10 minute read
TOSHIKO & NICK
THE WEDDING OF
PHOTOGRAPHER: RACHEL ANGELA PHOTOGRAPHY
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photographer / RACHEL ANGELA PHOTOGRAPHY seamstress / JENNIFER HACKING Mehndi (henna) / MOUNTAIN MEHNDI chairs / HETAS DECOR wedding dress / SOMETHING BORROWED BRIDAL
By: Jehonna Kane of Maile Cake Designs
After being in the wedding industry as a cake artist for quite some time now, there are many things that I—along with other wedding cake bakers—try to educate our couples regarding their wedding cakes and working with a potential wedding cake vendor. Here are some wedding cake secrets your baker want you to know:
1. Cakes Cost What They Cost for a Reason
Depending on how intricate the cake design is, bakers sometimes work 15- to 20-hour days right before a wedding cake is due to ensure it is fresh—and even longer if we’re juggling with multiple wedding cakes. The more intricate the design, the more time and money it will cost. On top of that, a ‘simple’ cake isn’t necessarily cheaper, because often, the simplest most understated cake can still take hours to create. For example, a single sugar rose can take 2-3 hours to manipulate and shape each petal. Fondant ruffles take hours to create as well, as each one is dried before adding another layer atop. Almost always, each piece of element is handmade, and handmade items take time, skill, and care.
2. Styrofoam Cakes aren’t Necessarily More Budget-Friendly
While it may seem like Styrofoam cakes may cut down costs, it may not be the best option. Styrofoam nowadays can be costly, and may cost just as much as the ingredients of the real cake itself. It would take as much time decorating a fake Styrofoam cake, as a baker would a real cake.
However, Styrofoam cakes do have a purpose in the cake world. Sometimes a couple would like a statement cake without a lot of leftover cake. Sometimes certain decorative elements can take several days to create, then a Styrofoam cake would be a great option in place of a real cake. Some curds, and creams are not meant to keep at room temperature for a long time. To prevent the fillings from going bad, Styrofoam cakes are a great option to work on a very intricate cake design that would take several days to create, without spoiling the cake. A small section of the cake would then be made real for the purpose of the cake cutting ceremony. Couples would then have the option of serving real sheet cakes along with it to feed the masses. 3. We Prefer Not to Replicate the Exact Same Cake You Found on Pinterest
As a cake designer, I am also a true artist (as I am also a trained fine art and graphic artist). I respect the work of other cake artist, and therefore think of recreating their work as ‘cake plagiarism’. Instead, I appreciate it when clients come with an open-mind to our first meeting, and bring in inspiration photos that we can work with to create a unique cake just for them. We then take these ideas, coupled with their love story, wedding style, and personalities, do we start designing a unique and intentional wedding cake. I believe designing a wedding cake should tell a story about the couple, through the colors, design elements and flavors the couple choose. Every couple has a unique love story, so each wedding cake can be unique, intentional a n d purposeful!
There are so many amazing wedding bakers in Utah, and we all have unique styles and skills. Each wedding baker has a unique style: some bakers specialize only in buttercream cakes, some specialize in gravity-defying cakes, and some specialize in sugar flowers and fondant cakes. When looking for a wedding baker, we recommend looking through our portfolio to see if our style matches with what you’re looking for. We are always excited to take on a wedding cake order when our clients see our skills and potential; we can really make your cake shine when we feel most confident with our skills!
5. We Love it When You Come Prepared to Your Cake Consultation
Cake consultations are an important appointment between the baker and the engaged couple. It usually lasts 45 mins to an hour, and nowadays—thanks to the pandemic and its push for online interactions—most cake consultations can be done via video conference call. This is especially helpful for couples planning out of town. A cake tasting box can then be reserved and picked-up on an assigned date. During the cake consultation, whether online or in-person, we typically go over the details of your wedding event, and basic information about potentially working with your wedding baker and reserving your date with them. Sometimes, we might even begin sketching a first look of your wedding cake. It is so helpful to us when you bring pictures of your invitations and save-thedates. We consider those as a “first-look” of your wedding style and aesthetic, and help guide us to the right direction with designing your cake. Pictures of your wedding colors, mood board, and floral boards are also very helpful. We prepare ourselves to meet you, and we appreciate when you prepare to meet us!
6. The Sooner You Book Your Cake the Better
This is especially true during the peak wedding months; for Utah, it is between May to September. We recommend getting in touch at least 6 to 9 months before your wedding date. While it may not take that long to design and create your wedding cake, most of us are booked well before. Depending on the scale of operation, many wedding bakers may only take a limited number of cakes per week to ensure the highest quality. Specialty wedding bakers operate differently than mass bakeries, as each cake is customized to each couple, and special attention is given to each order. Specialty items do take time! 7. We Appreciate it When Clients Recognize that Wedding Cakes are also an Artform!
