Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday Sweets: Wedding Wonders

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Shaped and themed cakes are awesome, of course, but I still drool and dream over more traditional wedding cakes, too. After all, they've come a long way from just simple tiers with flowers - even the simple tiers with flowers!

Submitted by Ariadne, made by Sweet Life Patisserie

Love this SO MUCH.


And take a look at this amazing "fabric" pleating:

Sub'd by Joey S., made by Delectable by Su

Hard to believe those tufted pinwheels and embroidered borders are all sugar. It's so perfect!


And check out the string work on this engagement beauty:

Sub'd by Rachel, made by Hana of A Piece of Cake

I love the curls on the top tier, and the piping on the bottom lace collar and upper level strings is simply awe-inspiring. Skill like this always renews my faith in cake artistry. :)


Here's a sweet dress-inspired design:

Sub'd by Becky N., made by Jackie Nelson

Look at the design at the bottom of the skirt ruffles!


And how's this for a modern twist on a classic?

Sub'd by Tifany D., made by Elizabeth's Cakes

If you've never stacked or tried to support cakes in the shape of a ball before, let me assure you: it's hard. And all that detail! Totally swoon-worthy.


Another rounded design:

Sub'd by Emily T., made by See-Through-Silence

See that lace border on top? Someone piped that. Yeah. Respect!


And speaking of mad piping skills:

By Tom S. of The Cake Gallery

Whoah. This reminds me of the Victorian-themed Grand Floridian resort here in Orlando. Frills and bows and hand-piped lace, oh my!


Or, for a more modern touch:

Sub'd by Danielle L., baker unknown

This has been one of my favorite designs since before I even started CW. I love the swirls and the bold flowers.


Or, how about John's favorite?

Sub'd by Chrystal B., made by Sugarbelle Cakes

WOW. Just...wow.


And finally, the cake that had me scooping my jaw off the desk:

Sub'd by Ashley D., made by Susan Trianos (aka Peecheekeeno)

That's all *cake*, guys. Look at that tufted tier in the middle. LOOK AT IT. Now, tell me: how the heck do they DO that? Not to mention the perfect corset lacing, the bows, the ruffles, the porcelain-perfect gumpaste roses...seriously, I think I could stare at this all day. Just. Gorgeous.


Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.
Sarah said...

I LOVE the first one, and John's favorite, and the last one is just... so... WOW!

Monica said...

It is simply wrong for that last cake to have an unknown baker! Mad props for Unknown! Please let us all know who you are!

Mary Kirkland said...

That rounded black, white and red one is my favorite...just beautiful.

Shenaniganizer said...

Whoa. Seeing as how I am never planning on getting married again, I am so stealing the swirl and flower cake for my 30th birthday!!!!!

Renee Nefe said...

You know you've just increased the price tag of my 12y/o daughter's dream wedding by double!

I want most of those cakes and we've been married nearly 20 years!

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

I love the more modern ones with cleaner lines and less foofy colors.

The others - the pearly, pink, lavender and white ones...well...they are all very well done. I can't fault the mad skills of the baker.

But I don't like them.

Too foofy.

Bratfink said...

I am always speechless on Sundays.

J. said...

Those cakes make me want to get married all over again. Possibly to my husband. ;-)

Just curious, by mad piping skills, do you think that's because trying to pipe like that makes people go mad?

Tina (sk8bettyT) said...

The first one absolutely appeals to my nerdy color-obsessed personality!

Blaine said...

the cake looks nice. I want to buy that cake. how much does that cake cost?

Anonymous said...

Wow. I love John's favourite. And did you see the smaller cake in the last cake background? That isn't so bad, either! ;)

Unknown said...

These are gorgeous!!! I adore the black and red design. It looks literally like a bride holding a bouquet! Neat idea!

Ellen said...

I have no cake-decorating skills at all, and no patience with inanimate objects.

To me, people who can do work like this are utterly amazing.

wv - ikers

Ikers my clumsy hands, but bless those of good cake decorators!

Jade said...

The last cake belongs to Peecheekeeno, a member of Cake Central. Her real name is Susan Trianos, and she created the Tufted Billoweave (TM) technique.

