THE GREAT LONDON BAKE OFF

WEDDING CAKES THE GREAT LONDON BAKE OFF

Local pros share their showstopper bakes

There’s so much to consider when it comes to choosing your big-day bake. Obviously choosing your flavour is the best bit (for those with a sweet tooth), but the style and design is what takes the time and quite rightly so! If you’re not sure where to start, here our local pros share their favourite designs… EMMA DODI | EMMA DODI CAKES | HTTPS://EMMADODICAKES.COM

LA VIE EN ROSE One of my favourite classically romantic wedding cakes. Timelessly elegant in blush pink adorned with the most graceful blooms, subtle texturing and 24-carot gold detailing, this is a dreamy cake fit for a princess. For those looking for that fairytale wedding this is where they need to be.

THE OSCAR CAKE This is a signature Emma Dodi Cakes wedding cake. Inspired by that Oscar de la Renta dress, it’s adorned with real edible pressed flowers and makes a statement. Edible flowers are really fashionable as is haute couture, so the combination is an absolute favourite with fashion loving brides-to-be! Loved because of its beauty and vibrancy but also because it’s completely edible. We expect to continue seeing it as a favourite going forward. PÉTALES BLANCS CAKE An exquisite classic white on white, it couldn’t get more sophisticated than this. Hand-piped florals embellished with dried edible cream rose petals gives you timeless elegance and beauty. Entirely edible it’s a graceful, original and popular choice and I think it’ll continue to maintain a pride of place with many brides.

PEONIES AND RUFFLES This is a delicate and elegant design with a touch of originality. Printed classical designs with extravagant wafer paper ruffles, really make for a standout cake. Definitely one we’ll see more of going forward. FIESTA CAKE This design is a real game changer. Many couples are now choosing designs that tell their story, with colour and vibrancy beginning to really take centre stage. We’re starting to embrace colour and character in a new and exciting way. More of a challenge but so rewarding, we love to encapsulate a little of our couples into their design so this a favourite for us.

GRACE CAKE Gold and white, refined, luxurious and stylish, this is a beautiful and classic design that’s stood the test of time. Classic white roses, symbols of purity, innocence, and eternity, are always very popular and the addition of gold leaf and foliage make it incredibly chic.

BOLD COLOURS Gone are the days when wedding cakes have to follow a strict, white design. Now couples want to make a statement by celebrating their marriage with a cake that says it all. These statement centrepieces don’t necessarily follow the colour scheme either, they stand proud on their own as a showstopper.

To add to the boldness of these statement cakes, couples are ramping up the effect by adding more tiers than we’ve seen before. For 2022, couples want four to five tiers (even if some aren’t real cake) to put a stamp on things and I don’t blame them.

SIMPLE DESIGNS No longer does your bake have to be extravagant, it’s down to personal choice. Simple can scream elegance just as much as the elaborate and can match it with impact too. Adding an amazing topper or an arrangement of flowers can really transform these simple cakes into something very special. SMALL CUTTING CAKES For more intimate nuptials, small cutting cakes are perfect. A single, compact and beautiful tier that’s just enough for the small number of guests and still offering great photo opportunities. It also speaks to those who are conscious about waste and want to make sure everything gets eaten.

I’ve had the pleasure of making a few of these cakes and it’s a joy to be able to put my focus on one tier. No levelling issues, worries about tiers sliding around or transport woes, just precision and attention.

SEPARATED TIERS Deconstructing desserts has been all the rage in the patisserie world for some time, so there’s no surprise that the same concept’s being adopted in the wedding cake world. Couples are moving away from the stacked tiers and instead, each tier is getting its own time to shine by being placed on separated platforms on the same cake stand. This offers more diversity in the design, as they can be similar but don’t have to be the same due to being spaced out.

Sincerely Divine will work with you to create the very best in bespoke cake design and delicious flavours. Working directly with our couples, we love to produce beautiful contemporary bakes. Whether it be the ever-popular signature vanilla bean flavour, or something a bit more creative like banana cake with Nutella buttercream, the choice is yours. We love adding that wow factor to your special day.

