Wedding Planning|Wedding Planning & Wedding Advice

This is the first in a two part series about monogrammed items for weddings.

Today we feature wedding cake toppers in the monogram style.

How Do Monograms Work?

Here are some guidelines for how to create a monogram for you and your fiance(e). The bride and groom should decide what letters will make up their monogram, and it is proper etiquette for others to ask before having any gifts or wedding items monogrammed.

3 Letter Style

Traditionally the middle letter is the first letter of the groom’s last name. The letters go in the following order: first letter of wife’s first name, first letter of groom’s last name, first letter of groom’s first name. For example, if John Smith and Roberta Aster marry, their monogram would be RSJ.

1 Letter Style

The letter used here would be the shared last name of the married couple (if appropriate). For example, if John Smith and Roberta Aster marry, their monogram would be S.

topperswithglitz.com

4 Letter Style

This style works for blended last names (for example brides who will hyphenate their last names or just keep their original last name). For example, if John Smith and Roberta Aster marry, their monogram would be RSAJ (first letter bride’s first name, first letter bride’s last name, first letter groom’s last name, first letter groom’s first name).

2 Letter Style

This is another option for blended last names, where you just use the first letter of each last name (beginning with the bride’s last name). In the example above, this monogram would be S-A.

shopbakersnook.com

Ampersand Style

For a more contemporary and less formal look you might choose to use an ampersand (that’s the ‘and’ symbol). In this case, you use the first letter of both first names (example: Roberta and John turns into R&J)

Heart Style

Another fun look – connect the two first names with a heart (example:  Roberta hearts John)

beau-coup.com

Last Names – Other Guidelines

Last names that start with an apostrophe or Mc (examples: O’Reagan or McDonald) still use the very first letter (in these examples: “O” and “M”).

Simply Elegant

Here is the classic monogram style for a cake topper. This style will work well with an ornately decorated cake. It would also suit an overall simple, understated look too if that is what you’re aiming for.

weddingfavours.ca

Classy Glassy

This engraved glass cake topper becomes a keepsake for your china cabinet after the event.

stellarglass.com

Crystal Clear

A sophisticated version of the Swarovski crystal monogram cake topper, available in a highly polished gold or silver finish.

weddingaccessories.net

Or glam on the glitz with a glittery Swarovski version like the one below (available in all of the colors of the rainbow).

beau-coup.com

A topper with Swarovski accents is a nice look, too.

beau-coup.com

White Wedding

Another simple look that is surprisingly effective – white letters.

goodthingsweddingfavors.com

Modern Bride

These silver-tone metal toppers are perfect for the couples who are anything but old-fashioned.

stuartscreations.com

stuartscreations.com

I was recently in a candy store that had an old collection of PEZ dispensers on display and saw a PEZ version of a bride and groom, which I thought would make an excellent wedding cake topper for the couple with a sweet tooth.

Here is an example of a bride and groom PEZ couple.

Good luck getting this one on your cake, the original sells for about $3500 now according to an article at money.cnn.com.

You can get re-issues of this PEZ design – check ebay or pezcollectors.com – as of writing this article they both had a set available for around $20.00.

In fact an entire sweet theme, would be kind of – well, sweet.

Set up a candy station

You can select candies that match your wedding colors and let guests fill up their own goodie bags as tasty wedding favors!

Visit ohnuts.com for great tips for how to set up your own candy station.

ohnuts.com

Personalized Sweets

An Australian company will make you personalized candy (the candy below says Ben ‘hearts’ Renee).

sticky.com.au

Or use candy as the centerpieces for your tables instead of flowers

www.wanderfuls.com

Check out this candy wedding cake

The perfect foundation for a sweet wedding cake topper, from the very talented people at Cakelava. Check out their blog for a taste of all the great cakes they make!

Favor everyone with a kiss

Another wedding favor idea – a large Hershey’s Kiss at each place setting. At under 30 dollars for eighteen kisses, this is a very affordable wedding favor.

candywarehouse.com

Another option from Hershey’s…

wrappedhersheys.com

Gifts for the wedding party

Dylan’s Candy Bar has yummy jewelry at their online store. Here are just two examples to whet your appetite.

dylanscandybar.com

dylanscandybar.com

For the bachelor or bachelorette with a sense of humor…

This party theme would work well for a stag or stagette, bridal shower, or even a surprise party at work for an engaged coworker.

Costume Party

Make your victim (oops, I mean the engaged person) wear this ball and chain for the duration of the event. You can get these at most costume stores – also available online for as little as $3.99.

buycostumes.com

Does He?

zazzle.com

Life Sentence

Or, make the bride to be wear this sexy convict costume. Bride-it-up with a veil and write ‘Sentenced to Life as a Mrs’ or something like that across her chest or back.

nightmarefactory.com

Decorations

Use black or silver construction paper to make chains for decoration (you can use black balloons as the balls). Hang them on the walls or from the ceiling or attach them around all of the table and chair legs.

birthdayinabox.com

Or, you can get fancy and order some pretty precut paper for your chains:

velvetstore.co.uk

Refreshments

Martini

The ‘Ball and Chain’ martini is made from berry flavored vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and fresh blueberries (recipe at foodnetwork.com)

Cake Decoration

Dessert is a piece of cake with this cake topper – just stick it on top of any store bought cake of your choice (ice cream cakes are always popular with the boys).

bachelorettesuperstore.com

Snacking

Black mini chocolate balls.

candywarehouse.com

Fun and Games

Write down a list of rules everyone has to follow – guests have to take a drink or lose a point every time they break the rules (things you’re “not allowed” to do once you’re married).

Examples: Catch other guests or the guest of honor flirting, checking out men/women, dancing with men/women, ignoring a phone call from significant other, etc. The goal here is for the party guests to lure the guest of honor into doing these things (and then catch him/her at it!).

Something to Take Home

Great party favors or a souvenir for the bride and groom.

cutebitz.com

Playlist

Songs to stick on the record player or request from the DJ…

Ball and Chain – Social Distortion

Ball and Chain – Sublime

Ball and Chain – XTC

Lucky Ball and Chain – They Might Be Giants