Funny story...that was a cake made for a competition and it was so good...someone stole it!!!!!

Where she talks about it: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-7045221-.html#7045221

*NOTE* You might have to be a Cake Central member to view the post.

Unknown said...

I love the rainbow effect of the flowers on that first one. It doesn't slam you over the head with rainbows, but presents an elegant transition through the cave. Bravo.

And I'm with John...the butterflies are amazing! There too, the way the colours shift with the movement of the butterflies is extremely well done, reminiscent of how actual butterflies have subtle colour variations as they move in the light.

These cakes are truly humbling.

NiteNurse said...

This is a jaw dropping collection. Whether the designs are to my taste or not, I am AWED. I hope some of the "baker unknown" cakes get attributions.
And thanks. All the happiness and hope represented by these confections really truly picked up my mood. (blizzard on the way and I was a little low.)

Happy Sunday Everyone!!

wv: tuakers. If scenic, a great place for wedding!

Lady Anne said...

I've been doing cakes for years. HOW do they get string piping to look decent when it drapes UP instead of DOWN?

Paul said...

It's nice to see some amazing cakes on Cakewrecks as well !!

Jeanette said...

Oh my goodness those cakes are GORGEOUS!! I really admire the talent that went into those!!

Anonymous said...

GORGEOUS!!!

Anonymous said...

I've just asked my husband for a divorce so we can remarry and have that beautiful butterfly cake.

Anonymous said...

the last cake is susan trianos she's a fab cake decorator she is on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Trianos/559591104?sk=photos#!/photo.php?fbid=407232221104&set=a.407231871104.175815.559591104&theater

Kim

Lucy said...

....................................... Wow seriously DOES NOT COVER THESE CAKES!!!!! My jaw was almost touching the floor with these beauties! Love the butterflies! And the round ones! And the .. and the ... Oh I just adore them all!! These are, I think, the most awesome cakes you have ever showed on CW! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!! I need another Thesaurus to find more words...

Dedi said...

I'm with John on his favorite.W-O-W

Jenn said...

I LOVE Sweet Life! Not only are pretty much all of their cakes/pastries beautiful, but so freaking delicious as well. Mmmm....

Melissa Thomas said...

Wow, thank you so much for featuring me this sunday! I still can't believe it. All of these cakes are amazing and I am awed by all of them!

Karen said...

I want the one with the blue butterflies. I **so** want the one with the blue butterflies!! %)

mickeyp415 said...

as always, some fab stuff. i love the 3rd one (all white with just the tiniest hint of color) and the butterfly one. (would have loved this even more if the butterflies were just a touch lighter in color... but that's just me.)

Marisol said...

I really don't know which one to pick as all of them are incredible, the black and white, the swirls and flowers, there really are no words to describe them

Sandy C Also in So Fla said...

The look of the first, with the color progression, is perfect.

And the last one is flawless. I remember when Susan entered it into the cake contest and discovered it stolen. I could not imagine being in that position after all that work.

Her tutorial on the tufted technique is being published in Cake Central Mag.

Another inspiring Sunday Sweets.

Unknown said...

I think it'd be a darned shame to take a serving knife to ANY of them! But after you take some photos, they're not much good for anything else, are they?

WV: trombuct. Um, I was taking a trombone ride and it bucked me off.

Sarah Nelson said...

Do you suppose any of these people use the new Cricut cake machine for details? It cuts intricate designs out of fondant and is pretty amazing, though soul-less IMHO because a machine is doing it.

Gary said...

How many years of work does it take to make a cake like that last one?

John Daniel said...

I want to go on my honey-moon with the pink, voluptuous cake at the bottom.

andrea said...

Can you guys post pics of your own wedding cake, just for fun? I'm sure it wasn't a wreck.

Anonymous said...

All these cakes are wonderful. I always like the Sunday sweets, it's good to see them. Reminds me I still need to perfect my skills haha!

But, even as beautiful as these cakes are, I wish they were displayed on something a little nicer then a piece of wood covered in foil. I mean they DESERVE a better presentation then that. Please invest in some nice cake plateaus. Actually, think of all the money you eventually save on NOT buying wood/foil boards! Think green! ^^ haha

Also the answer to get perfect string piping that goes up instead of down is this. First turn the object upside down. You might have to elevate it using something like a metal ring etc. in order to pipe it cleanly. Then pipe the royal icing on. Let it harden up and turn the piece over after (very carefully haha). There you go :D!

