Bake me a Cake!

I've posted about cake before. It's not anywhere near the top of my priority list. So long as it tastes delish, I'm good. My dear old grandma made me promise not to get a grocery store cake. I think her exact words were, "Don't chintz on the cake!" Moments later, she offered to pay for it. Despite her generosity, I was still determined to keep the cake reasonable. After contacting several brides who have been married at our venue, the overwhelming recommendation was for a bakery in the small town of Woodland. Timothy's bakery is much closer to the venue than any of the Sacramento bakeries and has a great reputation. Apparently Tim is the only "certified master baker" in the area.

our samples

Last weekend, my bridesmaid K took a break from her life as a medical student in Ohio to visit me. I made an appointment at Timothy's for Friday morning, and we headed there for some extra sweet breakfast. There's no denying Woodland is a small town, and being in the bakery is like stepping back in time. The air is dense with sugar and the people are refreshingly casual and helpful.

Timothy's is known for their champagne cake, but unfortunately it is too light and airy for a stacked wedding cake. We tried it anyway. It was good, but I wasn't dying over it. Their white cake was really good, nice and moist and dense. We also tried their applesauce cake just for the fun of it. It definitely tasted like a muffin, so good.

This is what the simple edging will look like. source

While I had mostly brought in pictures of 3-tier cakes, when we looked at the crazy-cheap prices (compared to any Sacramento baker) we began to toy with the idea of a fourth tier. Timothy's wife helped me to articulate exactly what I loved about the four pictures I had brought in to show her. She definitely understood what I liked and what I didn't like, and we wound up ordering a 4 tier butter cream with dotted edging. She customized the size of each tier after noticing that I preferred to have each tier be very close in size, rather than having several inches difference. With the 4 tiers we will have more than enough cake to feed the entire crew.

This is the best picture of my favorite 4 tier cake. This is when she noticed that I liked my tiers to be very close in size. I love it! Source

The best part is, I told K before we went in that I was trying to keep the cake at $400. After adding the fourth tier, tinkering with the measurements and adding a fresh strawberry filling, the grand total? $399. Yeah for being under budget!

Making it Yours

I'm so excited to see that the homespun wedding is completely "in" right now. I'm gathering so many inspirational details lately! There's nothing quite like a wedding where the couple's personality really comes through. Kelly and Terrell's wedding is the perfect example. The day was shot flawlessly by Whitebox Weddings (so talented)! I had to share some of the great details!

Craft paper table covers? Oh yeah. How fun to see what little bursts of artistry your friends would leave. If not for all the tables, definitely a great kids table idea.

I'm loving the red buckets.

Oh no. I'm now completely smitten with the multiple cake table. This couple had been together nine years, so they had nine cakes! I love this idea! Our wedding is on our fourth anniversary. Four cakes?

Oh the sewn pocket for the invitations is incredible. I'm loving this idea more and more. The simple red heart motif is perfect. A nice, easy way to tie everything together. Is this wedding not amazing? This is exactly the feel I'd love to have on our day. Warm. Unique. Not over done.

The perfect meal for a cozy wedding. Gotta love that BBQ.

Thank you SO much to Whitebox Weddings for capturing these great detail shots, and for allowing me to share! There are so many more great details from this day, check them out here.

Love of Lavender

Lavender must be very in right now beause I'm seeing it everywhere and am falling in love. Since B is a fan I thought it'd be fun to have it incorporated somehow. I'm loving all of these ideas!


Lavender seating cards.
From Martha

This amazing wedding, shot by Leigh Miller, incorporated dried lavender throughout the day. I'm loving this rustic look.

A great favor or a great alternative to throwing rose petals during the recessional.

From The Bride's Guide

A beautiful way to dress up the champagne toast. I've never tried it but I imagine it tastes good!

From: Martha

Have Your Cake

I've had cake on the brain lately. I decided early on that it was going low on the totem pole. All I wanted was a delicious cake-I decided I didn't need any bells and whistles. I mean who wants a whistle on their cake? Here is an example of a bell and whistle cake. I actually find this one to be incredibly gorgeous and unique.
The Knot.

Then I get a call from Grams, my precious grandmother. "Amy, I want to pay for your cake." Hmmm, "But Grams, I'm not making a big production out of the cake, I already picked out a simple three tiered butter cream that I want. I know the bakery and everything." Long pause. "Well, I just don't want you to cheap out. I want good cake!". Yep. That's my grandma.

