There are many things that make a wedding especially memorable, but few of them lend a more elegant touch than a fantastic ice sculpture created just for this occasion. On a buffet table, lighted and surrounded by beautiful and colorful food, it leaves a lasting impression on every wedding guest.

Considering the elegant effect ice carvings create, they are surprisingly inexpensive. They can be incorporated into a champagne fountain, or specially designed to cradle hors d'oeuvres that need to be kept cool during serving.

In fact, that's the way ice carvings began. (Before there was air conditioning or even refrigeration, there was ice!) Ice was cut from the lakes in winter; stored in ice houses and covered with sawdust to keep it from melting in the summer. During the summer, ice men delivered it to homes and restaurants to put into iceboxes to keep food from spoiling.

Imagine what an effort it was for major hotels in large cities to keep enough food cool to serve banquets during the hot summer months! Ice was placed in several locations on a long banquet table to cool the entire area around the food. Creative chefs carved the ice into interesting shapes - swans, fish, animals, hearts and even caricatures of honored guests. These beautiful ice carvings served a multiple purpose! They kept the food fresh for several hours, and added a wonderfully festive touch to the party. The creation of elaborate ice carvings became an important part of every elegant feast.

Today ice sculptures are still hand carved, they still last for several hours, they still serve multiple purposes, and they still create an elegant and memorable touch at your wedding feast.