wedding cake Archives - Cove Cake Design

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Spring Floral Wedding

August 30, 2023/0 Comments/in Real Weddings/by Suzanne Brady

Spring Floral Wedding at the K Club

It was a pleasure to work with Gather Events and a wonderful team of vendors on this spring wedding of Rachel and Joseph. Rachel and Joseph travelled from the US to celebrate with a 3-day event at some of Ireland’s finest venues in Kildare, with the wedding ceremony and reception taking place in the historic surrounds of the K Club Hotel. Enjoy a little snippet of their beautiful day, captured by talented photographer Colin Ross.

The Floral Wedding Design

Wedding planners and event designers Gather Events, curated the beautiful details of the wedding which centred around a spring floral theme.

The Wedding Venue

The intimate outdoor wedding ceremony took place along the tree-lined path in the gardens of the 5-star K Club Hotel. Stunning floral arrangements by the Irish Flower Farmer adorned the start of the aisle and the ceremony backdrop.

The Wedding Reception

The reception was held in the Palmer Room at the K Club Hotel. Guests were directed to their seats with a unique calligraphy flower pot table plan by Calligraphy by Laura. Tables were adorned with floral linen with pillared candles nestled amongst an abundance of flowers by the Irish Flower Farmer.

The Wedding Cake

For the cake, the couple choose a simple 2-tier white cake with linear texture, in flavours of Lemon Cake, Lemon Curd, Blueberry Jam, and Guinness Chocolate with Roasted White Chocolate. The cake was styled nestled amongst a gorgeous array of natural flowers in pretty spring hues.

Warmest congratulations to Rachel and Joseph!

Floral Wedding Vendor Team

Wedding Photographer: Colin Ross
Venue: K Club Hotel
Event Planning & Design: Gather Events
Flowers: The Irish Flower Farmer
Cake: Cove Cake Design
Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Laura
Second Photographyer: Gillian Love Photo

For more real weddings and wedding inspiration browse our Inspiration page.

Suzanne, x

I’m a Hobby Baker – Should I Make The Wedding Cake?

July 27, 2023/0 Comments/in Wedding Cake Tips/by Suzanne Brady

I’m a Hobby Baker – Should I Make the Wedding Cake?

This is a question that is sometimes asked by the bride, groom, or a friend or relative who have a love of baking as a hobby. It is often seen as a way to contribute in a personal way to the wedding day.

So is it a good or bad idea to decide to make your own wedding cake, or offer to create one for a friend or family member? Today I am going to share with you my experience of the pros and cons of baking the wedding cake if you are an amateur baker. Read to the end to see what my ultimate opinion is!

Baker mixing bowl of cream

Should I Make The Wedding Cake – The Upsides

You could save money

Professional wedding cakes are a luxury item and hence can be expensive. You pay a lot of money for the time, skills and professionalism of a wedding cake designer as well as the experience that a beautiful cake offers to you and your guests. If you bake regularly, making a wedding cake can seem like one thing which you, a friend or a family member could do, thus saving on the cost of hiring a professional.

It is a way to add something personal to the wedding

Weddings are personal experiences, with all the details relevant to and inspired by the couple themselves. A cake made by the bride or groom, or close relative, adds another element of family to the wedding day.

It allows you to explore your creativity

Many amateur bakers love the opportunity to try new flavours or techniques in their cake making. There are only so many cakes one can bake on a weekend! So an upcoming wedding may seem like the perfect opportunity to push yourself to the next level in your cake making.

Baker pouring nut praline into bowl

Should I Make The Wedding Cake – The Downsides

It may not save money

Most amateur bakers who decide to make their own wedding cake, or that of a friend or family member, will be unlikely to embark on the project without doing at least one trial run. This could involve a few tests of the cake flavour or recipe, as well as some experimentation in the cake decoration. This may require the purchase of some books, tutorials or lessons to make sure you are confident in your techniques. Additional equipment, such as larger cake tins or decorating tools, may also require purchasing. It is worth considering these potential purchases in working out the cost of making the cake yourself.

