Once bitten forever smitten - Wedding Fairs

In my last blog I discussed the decline in wedding numbers every year and so I have to ask, "why are there so many wedding fairs every Autumn?

I know we ladies like a good excuse to shop but I seriously believe the wedding fair market may now be offering so much choice it is just making things harder for couples to make decisions. Its a good principle to bring all wedding industry services together but now every venue holds at least one wedding fair throughout the winter plus there are the big shows like Leeds Castle and Detling.

Last weekend I exhibited at The Wedding Show at Leeds Castle, there were lots of Brides, Chief Bridesmaids and Mothers having a fun day out window shoopping all the fantastic services the wedding industry can now provide. I only met a handful of Grooms and all of them had a wedding date for the next six months. So it seems to me that guys don't get involved till it gets proper serious or do they just want to be involved in the fun stuff like tasting cake? Joking apart the Bride has a lot more to think about and needs a longer lead time to research the market and plan the details of the big day. However my advice is don't go to every one you see advertised and if your wedding is in the next 6 -9 months go to 2 or 3 shows then start booking your suppliers or you'll miss the chance with the one you really want.

On the point of avalability last year several couples were turned down by Delicakes as there just wasn't the capacity to make any more cakes.  So despite the downward trend in wedding numbers in the UK,  Delicakes have doubled the Wedding Cake capacity for 2012 and either Linda or Janet will take sole responsibility for your cake design, creation and delivery. Mind you even with Linda and Janet working flat out July '12 is definately going to be a tricky month to get a bespoke wedding cake and some couples will have to have the takeaway service or find another less busy cakemaker.

One of the really pleasurable parts of planning is going to your Design and Taste together. Would you buy your Wedding Dress or Tux without trying a few on? Of course not - so why would you order a cake that hasn't been designed and made just for you?

All Design and Taste sesssions in October are now booked but if you are free on November 19th or December 3rd you can book with Janet by email.
Just a quick note to any couples looking forward to a 2013 wedding - why not order a birthday cake or christmas cake so you can have an advance taster of your wedding cake. Best wishes, Janet

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 - Best Value

Are you a price savy bride or a spend thirft groom? The thing is no matter what your normal habits are, when spending on your wedding different rules apply. Who is paying? and are they just handing over a lump sum for you to spend or are they trying to give you something that's not quite perfect. Are the families paying for the reception and the happy couple footing the bill for everything else? Are you hoping to save money by makeing do?

During this wedding season I have had a Sister & Brother, a Step-Mum, a Grandad, and of course the Father of Bride pay for wedding cakes. Paying for the cake is a delightful way of contributing to the couple's big day so providing they still get to choose the cake filling and design its a gift that will be remembered by all of those attending. Savy brides have even been known to add the cake to their wedding list!

 Now I have wetted your appetite with pictures of some of this season's most beautiful wedding cakes there is some good and bad news. Bad news first........due to the ever increasing costs of ingredients, electricity and transport prices will be increasing prices for the 2012 wedding season and theGood News is you still have 4 weeks to book your Design & Taste session and get your 2012 wedding cake at 2011 prices.
Still more Good News.....in order to help you plan your costs I will be accepting the full payment in 3 installments rather than 2 so its easier to reserve the cake of your dreams and pay for it next year.

Book your Design and Taste session now for 2011 prices or come to The Wedding Show at Leeds Castle on October 15th and 16th to register for a discount voucher.  Remember to visit the website for lots more ideas for Wedding Cakes or Birthday Cakes and to Order
Best Wishes, Janet

Once Bitten Forever Smitten - Ultimate Wedding Cake

The ultimate design in my opinion is a four tier cake displayed on a pedestal stand. Perfectly iced in an antique white smooth fondant and decorated with a side design.

This stunning cake has all the elements that I love and that I am sure in time it will become a classic. The fantasy flowers were made to match the flower on the bride's dress and the dusky pink and apple green tinting was used to tie in the bridesmaid's dress colours. The flowers were made in Flowerpaste which means that while technically edible they can be carefully detached from the cake, wrapped in tissue and kept in a keepsake box - perfect for using again on the 1st Wedding Anniversary Cake.

The Ultimate Birthday cake has to be a cake that is just person perfect. Are they simple or complicated? do they like a lot of bling or a sharp style statement? What's their favouite flavour? Do they want to share it with everyone in the office or just their nearest and dearest? That's the beauty of a custom made cake - like a custom made suit you can get a perfect fit.

to order any size cake just email or text me 07714286911and Delicakes will make you the perfect cake.

Once bitten forever smitten - Delicakes Cupcakes in two finals!

What an exciting week - just been notified that both my entries into National Cupcake Week Championships have been shortlisted for the final in London on 15th August. Not sure who my competitors are but the judges are an exceedingly well respected bunch in the baking and cake industry. I have a Chocolate Fudge cupcake in the free from category and a Courgette Cream Pie in the innovation category. Can't wait to see how we get on.
Other news this week is that I am still looking for a bijoux shop/studio in the West Malling/Sevenoaks area - just cannot find the right thing at the right price but I will continue undaunted to bake my cakes from home until the right premises turn up.
I have ordered the uniform's for the staff to wear at The Wedding Show at Leeds Castle in October - they are so retro I had to have them - who cares if they had to be imported from Venice - yes Venice Italy they are to die for.
I could not leave you without a cake picture, so here's wishing Katie and Rob a long and happy marriage which they started by cutting this cake

 Cakes for every occasion can be ordered from Janet at Delicakes by email, or text 07714286911 or phone 01732 843518 office hours.

Once bitten forever smitten - Raise the Cake

The cake should be the centrepiece of the celebration - either on a table on its own or presiding over the buffet table. Call me old fashioned but I like small cakes on stands, especially for afternoon tea receptions. Last week I found a beautiful pressed glass cake stand circa 1950's. It's so stunning I am designing a cake to do it justice which will be on display at The Wedding Show.

 For elegance to raise a cake where the side design is the focus I love this ceramic stand - it gives the imression your cake is floating on air. If you are having an intimate wedding with a smaller cake then choose one of the pedestal stands available to hire from Delicakes or your cake may look a little lost on the venue's big silver platform.

 A traditional stand can make even a very simple cake look stunning as seen here with one of Delicakes take away wedding cakes.

And finally I am looking for a supplier in the UK who can get me the sort of stands I've found on this site where they really do Raise-the-Cake
Contact me for all cake enquiries - you know I'm happy to help 01732 843518, text anytime 07714286911 Email direct or use the website contact form.

Once bitten forever smitten - Creative Cakes

If you are going to pay for a specialist to make you a cake then be inspired - if you can buy one like it at Asda what's the point? Bespoke cakes are for totally indulging your taste buds with sumptuous flavour combinations and for for going wild creatively. Now take this week - its my 5th Wedding Anniversary so wood is the traditional gift but I prefer cake. So this year we have a Dali inspired molten clock cake.

I love to make my own interpretations in sugar of classic themes - so if you have an idea - just ask! Mollie's Daughter asked for her cake to be decorated with her favouite hobby (all these 80 year olds are so active, but maybe that's the secret) so I make a boules cake, its also known as petanque but it doesn't matter. This was a sponge cake perfect for her friends and family to enjoy at a teatime party.

The sand is sugar so the boules rolled around when the cake was carried leaving very realistic trails in the 'sand'.
For more cake ideas seee the Birthday Delicakes website and don't forget if you are getting hitched in 2012 you should book your cake maker before Christmas.
Best wishes, Janet