Scrumptious & Sophisticated Wedding Cakes!

If it includes sponge and buttercream I’m usually a fan. I love cakes. Chocolate cakes, plain cakes, layer cakes, slab cakes… you name it, I can pretty much eat it in record time. When it comes to wedding cakes though, it’s absolutely shocking how many of them can both look and taste awful. On the one day in your life where you want everyone to ask for seconds, there’s nothing more embarrassing than serving a below average wedding cake.

Visually, I prefer a tower of stacked layer cakes. Individual cupcakes are cute, but you can get those at a bake sale. They’re just not special enough. At a wedding, I expect to see a pillar of beauty… literally. It has to be something that could rival an ancient Greek-built pillar in Zeus’ temple. I want beauty, height, glamour, detail and a moment where I am compelled to suck in my breath and say “Wow! Just look at that cake!”.

As a lover of antique and vintage styles, the retro look is more to my taste. Iced pipework, rosettes, lace strips and anything else that looks straight out of my grandmother’s era is a must. Those dames had style. And a lot of elegance. If it was good enough for them then it’s good enough for me. Now, there’s no need to go overboard; there are ‘modern vintage’ styles that you can choose from so you don’t need to go for the ceramic cake-toppers or edible paper flowers that your Nana may have selected for her big day. Your cake can have all the best of yesteryear with all today’s chic.

Check out The Abigail Bloom Cake Company in London for a selection of gorgeous wedding cakes. My favourites include the yummy looking ‘Tabitha’ below, which is classy and simple:

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I also adore the ‘Camille’ cake pictured below. The flower detail is wonderful and it looks so graceful…

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I’m also quite taken with this delicious looking tower:

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Unfortunately, I’m not sure what the above style is called (you’ll need to contact Abigail Bloom) but it looks divine!

You’ll be pleased to discover that Abigail Bloom’s cakes are available in a range of flavours, including chocolate, vanilla, banana, carrot and red velvet. For the full list of sponge and buttercream combinations on offer, please read through their cake menu.

Hopefully, this blog will inspire you to think not of the future but of the past. Cakes with vintage chic are something we can all enjoy… at any time, in any era.

Yummy Wedding Cakes? They Certainly Look It!

For those who are new to reading my blogs, there is one thing you should know; I love vintage-looking wedding cakes. I like the regal feel they bring to the overall day. I like the intricate detail of their iced pipework. I like the fact that they are individual. Right now, you may be thinking “But my wedding cake will always be individual because it will mean something special to my partner and I”. That’s a lovely attitude… but a tad boring in my view. Of course your cake will be individual to you, but don’t you want it to look special to everyone else at your big day, too? What if all your guests think it looks as routine as the last wedding cake they saw, at someone else’s wedding?

You could be really bold and opt for a themed or crazy coloured cake. This would undoubtedly guarantee some stand out – especially if you pick a design that’s so unusual or unexpected, you’re guests are unlikely to have ever seen it before. That would certainly make the cake a focal point for your big day. It could also make it comedic event, instead of the romantic celebration you were aiming for.

So, what to do? The answer is simple: go vintage!

I came across a website for The Yummy Cake Company and was thrilled to find a wide array of wedding cake designs on offer. The clear winners are, unsurprisingly, those which take their style from yesteryear; those which look vintage…

Check out their site for more inspiration but I think you’ll be missing a trick if you opt for a modern design when you can opt for the sophisticated and chic options above.

Gorgeous Vintage Jewellery – FOR SALE ONLINE

I love vintage jewellery and accessories. Whenever I see a second hand ring or brooch, I find myself wondering and speculating about the stories behind each unique item. I imagine the loving couples who must have shared intimate moments of joy when picking out their wedding rings, or a weepy daughter who must have been overcome with emotion to learn that her mother or grandmother had bequeathed a treasured keepsake. Whatever their stories, there’s no denying that vintage jewellery is far more beautiful and ornate in comparison to today’s mass-market offerings. Here are my favourite finds for this week, selected because they are simple enough to wear in this modern age without looking too kitsch or dated.

