The Coolest Wedding Cake EVER!

Morning all! So there I was reading my RSS Feeder of all the world's best wedding blogs, when I stumbled across the coolest wedding cake I've ever seen. It's that fabulous combination of tradition tiers and modern graphic design. And I met it tastes DELICIOUS! Baked in the US of A, I'm sure the crafty among you could recreate the effect on a good old M&S wedding cake. Made by Sweet & Saucy in California, discovered via Brooklyn Bride.

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The New Cupcakes

Let's be honest, wedding cup-cakes have become a bit samey, and I'm always on the look-out for the latest sweet-treat trend, and I think I've found it! Bee's Bakery designs amazing biscuits, embossed with Rob Ryan-inspired lettering. The self-taught baker updates vintage recipes, giving classic Scottish shortbread a modern twist with lavender or Iranian rose essence. Meanwhile, her homemade jammie dodgers, filled with whipped buttercream and raspberry jam, are larger and richer than the ones you loved as a kid. All her flavours, including ginger and chocolate can be personalised with up to four letters. P.S. She also does cup-cakes!

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Hilarious Wedding Cakes

It's not often that wedding cakes make you laugh out loud, but that's exactly what I did when I saw this sheep cake by Love to Cake. I then forwarded the picture on to my mother and best friend, and they laughed too. If you have anything to do with sheep, then you have to have this cake! If not, then get in touch with the lovely baker, Louise Hill, and ask for your own design. My mum has suggested her cat is happy to model. P.S. Louise is an award winning cake-maker based in London, and she also makes cupcakes.

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Wow! Wedding Cakes

When it comes to wedding cakes, there's no excuse for being boring. You want to rock it with a unique cake, and with designers coming up with ever more clever ideas to make sponge beautiful, you can have the cake of your dreams. Funky new designer, Jessica Taylor, trained in London in Cake Decorating and Patissierie, and recently started her own company, called Cakelife, specialising in creations for every celebration. Based in Brighton, she's happy to make cakes for anyone and everyone, and I'm seriously loving her work. Just check out the cute Peter Rabbit vegetable garden, and the stunning sugar orchids. P.S. Jessica promises the cakes taste just as good as they look!

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Let Them Eat Cake

Cutting the wedding cake is such a huge landmark in any wedding, that it's essential the cake lives up to expectations. Apart from the bride and groom, the cake may well feature in more photographs than anyone or anything else, so you'll want a good-looking specimen. Two of my favourite boutique bakers are Restoration Cakes {pictures below} and The Little Cake Parlour {pictures further down}.
 

Charlotte at Restoration Cakes is known for her spectacular vegan, wheat-free and dairy free cakes, all of which look and taste just as good as normal cakes. Meanwhile The Little Cake Parlour has the cutest, quirky cakes, in every flavour you can imagine, including my favourite, the Red Velvet. {Mmmmm, moment of mouthwatering day-dream}. I simply love their designs, just check out the Popcorn Mini Cup-Cakes and Topsy-Turvy Alice in Wonderland cake below for starters {or pudding, if you get what I mean}.

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Paper Gardener

Bright, cheerful and uniquely playful, these pretty paper flowers would be a fantastic addition to your big day. Add them to cup-cakes, canapés or cocktails to make your guests smile. I'm imagining them as place-markers, stuck in tiny terracotta pots. Their London creator and 'gardener' is Milla Love. Don't miss her cool banners and party decorations.

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Topped with Love

Every wedding has a cake, and in my view a cake without a topper is a naked cake. But what style will you choose? The tide has turned against minature models of the bride and groom, in favour of personal decorations. Go retro by all means, but if you're looking for something boutique, try these cute love birds from Emilie Friday.

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Top Toppers

Until you get engaged and start planning your wedding, I can pretty much guarantee, you won't have given a second thought to cake toppers.Well with your big day fast approaching, this is the moment to pick a pair. Be warned! Most cake accessories are horribly cutesy. The secret to a stylish topper is to select one that represents you both as a couple, without revealing that you call each other squirrel-nutkins in the privacy of your home. Why not try these home-made Etsy lovelies on for size.....

Product Credits {from top left} - Flower Bower Couple: Lollipop Workshop, Paper Sculpture Couple: Concerta, Love Topper: Blue Butterfly Design, {from bottom left} Love Birds: Goody Devi, Kissing Fish: Blue Butterfly Design, Gay Paper Sculpture Couple: Concerta, Wooden Couple: Together Forever

Happy Halloween!

Ever thought of celebrating your big day in spooky style on 31st October?  If you did, these cake-topper Frankensteins from Baby Gimp would be a must!  I love the detailing - the bride even has a spider-web tattoo on her elbow - how cute!

Piece of Cake

Mmmmm, I've had such fun collating the pictures of these gorgeous cakes, although it means I've been feeling peckish for days.  Just take a look at these fabulous designs, from my four favourite boutique bakeries.  You'll never consider going for three simple tiers ever again!

Product Credits - Top Collage: ChoccyWoccyDooDah, Middle Collage: Venus Cakes, Bottom Collage: The English Cheesecake Company.  Bottom Cake: Janet Mohapi-Banks

Is It Wrong?

That we love this cake from the Fairytale Cake Company?  It reminds me of how many inspirational cake designers I spotted at the National Wedding Show - you could see their stands from a mile off, thanks to the hoards of hungry brides snaffling free samples.  Don't miss my feature next week, when I'll be trying to fit all the latest trends into one article. Believe me, you'll never think of settling for plain white, plus three tiers ever again!

           

Edible Treats

One way of creating a truly memorable big day is to surprise your guests - so how making everything edible? Instead of flower displays, buy these baskets of cleverly carved fruit from Edible Arrangements and save on desert!  Alternatively, DIY-it by dipping strawberries and pineapple into chocolate, and arranging them on sticks, in florist foam wrapped in ribbon.

If you're a fan of flowers, then why not add them to your wedding breakfast (or lunch or dinner)?  There's a bunch of blooms that can add colour and curiosity-value to your dishes and drinks.  Hibiscus flowers will slowly unfurl in champagne cocktails, and there's nothing more romantic than a rose-petal, rum cocktail.  Check out this New York Times article for more inspiration, and First Leaf for their fantastic range of tasty petals.

Imagine telling your guests that if they're still hungry after their meal, they can eat their plates! The Edible Plate Company promises that their crockery and cutlery is fully digestible, as it's all made out of cassava.  Perfect if you're planning a picnic or BBQ for your wedding, and what's more, they're totally eco-friendly.