BAKE OFF

Discover more about the amazing bakers behind these big-day cakes

Wedding cakes are a staple at every wedding and allow couples to get creative to bring their dream vision to life while incorporating their theme and colour scheme. So, finding a company that believes in your vision and has plenty of experience is essential. They should be able to take your ideas and use their expertise to create something magical. To help you find the perfect fit, we’ve gathered incredible bakers to share all about their lovely businesses.

Angela Hodson At Angela Jane Cake Design

When did your passion for baking start?

I have always loved to bake for family and friends! After leaving a long and successful corporate career, I followed my passion for art and design for everything edible – I’ve never looked back!

What do you offer nearlyweds?

I’m celebrating five years in the wedding industry; it has been a wonderful creative journey. I’ve continued developing my cake designs and flower crafting skills to produce edible centrepieces for my couples while offering my knowledge, expertise and guidance to creating their dream wedding cake.

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

I have seen a rise in cake favours, hand-painted designs, wafer paper, sugar flowers and texture. Many couples opt for sugar flowers for a more sustainable and gorgeous keepsake. You’ll benefit from a wider choice of varieties and colours – not bound by seasonal availability. There’s an increase in tall and slim-tiered cakes, which offers a sense of grandeur even with an intimate wedding by using one or two tall tiers.

What is your favourite part of the job?

HELEN HORTON AT HELEN’S HOMEMADE CAKERY

When did your passion for baking start?

My passion for baking started in my nan’s kitchen! She taught me how to bake everything, and I still use some of her recipes today – especially for jams and curds. After she passed away when I was 25, I took over baking for all the family’s occasion cakes.

What do you offer nearlyweds?

The company has been running for more than six years! I offer tiered cakes, cupcakes, mini-individual cakes as well as iced biscuits for favours and place settings. I create a few designs after a free consultation with couples over the phone or via Zoom. Lovebirds can then order cake samples to enjoy at home to help decide on the flavours.

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

This year’s biggest cake trend is big, bold and unusual bakes! Couples are being much more creative with their weddings, and some opt for separated or floating tiers with different textures and colours.

What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is creating all the finer details, like sugar or wafer paper flowers. I get lost for hours making all the petals and leaves. It’s also the first time I the your design coming to life.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples?

Bakers are getting booked for peak wedding season, sometimes nine months in advance. So even if you can’t decide on the final design of your cake, you need to have at least the date booked with your preferred baker after the tasting and initial consultation.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

I would definitely have a square cake with a mixture of acrylic and metal tier separators to give the bake some extra height. I would choose a traditional white fondant with a blue and purple marble or a watercolour effect before decorating it with wafer paper and isomalt sails.

Check out: www.helenshomemadecakery.co.uk

My favourite part is working with my clients to create their dream design and delivering the final illustration in delicious cake form! I often see bridal parties when I’m setting up; it’s a thrill to see and hear their reactions.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples? Contact your favourite designer as soon as possible because we get booked so far in advance – it’s best to secure your spot.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

If my husband and I got married again, I would love to create a slim and tall cake with fabulous unstructured sugar flowers, some wafer paper elements, textured tiers and edible gold leaf accents.

Check out: www.angelajanecakedesign.co.uk

MARCIA BAIRSTOW AT MARCIA’S WEDDING CAKES

When did your passion for baking start?

I have always loved baking for family and friends. I wanted a new path to follow when I retired from my teaching career, which would allow me to engage with people and share my love of creating.

What do you offer nearlyweds?

I have been making cakes for the past eight years and endeavour to provide my clients with delicious bakes at reasonable costs.

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

Larger cakes are now possible after a few years with only a few guests. This year, we’re creating a cake with a lace design and floral style.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Meeting lovely clients and learning a little about them and their lives is a highlight. It’s a lovely feeling to know that the cake you have made really helps to make their day special.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples?

Your cake is the wedding’s centrepiece, so it must reflect your thoughts and ideas.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

My dream cake would have a vintage style, with lace patterns, pearls, beautiful flowers and a romantic style.

Check out: www.instagram.com/marcia_bairstow

Dannica Rose At Rose Cake Design

When did your passion for baking start?

