Consultation to Cake~ Part One!

Earlier this year, we ran a competition in conjunction with Society magazine for one couple to win a wedding cake. The cake was won by Laura, on behalf of her sister Beth and fiance Graeme. Their wedding is later on this month, so I thought now was as good a time as any to start documenting the process of designing and making a wedding cake.

A few weeks ago, I met Beth and Graeme at their home for a design and tasting consultation. By visiting our clients at home, we get to know them and their planning and ideas are usually close to hand.

We talked about their plans so far, and I took photographs of their colours, invitations etc to help with the design while Beth and Graeme looked through some cake magazines and previous designs for inspiration.

It's interesting how different each couple is at this stage, both in terms of their involvement in the design and ideas that they already have. Some people have a very clear idea of what they want (or definitely don't want!), others know what elements they would like but are unsure of how to put them together and some people have no idea at all. Some grooms seem to think that their role in the consultation is just to be the chief taster, others are definitely in charge of the design. Whatever the starting point, the process is similar each time- chat, look at pictures, taste and sketch!

What begins to develop during the consultation is a series of sketches and notes that will form the basis of the final design. By the end of the first meeting, we usually have a fairly clear idea of the direction the design is heading. Sometimes it is done and dusted there and then, sometimes sketches are sent back and forth via email and occasionally we have follow up consultations. Whatever happens, nothing is made until everyone is happy with the design.

The next stage usually involves a lot of phones calls and emails to finalise everything, then we can start prepping some of the cake. In part two, I'll show you a bit of cake in progress, followed by part three which will be the big reveal from the wedding itself- can't wait!