It can be very stressful

Ask anyone who has started a cake business and they will no doubt tell you how stressful making a wedding cake can be. There are many factors that feed into the elevated expectations of a wedding cake, not least the increased wow-factor required, the magnitude of the event, and the numbers of guests. Other factors include the cake size, delivery and things that are firmly outwith your control, such as the weather. With years of experience, professionals develop systems, techniques and confidence to manage all of these details. Without that experience, it can be a stressful process. Transporting a wedding cake for the first time in the height of summer anyone?

It is unlikely to comply with food safety legislation

Professional wedding cake makers are trained and certified in the legislation of food safety and food handling practices, giving them the knowledge and expertise through all stages of the process to make cakes that are safe for consumption. They are also fully insured, in the unlikely case that someone does suffer adversely from the product. Many venues may require proof of food safety certification and insurance prior to the delivery of a cake, something that is indeed good practice. Bringing a homemade wedding cake to a venue to serve to a large number of guests, without experience in food handling training and legislation, is very much at your own risk.

So, What do I Think?

Making your own wedding cake, or that of a close family member or friend, is a way of contributing to what is the most personal and exciting of days. If you love to bake and decorate cakes, then it is a great opportunity to practice your skills, and may be a good decision for a smaller and more informal wedding, such as one hosted at home.

In general however, it is ultimately my view that if you value the experience offered by beautifully made and designed wedding cake, then it is best to hire a professional. I personally know the pressure of making wedding cakes, and the skills required to reach a point of creating exquisitely delicious centrepieces with confidence, and in compliance with food safety regulations.

So tick one more thing off your to-do list by booking your wedding cake designer. Enjoy the the wedding cake design process, and delight in having a wow-factor experience to share with your guests as you relax on your wedding day!

For more tips join our mailing list to receive the latest blog posts straight to your inbox.

Suzanne, x

Baker holding decorated white wedding cake

How to Have a More Sustainable Wedding Cake

June 15, 2023/0 Comments/in Wedding Cake Tips/by Suzanne Brady

How to Have a More Sustainable Wedding Cake

Wedding cakes are a luxurious treat and a memorable addition to your wedding day. Of course like everything we consume, their production will have some impact on the planet. But there are small decisions that can be made to choose a more sustainable wedding cake. In today’s blog post I am sharing a few of my top tips.

1. Ask your supplier about their sustainability measures and any advice they may have

Many wedding cake suppliers are working to make their businesses and products more sustainable. From improving their supply chain, to greener energy, don’t be afraid to ask more about what they are doing so you can make informed choices. Your chosen supplier will also be a great first port of call for advice on minimising the impact of your wedding cake.

2. Consider a supplier who is as local as possible to your venue

It is important to choose a supplier who aligns with your wedding style and ethos. Most will have to travel a certain distance to deliver your wedding cake to your venue. Do however try to consider this transport cost by finding a supplier you love that is as close as possible to your venue. Do you really need to fly someone in?

3. Choose an appropriate cake size

Food waste can be a big issue with wedding cakes, and over-ordering will certainly contribute to that. Most wedding cakes are an additional treat after a beautiful wedding meal. As such only small portions are needed, and indeed not everyone may choose to take a slice. I recommend ordering 2/3 the number of portions as guests. Cake only has a short shelf life, so excess may end up being thrown out.

4. Make sure your cake is cut and served

Following on from the point above, it is important to ensure that your cake is served to guests to avoid it being wasted. I have heard stories of the cake not being cut at the wedding, and wonder what happens to it. If you think that it won’t all be eaten, do make a plan for what to do with leftovers. For example you might like to freeze the top tier, or serve the remainder to guests the next day.

5. Consider local and seasonal flavour choices, or vegan options

Choosing flavours that are in season may help reduce the food miles associated with your cake. Similarly vegan options may reduce the carbon footprint of your cake. Do ask your cake maker about options.

6. Avoid fake tiers

Fake tiers are often used in wedding cakes to give the illusion of a bigger cake, or for practical decorative reasons. However these are made from polystyrene and generally get thrown out. To avoid this waste, don’t ask for fake tiers, or if you do want to use them, ask your cake designer if you can return them to them so that they can be washed and reused.

I hope these tips were helpful! If you would like to receive more tips and other cake news, sign up to our mailing list today. If you want to find out more about how your wedding will impact the planet, I found this handy wedding carbon footprint calculator on Mindfully Wed.