RachelD said...

The engagement cake with the exquisite stringwork is one I sent in a while ago. It's by a gifted baker named Hana in Hungary.

She does the most wonderfully crafted creations---I think they are just from her home kitchen.

http://hanascakes.blogspot.com/

Could you please give her credit for this gorgeous cake?

rachel

Caryn F. said...

While all of the cakes are masterpieces, I think my favorite is the 8th one down, with the silver swirls and the blue flowers. How did they know that blue's my favorite color?

Anonymous said...

People actually eat these things? I seriously can't contemplate chopping them up into serving sizes, much less attempting to apportion out the flowers, butterflies, etc. evenly. I'd be like "OK, you guys, we're buying a really huge freezer and keeping this forever. You're getting nothing. There may be some dessert on the buffet."

wv: demout "The jaw drops, but demout gets nothing to eat."

Valerie said...

Those cakes are breath taking! I don't know if I like the first one or the one with the blue butterflies the best. Wow!

Hana Rawlings said...

Wow, thank you very much for featuring my lace work engagement cake amongst all those amazing Sunday Sweets: Wedding Wonders.
Hana
www.hanascakes.blogspot.com
PS Lady Anne, you need to turn the tier upside down to do the piping. Once the icing dries, just flip it back again. Let gravity work for you, a steady hand and draft free room will help as well :) Happy piping!

Kimberly said...

I'm so happy you put in the "more modern touch" cake... I love that one! I took that picture to my baker as inspiration for our wedding cake last year..so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

but do they *taste* good?

Genevieve said...

I saw this last cake in person at that baking show in Toronto. It is even more stunning up close! I didn't get a picture of it that time. Glad I found it here! Love Sunday Sweets!

Mags said...

I LOVE the second one with the cock-eyed tier. Awesome!!

Stephanie G. said...

i am in awe that the green with purple flowers is your favorite cuz it's MY FAVORITE TOO! has been ever since i started cake decorating about 5 years ago now. I know who the baker is but I can't put my finger on it. i wanted to say it was a Colette Peters, but i believe i'm wrong :p

Anonymous said...

I have to know, do people eat these? It would be a shame not to.. but how could you cut into them? They are too pretty!

gabbyology said...

I literally gasped when I saw the butterfly cake. Just exquisite. I love Sunday Sweets.

Anonymous said...

WHOA, that blue butterfly cake literally brought tears to my eye the moment I scrolled down to it. No kidding, completely serious, I'm crying over a freakin cake. I would do unspeakable things to have that at my wedding but I'm terrified to ask for something like that cause I can guarantee I will be let down by what I actually get. Thanks Cakewrecks for giving me a complex over my wedding cake!

Sara said...

I'm gonna have to stop reading Sunday Sweets on my iPhone. The pictures are much better if they're bigger, I'm sure! I think I'm with the commentor who is getting divorced so she can remarry and have a fab cake. Or my 10th anniversary is coming up this Christmas... maybe we'll just have an anniversary party!

tarichuck said...

I love those butterflies! And that last one...holy smokes is it impressive!

Anonymous said...

The white-on-white engagement cake is simply exquisite! Were that my cake, the only knife that'd be allowed anywhere near it would be the one I was gripping, waving around, and sobbing "Noooooo! Don't touch! DON'T TOUCH!!!"

Amapola said...

The pink multitiered, multi-bowed one is, IMO, thisclose to being a wreck :-} I mean, the piping is gorgeous, the quality of work is amazing but there is SO much going on!

webchyck said...

I think these were some of the most amazing cakes you've ever shown! The artistry is divine!

Anonymous said...

While I can respect the effort thats been put into those cakes, I think wedding cakes are stinking boring. Why do most gals (and some vain guys) want to do something boring like lace, flowers, ribbons, butterflies, etc on their cakes?
I'm think of putting dinosaurs on mine :)

Spankey0370 said...

