NYC Cake Decorators Wedding Cake Walk

Save The Date

2011-02-15T11:18:00.002-05:00

Many brides send out a save the date cards and what happens? they get thrown away in the garbage and people forget it unless you are apart of the wedding party so what I have come across is a great thing a save the date magnet. I have checked out a few sites but this one took the cake and its from www.shop.getmarried.com they sell save the date magnets for a great price for $129.95 for 100 that is about $1.30 each. Item Number GM10583FCPYSTDMAG check it out.

The Wedding Salon Bridal Expo

2010-11-15T11:14:00.004-05:00

The Sugar Flower Cake Shop will be featured at The Wedding Salon bridal expo Monday, November 15th from 4:00pm until 9:00pm. The location of the venue is Manhattan Center Studios, 311 West 34th Street, New York NY 10001. Tickets are $50.00.

Sugar Flower Cake Shop creates unique special occasion and wedding cakes using local and sustainable ingredients featuring realistic-looking flowers that are handmade from sugar.

DIY Wedding Invites

2010-10-14T10:55:00.003-04:00

Well A lot of Brides spend lots of money on invitations times are hard right now so if you want to save some money and be creative you can just go online to www.wilton.com/printyourown/ and you can print your invites on some paper that you can buy at Staples they have good quality paper to pick from. On the Wilton website you can also order many designs like a Flirty Fleur Wedding Invitation Kit Includes: 50 Invitations and Mailing Envelopes, 50 Reply Cards and Envelopes, 3 Test Sheets $24.99 Ct/50
You can go to your local Michaels Craft Store and go to their wedding isle and you can find wedding do-it-yourself kits with beautiful designs they includes printable invites, response cards, envelopes and they are from BRIDES. An example:

Color: blue, brown
Designer: BRIDES Wedding Collection
paper: Traditional stock
Stationery Type: invitations
Wedding Location Type: urban, rustic, Garden/Outdoor, Destination Weddings

DIY Centerpieces

2010-09-01T23:30:00.003-04:00

As we all know wedding centerpieces can be very expensive depending how many tables you have so bellow I picked out three very DIY centerpieces

This first piece is a 2 in 1 simple white plate with pebbles and a medium candle and on the far side is a small glass vase with pebbles and a small bouquet of flowers.

This second is a brilliant idea if you want a nice romantic candlelight just go to your local dollar store and pick up a few and enjoy they will last the entire night.

The third centerpiece is just a bunch of lemons in a tall glass and filled with water a very simple yet beautiful centerpiece to have.

2010-07-05T21:13:00.002-04:00

A small amount of flowers makes a powerful statement

Sweet Little Daisies

Sweet Peas and Orchids

Wedding Colors for 2010

2010-06-04T15:11:00.009-04:00

This year the new wedding colors are some regulars but I think that some are very bold in the choice of colors but if you mix them up they all complement each other:

Aqua ,Turquoise, Navy, Hot Pink, Yellow, Purple, Light Blue, Magenta, Pink, Mauve, Coral, Gray, Silver, and Cobalt Blue

Wedding E-Cards

2010-03-21T17:27:00.002-04:00

Now you have the ring so whats next well picking out your invitations an Eco-friendly way to do it that is sending out e-cards. Many on-line companies offer this and you don't have to worry about sending them out in the mail you just e-mail it to your friends and family all across the world.

2010-03-07T21:32:00.002-05:00

THE 4Cs

Get the best diamond you can with this crash course on quality.

Cut
A stone's cut refers to the number, placement, shape, and craftsmanship of the facets that create the finished diamond. A diamond's cut has the most impact on its brilliance.

Color
Diamonds range widely in hue, from the blue of the Hope Diamond to startling shades of red, pink, amber, orange, and canary yellow. Color grades for yellow diamonds developed by the GIA range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

Clarity
The clarity of a diamond depends on how clear or "clean" it is; in other words, how free it is of imperfections.

Carat
A carat is a unit of weight. Diamond weights are also referred to in points: One carat equals 100 points.