Suzanne, x

Ivana Patarcic

Luxury Irish Castle Wedding Inspiration

May 22, 2023/0 Comments/in Wedding inspiration/by Suzanne Brady

Luxury Irish Castle Wedding Inspiration

In the off-peak season it is always a delight to take part in some inspirational wedding editorial shoots, when teams of vendors can get together to be creative, network and generally also have some fun. When destination wedding videographer Emma K Films got in touch over the summer to ask if I would like to create a cake for a Luxury Irish Castle Wedding shoot at Luttrelstown Castle Resort in October, it was a definite yes from me.

Luxury Irish Castle Wedding Moodboard

Emma send a moodboard for the shoot, which spoke of neutral tones, modern elegant fashion and an overall romantic luxurious feel. A fabulous source of inspiration from which to create a wedding cake.

The Wedding Cake Design

One of the features of the mood board that captured my imagination was the oversized sleeves on some of the inspirational bridal gowns. The dress chosen for the shoot from Love Ellie Bridal, had similarly modern voluminous sleeves, a current bridal trend which I adore, on a sleek columnar gown.

I chose to recreate this bridal style (somewhat in reverse!) in the cake, with a ‘puffy’ pearl-covered base tier and smooth top tiers. Simple white sugar roses, similar to those in the bridal bouquet, were the only other decoration.

The cake was beautifully captured by photographer Ivana Patarcic, not least in this stunning image of the bride holding the cake, one of my favourites from the shoot!

The Wedding Shoot

The overall style of the shoot was exquisite. Simply elegant stationery was by Ivory Feather Designs while modern flowers in shades of white were by Total Flower Designs. Table settings were coordinated by Infusion Weddings.

Wedding Editorial Feature

With such modern romantic beauty, it was no surprise that this editorial shoot was snapped up to be featured on prestigious blog, Wedding Chicks.

Luxury Irish Castle Wedding Inspiration Shoot Team

The best part of editorial shoots is getting to work with fantastic vendors and this was no exception. A huge thank you to the whole team who brough this together!

Videographer: Emma K Films
Wedding Photographer: Ivana Patarcic
Venue: Luttrellstown Castle Resort
Event Planning & Design: Infusion Weddings
Flowers: Total Flower Designs
Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Luscious Makeup and Hair
Jewelry: Touch of Venus Jewellery
Wedding Cake: Cove Cake Design
Stationery: The Ivory Feather Designs
Officiant: Bespoke Words
Wedding Dress Shop: Love Ellie Bridal
Groom’s Attire: Bond Brothers

For more editorial shoots browse our Inspiration page.

Suzanne, x

What is the value of a wedding cake?

May 8, 2023/0 Comments/in Wedding Cake Tips/by Suzanne Brady

What is the Value of A Wedding Cake

There are many articles and discussions on what the price of a wedding cake is or what budget you should allocate. But in considering this, what the value of a wedding cake is and what it adds to a wedding day may not always be considered fully, with the budget allocation for a cake often down the list of priorities. In this blog post I am sharing a few reflections on what value a wedding cake brings to a wedding day and why it is hence worth paying for.

1. The Wedding Cake is a Tradition

Wedding cakes are a tradition, apparently dating back to ancient Rome, and a lovely tradition at that. Within the tradition of having a wedding cake however, there are no hard and fast rules any more. The style of cake, when to cut it, and whether to keep the top tier, are all aspects of the tradition that the couple can make their own.

2. The Wedding Cake is a Luxurious Treat

Along with other wedding details such as floral arrangements, wedding cakes are very much a luxury item. But who doesn’t love to treat themselves, especially on their wedding day. Luxuries are expensive, but worth it.

3. The Wedding Cake Contributes to the Overall Wedding Design

Wedding cakes contribute to the overall design of the wedding, with the cake design, flavour and styling complimenting the overall wedding style, and reflecting the location, seasons or personal tastes of the couple. The cake is often a stunning focal point for the reception design too.

4. The Wedding Cake is a Visual and Taste Experience for Guests

A wedding cake is not just a cake. It is an experience for guests. Visual edible cake art and tasting mouthfuls of deliciousness are one of many experiences for guests at your wedding.