My passion for baking started at a very young age. I was always in the kitchen making something, and my dad always enjoyed sampling the results.

What do you offer nearlyweds?

My company has been trading for around six years now. I love offering nearlyweds a personalised and creative service. After discussing designs with couples, I work hard to bring their ideas to life as each cake is made with such love and passion!

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

I’d say there’s a big focus on bakes that incorporate separators and spacer stands, which really helps to create an elongated and dramatic look.

What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is seeing the finished product! I love arriving at a venue to assemble a cake and seeing the finished creation.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples?

My one piece of advice would be to do what you want! Too often, wedding planning can become all about loved ones and keeping the peace. You can forget the little details you’ve always dreamed of – so make decisions for yourself.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

My dream wedding cake would be four or five tiers high, with the bottom tier being a hexagon shape and the remaining tiers showing off different heights and textures with handmade sugar flowers!

Check at: https://rosecakedesign.wixsite.com/rosecakedesign

STACEY BADGER AT THE MAD BATTER’S BAKED GOODS

When did your passion for baking start?

I used to bake with my grandmother when I was younger, who later gave me my first cake mixer. I am gluten-free, and it’s essential that free-from cakes taste as good as classic bakes. When I wanted to explore this, I also wanted to be able to cater for other dietary requirements as well.

What do you offer nearlyweds?

The company is six years old, and our wedding offerings have entirely changed. We offer something for everyone while catering for nearly all dietary requirements, and the price doesn’t change just because you need it to be free from. We also offer phone consultations and wedding cake tasters.

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

Lambeth cakes are a huge 2023 trend as well as pressed florals, individual cakes on each table and separated tiers. Dessert tables also seem to be a trend that’s here to stay with doughnut walls, brownie stacks or an assortment of items.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love the consultation process, hearing exactly what couples are looking for and being able to bring that to life. From writing ideas down on paper to displaying the cake at the venue and seeing photographers capture the moment couples see the bake is priceless.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples?

Remember that it’s your wedding. Don’t get caught up in what we should do or what we could do for anyone else.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

I was lucky enough to create my wedding cake in November 2022! We had a combination of a wedding cake and a dessert table. I used gold leaves and textures on each tier with sharp buttercream edges. We filled a perspex tier with succulents to bring all those elements together. Of course, everything was gluten-free!

Check out: www.themadbatter.co.uk

JANNIE TURNBULL AT JENNIE’S CAKES & CATERING

When did your passion for baking start?

I have always baked since I can remember and loved baking goodies for people at work. I’ve also always made my little girl’s birthday cakes since she was born. I decided to do something different on her 4th birthday and discovered fondant; this was a game-changer for me! I decided to take the plunge and turned my passion into a business.

What do you offer nearlyweds?

The company has been running for 12 years. I not only do wedding cakes and favours but also offer a range of catering options, including afternoon teas and hog roasts.

What’s trending in the world of wedding cakes?

Semi-naked cakes are still a massive hit, probably half of my wedding orders, but I love it when couples also want something different. What is your favourite part of the job?

It’s the fact that I am self-employed and I can run my own schedule. Creating cakes and seeing the final product is also fantastic, especially when I see how happy my creations make others.

What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples? Enjoy the wedding process, and don’t stress about the little things as no one will remember or probably even notice if something goes wrong. Your day will go quickly; you’ll want to take it all in.

What cake would you design for your own wedding?

I would want a semi-naked mini cake with fruits and then a massive tower of brownies, doughnuts and cake slices to have a bit of everything.

Check out: www.jenniescakesandcatering.co.uk

Sunday 8 th October 2023 11am to 4pm

One of the largest wedding shows to be held in the South of England. A huge number of wedding specialists on hand to inspire and advise on how to bring your wedding dreams to life.

PLUS! Special offers on the day • The chance to win a luxury honeymoon

• Bridal fashion shows

• Entertainment • Refreshments • and more...

For your FREE tickets and the chance to win a £250 voucher courtesy of SpaBreaks.com pre-register at: www.countyweddingevents.com/registration

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