Explore unique cake flavor combinations

The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014 — Page 7
Explore unique cake flavor combinations
A
wedding cake is the
piece de resistance of
the wedding ceremony. Guests anxiously
await the unveiling of
the cake near the end of the festivities. Modern cakes are showpieces
grander in scale than in years past.
As bakers and confectioners hone
their skills with fondant, buttercream and gum paste even further,
the results are often impressive,
awe-inspiring cake designs.
While the look of a wedding cake
is certainly important, cakes should
not only look good, but taste good
as well. Vanilla cake with vanilla
buttercream frosting was once the
gold standard. But today’s couples
are being more adventurous with
their wedding cakes and winning
rave reviews from guests along the
way.
The vast scope of wedding cake
flavor choices available to brides
and grooms is astonishing. Options
may range from the traditional to
something adventurous and daring.
Keeping in mind that couples will
need to please the masses, finding a
compromise between plain vanilla
and a mocha-chile-coconut surprise
is essential. Otherwise, they risk an
unpopular flavor and a lot of wasted, expensive cake.
Some couples shy away from
more adventurous cakes because
they fear something chocolately or
not white in color will not be well
suited to a wedding reception. Such
couples should keep in mind that
any flavor of cake can be hidden
beneath layers of pearly white fondant or royal icing. Therefore, the
sky is the limit with regard to flavor
combinations.
Those who might want to veer
from tradition can consider these
clever cake combinations.
* Lemon cake with vanilla buttercream: Lemons are tart, juicy
and refreshing, helping to cleanse
the palate after a rich meal. Lemon cake, with its summery feel, is
tailor-made for summer weddings.
The flavor is popular enough to appeal to many, but just a little different to add an unexpected zip of
flavor.
* Chocolate cake with chocolate
ganache and mocha filling: True
chocoholics will be hard-pressed to
resist such a decadent flavor profile.
Chocolate can be sweet and satisfying and a welcome change from
the vanilla cakes commonly served.
For traditionalists, the cake can be
covered with a white chocolate ganache. Or couples can ask that the
cake be adorned with white sugar
roses for an eye-appealing contrast.
Chocolate cakes covered with autumn hued flowers go over well at
fall weddings.
* Red velvet cake with cream
cheese frosting: Red velvet cake
was once a regionally specific staple, but now has grown steadily in
popularity across the country. Red
velvet has quickly become the new
classic, as its vibrant red coloring
offers a shock of something different, while the flavor is mild for
those who are not comfortable taking risks. The richness and creaminess of cream cheese is irresistible.
* White cake with chocolate
mousse: Couples who want a bit
of chocolate but do not want to be
overwhelmed can select a white
cake that is filled with light and rich
chocolate mousse. It’s the perfect
blend of vanilla and chocolate for
guests who enjoy both.
* Variety tiers: Those who cannot
settle on just one flavor can have
different flavors on each tier of their
cakes. This gives guests some flavorful variety and enables them to
pick their favorite flavor.
Brides- and grooms-to-be who
have specific flavors in mind can
ask their bakers to include two cupcakes with the wedding cake. Then
the couple can enjoy their own mini
cakes while the rest of the guests
enjoy a more classic cake. In addition, an assortment of cupcakes in
lieu of one cake can give guests the
opportunity to sample several different flavors.
VICKI TILLIS/Ledger photo
These wedding cake toppers — a groom dangling a wedding ring
on the end of his fishing line, and a bride reaching up to grasp it —
sit on different flavored tiers of a wedding cake.
Page 8 — The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014
Couples therapy focuses on relationships
A
re you in a relationship or
marriage and experiencing
problems that you can’t seem
to get in front of?
Are you experiencing
problems with a partner, husband, wife, sister, brother, father, mother, stepparent, stepsibling, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, cousin or
close friend and struggle or would simple
like to make things better between the both
of you?
Have your tried couples therapy or family therapy? If not, you should. Marriage
and family therapy is a growing field that
focuses on relationships rather individuals.
