Wedding Favour Ideas

A newlywed couple have been awarded £310 compensation after finding their wedding cake was made of polystyrene.

Bride Aimee West bought the three-tier sponge cake decorated with white and dark chocolate icing and flowers for their reception near Llanelli.

But just before she and new husband Tony cut through a layer of chocolate white polystyrene was found underneath.

Creative Cakes, which said there had been a mix-up, was told to compensate the couple by a small claims court.

Mrs West, 27, said: “It was a terrible shock – I felt so embarrassed in front of all our family and friends.

“It was a lovely occasion and the ceremony was going to be the icing on the cake – only there was no cake.”

The couple were wed in Cyprus a week earlier then flew home for their reception at a hotel in Pembrey.

They said when they ordered the cake they paid £270 up front to confectioners Creative Cakes.

But just four hours before the evening reception was due to start Mrs West said she discovered the cake company had forgotten to bake it.

She said: “They admitted their mistake and said ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get you a cake’.”

“They turned up that evening and the cake was put on a table for all to see.

“We were just about to cut it when someone discovered the cake people had left four layers of sponge cake in the hotel reception.

“That set alarm bells ringing and when my mother checked the cake she found it was made of polystyrene.”

District Judge Marjorie Taylor gave Creative Cakes three months to repay the couple plus their costs.

Mrs West said after the case: “We are delighted to have been given our money back.

“We could have asked for compensation for cutting the cake in front of all our guests but we wouldn’t be able to put a figure on that.”

Karen Williams, who runs Creative Cakes from her home in Llanelli, blamed it all on a mix-up.

She said: “By the time Aimee contacted me it was too late to make the proper cake.

“I would never have the time to bake a cake and ice it in that time.

“I explained I would be delivering an artificial cake – they are quite common at weddings these days.

“I offered them a refund so there was no reason to take me to the small claims court.”

Taken from the BBC News website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

We are often being asked for ideas for wedding table decorations that are slightly more unusual but cost effective.

One of the most effective and inexpensive wedding table decoration is using co-ordinating paper flower petals. There are some beautiful colours available and when they are co-ordinated with your colour scheme they look really effective. They also look great placed in a vase and used as a table centrepiece.

Placecard holders are a great way of combining table decorations, placecards and favours in one! If you hunt around on the internet there are lots of unusual placecard holders to be found at a reasonable price. Make sure that your guests know that they can take them away with them to hold notes or photographs. Guests really appreciate a useful favour to take away with them.

Don’t just leave crackers for Christmas. Crackers make people smile at anytime of year and look stunning as part of your table settings. These days they don’t just come in Christmasy themes and colours, you can pick up modern, colourful designs that suit anytime of year.

Scatter foil wrapped chocolates around the table for guests to help themselves to. Foil wrapped heart shaped chocolates come in a huge array of colours. If you co-ordinate them with your colour scheme they will look fabulous as part of your decorations. And if you decide to use these as your favours you will save a considerable amount.

I will keep thinking of more ideas for wedding table decorations and publish them in the next few weeks.