5. The Cake Cutting Ceremony is a Classic Photo Opportunity

The cake cutting photo is quite often the one that is taken by all of your guests and widely shared too. From my experience, any photos I have seen of this moment are fabulously fun and filled with smiles and laughter. Something that is priceless!

I hope these insights were helpful! If you would like to receive more tips and other cake news, sign up to our mailing list today.

Suzanne, x

Image credit: Petar Jurica

White wedding cake styled with green foliage

Wedding Cake Budget

March 3, 2023/0 Comments/in Wedding Cake Tips/by Suzanne Brady

Wedding Cake Budget

How much to allocate to your wedding cake budget is a difficult question. Like all aspects of your wedding, there are a huge range of price options available. These ranges reflect variations in the quality, size and detail of the cake itself, as well as the skills, choice and level of service offered by the wedding cake supplier. What you choose will depend on how much you value a small simple, or larger more extravagant wedding cake.

Why Are Wedding Cakes So Expensive?

Firstly it is a good idea to address why wedding cakes are deemed to be expensive. Wedding cakes may seem expensive but they are made by skilled professionals, often on a bespoke basis and on a very small scale. Even the simplest of cakes involves many hours of work, from consultation and tasting through to the creation and set up of your cake. The cost of the product, business overheads and investments also need to be factored in. They aren’t a highly commercial product, but rather a handcrafted artistic item, that is a visual and tasting experience for your wedding guests.

Average Wedding Cake Prices

Wedding cakes are not a priority for everyone, which is perfectly ok. If you do however value a high quality or intricate cake, or need a large wedding cake, it is important to set a realistic budget so that you can get a wedding cake suited to you.

A recent survey by Weddings Online puts the average wedding cake price at €350. Another survey by One Fab Day gave a figure of €700 as the average cost of a wedding cake. Actual cake prices can vary from below these figures to several thousand euro. So what will various price ranges actually get you?

Wedding Cake Budgets – What You Might Expect

After a little research and based on my own pricing, I have compiled a rough guide for what you can expect to pay for quality wedding cakes in Ireland in 2023. There will of course be variations depending on your requirements and your supplier.

It is important to remember that these prices generally include not only the cake itself, but a tasting, consultation and the premium service offered by cake makers to wedding clients. Delivery, stand hire and props, such as florals to decorate the cake table, are usually extra. Do therefore bear that in mind when allocating your wedding cake budget. These details may push your price into the next range.

€250-€700

This range is really the minimum you can expect to pay for a wedding cake. At the lower end you will get a nice single tier wedding cake, with beautiful decoration. Mid-range will get a nice decorated 2-tier cake, while at the higher end of this range you can expect a 2-tier cake with a choice of intricate decorative detail. The upper end will also generally get a simple 3-tier cake, perhaps decorated with fresh flowers. Expect to choose from a standard or limited range of designs or flavours, rather than detailed or custom design.

€700 – €1,000

This lower end of this range will get a premium intricately decorated custom 2-tier cake. This range will also generally get a premium 3-tiered cake, simply iced with fresh flowers, or with some decorative detail such as piping or sugar flowers. 4-tier cakes will probably start at the upper end of this range.

€1,000 – €1500

For this range you can expect to get a premium 3 or 4-tier cake with more intricate handcrafted decorative detail, such as piping or sugar flowers. Custom design options, and additional services such as table styling may be available. 5-tier cakes will probably start within this range.

€1,500 – €2,000

This price range will get a premium custom designed 3 to 5-tier cake as before. A higher level of intricate handcrafted decorative work, such as sugar flowers, or piping will be an option on the smaller sizes. A certain level of decorative detail will be possible on a 5-tier cake.

€2,000 +

A budget over €2,000 will allow for an exceptional 3, 4 or 5-tier wedding cake. You will be purchasing from a premium supplier and choosing a high level of intricate detail.

I hope you find this rough guide useful. You might also be interested in our post on How to Save Money on Your Wedding Cake – Myths and Tips!

If you would like to receive more tips and other cake news, sign up to our mailing list today.