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This is my favourite and is often commented on when I do wedding fairs. I just love fresh flowers as there’s something very simple yet delicate and romantic about them against the ruffled layers. I’m also finding a trend more towards naked cakes and generally an unfussy look. Pink seems to be a favoured shade in my cakes and cupcakes and is my most requested colour scheme. Our Bouqcakes (a bouquet of cupcakes, designed to look like a floral arrangement) make great gifts for your bridal party, and our cupcakes look fabulous displayed around your wedding cake or you could add them to your place settings as favours.

The Bridgerton effect Editorial assistant Gracie Leader looks at how Netflix’s biggest show has influenced weddings

Everyone’s favourite period drama re-entered our lives with a bang at the end of March when season two of Bridgerton became Netflix’s most viewed English-language TV series, watched for 251.7 million hours in its debut week alone.

And the show is certainly not going anywhere, having been renewed for both seasons three and four back in April of last year, following the huge success of season one.

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VENUES

One aspect that defines the awe-inspiring beauty of the show is the grand country homes and sweeping ballrooms.

As nearly all of the filming for the show took place in the South of England, many of the real locations you see in the show can in fact be hired out for your wedding celebrations.

In the opening episode of the first season, the outdoor Vauxhall Ball set the standard for the grandness we could expect.

The parklands of Stowe House (www.stowe.co.uk) in Bedfordshire was the location for these scenes, the 17th-century Ducal Palace boasts individuality and elegance for a fairytale wedding.

The ballrooms in Leigh Court (www.leighcourt.co.uk) in Bristol are where we see many of the characters dance together at a number of parties held throughout the series. The 19th-century mansion is surrounded by 27 acres of wooded grounds and green lawns, and the grand double staircase in the Great Hall is perfect for making your first entrance as a married couple. Many of us are captivated by the opulence and extravagance of high society shown on our screens and so desperate to feed some historical glamour into our own lives – especially during our big day.

Regency era and Bridgerton-themed celebrations are set to be one of the biggest wedding trends this year. Achieving this lavish style may seem impossible at first but we’ve broken down some of the simplest ways to inject 18th-century luxury into your nuptials.

COLOUR PALETTE

The Regency era was defined by the baby blue colour that can be spotted in almost every episode. Known as Regency blue, it is the perfect hue to weave into your flowers, decorations or dress code.

For a 21st-century update, Pantone have named the colour of 2022 ‘Very Peri’. The shade of violet-infused blue is perfect for a subtle nod to the Bridgerton world.

Soft tones of blush and pink were also extremely popular at the time and are perfect for creating an ultra romantic setting when you tie the knot. Take inspiration from Princess Beatrice of York’s wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in summer of 2020, the pretty pinks and fresh natural palette were a more modern twist on a classic regal wedding.

INVITATIONS

Sending out your invitations to your guests is one of the first ways to set the tone for your wedding. Handwritten notes featuring swooping calligraphy perfectly encapsulate the elegant nature of your celebration.

Incorporate watercolour and impressionist-style florals into your stationery for a whimsical affair. Gold detailing and other refined touches make sure your wedding stationery gives a perfect nod to the Regency era. Sealing your invites with a wax seal will make guests feel as though they’re receiving salacious gossip from Lady Whistledown herself. Any watcher of Bridgerton will know the budget they had for flowers when making the show was pretty impressive. The dreamy purple wisteria that draped over the exterior of the Bridgerton family’s residence caused fans mass hysteria, as many were keen to recreate the swoon-worthy look. Although it can be hard to get your hands on, if you’re having a spring time wedding you may be lucky as many country house wedding venues have wisteria climbing up the outside of their buildings. It’s definitely something worth asking your venue about.

If you want to recreate the lush floral arrangements seen in Daphne’s wedding to the Duke of Hastings in the first season, shown last year, English garden-style arrangements with fresh greenery are best to create that clean and natural setting.