I am AMAZED at these. to be that good is a dream of mine!

Anonymous said...

O ... M ... G
I'm just gobsmacked at the utter perfection of these cakes! (Seriously, the standard wreckerators need to take lessons from these guys).
The piping skills on display in cake #3 (all white, with gorgeous piping) look rather like those on my engagement cake. But those butterflies are just awesome (Wish I'd had those!)
Cakes #6 (black and white with red roses) and #8 (yellow/lime with swirls and cascading purple flowers) are so striking and different! I am totally in love with them! (Especially #6)
#9 (clean plain white with curling cascade of blue butterflies) is similar to my wedding cake. I had plain white but with that curling cascade of deep purple irises (all made of sugar). I still love it.
But #4, #5, #7, and #10 just blew me away. I cannot fathom the amount of work that must have gone into those cakes. The corset lacing is just jaw-dropping, and that puffy quilting ... how do they do that???? And as for all that piped lacework in #7 ... I'm SO impressed, I'll have to invent a new word to describe that level of being impressed!
I'm with Shenaniganizer ... unless hubby and I renew our vows and have another "big day", there's not another wedding in my plans, but my 40th is only a few years away so I think I'm going to have to steal a few ideas from here for my cake.

Elizabeth
Sydney, Australia

Tina said...

Yay! I'm so excited to see Sweet Life on here. They are the most amazing place. If you live in Eugene, Oregon, then you know all about them. If you're ever passing through, you must go grab a pumpkin cookie or cupcake there! They also have an incredible assortment of vegan treats! Super yummy!

Amanda said...

Q from Sweet Life (first cake) made my wedding cake. She is AMAZING! Our cake was beautiful and So delicious!!

Maureen said...

Wow -- SUPER! I love all the beautiful daisies on these cakes.

B.J. said...

Those are so lovely! I love when you point out something is all cake since I watch Cake Boss a lot and it seems they only use cereal treats to sculpt EVERYTHING. Ugh.

Sarah said...

I love the modern one towards the end with the swirls and flowers! Absolutely beautiful! I saved the picture to reference for my own wedding! :)

eugeneteam said...

SWEET LIFE! Freaking love that place. If you're ever in eugene, OR you have to visit there. Everything is awesome there!

Anonymous said...

I've always been one of those "big fancy wedding cakes are dumb, let's just get something that tastes great" types of gals.

Never. Again. That first cake - WANT!

Now where did that pesky boyfriend go? We need a proposal, stat!

KB said...

Today's post was just breathtaking. I usually get hungry for cake when I read your blog, but it is unimagininable that people could cut into these works of art and actually eat them!

jeliecam said...

These cakes are wonderful. They truly show the talent of each baker. It is hard to pick a favourite, but the white engagement cake and the two you picked are amazing.

To those that would not cut into these cakes; remember, that they are created as a temporary work of art intended to be eaten. The artist is honoured when you do so.

For those interested, during the early 1800s, a pastry cook named Mr. Rich, designed his daughter's wedding cake using a church steeple as inspiration for a tiered cake. The book, "Londonders' Larder" by Annette Hope, states that this started the "fashion for tiered and pillared 'bride's cakes' which continues to this day."

Natalie said...

So beautiful!

Arlene said...

Wow to that first cake..just wow. I love all of them and will probably stare at them in wonder for hours. Now who would dare cut into these beauties?

Adorably Dead said...

I loved the one from Sugar Bell Cakes, fantastic.

Craig said...

Thought 1: If my sweetheart sees these, I'll have to get a third job.

Thought 2: It'd be worth it.

Thought 3 (in line with those who can't see cutting into these): This is why there is sheet cake.

If one of these was at my wedding (cue 'Dream On' by Aerosmith), I would so put it in a 3-D scanner, make a model of it and have some fanatically detailed artist-type person paint said model to match exactly. Then and only then would the original be allowed to disappear.

LizHart said...

I am completely flabbergasted by all of these cakes, even the more foofy ones which are not particularly to my taste. Oh, the rounded white cake, what a joy! and irridescent butterflies! And jawdroppingly stunning piping on the engagement cake!