Suzanne, x

Adam and Grace Photo

Wedding Inspiration – It’s All In The Details

January 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Real Weddings, Wedding inspiration/by Suzanne Brady

Wedding Inspiration – It’s All In The Details

The quiet months at the start of the year are always a time to not only plan for the year ahead, but also look to back on some of the highlights of the past year. And as I sit at my desk this January looking back on last year, there were indeed many highlights! One of which was being part of a fabulous team of wedding vendors working to make the vision of Aislinn and Tim a reality for their wedding celebrations. Today I am sharing some beautiful images of their day at Virginia Park Lodge, captured by Adam and Grace Photography. For this wedding inspiration, it’s definitely all in the details!

Wedding Inspiration – The Details

The elegance and style that ran throughout Aislinn and Tim’s day started with the timeless stationery by Lenka Calligraphy, which had beautiful detailing including wax seals and silk ribbon.

Guests were greeted at the church by oversized pots and urns of artfully natural flowers in shades of off-white with hints of soft autumn hues, created by the wonderfully talented The Rosehip and Berry.

The groom wore black tie and the bride wore a stunningly elegant dress, designed by herself and created by Emma Beaumont Atelier.

Wedding Inspiration – Reception Details

The function room at Virginia Park lodge was styled by House of Hannah Events, to create a warm romantic atmosphere on a cold November day. Soft green table linen was the backdrop for displays of florals and fruit by The Rosehip and Berry, on a tablescape that included gold cutlery and stationery by Lenka Calligraphy. Twinkling lights and an abundance of taper candles in warm neutral tones created a warm and welcoming glow.

Wedding Inspiration – Cake Details

Aislinn was a delight to work with, having a clear vision for her wedding day and cake. Her dress had the most fabulous of oversized bows on the back of what was an exquisitely elegant gown. It was a natural choice for inspiration for the wedding cake – a simple white cake with silk ribbon by Betty Williamson. They choose delicious flavours of Chocolate Orange Hazelnut Rosemary, and Lemon Blueberry Coconut.

Key to the success of the cake design was of course the styling details. The couple chose to display the cake in the drinks reception area, a great idea to allow guests to see and take photographs of the cake. Three white plinths were used to display the cake, alongside flowers, an abundance of candles, and calligraphy cake flavour cards.

Aislinn and Tim had a clear vision for creating a warm, romantic and elegant wedding day. Thank you so much for asking me to play a little part alongside an incredible team!

Wedding Photographer: Adam and Grace Photo
Film: Dreamcatcher Films
Venue: Virginia Park Lodge
Styling: House of Hannah Events
Flowers: The Rosehip and Berry
Hair: Angeline Toner
Makeup: Natasha Ray
Jewelry: Lori Muldoon
Wedding Cake: Cove Cake Design
Stationery: Lenka Calligraphy
Wedding Dress: Emma Beaumont Atelier
Groom’s Attire: Statement Menswear

Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together as husband and wife.

For more real weddings and wedding inspiration browse our Inspiration page.

Suzanne, x

Christina Brosnan Photography

Romantic Country Estate Wedding

October 14, 2022/0 Comments/in Real Weddings, Wedding inspiration/by Suzanne Brady

Romantic Country Estate Wedding

Summer of 2022 has been such a busy one, I have a backlog of gorgeous client photos to share! First up is the romantic country estate wedding of Christina and Tom, beautifully captured by Christina Brosnan Photography.

Christina and Tom travelled with family and friends from the US to host their wedding celebrations in the gorgeous surrounds of Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. They employed the talents of wedding planner Lindsay of House of Hannah Events, to style their day. Having worked with Lindsay on numerous weddings, it was a delight to collaborate with her in creating the wedding cake for this beautiful event.

Romantic Country Estate Wedding

It is easy to see why Christina and Tom chose their venue. Powerscourt Estate is a country house estate comprised of 47 acres of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, ornamental lakes and rambling walks. Overlooking the gardens is Powerscourt House, a Palladian mansion house which has exquisitely beautiful rooms available for weddings and private hire.

The Wedding Style

The classic beauty of the house and gardens was inspiration for the overall wedding palette and style. Shades of pale grey, reminiscent of the stone of the house, mixed with deeper navy, pretty pastels and opulent tones. The palette and style was exemplified in the exquisite stationery by Lenka Calligraphy. Flowers by Patsie and Co were romantic yet informal in style, exuding that air of just-picked freshness.