Florida Wedding #2 - Harry Potter (Yellow and Red) Wedding

 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure is part of the Universal Orlando family. The theme park allows people to pass through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and lets guests explore the passageways, classrooms and corridors. Guests can also visit the shops of Hogsmeade, like Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, Ollivander's Wand Shop and more. For die hard Harry Potter fans this is the perfect wedding.

Flowers:

For this wedding, assume the couple is fans of Gryffindor, the perfect colour scheme would be yellow and red (which is what this one will follow along with a general theme) but fans of Slytherin can go with black and green and/or silver, fans of Hufflepuff can go with yellow and black and fans of Ravenclaw can go with blue and silver and/or black. 

(Red Roses and Yellow Calla Lilies)

The Dress:

A pretty cool and unique idea for this wedding would be to get married in a Hogwarts outfit, but most brides want the beautiful white gown, and who can blame them. With Florida being usually hot, and humid, a great option for a dress would be a knee length Dress, this one by Mori Lee is beautiful.

The Shoes:

There is always some great creation out there that can be unique and unusually and sometimes they are must haves. At one time there were people making Harry Potter themed high heels even (like the example below). But specially made shoes aren't needed for this wedding, any red shoe or gold or even white would be perfectly fine. 

Make up, hair, nails and accessories: 

For the hair style there really is no theme that will match Harry Potter unless going with Hermione's hair from the Yule Ball. Usually having the hair down with a strapless dress is best but because it flows down her shoulders it would be perfect with any strapless dress also. If possible to find, the Diadem of Ravenclaw would be a nice addition also.  

For the accessories, Nobel Collections has a great collection of Harry Potter jewelry. Hermione's Red Crystal necklace, Hermione's Yule Ball earrings, The Time Turner, and Luna Lovegood's jewelry set. are all great options for the bride or her bride's maids.  Other options for accessories are the I Solemnly Swear bracelet (which can be custom made), and the Gryffindor Garter set (may not be available anymore but may be able to be custom made).

Hair and nails can be simple and original, whatever the bride likes. For the truly daring there are some option to match the theme however they are slightly extreme. 

The Groom:

For the groom a tradition tuxedo is fine, but for a Harry Potter wedding why not go with the uniform! They are not the easiest things to find but WBshop sell a lot of different Harry Potter outfits. The basic uniform is black pants, a white shirt, the tie and the vest and black shoes. Most things can be imitated, but WB has a lot of great options to choose from. For the groom and his men a great alternative to boutonnieres would be house pins. From the Nobel Collection again, these house pins are cute and make great gifts. 

The Wedding Party:

For the bride's maids red dresses or gold dresses would work just fine but a little of both would be great also. And the same goes for the mother of the bride/groom dresses. For the bride's maids something a little more flashy and risky would be fine like a Chiffon Knee-Length Ruching Sweetheart style 4006. And for the mothers something a little longer and something that offsets the other would be perfect. 

(Satin A-line Pleated Tank Top Style 850)

The Invitations:

Any out of town/state/country guests would really appreciated a Save the Date card, especially if the couple really wants certain people there, it gives the guests time to make arrangements like flight plans, house sitters, booking days of work, etc so that they can make it to the wedding. After the Save the Date cards, a formal invitation should be sent to all the guests (even the ones that already got the Save the Date card). A creative example like the one below would be easy to make at home and would cut down on cost. Invitations that follow the Hogwarts acceptance letter theme would be great. There are sets out there that include quills, inks, wax seals and parchment paper with the envelopes.

Photographer and Videographer:

A great photographer that comes very highly recommended is JP Brandano Photography. As for a videographer that can be tricky to find in a country that isn't home to the bride or groom or any guest. As stated before asking a friend or family member to do that favour may be best. However in Florida, a great videographer is Apex Media Weddings.

Ceremony:

Getting married in the actual theme park itself may be tricky and impossible. It is best to discuses the options with a tour guide or a park official to know what steps to take. There are a few wonderful places to get married assuming the park would allow it. 