2010

2010-01-01T10:36:00.003-05:00

Well a new year has begun and this year you will see a new Wedding Cake Walk more info about weddings overall from cakes , dresses, invitations, flowers etc.... so enjoy thank you.

Just Bows

2009-12-30T14:46:00.007-05:00

Bows are not just for presents they can be the highlight on a lovely wedding cake.

NY CAKE CONVENTION

2009-11-19T22:49:00.000-05:00

Win a Free Wedding Cake at Pink Cake Box!

2009-09-19T10:05:00.002-04:00

Pink Cake Box has is offering an amazing opportunity for one lucky person to have their cake and eat it too! Enter to win one of their amazing wedding cakes at pinkcakebox.com. The contest ends October 17, 2009!

Different Shades of Pink

2009-09-13T21:59:00.006-04:00

Pink comes in many shades here are a few that can make any bride happy.

Graceful Cake Creations

Pinkcakebox

Popular First Dance Songs

2009-09-13T21:46:00.002-04:00

One source says that the most popular first dance songs being used at the moment are:

1. Heaven – Bryan Adams
2. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
3. Forever – Kiss
4. Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
5. I Can't Help Falling in Love with You – Elvis Presley
6. When You Say Nothing at All – Ronan Keating
7. From This Moment – Shania Twain and Bryan White
8. Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
9. You Made Me Love You – Al Jolson
10. Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Nevil

Which one is your favorite?

Stenciled Designs

2009-08-23T09:52:00.004-04:00

Stenciled designs on wedding cakes are becoming quite popular for brides who do not want flowers on their cake.

2009-07-01T23:17:00.005-04:00

We all need a little bit of Glam on our wedding day so I picked out a few cake toppers for you to enjoy.

http://www.sincerityweddings.com/

Lettered Swarovski Crystal Cake Toppers

http://www.couturecrystals.com/

Single Glam Monogram Cake Toppers

www.weddingaccessories.net

The Silver Crown Cake Topper is decorated with rhinestones and pearls and sits atop a simple white resin base.

2009-05-20T23:11:00.009-04:00

Boxes topped with flowers make a beautiful

centerpiece and when the day is over some

guest could take one home.

In a table setting that has beautiful soft

pink roses any blushing bride would love.

A beautiful lilac rose centerpiece it just speaks

for itself not so traditional but yet so elegant.

Transfer Sheets

2009-04-22T23:14:00.007-04:00

Vows Cake How-ToPlastic transfer sheets, printed in cocoa butter with words or striking designs, make quick work of decorating tiers. Buy them from baking-supply websites.

1. With a ruler and a utility knife, cut a transfer sheet to cover the side of a square tier, or all the way around a circular one, with no overlap. (You may need several sheets.) Lay sheet, printed side up, on a clean work surface. Smooth a thin layer of tempered white chocolate over it with a small offset spatula, covering completely. Let set for several seconds.

2. Carefully lift up sheet by one corner.

3. Holding sheet at both ends, press snugly against a buttercream- or fondant-covered tier. Repeat to decorate all sides. Refrigerate cake for 15 to 30 minutes to let design set.

4. Gently peel away plastic.

www.marthastewartweddings.com

Grooms Cakes

2009-03-02T15:35:00.003-05:00

Grooms cakes are all the rage these days. Originally a Southern tradition, these cakes are garnerning just as much attention and detail as the wedding cake.

photo: pink cake box

Grooms cakes are usually custom designed cakes reflecting one of the groom's favorite foods, sports or hobbies. You may see such recreations as a such as a mug of beer or their favorite car- but the most popular grooms cake would have to be the "Armadillo Cake" from Steel Magnolias.

photo: confetti cakes

While some couples opt to serve the grooms cake at the rehearsal dinner, most display and serve the cake alongside the wedding cake. A grooms cake is a great way to make the groom feel "included" in the whole wedding planning, and he gets to have his cake and eat it too!

photo: mikes amazing cakes

-TFBS

Celebrity Wedding Cakes

2009-02-05T20:30:00.005-05:00

When it comes to celebrity weddings they have no limit on how much they spend on it from $500,000 to Millions of dollars for everything and the beautiful cakes they have are just as expensive as the wedding reception itself . Here are just a few that are just beyond beautiful.

