This past Sunday, July 12, I once again participated as a vendor in the largest bridal show in the area, Weddings the Bridal Show in the Nashville Convention Center.  It was a fantastic summer show, much bigger than many of my fellow vendors and I anticipated.  I debuted all new cakes and they seemed to have drawn attention of many brides that day.  

The first cake I wanted to showcase is the star of the first 3 seconds of the upcoming movie New Moon, the second in the Twilight series by Stefanie Meyer.  Bella’s birthday cake caught my eye the first time I saw the trailer with the beautiful bright Gerbera daisies and varying shades of green stripes.  Yes, in the book Bella’s birthday cake was pink and I don’t know why they changed it but my favorite color is green so I was thrilled they did.  Thomas Haas of Fine Chocolates in Vancouver made the original for the movie so he deserves props.  Bella, as I lovingly call the cake, had her own table and stand (that I picked up from Hobby Lobby at 80% off and painted to suit my tastes) so she could be showcased accordingly.  Now she’s sitting on a speaker near my computer so I can look at her whenever I want to.  I think she’s just that beautiful. 

I was looking in several places for inspiration when choosing what cakes to design and I asked my mom to send me some random pieces from her jewelry box.  The one that caught my eye immediately was a necklace that had a shiny black stone painted with white whimsical flowers.  I knew that would make a great cake immediately.  I used fondant cut-outs that I shaped to my desire and decided another tier needed some brush embroidery.  It seemed to be missing something when I was finished so I covered a 4″ tier with black fondant and glued the necklace to it with royal icing.  I LOVED it when it was completed. 

I am not a huge fan of cornelli lace, but I decided to use the piping technique on my red ribbon cake.  Cornelli lace is accomplished by using a tiny tip to pipe a somewhat random pattern close together, but keeping the lines from touching.  It’s a unique look that was actually very beautiful finished off with a beaded border to look like wide lacy ribbon around each tier.  This cake was finished off with a fluffy fondant bow with cascading fondant ribbons.  It was placed on a puffy base of satin that I made just for the show.  I think the look was striking. 

My “simple” cake was fondant sponge painted with edible paint in dark ivory, light brown, and avacado colors for a woodland type theme.  It was finished off with several hundred fondant and gumpaste leaves brushed with luster dust.  I outlined random leaves in the dark green color to make them stand out.  

The Tuscan cake began with marbelized burgundy fondant on hexagons.  The bottom tier was finished off with hundreds of pleats to make it resemble a fancy tablecoth and the bottoms of the pleats were painted with gold luster dust.  It was holding a large mug (for wine of course) made of fondant and gumpaste.  That was the base for the next three tiers of monograms and filigree lace painted with more gold dust.  The top tier held a handmade gumpaste bowl filled with grapes to complete the theme.  The cake was decked out with gold trim and ivory beading.  I think it’s spectacular.  

I also showcased some mini cakes covered with fondant for those who like a very personal touch for their guests or tables.  There were 3 two-tier cakes with various piped dots, monograms, flowers and swags and 2 little single tier cakes covered and trimmed simply with a flower and leaves on each.  The highlight was the bridal pair dressed in their wedding best for the big day.  The tiny bride cake wore a pleated skirt and princess cut bodice complete with a bow in the back and edible pearls.  She had a lovely tiny bouquet of white flowers with pearl centers.  The groom wore a classic tux with pinstripe black pants and white shirt with collar and black bowtie.  They were quite a handsome couple that drew many brides in for a closer look. 

I need more than one blog to talk about all the wonderful people and ideas from the Nashville Bridal Show so look for more to come!