This 1940s ring set boasts a stunning diamond engagement band. This kind of beauty – and history – doesn’t come cheap so the price tag of $800 initially seems on the high side but when you stop to think that you get two rings for that price, it’s not half as much as you would expect to pay for separate engagement and wedding bands…

1940s wedding & engagement ring set

Check out this gorgeous, sparkly 1950s goldtone ribbon brooch currently on Ebay. It’s only £11.90 so it won’t break the bank but will certainly pack a punch on any coat, top, scarf or blouse:

1950s Ribbon Brooch

This lovely rhinestone hair comb would be perfect for a vintage-style bride on her big day. Priced at just $9 (around £5.50), it’s an absolute steal!

Vintage Rhinestone Hair Comb

I’m in love with this beautiful, elegent Van Dell brooch from the 1960s. It’s priced $26, so a UK buyer can snap this up for around £16. A bit expensive, I know, but well worth it for a timeless piece of jewellery:

Van Dell Ivory Flower Brooch with 12k Gold Filled Leaves

Vintage Style Wedding Cakes

I came across this site for wedding cakes by Maisie Fantaisie

I love the detail, the delicate patterns and lovingly made sugarcraft across all their designs. There are so many beautiful creations, it’s hard to choose just one!

This pretty stack, called ‘Tallulah’, boasts gorgeous ruffles and a flower design. It’s made from Meyer lemon cake, ‘Duchy Originals’ lemon curd, vanilla bean buttercream, handmade sugar rosettes and Swarovski crystals:

'Tallulah' Wedding Cake

The ‘Paris Chic’ cake below is one of my favourites – I love the vintage cake stand and the recipe sounds scrumptious (Madagascar vanilla bean cake, almond buttercream, apricot preserve and handmade sugar daisies):

'Paris Chic' Wedding Cake

The ‘Peach Pearl’ cake is made with the same recipe as the ‘Tallulah’ above, but has a simple design that silently screams vintage chic:

'Peach & Pearl' Wedding Cake

For an elegant, smaller sized cake, why not try this ‘Rose & Daisy’ cake, with a fair trade arabica espresso coffee sponge, Amedei Toscano chocolate and lashings of orange zest buttercream, all decorated with grosgrain ribbon and pretty, handmade sugar flowers:

'Rose & Daisy' Wedding Cake

Clearly, the highlight of a wedding isn’t just the bride… these show-stoppers will compete with the most stunning of brides on their big day ;-)

This week’s top vintage picks on Etsy…


Check out this 1950s prom dress … straight out of GREASE, huh? If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Sandy, bag this gown for $215 and you could end up bagging your own Danny Zucco too!

Vintage Richelieu Brooch

I’m also loving this beautiful vintage Richelieu brooch with a pearl and rhinestone centre. The workmanship is exquisite and it’s only $44 – a bargain for us UK shoppers!

1950s tea length wedding gown

This 1950s tea length wedding gown is very Audrey Hepburn and looks like it’s in perfect condition. At $325, it’s not the cheapest on etsy but that’s still a fraction of the price most women spend on their wedding dress. Classy and stylish, this is a dress that would suit someone who wants a sophisticated day…

Etsy in Greek means ‘this way’…

I love the web site Etsy, where users sell off their possessions and with the term ‘etsy’ meaning ‘this way’ in Greek, I think it’s a particularly appropriate directive. This way to the best vintage fashion on the web… http://www.etsy.com

Here are some of my favourite items currently for sale on the site:

Ivory Swiss Dot Wedding Dress

 

1960s black chantilly lace dress

Cream 1970s wedding gown

1900 Lace Victorian Wedding Bridal Gown

Ruffled Flower Petal Gown

Vintage goldtone rose brooch

1930 Art Deco Old C Clasp Diamante Bar

Vintage rhinestone flower bouquet hair comb