WEDDINGS
FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION
Your Dream Wedding Cake
BY LISA PARKINSON OF BEACHCOMBER CAKES / PHOTOS BY AP ART PHOTOGRAPHY WWW . APARTPHOTOGRAPHY . COM
SO , HOW IN THE WORLD OF ‘ EDIBLE ART ’ DO WE BEGIN DESIGNING A COUPLE ’ S DREAM WEDDING CAKE ? CONTRARY TO A WIDELY HELD BELIEF , CAKE ISN ' T SIMPLE TO CREATE , IT ' S NOT ALL THE SAME IN TEXTURE , FLAVOUR OR QUALITY , NOR ARE ALL CAKE MAKERS EQUAL IN THEIR SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE . IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON A BESPOKE , JAW-DROPPING CENTREPIECE TO YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION , A PROFESSIONAL BESPOKE CAKE DESIGNER IS THE WAY TO GO .
CHOOSING A CAKE DESIGNER
The million dollar question ! However much you are in love with a cake designer ’ s work , personalities affect the ability for both parties to work with each other successfully . Securing a cake designer that you can work with , who has a personality that fits with your own , is professional yet open to your suggestions , is not as easy as one would think . If the client feels uneasy about the cake designer , they shouldn ' t book them . Ditto , if the cake designer is uneasy about working with the client , they also have the right to say no ; this works both ways and neither party should feel offended .
Always ask to see the designer ’ s or bakery ’ s Hygiene Certificate and Public Liability Insurance documentation if they are not openly displayed . Any reputable wedding venue should ask for copies of these for their records and many will not accept any cakes onto their premises that are not accompanied by these documents .
Consider what services your cake designer offers in addition to designing the cake , such as having a member of staff in chef whites at your venue to discuss your cake with your guests and serve it to them later ; some offer this service , many do not . There is usually a premium for this service , but worth considering .
When should you book your cake designer ?
As one of the South East ’ s leading 3D edible artists , our diary fills very quickly , especially through the busy summer wedding season , so one of the first questions to ask is if your wedding date is available . We recommend that once a couple has established their date and booked their venue , they research a suitable cake designer and book them as soon as possible . Should your wedding be two years away , do not think that ' s too early to book your cake designer – it certainly isn ' t .
CONSULTATION AND TASTING
Would you buy a wedding dress you haven ' t tried on or even seen ? Of course not , so why would you book a cake designer you may never have met or even tasted their cakes ? We do not undertake ANY cake commissions without a prior consultation and tasting .
Some questions you should consider during the consultation process : Do you enjoy the textures and flavours of the cake ? Is the pricing structure within your budget ? Do you feel at ease with the designer and confident in their skill set ? Is the designer or the bakery open to ideas or are you expected to pick from a portfolio of designs ? Have you spoken about any food allergies , access limitations at the venue , cake stand and knife hire , and the ‘ small ’ details ?
Clients should be encouraged by any cake designer or bakery to bring along to the consultation , fabric samples , colour palette , invitations and details of their venue – pretty much anything that might be relevant .
Can you copy a cake design ?
Social media , especially Pinterest , is an amazing resource for the clients and many do come to us with images taken from it . However , most designs are protected by copyright , and it is therefore not appropriate to ask another cake designer to copy someone else ' s work . We may take inspiration from parts of a general concept to incorporate into the finished cake design such as edible lace , or adding brooches or ribbon . These elements are not copyrighted and can usually be reproduced .
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