Cake Catch Up

July 23, 2013

Cake Catch Up

I guess I've had too many fun family events lately, making me negligent on posting cake pics, so here are some of my favorites from the past few months. I am entering the short "off-season" between mid-Summer and early Fall, so I have about a month and a half of zero wedding cakes. "Hurray!" and "yikes!" at the same time. My income is directly proportional to the amount I work (for the most part), so this short break ahead is both wonderful and frightening!

The bride and I designed this cake as an homage to her late grandmother who loved her beautiful gardenia bushes, just starting to bloom on the weekend of her wedding. I made gumpaste gardenias; real ones are not as suitable for wedding cakes since their petals are so fragile and start to brown within a few hours out of water. We decided to add a bit of color with the peachy pink roses and sweet peas tucked in with the gardenias. The tiers were lemon and almond with raspberry filling, iced in Italian meringue buttercream and the reception was held at Myers Park Country Club. These flowers will be a special keepsake for the bride to have forever if stored safely!

I love it when a cake design has real meaning!

This cake also had special meaning since the design was inspired by the lovely ivory lace veil worn by the bride and several generations before her. The inside was half orange cake with lemon curd filling and half chocolate chip cake with raspberry filling, iced in Italian meringue buttercream. Reception location: Foundation for the Carolinas.

Yet another lace design inspired by the wedding gown. Obviously my specialty is hand-piped lace. I rarely use molds or stencils since almost all of my lace designs are custom designs, usually to match a gown or veil. This cake was another Myers Park Country Club centerpiece.

A few touch ups after delivery.

A BIG bow on this cake, also inspired by the bride's gown. And a fun monogram on the top tier. This cake was half carrot cake, half chocolate chip with raspberry ganache filling, iced in Italian meringue buttercream. I love how every wedding cake at the Duke Mansion is the first thing you see when you enter!

This recent wedding was held at Mint Museum uptown, and the cake design was inspired by the floral paisley design on the wedding invitations. We incorporated the bluish gray used on the tablecloths and the bridesmaid's dresses. The monogram is still hot!

This groom's cake was a labor of love! I grew up riding horses, so when I learned that this bride's fiance was a polo player I was fascinated and excited to make a special surprise cake for him! The bride wanted it to be a really cool shaped cake, as the centerpiece in the Memphis themed room (the groom's hometown) at Charlotte Country Club. There was not a detail missed in the room decor, from the old barrel bar and artwork displayed to the signature Memphis bourbon cocktails provided.

The cake was made up of 3 separate shaped cakes - the polo helmet, a boot, and their adored King Charles Spaniel wearing a Memphis polo jersey. I also added a bit and horseshoe, both made out of gum paste!

Those shows how huge it was - life size! (Not a fun delivery)

This was a graduation cake for a future NC State student. The monogram is always a great design option for all types of special occasions.

Mini cakes in the shape of Tiffany boxes! These were in celebration of a proposal. A friend ordered them, but the boyfriend came to pick them up. He didn't know I only take cash or check (yep, still old school) so he had to run to an ATM to get cash. When he came back, he told me all he had to do was pick up the ring and then meet his girlfriend to pop the question! I sure hope she said yes!