Avril Lavigne
Perfect Endings
White Chocolate fondant with
sugar flowers.

Christina Aguilera

Perfect Endings

Five tier white- chocolate cake

with hot pink roses.

Marcia Cross
Layers Cake Design Studio
Five tier and the size of
the Eiffel Tower.

Wedding Dresses $500 and under

2009-01-30T09:34:00.014-05:00

Who said that a wedding dress should cost $1,000 and more so these dresses are $500 and under beautiful and elegant.

Demetrios

color : white, ivory
neckline : strapless
silhouette : a-line
Fabric : taffeta
train : Chapel
hemline : floor-length
train : Sweep

Mon Cheri
Style : glamorous
neckline : sweetheart, strapless
Fabric : chiffon
color : white, ivory
waist : empire
embellishment : lace
hemline : floor-length

Maggie Sottero
neckline : sweetheart, strapless
embellishment : beading, lace
color : white, ivory
Style : beach casual, modern
waist : natural
silhouette : a-line
Fabric : tulle
hemline : knee-length

David Bridal
train : Sweep
neckline : halter, v-neck
Fabric : chiffon
embellishment : beading
color : white, ivory
silhouette : a-line
waist : empire
sleeve length : Sleeveless
hemline : floor-length

M.E.

Black And White

2009-01-25T20:59:00.009-05:00

Not everybody likes red,pink or yellow wedding cakes this is great for a gothic themed wedding or if you just like the classy look of black and white.

M.E.

Season's Wedding Cakes

2009-01-21T12:35:00.021-05:00

Summer-This three hexagonal tier confection is dressed up with rolled, pale cantaloupe-colored fondant, white dots of royal icing and a cascade of individually applied sugar-dough orchids.

Spring-White fondant, green fondant ribbon and gumpaste hellebores dress up this two-tier confection of sour cream pound cake with blood orange buttercream filling.

Fall- A moist sour-cream chocolate cake is brushed with orange-flavored liqueur and layered with ganache and a slightly chunky, bittersweet orange marmalade. A final glaze of shiny ganache is poured on top. A chocolate cake is a nice break from tradition

Winter-This whimsical woodland, three-tier confection is covered in lavender rolled-fondant icing and delicate mushrooms and cattails made from sugar paste.
M.E.

Fun Anniversary Cake

2008-09-12T23:45:00.004-04:00

Not a wedding cake but an anniversary cake that could inspire a fabulous groom's cake.

Vicki is one of our member veteran cake decorators who designed this fun 30th Anniversary sports cake!

Golf anyone?

Member 2008 Wedding Cakes

2008-09-12T23:21:00.005-04:00

Many members of the NYC Cake Decorators Meetup own their own custom cake business or work as freelancers and interns in the industry. I thought it would be fun to share just what tasty wedding cakes were baking in our members' ovens this summer.

Jennifer created the sweet yellow roses cake. Jennifer is a recent graduate from the Institute of Culinary Education (I.C.E.) a prestigious culinary arts school in New York City. She currently is an intern at Confetti Cakes.

Carmen created the lovely square wedding cake. Carmen's passion for cake decorating is in her blood as she comes from a line of skilled cake decorators.

Wedding Cakes with a Twist

2008-09-01T14:42:00.010-04:00

Brides of diverse ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds are increasingly selecting cake designs that reflect their heritage.

Marriage in Asian cultures distinct a woman’s place—as a wife or daughter. Once a husband and wife communion is formed, the couple has more responsibilities and obligations to their families.

Red is especially a dominant color with Chinese tradition and is known to chase away evil spirits. Legend has it that an evil monster named Nian was intimidated by the color red, which became a crucial concept in religious ceremonies today.