Marriage and family therapists are trained
professionals that specialize in relationship
issues.
What is couples therapy anyway? Couples
therapy is a process that allows you and
your partner to be heard and understood and
helps the both of you reach higher levels of
satisfaction in your relationship or marriage.
Therapy helps you and your partner hear
each other differently so that deeper understandings of one another can be gained
which ultimately improves your communication and the overall quality of the relationship or marriage.
A common barrier or complication that
prevents couples from seeking therapy is
that a partner may fear being blamed.
In couples therapy, problems are seen in a
relational since, which means that you and
your partner more than likely contribute to
the problem in some way. Couples therapy
is more or less about helping couples identify their role in maintaining the problem in
their relationship and holding each person
accountable for change in the relationship.
Another barrier for couples therapy is
couples may feel like they do not want to
expose their dirty laundry.
Couples therapy is a confidential process, and it helps couples to maintain and
improve the integrity of their relationship.
It is not meant to help you to feel bad about
a common characteristic of most couples
which is that most couples experience problems. Also, the cost of not seeking help can
be much greater in the long run.
What is family therapy exactly?
Family therapy is similar to couples therapy, but can be more dynamic. Problems can
exist between mom and dad, dad and daughter, dad and stepmom, mom and stepmom,
etc.
Ultimately, family therapy is about helping all family members to be heard and understood. Therapy is about creating a safe
place for family related matters to be openly
discussed and processed rather than go unaddressed and swept under the rug. When
problematic family matters go unaddressed,
they tend to deteriorate relationships and
communication, which negatively impacts
the families overall well-being and quality
of life.
Unprocessed family events typically cause
greater psychological harm, may negatively
influence a family member’s development
and are much more difficult to undue later
in life.
Bryan P. Range, TLMFT, a therapist with
Optimae Lifeservices, provided this article.
Wedding insurance expands as nuptials get pricier
By MICHAEL MELIA
Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) —
Worried about the groom getting
cold feet? There’s an insurance
policy for that.
With the cost of the average
American wedding reaching about
$26,000, insurers have been selling a growing number of policies
to protect against losses from extreme weather, illness and, in one
firm’s case, even a sudden change
of heart.
Cheryl Winter spent $500 for
Hartford-based Travelers Cos. Inc.
to cover her daughter’s $50,000
destination wedding last October
in New Orleans, where her biggest concern was a potential hurricane. The weather cooperated,
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but the limousine never showed
up. Her daughter took a taxi cab to
the church, and they used the insurance policy to claim the deposit
money they couldn’t get back from
the limo driver.
“No one wants to be walking in
the French Quarter in a long gown
and high heels,” said Winter, who
lives in the Houston area.
The insurance is offered by a
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small number of U.S. companies. Insurers declined to provide
data on the number of customers
beyond saying they are growing
steadily. It can cover losses from
issues ranging from bankrupt wedding halls to cancelations forced by
unexpected military deployments.
Travelers says issues with vendors
account for about a quarter of the
claims, with most of those related
to issues with photographers or
videographers.
For Travelers, an insurance giant with annual revenue of $26
billion, the policies will not make
or break the bottom line. But the
wedding insurance it began selling in 2007 is also a way to connect with a couple who might later
See INSURANCE, p. 12
The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014 — Page 9
Don’t forget the marriage license!
By VICKI TILLIS
Ledger lifestyles editor
T
he rings, the dress, the
flowers, the cake …
but in all the planning,
don’t forget the wedding license.
Jefferson County Recorder
Kelly Spees explained the steps
a couple must follow to obtain a
wedding license.
First, the couple, both age 18 or
older, and a witness must visit the
recorder’s office in the Jefferson
County Courthouse to fill an application for the marriage license.
The couple and their witness must
each bring their photo identifications.
The witness who comes to the
courthouse with the couple does
not have to be one of the two witnesses who will stand up with
them in the ceremony, added Liz
Hickenbottom, a clerk in the recorder’s office.
