell in love with it!
When is the wedding? Our wedding is going to be in late April 2007. As of yet we don't have a set date yet.
What is the best part of planning your wedding? The best part of planning the wedding is knowing what we want, envisioning it and then watching all our plans fall into place.
What is the worst part of planning your wedding? The worst part is being in North Carolina while planning a wedding in Iowa. Fortuntely we have close family and friends who can be our eyes and help us with our plans plus we set the date far enough away so we wouldn't have to rush into anything or have any suprises!
Any secret wedding tips to pass along to other brides planning their wedding? Just relax and enjoy your engagement for a little while. Do make little lists of things to do so you don't get overwhelmed! Don't spend a fortune on booksthat tell you have to have your wedding. Do get a planner to keep you and your lists organized but don'tlet anyone tell you how to run things. It's your day!
Where do you each work or attend school? Kyle works as a machinest for one of NASCARS race teams while I work as a graphic artist for a screenprinting company.
When you started your wedding did you have a budget in mind? Are you able to stay within it? We don't have a specific number in mind but it is something we feel strongly about. I don't think we should have any trouble staying above the red because we are both pretty conscious of what we spend. We know what our priorities are what we want to spulge on versus what we can take a few corners on. For example, we want a small informal wedding so we are keeping our wedding party very small so we can put more of our money towards food at the reception and the photography.
Tell us about your wedding We are 99% sure we have having our wedding in Pella. Kyle is Dutch and tulips are my favorite flower! We want a small, low key event so we are opting for an early afternoon wedding with an informal reception following the ceremony. We are only expecting close family and friends and are limiting the wedding party to a maid of honor and a best man to keep with the informal feel.
Who is going to walk you down the aisle? My dad
Brides: If you would like to have your story featured, send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com. We will pop a note back with the questions and other info!
IowaBride.com - Ask the Expert
Colors? Time of Year? Weird Cousin Eddie? We've got the answers
Got a pressing dilemma? We'll pass it along to one of our IowaBride.com experts and send you an e-mail. We'll also publish the question in a future newsletter! Just send an e-mail to Dan@iowabride.com with your dilemma or question!
Dear IowaBride.com My parents are divorced and my biological father did not raise me. The man my mother married adopted me, so he was the one who raised me. When it comes to my wedding, how can I include my biological in this wedding? I would rather him not walk me down the aisle, i would like the father who raised me to do this. Do you have any ideas?
This is a very special day for you and having the man that raised you walk you down the aisle is a wonderful thing.
I can understand your dilemma, however. You could recognize your biological father by having him dance with you first during the father/daughter dance. You could also have him stand out from his place and give you a kiss/hug when you approach the alter area, right before you are given away to your new husband.
IowaBride.com asked? He Said but... She Prefers!
Let's have some fun and hear from our Brides!
He Said!!! But I Prefer!
We randomly e-mailed this question to several of our IowaBride.com newsletter subscriber Brides and got some very fun answers. How well do you know your man? How well does he know you? Can you change him to your preferences? Do you even want to?
Here is one response we got back!
We asked
Boxers or Briefs? He said briefs. You prefer boxers.
Sunday morning coffee & papers or Up & running? He said papers. You prefer up & running.
Friday night going out or home watching a movie? He said home watching a movie. You prefer home watching a movie!
Spend it until it’s gone or save for a rainy day? He said spend it! You prefer to spend it!
Chocolate or white cake? He said chocolate You prefer chocolate.
More than 3 times a week? He said much more. You prefer Much more!
We asked mall or specialty store? He said specialty store. You prefer mall.
We asked football or baseball? He said football. You prefer football.
We asked cologne or No? He Said Cologne. You prefer No.
We asked is he smarter than you? He said No. (that was smart) You said smarter.
We asked does the gentleman prefer Blondes or Brunettes? You said Blondes. He said Blondes. You are a? Blonde.
We asked TV or Video Game? He said video game. You prefer TV.
Will this couple survive? We think so!