Red symbolizes good luck, fortune, prosperity, festive holidays such as Lunar New Year, and happiness. Red is also seen in India, Vietnam and other Asian countries and communities in the States at many joyous events such as weddings and birthdays. The red wedding cake shown tastefully reflects an Asian wedding theme.

Afrocentric wedding cakes are beginning to be seen as more an more weddings where the couple want to reflect their african roots. The cakes shown were made by Charmaine Jones, cakediva, and Anamika, a sugarcrafter and blogger in South Africa. All decorations on both cakes are totally edible! -dg

Whimsical Wedding Cakes

2008-09-01T13:47:00.008-04:00

Brides are opting for cakes that reflect their personality and tastes. Nowadays, the traditional all-white wedding cake is taking a back seat to whimsical wedding cakes. These fun cakes are custom designed to reflect the brides personality and tastes. The Frog Prince wedding cake is sweet with its adoring sugarpaste fairytale frog and princess. Mad-Hatter wedding cakes are still very popular; however, Chef Lauri, owner cake alchemy, and Deborah Edell, owner Perry Street Cakes, believe that the popularity of Mad Hatter cakes has begun to subside. The cake shown has a really funny caketopper. The Doughut cake is so out of the box that you know the couple must be very confident folks who dare to be different. -dg

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!

2008-09-01T13:00:00.006-04:00

Brides on a tight budget are increasingly opting for wedding cakes with fake tiers or wedding cakes that are totally fake. Fun Cakes Rental is a new concept that is making headlines across the nation. Brides can have their cake and eat it too by selecting a beautifully designed fake cake for their wedding reception at a fraction of the cost of an “all-cake” wedding cake.

Gone are the concerns of the wedding cake collapsing or icing melting on a hot summer day. How does the bride and groom cut the cake if the cake is fake? A small cut out is discreetly made in the styrofoam for the insertion of real cake. The bride and groom can then take part in the traditional cake cutting ceremony without any worries. Only the cake designer and the happy couple knows that the cake is fake! -dg

The Language of Roses

2008-09-01T09:25:00.015-04:00

Love Roses? When you pick out your cake do you know what your rose colors mean? I have a few just for you: Blue Roses- The blue rose denotes the excitement, new opportunities, and new possibilities that new ventures bring. The mysterious beginnings of new things and the excitement therein are very nicely expressed by this flower. Red Roses- traditionally mean love and affection, romantic and abiding Love, true love, I love you, desire, courage and passion, congratulations, respect and appreciation, honest beauty, courage and passion, and bliss to marriage.
White Roses-bring to mind purity and innocence, reverence and humility, heavenly and honor, everlasting love, marriages and new beginnings, I am worthy of you, beauty and youthfulness, and remembrance. Pink Roses- harken the meaning of grace and elegance, admiration for beauty and refinement, and sweetness. Yellow Roses - symbolize warmth and happiness, and an ideal symbol for joy and friendship. Orange Roses - Passion and excitement, and an expression of fervent romance, and Lavender Roses traditionally mean love at first sight. -Melinda E.

Autumn Wedding Colors

2008-08-31T15:45:00.018-04:00

Whats a wedding without a setting? Honeydew, Cranberry and Chocolate are not just something to eat and enjoy but some special place setting colors for your tables. Classy white decorative napkins with a simple white rose for the finishing touch a setting for a soft clean look. An ivory satin look is for the sophisticated woman that just loves the look. The bold color of burgundy with a clean basic white on top will make any wedding reception bold but yet clean. Blue is not a feeling at a wedding but a different look for a wedding that just makes your day extra special something new, something borrowed and something blue. -Melinda E.

Wedding Cake and Champagne

2008-08-30T18:35:00.006-04:00

Want to have your cake and eat it too? Slightly sweet champagnes taste great with cake. Try Clicquot's White Label demi sec or Korbel's Brut Rose. -dg

A Garden Theme Takes The Cake!

