We want all CAKE enthusiasts to enjoy these Wedding features, beginning with the following piece - a mixed bag of thoughts leading up to the published articles.

This piece is to address the notion of Brides & Grooms hewing to - (air quotes) - "The Planning Schedule." You've seen them in some Wedding publications: "18 months out, do this," "12 months out, do that," "6 months out, kablooey!" This separate reality's all well and good, but its simply not borne out by the stubborn facts of today’s Brides' & Grooms’ bustling schedules.

We’re not just lip-synching this, anyone would be hard-put to follow such regimens. This sort of rigid scheduling quickly gets snagged on a host of prickly realities - for instance: work, social life, The Fam's opinions, the tyranny of distance to destination Weddings, etc., etc. Such timetables border on being pathologically fussy, something akin to playing whack-a-mole, trying to follow someone else’s notion of which appointment should pop up next.

As every seasoned Bride quickly learns, Wedding planning can be stupefyingly complex, bouncing from the sublime to the ridiculous, at times resembling running a blender with the top off. (“Well aren’t we just living the dream!”). One Bride recently remarked, “Wedding planning’s like having a second job, except you only have time to work on it during the weekends!”

So allow CAKE to step in as the voice of reason. From being intimately involved with today’s Brides & Grooms, we beg to differ with such pointless exercises in itinerary bogeness, fully realizing how impossibly busy are young couples' schedules.

To our way of thinking, Brides & Grooms need to follow their own weather vane, with their individual healthy coping mechanisms setting the pace. In other words, today’s couples should be planning their Weddings on their personal timetables. When they can get to it. The broader lesson they instinctively realize is to not lose sight of the thrill, fun & pleasure of the process. The journey is its own reward!

Our work here is done.

CAKE. Wine Country Wedding Magazine. Temecula Valley & Fallbrook, California

people will stare

warning: please view responsibly!
this isn't your mother's wedding photograph!

ashcraft photography
ponte family estate winery

Photographers are invited to e-mail out-of-the-ordinary
Wedding photographs for CAKE's Photograph Of The Month to:
CAKE

"people will stare" photograph courtesy of shadowcatcher imagery

[» WINE LABEL OF THE MONTH «]

He not only drafts wine labels, paints fine art, works as a shooter behind the lens, and designs websites, but - get this - the guy designs automobiles! The gentleman's right brain is calling the tunes!

Wiens Family Cellars chose to adorn their 2006 Tempranillo-Petite Sirah with a label designed by artist Sharif - "Queria" ('Wanted') - a selection from his "Silencioso Guitarra" ('Silent Guitar') series. As noted below, the label flawlessly complements the wine's voluptuous spiciness.

The duet offers a complex blend of plum, tobacco, leather and herbal notes (Tempranillo), cheek by jowl with muscular berries and spice (Petite Sirah). The suggestion is this sensuous fusion serves well with spice-rubbed meats, tapas, olives & prawns.

$34  14.1%

WIENS FAMILY CELLARS
35055 Via Del Ponte
Temecula California 92592
951 694 9892
info@wienscellars.com
www.wienscellars.com

'Tis The Season
Wine Country Bridal Faires
Spring 2009

MENIFEE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB

We spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon attending the Bridal Show at Menifee Lakes Country Club, congenially hosted by Christa Davidson & Jamie Conway. We encourage all Brides to to tour this facility and soak-in its unique combination of miles-from-nowhere privacy, alongside the elegance of country club ritz.

In attendance we spotted CAKE's media partner - Neighbor's Newspaper - represented by Diane Simones. We chatted with photographers Randy Green and Melissa Jewell of RKG Green Studios. In front of our booth was longtime CAKE pal - videographer Michael Scalise - of Black Tie Productions. We had the distinct pleasure of meeting Michelle Brewer, Belle Mariée Bridal Salon partner of girl-about-town, Karolin DiCristina. CAKE photo contest winner, Braja Mandala, of Mandala Weddings, kept us company in a neighboring booth. The neighboring booth in the other direction was travel agent Cheryl, of Travel By Cheryl. John Rodriquez, his lovely wife, Wendy, and Andrea of Andrea Photography, were there representing VIP Events. Behind our booth were delightful cake samples from Cynthia & Kim of Sweet Layers Cakes. And in case Brides needed more of this basic food group, Linda Del Rio was ready, willing & able to serve more delights at the Del Rio Cakes booth. Across the way from us were new friends The Marry Me Lounge, with the fort held down by Terre, of proprietors Terre & Cathy, as well as Wedding coordinator, Fran Caddy. Florist Michael's Flower Girl was represented by Sheila - and a host of gorgeous florals. And throughout the day, gettin' down the boogie was DJ James Genes, of Day & Night.

MENIFEE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB
34567 Rancho California Road
Menifee, California 92591
951 699 6961
cdavidson@menifee-lakes.com
www.menifee-lakes.com

We put recent Saturday work commitments on hold for a couple hours and snuck away to visit the Marry Me Lounge's first Bridal Show, held at rural-cum-elegant Temecula Creek Inn. It was a gorgeous spring day, Wine Country's elite Wedding vendors were in attendance and Brides-to-be were treated to a Wedding gown fashion show extraordinaire. It was a beautiful thing.

stone house wedding venue
temecula creek inn
rk green studios

We spotted hostess-with-the-mostess, Terre Lynn, of MML's dynamic duo - Terre & Cathy. And the always charming Ladies of TCI - Alison de Jong, Crystal Marshall and Crystal Stadel. Jack-of-all-trades, Leah Bennett, was in attendance, along with her lovely 6'2" daughter-the-model. (You've never seen a Wedding gown displayed so elegantly!). We caught a glimpse of Coordinator, Fran Caddy, with her ever-serene vibe. Shutters were shuddering throughout the afternoon as photographers Jake & Tobie Ashcraft and Lilia Parker gave their DSLR's a serious workout. The always lovely Diana Ross was present, enthusiastically touting a new Wine Country promotion she's working on with videographer, Jimbo Marshall and Officiant, Lauren Seals. [Stay tuned for CAKE updates]. Michael Scalise of Black Tie Video Productions was in the building, along with Cynthia & Kimberly of Sweet Layers bakery (towering stacks of mouth-watering Wedding cakes on display), as well as Jay Fitzgerald of The D'Jay Company. And finally, Karon Cartwright - of Ponte Winery - briefly played hooky to cheer the team on.

THE MARRY ME LOUNGE
42072 Fifth Street #103
Temecula California 92590
951 694 0327
info@marrymelounge.com
www.marrymelounge.com

TEMECULA CREEK INN
44501 Rainbow Canyon Road
Temecula California 92592
951 694 1000
temeculacreekinn@jcresorts.com
www.temeculacreekinn.com