Once bitten forever smitten - Marriage in decline!

Marriage is now a choice rather than a norm. I have been browsing the Office of National Satistics reports on marriage rates in the UK and it is very clear there are fewer marriages now than 10 years ago. In fact the trend downwards as a percentage of adult population is even more evident as population is rising but marriage rates are falling. The chart below shows thousands of marriages from 1950 to 2009 (last year for ONS data).

Chart showing decline of marriages in the UK

So how come if actual numbers are in decline the wedding industry is growing in glamour, spectacle and pounds spent every year? Well it's really because getting married is now a real choice (rather than conforming to parental pressure or society) so as the chosen option we want to spend time effort and money making our weddings glamourous and spectacular.

There are also other ceremonies now that have helped the 'Wedding' industry blossom including Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows and a noticable trend towards Big Christenings for the first baby - particularly when the parents have not had a big wedding celebration for themselves.

If you are getting married in the next year you will be investing a lot of time and effort to make your wedding day extra special because it is literally the first day of your new life. Make sure you choose the right professionals to translate your wedding vision into a photobook, video, floral display or Cake!
Using a bespoke cake maker is easy if you are based in SE London or Kent. Phone Janet for Design & Taste consultations  01732 843518 or text 07714286911 (24/7)
check out this website for ideas www.weddingdelicakes.co.uk or email your questions to Janet

Once bitten forever smitten - How long does it take to make a cake?

I was at a garden party last weekend and the mother of a prospective groom asked me how long does it takes to make a wedding cake and my response - about three and a half days. This is true for a standard 3 tier cake and I thought no more about it. Then today I got a call asking if I could make an open bible cake for a christening in 10 days time - of course I can make it and I had loads of ideas to make it appropriate and pretty but I cannot make it as there isnt enough time...

So when ordering a special cake its not the time it takes to make the cake that's important for your order to be accepted its the time available in the 3-4 days before the delivery date. With the exception of fruit cakes which should always be ordered 10 weeks in advance most cakes shold be ordered 3-4 weeks before you need them. Then your bespoke cake maker can schedule the purchasing of special trimmings, ensure the cakes are baked, rested, 'dirty iced' so called because the crumbs show through, chilled, second coat buttercream, chilled, marzipan covered, rested overnight, fondant iced, stacked and decorated and finally boxed for delivery or collection.

If you have a wedding make sure you start the selection process for a cake maker 6 months before the big day - and for all other celebrations unless you want a 3 tier cake make sure you have chosen a cake maker a month in advance. Of course at a quiet time you may be lucky with a week or two's notice. And don't forget if you want something special for your own Birthday register for the wish-list. Orders can be placed by email or via the contact form.
Best wishes, Janet

Once bitten forever smitten - Christening Cakes

Getting a new baby christened is a wonderful celebration and its been a great pleasure to make this cake for my neighbours with findant building blocks spelling out the name - don't they look good enough to eat?

This was a luscious lemon cake with lemon buttercream - the tang of the lemon perfectly complementing the sweet fondant icing.This cake was the 'main feature' at a Christening tea party making the other tea cakes helslf with a bit of help from Grandma and M&S!

If you aren't a natural baker you can always order extra cakes for those special tea parties from DeliCakes as well as the main Celebration Cake - just discuss your specific requirements with Janet  text 07714286911 or email janet@weddingdelicakes.co.uk 

check out some great new designs on www.weddingdelicakes.co.uk