2008-08-30T17:07:00.013-04:00

Going Green? Planning an intimate garden wedding or bridal shower? Celebrate your love of nature and all things green with a cake dripping with gumpaste wildflowers. Take a look a these beauties and let them inspire your wedding cake. The Hydrangeas in the Basket Cake and closeup of gumpaste old roses and berries were created by Chef Lori, Wildflowers by Lori, NJ. For you DYI brides, Lori offers classes in sugarcraft for hobbyists and professionals. -dg

2008-08-30T17:00:00.004-04:00

Thinking about a theme for your wedding cake or your client's wedding cake? Take a clue from the venue and the floral decorations. The breathtaking floral displays here can inspire the color and the style of the wedding cake. -Melinda E.

Wedding Cake Accessories

2008-08-30T13:13:00.006-04:00

I saw this real nifty card on Stuffed Squares. There is no message inside so a bride or wedding cake decorator could use this crafty little cake card for a number of occasions. Tribeca Treats located on 94 Reade Street in Manhattan, NY is also a great place to browse cards with sweet cupcake and wedding cake themes.

Isn't it sweet?
-dg

Trends: Wedding Cake Flavors - Red Velvet Cake

2008-08-29T10:51:00.003-04:00

Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon - these are all classic wedding cake flavors.

There was time when your selection of flavors was limited. But in this day and age when any flavor combination you can imagine can be made a reality (lemon & rosemary, mimosa, blueberry cheesecake) classic flavors are taking a back seat. While its flavor is not very exotic, Red Velvet Cake seems to be aiming for the spot of number one requested flavor.

Chef Deborah Edell of Perry Street Cakes states that in her opinion with the current trend of wedding cake flavors - Red Velvet is bar none.

What exactly is Red Velvet Cake? Its traditionally a southern cake, but a quick Google search will pull up countless debates: Should you use butter or oil? Is it a buttermilk cake with a hint of cocoa? Is it a chocolate cake with food coloring? Cooked frosting or cream cheese frosting? Endless!

But regardless of where you are from and what recipe you use the end result is ususally the same- moist & delicious! - zh

Chefs Ruth Drennan and Lauri Ditunno Featured on "AMAZING CAKES"

2008-08-28T19:46:00.010-04:00

Our good friends Ruth and Lauri, former partners of The Cake Atelier will be featured on "Amazing Cakes" which will air on the "WE" channel September 7, 2008!

Both chefs are amazing wedding cake designers and we at NYC Cake Decorators were fortunate to get a chance to network with them last January 2008. Chef Lauri's "Orchid Ambience" cake was chosen one of the "50 Most Beautiful Cakes" by Bride's Magazine. Chef Lauri is owner of Cake Alchemy located in the flower district of Manhattan, New York.

If enough people watch, the show may be picked up for a series. So tell all your friends! -dg

Wedding Cakes for Game Fanatics

2008-08-24T11:59:00.009-04:00

Do you love to play games? These unusual cakes really express the game fanatic in the happy couple. The game theme would also be great as a secondary cake or groom's cake.

Melinda E.

Pink Cake Box's "Pretty in Pink" Peony Cake

2008-08-16T13:15:00.011-04:00

Chef Anne Heap, owner, Pink Cake Box, Denville, NJ, is a favorite sugar artist. She is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and worked with Ron-Ben Israel. Her award winning cake artistry is amazing and has garnered a well-deserved place in bridal magazines. Chef Anne also competed in FoodTV Mystery Cake Challenge to be aired in the near future.

Chef Anne's 4-tier peony cake shown here is all the buzz! The wedding cake is covered in ivory fondant and decorated with chocolate brown and pale pink sugar bands. Hand-made sugarpaste peonies and orchids adorn the top of the cake, and pale pink swiss dots complete the design. The cake flavors are alternating chocolate fudge cake filled with peanut butter buttercream and vanilla cake filled and raspberry chambord buttercream. Yummy! This cake is featured in the Knot Notebook Fashion section where it is paired with a Reem Acra gown.