The thing I adore the most though is the bride and groom topper on the first cake - it seems like he's leaning in to kiss her cheek, and it looks so sweet and chic compared to the tacky poorly painted jobs you usually see in cake decorating shops. Want!

I've never posted before despite being a long time reader, but the power of piping has broken me at last!

Dan and Rondi Tuten said...

The other day we were watching
"Graham Norton" on BBC America, where once he had featured your website, and he again featured you...this time by advertising your book, and giving a copy to Kate Hudson! We are so proud of your accomplishment!

Ashlee said...

I'm with John on this one: those blue butterflies are super gorgeous!

~Ashlee
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com | Handmade gemstone jewellery

Unknown said...

Gorgeous!

Am I the only one that thinks that the black and red one looks like a pregnant bridesmaid?

strbuk said...

They are all lovely to look at, but sadly I'll bet they are not all lovely to eat. I honestly think we've gone a bit to far towards the appearance over substance.

Becky said...

I love, love, love the first one! Absolutely beautiful!

Becky said...

My mom created cake #4, the dress-inspired cake. Decorating had been her full-time job for 15 years, and let me assure you she took just as much pride in the quality of her baking as her decorating. She no longer is able to decorate as much due to what I'm sure many decorators are familiar with, carpal tunnel. But, you can still get one of the most crazy delicious cakes you've ever had out of her!

Dharmamama said...

So, on the second one... you think the crooked tier is on purpose? 'Cause nothing else on the cake is tilted. It really looks like a mistake, covered over by flowers, but I don't know how that mistake could occur! And if it's on purpose, it's just kinda... weird, since nothing else is topsy turvy. Beautiful! But weird.

Anonymous said...

The wedding cakes were AWESOME. I love seeing good wedding cakes as much as I love seeing the wrecks. Though after seeing these I am starting to rethink doing my own wedding cake, even if it's not going to be like these.

DJ

Unknown said...

These are so beautiful, and worth every penny...any idea how much these cakes sell for?

missalg said...

Just curious--are those flowers on the first cake sugar or fresh cut? If they're baker-made, that would be the best use of color/shape in sugar flower creation I've ever seen. And, of course, if they're fresh, great use of flowers!

Really love all of the cakes; the handwork is so exquisite on some of them with the lace and piping.

WV: pickedle I picked le cake, and then I changed my mind yet again when I saw the next one.

Ekio Locatiare said...

Oh my droolworthy cake dreams.

That stacked sphere cake, dreamy. Could you imagine it in steampunk colors?

And the last. Simply stunning.
All the cakes are fantastic.

Lady Bright said...

My jaw's on the floor.

Gorgeous.

Love the white on white, tufting, and the blue butterflies!

Way to go for a Sunday!!
!!Di

Anonymous said...

I *love* John's favorite. The butterflies are amazing! I can't imagine the amount of work that went in to that. I wouldn't want to cut into any of these cakes; they're too beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I am sure the last one is a display cake made for a competition and not *real cake*- though I confidently think the maker could do it actual cake. Susan's amazing!!!! Fact checking- priceless.
Sara

Anonymous said...

OK, so I thought the last one was my favorite....until I zoomed in on the white-on-white engagement cake. The butterflies are STUNNING! And the piping...the piping is NOT TOUCHING THE CAKE at some parts! Wha?! How?! The laws of physics don't exist for that cake! Simply magnificent!!

Wolfie said...

WOOOOOOW!!!!! The first one is so pretty. I have a weakness for rainbows ^_^

Joeyz said...

yay. u featured the sweet i sent in! (the one no one else seemed to like ... but to each his/her own) :-)

Tristi Pinkston said...

I'm hyperventilating over the mauve Victorian one.

Natasha said...

These are amazing! 5, 6, 8, and 9 are definitely my favorites. I want to get married just to have one of these cakes!! :3

Peonie said...

I would LOVE to have a cake like the first one for my wedding! So simple but so awesome!

Unknown said...

Thank you SO much for the honor of featuring one of my wedding cakes! I was so excited! And perhaps a bit humbled to be featured with the other amazing cakes. And BTW- my cakes taste AMAZING (ask any of my clients)!!
Thanks Jen- I love this site!