Northshore Magazine

From the Editor contributors Let Them Eat Cake I love weddings—especially the festivities surrounding the day. Last summer I helped my younger sister, Catherine, plan her wedding. She and her fiancé, Mike, wanted the quintessential seaside union—the clambake rehearsal dinner, a full nuptial mass, and the reception at a historical inn on the coast. My old house became command central for the event. To save on costs, Catherine asked my brother Richard—a creative talent—to make her wedding dress and all the floral arrangements for the big day. She and I were to bake the three-tiered cake complete with buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache between the layers. Months before the wedding day, we were confident we could pull this prep work off without too much complication. One week before they were to say "I do," Massachusetts had its first heat wave of the season. The temperatures rose well into the 90s. With no air-conditioning and 8 nshoremag.com January/February 2014 JanFeb14 Contributors.indd 8 my oven running constantly to bake layer after layer of cake to feed 150 wedding guests, the heat became almost unbearable. The flowers were relegated to the basement where the old stone foundation kept the space at least 10 degrees cooler. The morning of the wedding, my brothers and I delivered the flowers and the cake to the inn and quickly changed into our wedding attire. The wedding went off without a hitch, and Catherine and Mike could not have been happier. Admittedly, if I were to plan another wedding, I would turn to the professionals—especially when it comes to the cake. The North Shore has dozens of bakers who can create gorgeous cakes for that special day. In this issue, we visit those professional creatives who can turn your wedding day into a truly joyous event. Writer Julia Quinn-Szcesuil visits with local bakers to find out how to make the cake a sweet centerpiece of the reception (page 126). If you're looking to have a greener celebration, read "Eco Elegance" (page 132). The Crane Estate is seeing an increase in sustainable weddings and has begun implementing actions to make the day more earth-friendly, such as composting dinner scraps and offering newlyweds more farm-to-table catering options. We also feature what to wear to the wedding—be it a formal occasion, a city hall union, or a funky art gallery affair (page 138). And why not jet off to Rome, London, or Paris for a romantic honeymoon (see page 146)? We'd love to hear from you! Send us your comments or share your favorite wedding story with us. We hope you enjoy this issue devoted to all things wedding and some things travel. Cheers, Nancy E. Berry, Editor Peter Kaskons Photographer and videographer Peter Kaskons specializes in distinctive images for corporate clients and advertising agencies. His passion for quality, eye for detail, and imaginative use of light are reflected in the images he has produced since founding his studio in 1985. Sabrina Strelitz began her career as accessories editor for InStyle magazine. During her four years with the magazine she cultivated a love for all things clothing and accessories. Since relocating to New England two years ago, Strelitz has worked on Boston magazine and Rhode Island Monthly. She has also styled for Alex and Ani, Talbots, New Balance, and Timberland. Megan Johnson is a twenty-something, Boston–based writer. She previously worked at the Boston Herald Inside Track, and now writes for a variety of outlets including People magazine, BizBash Media, and BravoTV.com. She is New England's premier scholar of Saved by the Bell. As a child, her parents cut her hair off, which led her to being mistaken for a boy at the grocery store. She was told to "Move along, son." She was also left on the school bus once. Alex Pecci is a freelance writer who grew up on the North Shore. Her travel, food, and lifestyle stories appear in Every Day With Rachael Ray, Hemispheres, the Washington Post, and many other publications. She lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Brian, and daughter, Chloe. photograph by peter kaskons 11/22/13 2:57 PM

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