A blood test is not required in
Iowa.
Hickenbottom also advised couples discuss name changes before
arriving at the courthouse to apply
for their wedding license.
“Sometimes couples don’t discuss name changes,” she said,
“and sometimes when she says she
doesn’t want to take his name, he
gets upset.”
Spees said the spouses-to-be can
change their name on the wedding
license. She said both can take
advantage of the opportunity to
change a name spelling, for one
to take the other’s surname or to
make any other changes.
“This is a legal name change —
probably the cheapest way to do
it” since an Iowa marriage license
costs only $35, said Spees.
Because the name change is legal, Spees continued, the change
must be made on driver’s licenses,
bank accounts and with the Social
Security Administration.
After completing the application
for a license to marry, the couple
can return to the recorder’s office
after three days to proof the information and pick up the license and
a partially completed certificate of
marriage form.
Although a couple must wait
three days, they actually have up
to six months to pick up the license
before it becomes void. But once it
is picked up, it never expires, and
the two people named on the license can marry each other whenever they like in the state of Iowa.
The three-day wait can be
waived if a couple “has a really
good reason,” and a judge signs
the waiver, said Spees. The waiver
costs $5.
VICKI TILLIS/Ledger photo
Jefferson County Recorder Kelly Spees goes through the process to record a marriage in the county’s book of marriages.
When the couple picks up their
license and certificate, Spees also
gives them a packet of information
they need to know about getting
married in Iowa, and she stresses
the importance of signing the cer-
tificate in bold black ink on the apSee LICENSE, p. 12
Page 10 — The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014
Favors become wedding mementos
P
lanning a perfect wedding is no small
undertaking. From scheduling venues
and hiring vendors to tasting menus, lots
of decisions must be made when planning a wedding. But when the pieces fall
into place, the entire day can be magical.
One of the final components of weddings are the
favors guests will take home with them as mementos of the festivities. Though favors don’t require
immediate attention, that does not mean couples
should wait until the last minute to made decisions
regarding their wedding favors.
Brides- and grooms-to-be should not underestimate the importance of handing out wedding favors, a tradition with a rich history. A wedding favor is considered a symbol of good will to guests,
and there are many different wedding favors on the
market. Finding the right one can take a little work.
It is usually a good idea to find something that suits
the theme of the wedding and is both long-lasting
and practical. Try to avoid anything that is too
kitschy.
A couple’s budget should be considered when
choosing wedding favors. A couple may want to
give their guests lavish gifts but should only do so if
their budget allows. It may be challenging for couples to find favors that fit the theme of their wedding, as well as their own personalities and budgets.
But it can be done. The following are some favorfinding guidelines.
Be creative
Wedding favors can be just about anything, so
there’s no need to stick to Jordan almonds or wine
bottle stoppers. The more creative couples are, the
more receptive their guests will likely be. For ex-
ample, for an autumn-theme wedding, fill mason
jars with the ingredients for a spiced cake and give
the recipe directions on a tag. For a summer wedding, gift guests with a sun and surf survival bag,
full of sunblock, a beach towel and sunglasses.
Complete the theme
Some weddings follow a particular theme from
start to finish, and wedding favors should stick with
that theme. Couples who will showcase their love
of travel on their wedding days may want to give
guests keychains or purse holders that feature popular landmarks around the world. Those who are
admitted beach bums may want to present a small
fishbowl with sand and a goldfish inside, reminiscent of days at the seashore.
Go traditional
Couples who opt for universally appealing favors
can lean toward some popular options, such as silver cake servers, candlestick holders, decorative
photo frames, or engraved keepsake boxes. Aim for
favors that have utility. Otherwise, favors may end
up collecting dust on someone’s shelf.
Food and beverage gifts are fun
Food favors mean guests can enjoy their gifts and
not have to worry about finding space inside their
homes to display trinkets. Food favors can be lavishly decorated cookies, fine chocolates, petit fours,
small bottles of champagne or cupcakes decorated
like the wedding cake.
