3 minute read
Sweet Dreams
Local talents make exquisite, personalized wedding cakes and treats
BY ERIN SPILLANE
Telluride and Mountain Village feature talented cake designers, bakers and artisans passionate about creating something exceptional for weddings, with unique and delicious options ranging from the wedding cake itself to sweet treats for celebration-goers to enjoy.
Kelly Gray is a local wedding cake artist and owner/principal of Kelly Gray Cakes. Gray formerly operated the very popular Fig & Bloom, but rebranded when she adopted a new design style. Says Gray, “I am now specializing in sugar art designs for wedding cakes, with every single element of my designs made from sugar by hand.” It’s a cake design element that clearly generates enthusiasm — both for the in-demand artist and her clients. “I love
that I can focus my attention ‘I LOVE THAT I CAN on creating luxury custom FOCUS MY ATTENTION cakes tailored to each indiON CREATING LUXURY CUSTOM CAKES vidual client,” she says. For Susan Johnston of Sweet Creations Telluride, TAILORED TO EACH making wedding cakes that INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.’ perfectly fit the clients’ brief Kelly Gray has at times meant making more than one cake. Take Houston couple Rachael and John Montgomery, who were married in 2016 at Gorrono Ranch on the Telluride Ski Resort. The pair asked the sought-after Johnston to make two cakes: a traditional lemon cake with raspberry filling, as well as a Porsche cake of triple chocolate that reflected John’s affection for the iconic German car brand. Says Rachael, “We wanted to choose a design and flavors as unique as our venue … and Susan was up for the challenge.” For her part, Johnston says, “I enjoy creating memorable and delicious cakes that reflect the couple’s style and passion.” Abby Herman of The Golden Crumb is a skilled artisan baker Heidi Chowen with a wide repertoire that includes cakes, Madison Ifland Photography ABBY HERMAN cupcakes, cookies, pies and mini desserts, and a style that focuses on simple, elegant and delicious. She >>
KELLY GRAY
SUSAN JOHNSTON
Cheryl Loebe
CHERYL LOEBE remarks that much professional satisfaction comes from feedback received from happy clients. “I like for the bride and groom and guests to remember tasting how delicious the cake was,” she says. One standout memory? The rave reviews Herman received from a groom who didn’t even like cake until he tried hers. “He said it was the best he had eaten.”
Artisan baker Cheryl Loebe of custom cake company Peace of Cake has been making wedding cakes for over 10 years. Loebe is a talented cakemaker, who happens to also be a big fan of weddings themselves. “What an honor to be involved in such an important day,” she says. “A wedding is one of the biggest days in a person’s life — to marry a love — and is taken very seriously at Peace of Cake. We love a wedding.” Loebe also offers couples a sweets table with offerings ranging from scrumptious hand-held apple or mixed berry pies and cupcakes to elegant chocolate-dipped macaroons and Italian wedding cookies.
Other local artisans also offer sweet treats that make fun additions to a wedding celebration. Telluride Truffle does a bespoke chocolate table for wedding celebrations with a selection of truffles, chocolates, cookies and other yummies. And then there’s Baked in Telluride donuts. Yep, wedding couples looking for a fun, delicious indulgence can order a selection of the bakery’s famed donuts. It seems to us that the fried dough confections — or, really, any of the sweets mentioned on these pages — are perfect for wedding guests about to burn some calories on the dance floor.
