Thursday, July 14, 2011

2011 Wedding Cake of the Day - WCOTD

Some wedding cakes just don't fit into any of the categories that my articles are usually about. With cakes like that, I like to put them in my "Wedding Cake of the Day" thread. The abbreviation to which is: WCOTD
This post will be continuously updated and will eventually be off the front page. To reach it, simply click on the WCOTD photo located in the upper left hand corner of the page. See? Wasn't that easy?
So come here to see wedding cakes that just don't quite fit the labels that I have arbitrarily created to categorize wedding cakes.
Enjoy!



Heart Cake?
Cake Maker: Alix's Cakes Website
Place: UK
WCOTD: September 6 2011

I really wish I could see the other side of this cake as I suspect it may be
one of them three tiered heart shaped wedding cakes that you hear so much about!
Never seen one first hand but if I could just rotate the photo by 180 degrees I just
might be able to!
Oh and the purple ribbons & flowers are pretty too :-)




Heart of the Cake

Photographer: NOTKT (flickr)
Place: USA
WCOTD: July 15 2011

A beautiful three tier cake cutely decorated with hearts.
I especially like the second tier cake topper. I'm usually not a fan of those bubbly bride and
groom pieces but this one is rather endearing.




Flowering

Cake Maker: Jamie Anderson
Place: Canada
WCOTD: July 14 2011
I love this wedding cake (yes, this cake was really used for a wedding).
I'm sure Jamie was very relieved when she was done forming all the orchids and hydrangeas by hand.
Let's take a moment and put ourselves in Jamie's shows and pretend it is you that must form everyone of these flowers by hand.

It would take a long time wouldn't it?
Now imagine that after hours of hard work and dexterous labor
you have finally completed your task.
Feels pretty good eh?
I'm glad it does, cause now you have to start all over!
Well, maybe you don't have to start over but Jamie had to:
"I got the colors reversed on the flowers and ended up having to make them all over again!"

Poor Jamie. But something tells me she got real good at forming flowers out of fondant once the second batch were completed!


Got a cake photo with a story?
Send it to HolidayTrees@gmail.com and share it with the world!



Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Traditional White Wedding Cake - How it should be done!

I LOVE traditional weddings.
To me, those are weddings that are devoid of color other than white and keep the atmosphere mostly fine dining...ish.
I guess you can say that I like white weddings.

So it's no surprise that my favorite type of wedding cake is the classic three-tiered white butter cream frosted wedding cake.

Of course, a $500 cake is always welcome but if you're on a budget, a smaller cake made to feed around 20 people will do just fine.
Something like this:

Beautiful isn't it?
This wonderful wedding cake was created by Cake Crumbs Bakery (Denver, CO 80207).



Now, let's zoom in a bit...


I love the fondant roses, bows along with the lines and dots created with a steady hand.

See, this is why sometimes, when it comes to wedding cakes, less is more.

Now lets go back to the full view.

There we go.
I really do love this photo since it also has the "warm glow" look that I always want Traditional Wedding Cakes to have.
Now there are a few things that must be done to get that "glowy" look.
First off, you can't have white frosting. It has to be a little off-white. For example, this cake used cream cheese frosting which is good at being a little off-white.
Second, you have to have the cake in a dimly light area. You can accomplish this with candles, electronic tea lights, or with dim lamps or ceiling lights.
Once those two things are covered, you also have to make sure that you hired a photographer that understands lighting and atmosphere and will be able to take a photo of a cake without washing it out.
Once these steps are completed,
you will get your "Traditional Wedding Cake complete with a Classy Warm Glow that's very Photogenic" that you have always dreamed about!!
Now lets admire the top.

I used to be so against using flowers as a cake topper.
I guess I thought it was just kind of like dodging the creativity part.
But looking at this photo I will have to admit my mistake at ever thinking that flowers made a half-assed cake topper.
Fresh flowers (or in this case, roses) truly complete the look of any Traditional Wedding Cake.


And that is how a Traditional Wedding Cake should look :-)


Cile Bellefleur Burbidge Wedding Cakes! Pink! Victorian! Intricate!

I really like things that are done in the Shabby Chic style (you should know this if you have seen my previous articles).

But the truth is that sometimes you find a Wedding Cake that simply does not compare to any other Wedding Cake out there. And that's what I found when Sarah Erlandson shared with me her beautiful wedding cake made by the renowned cake designer: Cile Bellefleur Burbidge

So intricate, so pink, so shabby, so chic and so Victorian!

Yes, I don't believe there is another wedding cake out there quite like this.

Oh and did I mention the flavor?

Orange Blossom :-)

Cile Bellefleur Burbidge, the Mistress-of-all-wedding-cakes (as she likes to be called) is definitely a true artist.

And Sarah (also known as the-Bride-with-the-killer-Cake) is truly the one we should be envious of since she got to see the masterpiece in person and enjoy a piece of it. Now, she has part of the cake on display at her tearoom in Walpole, MA: Fancy That (www.afternoontea.com). Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

I hope you enjoyed the photo.
I do suggest blowing it up to get the full view of detail.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Patriotic Wedding Cakes: USA! USA! USA!

Happy Independence Day!
To celebrate I'm giving a "parade" of 4th of July wedding cakes.
Now, this doesn't mean the wedding actually has to take place on the 4th,
it just means that the wedding cake has to have a patriotic theme.
(Warning: Due to the awesome nature of this article I will be randomly going "USA! USA! USA!" whenever the spirit so moves me).


One way to do the patriotic theme is to go
the stars & stripes route.

Cake by: Dahlia's Custom Cakes (MI, USA)
It's hard to misinterpret the theme on this here cake.

USA! USA! USA!

I think a close-up is due.

The design is so sharp
it almost looks like it was printed on.

Now, you don't have to literally have stars & stripes
on your precious wedding cake.
But red, white & blue is definitely a must.

USA! USA! USA!

And since most couples that do the "America is awesome" theme
for their wedding tend to have their special day in the summer...

...red white and blue flowers will work perfectly.

USA! USA! USA!

Yup, flowers work pretty well with this color scheme.

I especially like the use of trailing roses versus using another flower.
I think it's because the reds and blues are more poignant and the whites are more pure.
(pure like the soul of any American citizen)

USA! USA! USA!

And like any themed wedding cake,
your design possibilities are endless.
(Almost as endless as the possibilities for an American born citizen).

USA! USA! USA!

If you so desired,
You could take away the abundance of flowers,
the dazzling stars and the vibrant colors;
and go with a more chic "America is awesome" cake.

Much like this one:

It's still a USA wedding cake but with a more fresh and
subtle patriotic look.
And the crocheted muffins next to it is more classy
than a horse with a silver saddle.


USA! USA! USA!

Enjoy your 4th of July!

USA! USA! USA!