Chef Anne's specialty custom cake shop creates adorable theme, 3D cakes, cupcakes, & cookies as well. Members of NYC Cake Decorators are pleased and excited to attend an event with Pink Cake Box on September 28, 2008. To learn more about it go to Pink Cake Box Blog. -dg

Crystal Cake Cutting Set

2008-08-16T09:13:00.010-04:00

I was browsing thru the NY edition of TheKnot magazine when I saw this really cute cake cutting set. The handles are " encrusted with rows of beautiful crystal jewels". Even if you are not getting married but love to entertain this would be a great set to add to your collection. -zh

Wedding Cake Topper History

2008-08-09T20:23:00.009-04:00

The wedding cake topper has a long history and has traditionally graced the top of the wedding cake for centuries. The wedding cake is one of the oldest traditions of the wedding. The tradition of the wedding cake topper can be traced back to the 1840 marriage of Queen Victoria of England to Price Albert, where figures of the couple were placed on the cake.

Marzipan roses, birds, and angels graced the top of many American wedding cakes in the 1800's and early 1900's. However, Queen Victoria's bride and groom cake top caused a sensation in America and cake toppers eventually shot to popularity. Celluoid , porcelain, and plastic eventually replaced marzipan as the medium of choice. Early traditional cake tops were rather static. Early bride and groom cake toppers didn't even hold hands.

Today, the cake tops can fit every wedding theme and bride's taste. There are traditional,
whimsical cake tops, humorous cake tops, Hispanic, Chinese, East Indian, African American, and Celtic cake toppers, metal monogram cake toppers encrusted with crystals. The happy couple can even commission a hand sculpted cake top in their likeness!

Select your cake topper after the venue, wedding gown, and wedding cake design has been selected. This way, the cake topper will enhance the cake and your celebration. After the wedding gown, the wedding cake takes center stage and the cake topper if selected thoughtfully can be the icing on the cake!

Let's Talk About Cake!

2008-08-09T10:49:00.012-04:00

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup members Laura, Linda, Patricia, and Antonia created the wedding cakes you see in this post.

Before you start looking for the right person to entrust with the creation of your
wedding cake, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the more common terms used for wedding cakes and pastries. Here is a quick list of some of the terms you should know:

The Cake

Butter Cake: The American butter cake contains 6-12% solid butter. It has a soft light texture, flavorful, not overly sweet, and can accommodate a variety of frostings and fillings.

American Sponge: is light and moist enough to be eaten without a soaking syrup and therefore maintains a springy, lighter-than-air quality.

Genoise: is a European sponge-type cake which differs from American sponge in that it contains butter and much less sugar. Sugar syrup is used to add flavor and moisture to the cake. Even with the sugar syrup, a genoise is less sweet than American sponge cake.

The Frosting and Filling

Boiled Icing: a marshmellow-like flavored icing often used to frost Latin-American cakes, i.e. Domincan Cake, it has a very smooth and fluffy texture.

Buttercream: A perennial wedding favorite made from butter, cream, and eggs. Its soft texture is easy to flavor but does not lend itself well to outdoor weddings. There are several varieties of buttercream. The most popular are the following: (1) Mousseline Buttercream is made of unsalted butter, sugar, egg whites and liquer, it's very light, smooth, soft enough to pipe borders and strong enough to pipe roses. Holds up better than most buttercreams; (2) Italian Meringue Buttercream is made from egg whites, sugar, butter, flavorings and liquer. It has a creamy texture, almost like whipped cream.

Chocopan: The chocolate version of fondant.

Fondant: A highly versatile sugary dough that makes an excellent covering for cakes. It is made from unflavored gelatin, glucose, flavoring, and confectioner's sugar. Fondant is slow drying and can be used to sculpt sugar flowers, ribbons, bows, and sugar pearls as well. Fondant can be given a satin sheen and is very popular for the limitless possibilities it allows the baker when decorating the cake. Fondant can be made from scratch or purchased from cake decorating suppliers. Satin-ice, a brand of fondant, has a very tasty marshmellow flavor.

Ganache: A delicious and decadent cream sauce made from butter and chocolate. It can be used as a frosting or a filling, but melts quickly in warmer temperatures.