(The Archway into Hogsmeade)

(Hogwarts Castle)

The rings are something that don't have to follow the theme at all. A simple set of wedding bands is perfectly fine and something the couple would cherish for ever. For true fans and if the couple wants to stick with the Harry Potter theme, Nobel Collections has a Gryffindor House Ring, and the Horcrux Ring.

The Reception:

The Three Broomsticks offers meals, however depending on the size of the wedding it may not be able to accommodate such a large party. A great alternative would be the Holy Trinity Reception and Conference Center, it is not far from the park and it can hold a large number of people. For a Harry Potter themed wedding a great alternative for the guest book and pen would be a Tom Riddle Diary Note Book, or a Harry Potter Sketchbook with a Hogwarts Writing Quill. The box the Quill comes in can also work as a card holder. Also a great option for the guest table to write any directions or comments would be the Proclamation Board by Nobel. 

The Food:

Florida doesn't have much food specific to just it so anything really would be just fine for the meal. If having a sit down meal, a great option is to have standing hors d'oeuvres so that they guests can talk and mingle and have finger foods as they wait for the meal. Good choices for the hors d'oeuvres would be a Brie and Pear Purse with Piquante Honey Dipping Sauce (1/2 cup of honey boiled on the stove and 1/2 cup of Pace piquante sauce, pinch of salt). For the sit down part of the meal, starting off with a nice Waldorf salad and a main course of Shrimp au Gratin Penne would be a great meal. 

(Pear Purses)

The Cake:

For weddings, the cake doesn't always have to be a cake. It is nice to have a top layer for the couple to cut into but it is not needed. In this case, cupcakes would be a perfect option especially since there can be four different colour themes that would match and it would give people alternatives. Sticking with the Hogwarts colours it would be very easy and would match well to do two cupcakes from each house. A great way to display all the cupcakes would be on a cupcake stand like the one below. It has many levels and it is in the shape of a tree. The top level can be reserved for a cake if the couple wants one or the cake topper. A great cake topper in this case, if there is no real cake could be a miniature replica of the Hogwarts Castle. 

 Gryffindor, strawberry red velvet cupcake with a yellow lemon zest cream cheese frosting; yellow cake with a strawberry jam filling and red strawberry cream cheese frosting.

 Strawberry Red Velvet Cake 

In a large mixing bowl add together:

1 stick of butter

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tbsp of  red food colouring

2 tbsp of cocoa

1 cup of buttermilk

(or regular milk with a teaspoon of vinegar and set aside)

2 1/4 cups of flour

1 tsp of vanilla

1 tsp of baking soda

2/3 cup of Strawberry Puree

Lemon Zest Cream Cheese Frosting

250 g of Cream Cheese

1/4 cup of soften butter

1 tsp of vanilla

1 cup of powdered sugar

1 lemon zest

Yellow Food colouring (if needed)

Yellow Cake

1 1/2 cups of cake or pastry flour

1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/4 tsp if salt

1 cup if unsalted butter

2 cups of sugar

4 eggs

1 cup of evaporated milk

4 tsp of vanilla extract

Baking Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

Sift together both flours, baking powder and salt.

Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and add in the vanilla

Gently fold in the dry ingredients in three equal portions, alternately with the evaporated milk.

Bake in a 325 degree F oven for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once cooled pipe into the center of the cupcake a bit of strawberry jam or jelly or use the following frosting.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

16 oz cream cheese

1 cup of butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup strawberry jam

Slytherin, dark chocolate lava cake with a green mint butter cream frosting, and a green lemon lime cake with lemon filling and a meringue frosting. 

Dark Chocolate Lava Cake

5-6 oz of dark chocolate

6 tbsp of butter

1/2 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup of flour

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Lightly grease the cupcake molds or use cupcake tins.

In a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter. Stir in sugar.

In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs, add some chocolate mixture to eggs to temper eggs.

Carefully, stir egg mixture into the chocolate mixture.

Add flour and combine completely.

Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes. 

