When Jeanne Scott’s children were young, she made cakes for their birthday parties. An artist herself, her creativity shone through in her cakes, and the friends’ moms started asking her to make cakes for their kids. Eventually, the cakes took off into a business of their own, and she expanded into wedding cakes. Now wedding cakes are the focus of her Winston-Salem business, Artsy Cakesy.
As one of Legacy Stables and Events’ preferred vendors, Scott has worked with many couples to create beautiful cakes for weddings here at our venues. Now she shares with us some of the latest trends in wedding cakes and her tips for bridal couples.
The Cake Comeback
After a few years of dessert tables popping up at weddings, with doughnuts, brownies, bite-size cheesecakes, and even ice cream serving as the sweet treat of choice, cakes are making a comeback as the popular go-to for weddings. Scott credits this to people embracing traditions, and understanding what a statement a beautiful cake can make. The tall, tiered wedding cake is really the focus of a reception and provides opportunities for pictures as well as feeding the crowd.
Cake can also be manageable for practically any budget. There was a myth floating around that dessert bars were cheaper than a wedding cake, but that’s not always true. Depending on the size and type of cake you order a cake can come in costing less than a dessert bar. It’s important to note that wedding cakes are more expensive than the sheet cake you pick up at a supermarket bakery. That’s because special consideration needs to be made for creating the structure, recipes may have to be adjusted to fit the design and décor is more intricate, Couples who dream of large, intricately designed cakes should be prepared to budget accordingly. But for those watching expenses, a nice cake can be ordered and is just such a crowd pleaser.
Trends for 2024
While couples might be finding tradition in wedding cakes, the designs are far from traditional. Top trends seen by Scott include:
- Bright, colorful floral work.
- Design elements inspired by the wedding dress or bridesmaid’s dresses
- Very tall, multi-tiered cakes that make a statement.
What Every Bridal Couple Should Know
Take it from a wedding cake designer, choosing a cake for your event is a big deal, and warrants planning and preparation. Here are a few things to know to make sure you get the cake you’ve always dreamed of.
- Meet with the baker and get your date on their calendar as early as possible. Popular wedding vendors book up quickly, and if you know who you want it’s smart to contact them as soon as you’ve booked the venue. Even if you don’t know yet what your design will be, go ahead and get on their calendar.
- Do research ahead of time, and bring pictures with you. It will help convey your wishes to the designer.
- Ask about all the associated fees to be able to budget accordingly. Some bakers will charge extra for different flavors, or more intricate designs. And you might need to allow for a delivery fee.
