I had the pleasure of making a fun and unique wedding cake for one of the sweetest brides I’ve ever met on October 3rd.  Brittney and her mother came to me in July after being very disappointed in the places they’d looked at already.  She fully admitted I hadn’t been her first choice of decorators as she thought they would go with someone closer to Franklin where the wedding was to take place.  After we met for a consultation and to try samples, we signed a contract immediately and she’s happy she did. 

Brittney knew exactly what cake she wanted right away.  She had seen a cake by Elizabeth Loudon on the Martha Stewart site that she loved but wanted to change it slightly to make it truly custom and unique.  Brittney’s colors were brown, mauve, and ivory and she decided she wanted the cake to be mauve.  Now, I will admit that I tried to talk her out of this but she  insisted.  She knew that her table coverings would all be brown and she didn’t want the cake to be ivory with her accent colors.  She loved the thought of a towering mauve cake with ivory roses and brown fiddleheads so I obliged.  A bride should have what she dreams up for her wedding day! 

Brittney had decided to make her own cake stand as well and I encouraged the thought.  After hearing what she planned, I found a 16″ round styrofoam cake dummy for her to cover with fabric.  She found a lovely ivory and brown damask printed fabric and glued it to the styrofoam.  It turned out beautifully and was perfect for her cake. 

Brittney and Tim were married in at outdoor ceremony at the picturesque Historic Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN.  “From two American Presidents to socialites at soirees, Historic Carnton Plantation has been a gathering place for ladies and gentlemen over the last two centuries. Now, the history of Carnton has been memorialized in the best-selling novel The Widow of the South.” 

It was a perfect day with a cool breeze and intense sunshine.  Their wedding in early evening couldn’t have been a better time or day.  They had a large tent set up behind the guests where the reception was going to take place and just as the wedding music was beginning, the caterers and I were arriving.  Brittney and her vendors timed this perfectly as she knew she didn’t want to have the cake or food sitting out in possible sunshine for hours before the reception.  It seemed to be a very smooth transition with her coordinator, Jessica Ellis, there to keep things moving.  I did hear Jessica mention she wished there were 10 of her right then, but I’m sure every coordinator feels that in the middle of organized chaos.  I think she did a terrific job! 

The flowers were done by Renee Hedgepath and they were beautiful.  The roses that she left for the cake were so big and amazing, I hated to cut them.  The centerpieces were amazing as well.  They were a rustic elegant kind of design with wooden planters, twigs, tiny candles, roses, and moss.  Thank goodness I took a picture because obviously my description doesn’t do them any justice. 

I was so thrilled to sneak a few pictures of Brittney after the cake was set up.  I only wish I had a bigger lens to take a great closeup of Tim’s look on his face when he saw her.  She looked so beautiful and the way he was looking at her almost brought me to tears.  <sigh> 

Tim’s favorite cake is Funfetti-yes, I gasped at the thought too…but made my version of the colorful cake complete with sprinkles in the filling for their top tier and also the honeymoon heart cake.  I hope he was as pleased with my recipe.  LOL  Their other flavors included Carrot Cake with Cheesecake filling, Strawberry Cake with Strawberry filling, and Sour Cream Almond Cake with Fresh Raspberry filling.  The cake was enrobed with mauve colored Almond Buttercream and adorned with fresh ivory roses and chocolate fondant fiddleheads that I made and a few touches of edible gold glitter, also per Brittney’s request. 

Brittney is one of those people that warms your heart from the second you meet her.   I’m almost sad that her wedding is over and I won’t be planning with her anymore but I’m thrilled she found the man of her dreams.  A generous and sweet soul like her deserves all the happiness in the world. 

Brittney and Tim, may the sun always shine down on your love as bright as it did on your wedding day.