At the end of the day, your wedding cake will eventually be destroyed and consumed. However, for us cake designers, the artistic journey from baking, to creating, to decorating is a very real artistic journey and a way for us to artistically express ourselves. We absolutely appreciate it when our clients recognize that designing cakes are also an artform, and at times, we do have to make last-minute decisions to the design as we see fit and appropriate. It is absolutely part of the artistic journey, and one that our clients are absolutely part of, all throughout the collaborative process.
Do you have additional questions to ask your wedding baker? Reach out to mailecakedesign@gmail.com or visit
www.mailecakedesign.com
•FLORAL •
Shawn Chamberlain
@flowerbarco
FLOWER BAR CO
• PLANNING •
Photo: Breanna White Photo
Tonya Hoopes
@hoopesevents
HOOPES EVENTS
HOW CAN I MAKE MY FLORAL BUDGET STRETCH FARTHER? HOW DO I WANT MY MAKEUP DONE FOR MY WEDDING?
If your wedding floral Pinterest board and your budget don’t have the same energy, it can create a lot of anxiety and frustration trying to make it work. There are some ways to be creative that can give you more bang for your buck! I suggest reassessing what is the most important elements and prioritize. Maybe your priority is your girl gang bouquets or maybe it’s the beautiful ceremony aisle install? You want these elements to be impactful, but think ahead.. You can ask your florist to incorporate the bridal party bouquets in the decor for the reception or flip the wedding aisle install and reuse that for the dance floor, foot of the head table or grand staircase. Be open to great ideas from your florist and trust them to know how best to help. HOW SHOULD I ALLOCATE MY BUDGET:
As a wedding planner, one of the first questions many brides ask me is how do I stay within budget. Here are the steps we suggest first, determine what your total budget is. Many times several different people are contributing to your wedding. Knowing what you have to work with from the beginning will help you make the best decisions. Second, determine what are the most important items to you. If you want a great photographer you will want to keep that in mind when putting your budget together. Third, You will need to do some research on what different items cost. Fourth, Put together your budget based on your research and what is most important to you as a couple. Fifth, start booking your vendors. Make sure each vendor fits in the budget category, if you want to book a vendor outside a particular category before you do so make sure you can pull money from a different category. These steps will help you stay on budget and make the planning process a lot less stressful.
• MAKEUP •
Michelle Burnett
@makeupandhairbymichelle
MAKE UP AND HAIR BY MICHELLE
It’s good to get on Instagram and look up different makeup artists to see all of the different styles out there. Some makeup artists specialize in ultra glam, full coverage makeup and some makeup artists specialize in a more natural makeup look like I do. By hiring the right makeup artist you are guaranteed that it will stay for the whole wedding day. Professional makeup is done in many layers to assure you that it will stay all day.
Q&A from your LOCAL PROS
•LIGHTING •
Nephi Moon
@moonlightutah
MOON LIGHT UTAH
WHY DOES LIGHTING MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE?
WE ARE NOT PHOTOGENIC OR KNOW HOW TO POSE OURSELVES; DO YOU POSE US? CAN I USE THIS SONG FOR MY VIDEO?
When planning your event the most important element to focus on is how your guests will feel the moment they walk in. Have you ever walked into a party and felt bored? Or been at a party you never wanted to leave? Did you know that has to do with light? Whether you want the feel to be an elegant fairytale, an extravagant masquerade, or even an intimate boho backyard, you can create it with your lighting! So come design your timeless experience with us! It’s the photographer’s job to pose, help you feel relaxed, and help you look best. It’s normal for everyone to feel awkward in front of the camera; that’s why hiring a photographer you vibe well with is important to help you feel comfortable and confident. Find out if your photographer is a traditional, lifestyle, artistic, or photojournalist. This not only describes their style but also how they pose and work with clients.
• PHOTOGRAPHY • • VIDEOGRAPHY •
Photo: Niki Baldwin Photography Photo: J. Claire Films
Niki Baldwin
@nikibaldwinphotography
NIKI BALDWIN PHOTOGRAPHY Jordann Woolums
@j.clairefilms
J. CLAIRE FILMS
This doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise as music can play such an integral part in the mood and feel of a video. A song can take you back to a certain moment, feeling or even describe a relationship to a “T”. The response I give as a videographer though is that I am limited to my selection of music so that I might avoid the risk of getting into trouble with copyright laws. In other words, if I were to select just any song from itunes or other music sources, there could be repercussions from an artist or recording label. Thankfully, there are some great music licensing sites out there that have a lot of really amazing songs to choose from. Also, the fact that these songs are lesser known almost creates a more intimate feel to your video in my opinion. As your videographer, I always try to take my clients’ taste in music into account. Using your favorite songs as inspiration, I look for tracks that I feel match the vibe of the two of you and your day. The finished product? A little something for you to remember…