Standing beneath a floral arch, just like Daphne and Simon, when saying your vows will ensure your photographer can capture some dreamy and ethereal images from your ceremony.

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FASHION

It’s not just on screen fashion that has been inspired by the extravagance of the Regency era. Those attending this year’s Met Gala were asked to adhere to the dress code ‘Gilded Glamour’, taking inspiration from the high society of Gilded Age New York during the late 1800s.

For a wedding gown fit to make you a diamond of the first water lots of inspiration can be taken from the dresses of this time.

Empire waist gowns were extremely popular during the time period and it’s unsurprising considering how flattering they are. For an ultraromantic style look for a dress with capped sleeves also.

Corsets were, of course, a huge part of fashion in the Regency era and now they are once again having resurgence. Whilst during the time period they were a part of the undergarments worn by the bride, now they can be a featured part of your ensemble.

One easy way to add a touch of gilded glamour to your look is by accessorising with opera gloves. To modernise your wedding gown a sheer pair is the way forward.

Grooms can take inspiration from the dukes of Bridgerton and wear a morning suit complete with a tailcoat for a look that can compete with Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy.

To ensure all your guests are involved with the theme of your celebrations, a black tie or formal wear dress code can encourage everyone to attend in their finery.

One of the most spectacular visuals from Daphne and Simon’s wedding was a massive wedding cake that stood at 4.5-foot tall.

In addition to its impressive height, the centrepiece was extremely detailed, right down to the Bridgerton and Hastings crests iced on.

Detailed, extravagant cakes are certainly making a comeback in 2022. This year the UK’s oldest British caterer is recreating a royal wedding cake made by its founder 126 years ago, to celebrate their 175th anniversary.

Searcy’s catering (https://searcys.co.uk) has taken a trip back through its archives to the cake made for the1896 royal wedding of Princess Maud, then the future Queen of Norway, to Prince Carl of Denmark.

Five-tiers of Dundee fruit cake are covered with delicate marzipan and white and gold lattice work icing before topped with carefully crafted sugar work of flowers, fruits, cherubs and lions – all recreated by the cakemakers. This style of cake is perfect for those going all out regalia-inspired on their wedding day.

Pressed floral cakes are a great option for those still inspired by the 18th century but wanting a more earthy, whimsical feel for their day. Bakeries typically use edible flowers grown, picked and hand-pressed. They can be designed according to your favourite flowers and even match your bouquet. ENTERTAINMENT

One of the most memorable elements of Bridgerton that audiences hold close to their heart is the orchestral renditions of pop songs throughout the show.

Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift played by string ensemble provides the backdrop for Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma’s courtship in season two. If you wish to recreate this soundtrack for your own love story, a string quartet or harpist will produce the perfect atmosphere for walking down the aisle or during your first dance.

If you too want a mixture of classical and chart tunes, ask your guests to suggest some of their favourite tracks to be played by your musicians.

If you plan on getting hitched in the warmer months, traditional lawn games are an amazing era-inspired way to entertain your guests after the ceremony. A game of croquet before the evening celebrations is fun for both young and older guests alike.

DECORATION

Maximalists rejoice as the only way to decorate a Regency era-inspired wedding is to go all out. And we mean ALL OUT.

Look to see if your venue has a chandelier, as this is a perfect way to recreate the grand atmosphere seen in the Bridgerton world.

Oversized centrepieces are a signature of nearly all the weddings and balls held in the series. Work with your florist and wedding planner to create some awe-inspiring table decorations your guest will remember.

For your tableware, fine, floral china is a gorgeous nod to 18th-century Britain and the perfect decorative touch for the detail-orientated bride. Gold cutlery or gold-rimmed glassware flaunt opulence and abundance but can be inexpensive if hired.

Having a champagne tower at your reception is the perfect indulgence enjoyed by high society – and your guests too. It’s a great touch to follow your wedding toast or a grand welcome as your guests enter.