Chelie and Matt live in a quiet little apartment in Northeast Iowa. They are getting married in October in Earlville, Iowa. They enjoy going to movies, camping at Backbone and going to Chicago to watch the Bears not the Cubs! Have a great wedding!
IowaBride.com surveys and ask fun questions to our members all the time. Take a moment to answer some of our polls and fun surveys. If you would like to participate, just send a note to Dan@iowabride.com!
Life Outside The Planning!
IowaBride.com Knows that Planning your wedding consumes A LOT of your time, you also have a life outside the planning. This business can help you make the next transition in life!
Getting your Finances in Order
Wow what happened? Suddenly you’re grown up. Walking down the aisle straight into adult-life-ville!
Well, it happens to the best of us! Suddenly you’ve got to think about bills, homes, cars, paying back college, credit cards, credit scores and what? Retirement?
Take it from a 40 something guy, I’ve been there, I am there and I am going there. It goes fast! It is never too early to get the picture of your finances in shape and actually now may be the best time!
Meet Doug Vernon an Agent with New York Life. father of 4 and married for over 10 years! Doug what do you do for a living? I work with individuals and families to help get them started on the right financial track.
What surprises people about New York Life? People are usually kind of surprised when they find out that we are not just a life insurance company. We offer a full array of financial products and services.
How Long have you been in the industry? I have 7 years with New York Life, 16 years in business and management.
The favorite part of my job is Meeting people and helping them to understand certain aspects of their financial world. It can be a pretty confusing subject and not very much fun.
What sets you apart from your competition? I am not fee based planning, and I represent one of the most well rated and financially strong companies in the business.
What Expert advice do you have for a young couple? Don’t underestimate the importance of starting your financial planning early in life. Time is on your side, so take full advantage of that! Procrastination is the biggest reason people fail going into retirement
“People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan”
Any advice from a guy with 10 years of Marriage experience? Don’t ever stop being best friends!
Thanks Doug! It really is never too early to get your ducks in a row with your finances. When a couple gets started they may not even think they have finances. Suddenly you're 15 years into your marriage and still are putting money into the cookie jar for a vacation.
Take some time over the next week and schedule a meeting with Doug. He'll get you started. The saying you've got time on your side, take advantage of it is SO TRUE!!
IowaBride.com WEEKLY PRIZE DRAWING
Great Prizes and Gifts from our Great Wedding Vendors!
Last weeks IowaBride.com Winner was Jamie Heiderscheit of Des Moines. Jamie won a $100 Gift Certificate to Noel Fiscus Jewelry in Ankeny
Congratulations and Thank you so much for using IowaBride.com for planning your wedding!
Don't settle for anything less than a PPA certified professional photographer for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding memories. Popular dates are booking fast!
We'll randomly draw from all the entries received in our e-mail box by Midnight Friday 2.10.06. Then, watch next weeks Bouquet for the winner! There is no purchase necessary. Please only enter once so our mailbox doesn't get overloaded! Good luck!
Send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com please put WEEK 2 PRIZE DRAWING in the subject line
Our Bridal Shows are a unique experience. We have the Dream Series shows at one of our vendors facilities so you are able to see what they offer. We feature 25 to 30 vendors in a casual, elegant atmosphere.
We also have our shows for 2 to 3 hours after 5:00 at night. They are designed so you and a friend can take your time to visit with the vendors in a relaxed atmosphere. You can actually take some time to learn what the vendor offers.
Join us at our next Dream Series show. You'll see the difference.
IowaBride.com Dream Series Wedding presents: BLISS Come preview some of the season’s best wedding ideas as well as visiting with area premier wedding vendors.
The Cedar Falls Woman’s Club House, 304 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa Free Admission, Door Prizes, Tasty treats and Cash Bar. Bring a friend and enjoy a great afternoon planning your wedding!
Thursday, April 20thIowaBride.com Dream Series Wedding presents: DREAM Our grandest and most spectacular Bridal Event ever! You don't want to miss this beautiful show featuring the elegant Temple for Performing Arts Building in downtown Des Moines! Click on the link below to register for your free tickets! You must have a ticket to attend the event.
