Some of us have been planning our weddings since the day we could say “Vera Wang”. And, with a few brides-to-be on the fourth floor, wedding talk has been amped up a notch (or seven).
Once he’s put a ring on it, many important decisions must be made. While choosing between calla lily bouquets and rose arrangements will prove difficult for many brides-to-be, not all decisions must be so.
We chatted with Catherine Lash, the brains behind the boutique Wedding Show (January 14 to 16 at the Carlu!), about must-have sweets at 2011 nuptials. In her expert opinion, “it’s not just about the cake anymore.”
“The centerpiece of the wedding has become the stylized sweet table. Think macarons, meringue, biscotti and gourmet candy. But, the cake is still the star of the show.”
She pointed us in the direction of two amazing dessert and cake makers. Forget Say Yes to the Dress and say “I do” to these one-of-a-kind wedding desserts from Cake Opera Co. and Bobette & Belle.
Straight from the kitchen of this chic bakery, cake girl geniuses Alexandria Pellegrino and Jessica Smith whip up the best crazy-original couture desserts.
From the simple to the outrageous and everything in between, Cake Opera Co. has the macaron towers, designer cupcakes, handmade marshmallows and quirky cakes for any fabulous occasion.
Done up in non-traditional shades of grey and muted pink, influenced by current fashion, 2011 wedding cakes are all vintage-inspired glam. Decidedly posh and playfully textured, Cake Opera Co.’s confections come in a variety of flavours, from lemon blueberry to banana with salted caramel ganache.
For a whimsical touch, top your cake with Lacroix-inspired gems and flowers, Gothic pirate ships, floating butterflies, Victorian-styled figurines or even feathered birds.
While they set up (bake) shop in midtown Toronto about a month ago, the Cake Opera Co. already has a following of Hollywood starlets that only continues to grow. For their much-anticipated wedding, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden offered guests a taste of the company’s red velvet cake. Decorated with look-alike figures dressed in her Marchesa dress and bearing his tattoos, the white, black, turquoise and 24-karat gold-trimmed cake has the gossip mags buzzing.
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s gorgeous cake.
With desserts inspired by Chanel and Elie Saab, Holt Renfrew can barely keep Bobette and Belle’s oh-so pretty and delicious macarons in stock. That’s because when it comes to dessert, Bobette and Belle is always one fashionable step ahead.
The owners of the sweet shop, Sarah Bell and Allyson Meredith Bobbitt, bake fancy cakes that are nothing short of spectacular. They also offer soon-to-be brides a non-traditional dessert route to wedded bliss.
Wow guests with sweet tables filled with macaron towers in Gianduja (chocolate flavoured with hazelnut paste), salted caramel, passion fruit and pistachio flavours.
Customize yours in small or large sizes, and choose from trendy 2011 purples, lush pinks and metallic colours to match your event.
For the ultimate in up-and-coming trendy treats, skip cupcakes in favour of whoopie pies. The chic version of an Oreo, whoopie pies are the new “it” dessert of choice. Fun and tasty, guests won’t be able to get enough of them.
Hungry yet?
PS: For more inspiration on choosing your wedding cake, check out this Wedding Bells article.
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