Mint Butter Cream Frosting

• 1 cup (227 grams) room temperature butter
• 1 tsp mint extract
• 5 cups (600 grams) powder sugar
• ~ 1 tbsp Irish Cream coffee creamer

In a mixing bowl cream the butter for 1 minute. Add the mint extract and, slowly, add the powder sugar, 1/2 cup at a time making sure the sugar is incorporated before adding more.
When all the sugar is mixed in, add enough Irish Cream coffee creamer to make a fluffy airy buttercream.

Lemon Lime Pie Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
6 eggs, separated
1/4 cup lime and lemon juice
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoons finely shredded lime and lemon peel
3/4 teaspoon of vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

In a small bowl, stir together flour and 1/3 cup sugar; set aside.In a medium bowl, beat egg YOLKS with an electric mixer on high speed for about 6 minutes until thick and lemon-colored or until yolks flow from the beaters in a thick stream when the beaters are lifted. Add lime juice and water. Beat on low speed about 30 second or until combined. Gradually add the 2/3 c sugar, beating on medium speed for about 5 minutes or until sugar is ALMOST dissolved.
Gradually add 1/4 of flour mixture to the egg yolk mixture, beating on low to medium speed just until moistened. Repeat, beating in the remaining flour mixture by fourths. Stir in shredded lime peel.In a large mixing bowl, beat egg WHITES and vinegar on medium to high speed until soft peaks form (when the tips curl). Gradually add the 1/2 cup sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on medium to high speed until stiff peaks form (when tips stand straight up).
Fold about 1 cup of the egg WHITE mixture into the egg YOLK mixture.
Then fold all of the egg YOLK mixture into the remaining egg WHITE mixture.

Gently pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 1 hour or until the top springs back when lightly touched. 

Meringue Frosting

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (170 g) granulated white sugar
• 3 large egg whites
• 2 tbsp cold water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. It is best to make this frosting in a metal bowl from a kitchen mixer. But if you dont have one you can make it in a double boiler, using a hand mixer.
2. place all ingredients in the mixer bowl and whisk until well combined. Fill a saucepan with water about (2-3 cups). The saucepan should be large enough for the mixer bowl to “rest in it” but without touching the bottom of the saucepan.
3. When the water is shimmering place the bowl in the sauce pan and whisk the mixture. The mixture must not boil. Whisk until all the sugar is dissovled or you will end up with a grainy looking frosting. Check to see if it has reached a temperature of 160-170 F (70-75 C) Remove from the saucepan.
4. Place the bowl in the kitchen mixer with the whisk attachment on. Whisk the meringue frosting until stiff peaks forms and has a glossy look. This can take up to 12 -15 minutes or more.
5. When the white meringue frosting is ready, you can use it as it is or color it with food gel colors. This frosting will crust over time but the center of the frosting swirl will still be thick and fluffy.

Ravenclaw, blue Jell-o Food Cakes with  Yellow Lemon whipped cream frosting (Regular whipped cream with lemon zest), and Blue Jell-o swirl cupcakes with a Blue Jell-o butter cream.

Jell-O Food Cakes

Ingredients

1 cup cake flour 

(spooned and leveled)

1/4 teaspoon salt

12 large egg whites, room temperature

1 teaspoon vinegar in the egg whites

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 package of Jell-o

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place flour and salt in a sieve set over a bowl; sift into bowl, and set aside. With a mixer, beat egg whites on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Add vinegar beat until soft peaks form. Continue to beat, gradually adding sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to combine.

STEP 2

Gently transfer egg-white mixture to a large, wide bowl. In four batches, using the sieve again, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture. While turning the bowl, use a rubber spatula to fold in the mixture by cutting down the center and coming up the sides.

STEP 3

Gently spoon batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan with a removable bottom; smooth top. Cut a knife or small spatula through batter to release air bubbles. Bake until cake is golden and springs back when lightly pressed, 35 to 40 minutes. Invert pan; let cool in pan, 1 hour. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and around the tube to release cake, and unmold. Use knife to release cake from bottom of pan, and remove.

Jell-o Swirl Cupcakes

1/2 cup of  butter

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs 

2 tsp of vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 2/3 tsp of baking powder

1/2 cups of milk

1 box of blue jell-o

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. 

