Monday, May 31, 2010

My Best Friend's Wedding: Destination Wedding Cake

May 8, 2010 my best friend married her high school sweetheart in Jacksonville, Florida.  When we met, four years ago, I never would have dreamed that I would make her wedding cake.  It is a joy making cakes for people I love.  We knew making her cake in Florida would be a challenge, as it turns out, it was anything but challenging.  It was easy.  Very easy!  It could not have gone any better!

The Story in Pictures!
My mother baked the cakes at A Piece O' Cake and then carefully packaged them.  They were put into a duffle bag and my boyfriend carried the cakes from Detroit Metro to Jacksonville!  It was a flawless delivery!  All other supplies, frosting, etc. were packed and stowed under the plane.
Tightly packaged cakes arrived in perfect condition!
Plenty of buttercream, raspberry buttercream and chocolate buttercream!  Yum!
Max's parents purchased a large sheet cake from a local bakery so I could decorate it for the rehearsal dinner.  This was very nice of them as it made my job easier!  Emily is a UNC graduate while Max graduated from NC State.  
These were brought down from Michigan, too.
The completed rehearsal dinner cake.
Then the wedding cake fun began!  Frosting, stacking and decorating Max and Emily's cake!  All work was done at Emily's parents home.  
Frosting!
Stacking!
Marking the placement of swiss dots.
She needs some decorating!
Piping swiss dots on the bottom tier.
Pearl dusting each petal.
Adding sugar paste gardenias to the top three tiers.
My cheerleader throughout the entire process and the one responsible for carrying the cake to the reception area!  
Emily and me.  She loved it!
Delivering the cake with the help of Emily's friends and her neighbor who drove us in his SUV.  THANK YOU!
Chilling in our hotel room until the wedding.  When you opened the door to the room there was an overwhelming scent of sugar!
The cake at Casa Marina.
Max and Emily about to cut their wedding cake!
Deconstructing the cake!  I've never seen this done before, they were incredibly efficient!  When they were done only cake crumbs were left on the table.

Some darling pictures of Max and Emily on their wedding day:
Congratulations Max and Emily!  I am very happy for you!  
P.S.-Thank you to my Mom for planning and orchestrating the cake packing and delivery and making sure I had everything that I needed in Florida.  You are the best!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Largest Cake in Our History.

Last week we had the honor and challenge of making the largest cake in our short two and a half year history.  This cake was a joy to make!  The cake was made for a QuinceaƱera and it served 250 guests. The two bottom tiers were made of styrofoam. Everything on the cake 
was edible and made by hand.
Building the Cake:
The two bottom tiers are styrofoam covered in fondant, the top pink tier is the first tier of cake.
It's getting bigger!
And bigger! Yes, I needed a step-stool to work on the cake! We had several visitors stop by to see the cake in progress and I often had to say, "Just wait, it's going to be even taller!"
Attaching lavender stripes to the pink tier.
Working away...
It's Finished!
On its way!  It just BARELY fit into the van!
It is complete! Congratulations!