Favors are often integral to wedding celebrations.
Selecting a favor that will be appreciated and fit
with the wedding is often a fun and stress-free part
of planning a wedding.
Jefferson County Park
The perfect choice for a beautiful, natural setting
for your wedding and/or wedding reception.
20’ Octagonal Gazebo — $10/6 hours
Picnic Shelter #3 — located near the pond, includes electricity,
drinking water and modern facilites nearby — $20/6 hours.
Add the gazebo for only $5.
The park also features modern Camping Sites
with restrooms/showers and two 12’x16’ sleeping cabins.
Jefferson County Parks
2003 Libertyville Rd., Fairfield, Iowa • 641-472-4421
www.jeffersoncountyconservation.com
VICKI TILLIS/Ledger photo
A Halloween wedding inspired caramel apples as favors for wedding gifts. Guests had a choice of a caramel apple dipped in
crunchy peanuts or colorful chocolate sprinkles.
DIY
paper, they cut the sheets to the size of the
printed invitations.
“It was very time-consuming,” Hancock
said. “I tried to do calligraphy on the addresses, although I’ll admit my calligraphy
could use some work. It looked believable if
you weren’t an expert.”
The gazebo at Jefferson County Park had
a sign that read “reserved,” indicating it was
reserved for the couple’s wedding. Hancock
was not too thrilled with the sign and wanted to put something in its place that was
more festive and in line with the spirit of
the ceremony.
“We thought it detracted from the beauty,” Hancock said. “I decided to create two
water-color paintings, one of which we we
hung on the sign and another one we put on
the altar.”
Hancock said she is especially fond of abstract paintings that are open for interpretation.
One of her favorite homemade decorations was the 3-inch tall cake-topper dolls.
Hancock painted them to look like the couple in their ivory wedding outfits.
“I put a little veil on my doll and used a
little jewel from my grandmother,” she said.
The couple said they just so happened to
schedule their wedding on a day that was
very warm. The kids at the wedding didn’t
seem to mind as they had fun playing outdoor games at the park such as bocce ball,
badminton and croquet. One of the outdoor
games was a beanbag toss that included materials Hancock made herself.
The beanbag toss involves throwing beanbags through a hole that’s cut into a board
that’s laid on the ground. Hancock painted
The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014 — Page 11
From p. 3
the boards to make them look like a bride
and groom, where the faces were cut out to
serve as holes for the beanbags.
Music at the reception was provided by
Hancock’s father, Bryan, and two of his
friends, John Lutz and David Burnes. The
group performed on keyboard, including a
song her dad had written when Virginia was
a child, and John Lutz yodeled. The group
sang the song “Elvira,” which Hancock said
she had a funny association with as a child.
This time, the group substituted in the name
“Virginia.”
Van Auken’s mother cooked the rehearsal
dinner. Hancock said she and friends were
responsible for doing the hair and make-up
before the wedding. One of the bridesmaids
took the engagement photos. Even the flower girls’ dresses were made by their mother.
After the wedding, the newlyweds set out
on a road trip to South Carolina that involved
some camping along the way. Since they had
a French-themed reception, they thought it
was fitting they stopped in a little town in Illinois named after the French capital.
“We had proof that we went to Paris on
our honeymoon,” Van Auken said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA HANCOCK
TOP: The flowers for Virginia Hancock
and Uriah Van Auken’s wedding came
from the gardens of friends and family.
BOTTOM LEFT: Music at the reception
was provided by Hancock’s father and
his friends.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Hancock and her
mother created the abstract-looking invitations.
Page 12 — The Fairfield Ledger, Friday, February 14, 2014
Share good news with the community
F
airfield area couples can announce their wedding engagements, weddings and milestone
anniversaries of 25 years or
more in The Fairfield Ledger.
The announcements are printed free of
charge in The Fairfield Ledger.
Couples can contact The Ledger at 4722116 or lifestyles@ffledger.com to request
a form to use as guideline for submitting
information to the paper.