Marzipan: Made from crushed almonds and egg; can be used as a filling or a rolled icing, although it is mainly used to make coloured shapes, fruits, and figures that are placed on the cake.

Royal Icing: This is an icing made from egg whites (or meringue powder), confectioner's sugar and water, which quickly dries to a hard icing. Royal icing is used for delicate decorations such as lace work, fine beading, elaborate overpiping called "lambeth work", block lettering, etc. English and Australian style decorated cakes are often fruit cakes covered in marzipan and coated with several coats of royal icing.

Chocolate Clay: chocolate melted with clear corn syrup and worked into a ball the consistency of clay. Chocolate clay can be used to sculpt chocolate flowers and leaves to adorn a cake.

The Cake Design

Layer: A horizontal piece of the cake. One tier is often made up of two or more layers which are torted and joined together with a filling.

Round: A circular cake. It is the traditional wedding cake shape.

Square: A box shape. It is a modern shape that gives the baker cleaner, more geometric lines to work with.

Hexagon: A cake with six-sides. They are quite popular at the moment.

Scalloped: The edges are curved to resemble the petals of a flower. It is generally used for casual weddings such as garden weddings, tea and brunch weddings.

3-D sculptured cake: The cake is shaped to resemble a familiar object. These are most commonly used for the groom’s cake.

Tier: One 3" to 5" level of the cake (i.e. a 2-tier or 3-tier cake.)

Stacked Cake: two or more tiers stacked on top of the other without a separation between the tiers. Each tier is cleverly supported with wooden or plastic supports.

Topsy-turvy: a whimsical cake which has at least one tier that is intentionally designed to tilt.

Decorations

Basket weave: Results in a cake that resembles a wicker basket and usually piped in buttercream. A lovely style for informal, outdoor, and garden weddings.

Swiss dotted: Dots that looks like beads are placed randomly all over the cake. A simple but elegant design.

Pearls: fondant pressed in a mold to resemble pearls. Even more life-like when dusted with edible pearl dust. Used most often in borders and to resemble pearl jewelry.

Quilted: A tool is used to mark still-soft fondant into a quilt-like pattern.

Brush embroidery: a technique that results in a pattern (usually floral) that looks like embroidery. Usually accomplished with piping a royal icing outline on a fondant covered cake and then carefully brushing the design with a damp art brush.

Piping: A pastry bag and tip filled with frosting which is used to write a greeting, pipe borders, flowers, ribbons, or other decorations on the cake.

Gumpaste flowers and ribbons: a type of sugar dough made from confectioner's sugar, gum tragacanth, gelatin, and egg whites. It is a pliable sugar dough which dries extremely hard. Cake designers use gumpaste to create breathtaking life-like sugar flowers, ribbons, and butterflies.

Pastillage: is a dough made from gelatin, water, and confectioner's sugar. Pastillage dries quickly to an extremely hard finish. It is used for creating decorations for pastry, showpiece work, and decorative molded forms.

Pulled or Spun Sugar: Sugar is melted down in a pan and then used to make ribbons, bows or thin strands. It is a very delicate procedure that will not transport so it must be done on site.

Blown sugar: is a form of sugar artistry that can be compared to the art of glass blowing. Sugar is heated to 150°C and once the sugar reaches the correct temperature it is blown into sculptures or figurines. The sugar once heated cools quickly and once cool becomes very brittle and easily breakable. It is obviously a very hot medium to work with so extreme caution is needed with the handling of it.

Wedding Cake History

2008-07-26T12:01:00.004-04:00

The wedding cake and the traditions that accompany the cake as we know it today, have evolved over centuries. Many cultures havebrought the wedding cake from its humble beginnings as a small bread-like cake to the towering iced confections that amaze and delight us in the 21st
century.

The history of cake dates back to ancient times. The first cakes were bread-like and sweetened with honey. Nuts and dried fruits were often added. According to food historians, the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills. The word "cake" is a derived from 'kaka' a 13th century Old Norse word.

