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The Personal Touch of DIY Wedding Cakes

For many couples, planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but finding the right support can streamline the process significantly. One couple chose their venue based on a friend’s expertise, tapping into their network to create a memorable day. On their visit to get a wedding license, they were pleasantly surprised when a friend who had officiated another wedding offered to lead their ceremony. The couple also sought recommendations for a photographer on social media, ultimately leading to a fantastic offer from one of their favorites. To keep the celebration intimate, they opted for a guest list of merely 30, inviting only their closest friends and family.

Unlike traditional wedding aspirations that often include elaborate decorations and extravagant dresses, one bride’s dream was centered around the cake. Long before the wedding plans took shape or a partner was in the picture, she envisioned baking her own cake. Having previously run a vegan microbakery, even after its closure, cake-making remained an essential part of her life. The decision to create the wedding cake stemmed not only from financial practicality but also as an opportunity to engage meaningfully in the wedding festivities, providing her with a tangible role to fulfill on the big day.

For many bakers, the act of creating a wedding cake is not merely a task but a passion. This sentiment is echoed by Teresa Finney of Atlanta’s At Heart Panaderia, who enthusiastically shared her experience as a bride-baker. Finney crafted a stunning two-tier cake inspired by a classic baking book, using an oil-based vanilla bean for the larger tier and a whimsical hibiscus-flavored top layer.

Wedding planners often find that it is common for couples to want to add a personal touch to their ceremonies through DIY elements. Monica O’Connor, co-founder of New York’s Arch Events, notes that clients frequently desire a hands-on experience that adds uniqueness to their celebration.

Some bakers go above and beyond with their DIY approach. For instance, Alejandra Ramos, host of The Great American Recipe on PBS, not only created an almond wedding cake but also collaborated with caterers to curate a menu reflecting her culinary style. Her cake was infused with flavors reminiscent of Italian rainbow cookies, further enhancing the day’s personal significance.

Ramos expressed her belief that food plays a central role in her life, making her decision to bake her wedding cake an easy one. She saw the celebration as a gathering of loved ones, emphasizing her desire to personally treat them to a culinary experience.

Creating a wedding cake can serve as a reflection of a couple’s identity and shared experiences. The author of this piece, for instance, chose a three-layer chocolate olive oil cake that highlighted her husband’s love for chocolate and her affinity for tahini desserts, while also incorporating a nod to her heritage through the choice of fruit decoration.

Similarly, Hannah Mandel of Forsythia Forsythia in New York used her cake to blend cultural influences. Drawing inspiration from her New York origins and her husband’s California roots, she infused details from both regions into her cake design, making it a celebration of their unique backgrounds.

Ramos, Finney, and Mandel are all experienced bakers, which helped them strategize and prepare effectively for their respective weddings. With the ability to organize baking schedules well in advance, they ensured that their cakes were made with care and precision, embodying their personal touches.

Despite careful planning, minor obstacles can still arise. Finney shared her experience of underestimating the time needed for personal preparation on the day of her wedding, humorously noting that her nails were not up to her standards for the reception. However, she maintained that the success of the cake was worth any small mishaps.

O’Connor offers a crucial piece of advice for those considering taking on the task of baking their wedding cake: manage your time wisely. While creating the cake can be a meaningful gesture, it is essential to balance this task with the plethora of activities and events surrounding the wedding day.

Baking a wedding cake can provide a grounding task amid the excitement and stress of wedding preparations. The intimate experience of crafting a cake can transform a potentially overwhelming event into a memorable adventure. Through the process of baking, couples not only display their culinary skills but also create a tangible representation of their love and commitment.

Alicia Kennedy is the author of No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating and the forthcoming On Eating: The Making and Unmaking of My Appetites. She writes a weekly newsletter called From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy.

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