A photo will be included at the request
INSURANCE
think of the company for
home insurance and other
life milestones.
“It could be the beginning of a relationship with
a young couple,” said Ed
Charlebois, a Travelers vice
president for personal insurance.
Wedsafe, backed by Aon,
also offers wedding insurance, which differs little
from the specialty insurance that firms may offer
for other kinds of events and
celebrations.
For parents concerned
about a relationship souring before the exchange of
vows, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. offers change
of the couple. A color or black-and-white
photo can be submitted. A color photo is
preferred; photos posted on The Ledger’s
website www.ffledger.com are in color,
while photos printed in the paper are blackand-white. The Ledger can use a color photo to make the black-and-white photo.
A photo emailed to The Ledger should be
sent as a JPG file. A photo mailed to The
Ledger should include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope so it can be returned.
A photo brought into The Ledger can nor-
of heart insurance. It’s been
available since 2007, but the
program administrator said
the fraud rate soared in the
early years as policies were
bought for couples who
were known to be fighting.
That coverage now applies
only if the bride or groom
calls off the wedding more
than nine months beforehand.
“Coverage does not exist
once you hit the altar,” said
administrator Rob Nuccio
of R.V. Nuccio & Associates. “The only ones who
were buying it were the ones
who knew they would have
a claim.”
Kyle Brown, director of
From p. 8
the Bakersfield, Calif.-based
Bridal Association of America, said he recommends
wedding insurance, but he
estimates policies are taken
out for less than half of 1
percent of the more than 2
million weddings held annually in the U.S.
“Nobody likes to think
about the bad side,” he said.
Winter said some people
told her insurance would
be a waste of money for her
daughter’s wedding, but she
read various reviews and decided it was worth protecting the investment. She’s
planning to buy a policy for
another daughter’s wedding
in 2015.
mally be scanned and returned within a
LICENSE
propriate lines.
“No White-Out or scratch outs can be on
the certificate,” she said. “Any errors require
a new form, so be sure to sign where you are
supposed to sign, print where you are supposed to print and use black ink.”
Once the couple has their marriage license
and certificate, they can take it to an officiant
to be wed.
Because a magistrate judge can elect to
perform weddings, Spees and Hickenbottom
have seen couples come into the recorder’s
office to pick up their certificates and go
right on upstairs to the magistrate court office to be married.
They recalled couples taking photos in
the recorder’s office and on the courthouse
lobby steps.
“Couples are welcome to bring cameras,”
said Spees.
“It’s fun,” said Hickenbottom. “Everyone
comes out of their offices to see the dresses
… to see if it’s someone they know.”
“It’s kind of nice to see the couples all
dressed up for their weddings,” said Spees.
They also recalled a couple who held their
summer wedding in the courthouse and then
went outside to take photos on the north
lawn.
But, a couple who would like to be married
by a magistrate court judge at the courthouse
should call ahead to make sure the magis-
few minutes.
From p. 9
trate is willing to perform the ceremony and
if and when he is available to do so. The
phone number to the magistrate court office
is 472-3454. A magistrate is normally at the
courthouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A magistrate can perform a wedding ceremony during regular working hours at the
courthouse at no charge.
A couple who obtains a marriage license in
Jefferson County can be married in any county in Iowa, but the marriage certificate has to
be returned and filed in Jefferson County.
Spees said once a couple is married, the
completed certificate needs to be returned
to the recorder’s office; it can be mailed or
dropped off.
The staff records the marriage in the county’s official book of marriages, and they also
mail the information to the state of Iowa so
the marriage can be recorded at the state
level. The staff makes a certified copy of the
marriage certificate, which the newlyweds
can either pick up or have mailed to them.
Spees said she includes information explaining the marriage certificate is legal document and should be treated as such.
She also includes information about how
to change a name with the Social Security
Administration.
For information, visit the recorder’s office
in the Jefferson County Courthouse or call
472-4331.