Came across these adorable mini mushrooms (likely made out of the same ingredients as macarons) over at Bakelab. I am a SUCKER for packaging so I love how they create & display food items in ways you wouldn’t normally see them. I know I can’t exactly head over there to try it out but it looks like they have an online shop that ships to any state in the US. Guess all us Canadians will have to dream about them instead..

{images: Bakelab}

It’s been a while since I’ve updated about my own wedding…I guess you could say so much has happened since then. After visiting three cupcake shops in Edmonton, we can FINALLY cross this off our list! We are so thrilled to have booked Cake Couture, a relatively new (less than one year) shop who have already made a name for themselves in the city. Annie was someone who completely understood our vision (modern, clean, simple) and she took what jason and I wanted even further than we ever thought possible. Up till the meeting we had decided on cupcakes (half green, half white), each with dark chocolate ’squares’ on top to resemble the invitations. Marble always seemed middle ground for the differences of our guests and ultimately they just had to be ..YUMMY.

Annie actually suggested we go with gray…..yes, gray cupcakes! Well, gray icing to be exact. The gray cupcakes will have the green squares like the ones on my invitations and the green iced cupcakes will have the gray squares.

The cupcakes will be tiered on her lovely square stand (shown below in the photos)…and best of all, the mini cake at the top will be a cube covered in the little squares found again on my invitation. We thought it was pretty ‘meant to be’ because we mentioned we were going to Spain for our honeymoon and it just so happened she and her husband lived in Spain for 5 years.

The clincher was that the cupcakes tasted THE best out of all the ones we’ve tasted. Light and fluffy. I’m not a fan of icing that has a strong vanilla flavour and felt Cake Couture’s cupcakes were ‘just right’.

Here’s a look at some of their work for all you Edmonton brides looking for cakes!

{images: Cake Couture}

Before you buy your wedding cake, get all the advice you need from Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s hit reality show, Cake Boss.

{image from TLC}

Even with his busy schedule – master baker and cake decorator, Buddy, spoke with TheRingBearer.ca about what every bride and groom should ask before choosing a wedding cake designer.

Here are Buddy’s Top 5 Questions:

1. Are they a reputable company? How long have they been in business?

2. How well do their cakes taste? Arrange a tasting. “A tasting is a great way to get to know the bakery and ask more questions,” he says.

3. How do they deliver? “Do they have refrigerated trucks or will the cake go in the back of their Toyota?”

4. How many cakes can the company do in a weekend? How many can they handle? (Buddy does 50-60)

5. Ask to see their portfolio. “Their portfolio showcases their work, which will prove they have talent. Don’t just show them a picture and have them say, ‘yes I can do that’ without proof of previous work.”

{images: martha stewart weddings}

Buddy’s Cake Tips

Don’t always go for the cheapest price. “You want to go for the most bang for your buck,” he says. “Someone who might be less expensive – who works out of their house – doesn’t have the overhead of a bakery, but what comes along with that is the worry and concern about whether or not your cake will make it to your venue.”

Great Tip:

Don’t waste your money on a 10 tier cake to feed your guests (unless you really want a 10 tier). Instead ask the bakery to create a smaller wedding cake for the bride and groom and make a sheet cake (which is less expensive) to feed the rest of your guests. Showcase the smaller wedding cake and have the wait staff dish out the sheet cake from the back.

For more wedding planning ideas visit TheRingBearer.ca

Considering I’m thinking about having cupcakes at my wedding, I have yet to post anything about these CUTE & yummy things. I guess you could say cupcakes are all the rage, but to be honest, I’m choosing them because they’re easy to take care of. Rather than having the venue cut and plate individual cake pieces (which can cost extra time and money), have your guests grab a cupcake after you do your initial cake cutting. easy peasy…is that the phrase?

I am loving these cupcake wraps.

Are you craving one yet?

Here’s a neat tip - you can make your own inexpensive liners using simple doillies.

image from cakecentral.com

{images: (clockwise from top left) one, two+four, three}

Yum! Nothing beats getting served a piece of a moist, flavourful cake after a hearty meal. Here are some of my inspirations as I prepare for the oh-so-important cake purchase. On the request list: white, chic, modern and tasty!

{images (from top left - clockwise): one - two - three - four}

Check out this cake from Sweet Pea Bakery in Montana..rarely do you find a cake this dark for a wedding. I just had to post it!

{image: Herbert Harper}

Here’s a great example of where the floral colors of a wedding are not all from the same color theme. The flowers and styling of the event are by the very talented Beehive Events and the photography is by Jen Fariello. Check out their album, they do a fantastic job, especially with ‘green’ colored themes. (perfect for me because I’m looking to use that in my own wedding :P)

The bride’s bouquet & the groom’s boutonierre are black and purple, whilst the bridesmaids in pink bridesmaid dresses carried bouquets of green, pink, and red. However, the reception florals were similar to the bridesmaids’ bouquets and it just all seems to work. I guess every bride’s obsession with matching to a particular color scheme isn’t always necessary!

PS: Can anyone tell me what those little green ‘pea-like’ balls are in the bouquets and around the cake? I just can’t figure it out.

{images: beehive events}

How better to get ideas on your Tiffany themed wedding than from the company itself? Following a screening of the movie Bride Wars at the AMC Lincoln Square, over 200 guests headed to Tiffany & Company’s Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York for a reception full of all things ‘blue.’

These are so cute, I would never want to eat them! These tiny cakes or cupcakes in Tiffany’s blue were served on silver platters.

Blue drinks were served to guests. But if you’re wondering how they made it, you’ll have to keep wondering. Tiffany’s isn’t telling.

I know there been a lot of hype about the new movie, and I know I’ve been part of it. Sorry! I’ll be watching it this Saturday with a bunch of girls and I hope I won’t be disappointed!

{bizbash}

Classic: A simple bouquet can accompany this delicate three tiered cake with white sugar blossoms.

Twist: FUN! This cake is made up of individual round cakes in bright, pastel colors. The colors are also present in the wedding invitations, menu cards & bouquet.

{images from you & your wedding magazine}

Here’s one way to display your cake on your candy/dessert table. Cover the layers of your cake with candy and top it off with a dish made of barley candy. It makes for a very ‘sweet‘ cake.

{martha stewart weddings}