Now separate half of your batter to a separate bowl. Add Jello mix to remaining batter and mix.

Now time to dish it up. Spoon some white, then some color, then more white, then more color. Do not overfill, about 2/3 full should be good.

 Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

Jello Butter Cream Icing

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups, powdered sugar (1 pound)

2 tablespoons milk

1-3 tablespoons Jello mix

Sift Powdered sugar to remove any lumps. Beat shortening and butter till creamy and smooth. Add in vanilla, beat again. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, making sure to combine completely. Once all sugar is combined, add your milk. You've got your basic buttercream. So make it fun. Add some Jello.

The amount of Jello won't change your color very much but it will change your taste, if you want just a light flavor, use just the 1 tablespoon, if you want some bang, use more. Take a little taste, adjust, taste again, then frost.

Hufflepuff, Perfectly Chocolate Cupcakes with a caramel  buttercream, Caramel Cupcake with a chocolate Ganache.

Perfectly Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (best quality available)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (best quality available)
1 cup boiling water

Line muffin tin with paper liners.  Heat oven to 350*F.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed for one minute.
Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin, don’t worry, this is right).
Fill liners 2/3 full with batter.

Caramel Butter Cream

1/2 cup (1 stick or 115 grams) salted butter (or unsalted butter)
1 cup (200 grams) dark brown sugar
1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
3-4 cups (360-480 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

While the cupcakes are cooling, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Once melted, add brown sugar and heavy cream. Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add salt. Allow to bubble for 3 full minutes, no more. Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool, only about 15 minutes. Do not place in the refrigerator to cool. With a hand mixer at medium speed, beat in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, until you reach desired consistency. 

Caramel Cupcakes

1 and 1/2 cups (190 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (200 grams) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick or 115 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk (or heavy cream or half-and-half, do not use skim milk or 1% milk)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate medium bowl, beat the butter and sugars together at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat until combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until no flour remains, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Slowly stir in the milk. Do not overmix the batter.
Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full, dividing the batter between all 12. Bake cupcakes for 22-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool before frosting, about 1 hour.

Dark Chocolate Ganache

2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped

In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to a boil. Remove from heat; add 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped, and let stand, without stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk just until combined. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until spreadable, about 1 hour.

Finally, for the cake station, a great option for the serving set and champagne flutes would be to create ones. The Simplicity Set is a great choice for this and by adding baker's twine and a Harry Potter theme key chain they can match the Harry Potter theme. 

Guest Favours:

Sticking with the theme, Bertie Bott;s Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs (Matching Box) would be a good choice and it would be a unique one also. It's a great option for kids and adults and there's little worry about anyone having allergies. Great gifts for the wedding party could be replica wands. Nobel Collections has a large collection of wands from the main characters in the Harry Potter series. 

Centerpieces:

A great idea for a centerpiece would be to mimic the ceiling of the Great Hall. With tall glass holder, filled with water and a flouting candle the whole table could be filled with them and the lights would create a nice effect. Also adding flowers to the table would finish off the look. Since real flowers can get expensive and conflict with some allergies, fake ones can work just as well. With Harry Potter being so popular there are a lot of items out there centered around it, like paper flowers made from book pages and confetti cut from the pages. 

Thank You Cards: 

Thank You cards don't always have to match the invitations and aren't always needed. But they are nice little gestures to say how much the couple appreciates the gift and the person's general presence. A great Thank You card could be the Mischief Managed Cards. They match the theme and they are creative with the wording and unique. 

Places to See: 

The Harry Potter Universe is a site to see and it is truly amazing to walk around and see the whole Wizarding World come alive. There are so many things to do and see it may be hard to do anything else. Visit Hogsmeade and all the shops it has to offer.

Then take the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4 to Hogwarts Castle and explore the corridors, the Great Hall and the Head Master's Office.

And explore the grounds, see Hagrid's Hut and the Weasley's Car at the Womping Willow.

Other great sits to see would be the Sugar Mill Ruins, Cape Carnerval, and The Daytona 500, not to mention the rest of the attractions at Universal Orlando.