The ancient Greeks baked sesame seed cakes which the bride and groom cut together, symbolizing fertility and happiness. The Romans made small mini-cakes or cupcake sized cakes of wheat and barley that were not eaten but thrown or smashed over the bride's head! Any breadcrumbs guests managed to retrieve were thought to bring good fortune.

During the Middle Ages, sweet meat cakes were eaten at the wedding reception. A special ale called "bryd ealu" or "bride's ale" was often drunk with the cakes. The word "bryd ealu" over the centuries became the word "bridal".

Another popular tradition during medieval times in
England was the custom of guests bringing biscuits, scones, or sweet sticky buns to the reception and piling them up in front of the happy couple. The higher the pile of goodies, the more popular the bride. Good fortune and blessings of a long, fruitful, and happy marriage would be theirs if the couple were able to kiss over the top of the pile of sweets. Thanks to a French chef visiting England during the mid-1600's. wedding cake design took a turn towards the style of cake we are familiar with today. Food historians state that the chef's aversion to the mess of bland wedding biscuits falling to the floor prompted him to design a multi-tiered iced cake--a wedding cake design that quickly became the rage and still remains popular today.

According to food historians, the precursors of modern cakes (round cakes with icing) were first baked in Europe sometime in the mid-17th century. This was possible primarily because of more reliable ovens, the manufacture of cake pans, and the availability of refined sugar. Because of the rarity of sugar during the 17th century, cakes made with sugar were generally enjoyed by the weathy.

In the eighteenth century, brandied fruit cakes were popular because they were able to keep fresh for so long. The Pilgrims brought the tradition of the fruit cake over to the Americas. The tradition of the fruit cake eventually gave way to a white wedding cake.

Around the Victorian era, only the rich could afford the very finest sugars needed to make pure white icing, thus resulting in a white wedding cake design becoming a symbol of wealth rather than purity and innocence. The national American obsession with a "white wedding cake" and a "white wedding" during the mid-20th century came into being with the solidification of the wedding industry in America.

Wedding cake baking in America during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries was generally done in the home of a relative or home-based baker, as custom dictated that the wedding itself took place at the bride's home. Cake decorating catalogs and supply companies came into being during this time period.

Home-based wedding cake baking provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their own catering services. Mrs. Clifford Anderson, a Minnesota farm wife, started baking and decorating children's birthday cakes in the early 1940's. Her business eventually expanded into a thriving home-based wedding cake business. Edith McConnell ran a successful catering business from the 1920's to the 1950's serving elite clientele like the DuPont family. Wedding cakees were McConnell's specialty. One can only assume that Wilton Enterprises which first advertised cake decorating classes in 19929, has given thousands of men and women the skills to start their own cake decorating businesses.

The Grand Dames of Cake Design

Pastry Chef Cile Belleflleur-Burbidge became a prominent wedding cake designer in the 1950's. Ms. Bellefleur-Burbidge worked with her husband, renowned wedding gown designer, John Burbidge, Priscilla of Boston, and became depressed after having several children and leaving work. Her doctor's prescripton was to "get out of the house". She took a 5-week cake decorating classes at a YMCA which led to almost 50 years of extraordinary work. Ms. Bellefleur-Burbidge's wedding cake trademark "delectable Victoriana" is graceful garlands of sugar pansies, daisies, and lavish icing baskets filled with clusters of berries cascading over delicate latticework tiers. She bakes her cakes in her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts and travels around the world to assemble her confections at the wedding site. Bellefleur-Burbidge's architectural masterpiece "Wedded Bliss" is currently on exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum from February - September 2008.

Another iconic wedding cake designer is Sylvia Weinstock. Sylvia Weinstock, NYC, began cake decorating in the 1970s and continues to be one of the most sought after cake designers in the world. Her delicate sugar orchids, tulips, roses, and lilies are so life like that at first glance one could mistake them for fresh flowers.

Today, the familiar round tiered cakes iced with white buttercream icing and decorated with white piping have evolved into towering confections (usually of fondant covered tiers) of various colors, shapes, and themes that are only limited to the bride's imagination and the wedding cake designer's skill and creativity.