I'm thinking round. Simple butter cream color adorned with flowers. The bakery that I'm hoping to go with places the flowers themselves and does a really great job. I wish I could show you the examples, but the photos are on pictage and not cut and paste-able.

photo: the knot

I keep going back to the texture idea. When done well, it really adds a yummy look to the cake. But I've seen it go wrong.

photo: the knot

The fruit and leaves are SO gorgeous. I love the texture of this one as well. But Dear Baker, please remove the cardboard! Thanks...

photo: Terra Tabbytosavit

Make this one round and we have a winner. Gorgeous texture, beautiful flowers and amazing finishing touches. The candles and serving set are magnificent.

photo via: Style Me Pretty

So with Grams' help, I might add a fourth tier-but I don't know. I wished she lived closer so I could take her to a tasting at the baker's. I ended the conversation with, "Gram's when have I ever chinced out on anything relating to food?" She chuckled and said, "Never! I just want to help."

So sweet.

A Shmorgusboard of Sweets

I just love this look. I think I'm still leaning toward a traditional 3-4 tiered buttercream cake, but I think I'm going to ask about this option just to see. The variety of textures, colors and flavors make such a great statement.

photo: by Stewart Marcano, Via Snippet & Ink

Thank You Fiancé, Thank You George

As soon as entered our home I could smell it. Rainbow chip. Fresh out of the oven. Still warm. Pre-frosting. He got it. He didn't confuse it with funfetti like in year one, he didn't wait to bake it until after dinner. My only birthday wish: fulfilled.

Randomly, my DF bakes the best cakes I have ever tasted in my entire life. Better than any baker, better than grandma (I almost feel bad typing that, but it's true). His secret? The George Foreman Roaster. It's large, we use it for nothing else, but it bakes one mean cake. I'm not sure when DF first tried to make a cake in it, but it was long before me because I was introduced to the deliciousness of the Foreman roaster cakes immediately upon move-in. Because it's so bulky we keep it in one of the hard to reach storage cabinets, but it made an apperance today for #25. If you happen to have access to a George Foreman Roaster, I urge you to bake a cake in it immeditately (it comes with a cake tray) you will not be dissapointed. And you can thank me later.

photos: amazon

Quarter Century

I'm 25 today!
All I want for my birthday is this:

Rainbow Chip baby! Photo found on Flickr

cake me as I am

"1200 dollars for a cake? My first car didn't cost me that much!"
"Welcome to the 90's Mr. Baaaanks!"

My secret hope is that someone we know is a baker who can make me my dream wedding cake from a duncan hines rainbow chip cake mix....with rainbow chip frosting. ooooo it's been my favorite since my 7th birthday! I imagine it would be pretty cheap since cake mixes run about 80cents each and frosting is usually around $2. I am only slightly kidding about this idea....

Every article I read about budgets says that if you are working with a tight one, you have to make compromises (of course!). I'm willing! I swear! I just don't want to compromise on the location, food, booze, entertainment or pictures, k? So that leaves a few things that I suppose I am going to have to skimp on. My first thought: cake! I don't care that much about it. I want it to tase good and look like it tastes good (read: no fondant). That's it! I don't care about tiers (sheet cakes it the back are just fine), butterflies, edible flowers, pearls, flavors-nope! Just make it look mouth watering!

one of my original favorites. love the flowers and the polka dots--but it's a little too fancy

This one has been a favorite from the beginning.
I love the ribbed texture. It gives it a little something without being ornate. The light floral touches make it soft and romantic. Very rustic chic.

photo: The knot

This one is a recent find! Doesn't it just look so good! It's definitely simple, andI would probably decide to dress it up with a lil somethin' somethin' just to give it a pop of color, but overall the texture of all those shavings makes it look delectible! Just what I'm looking for! Found via Rebecca Thuss, photo by Gentl & Hyers

I'm LOVING the texture of this cake! Doesn't it have a nice homemade look to it? Again, I probably would add something to it and maybe ditch the ribbon, but I do love it! Photo: the knot.

So-hopefully once I get around to tasting cakes, I wont be anywhere near $1200. I'm prepared for the cake to be on the smaller side. I'd love to really add more to the presentation so it doesn't look like a sad little cake just sitting on a big old table. How adorable is this cake display? The fabric, the topper and the smaller table allow this cake to have so much drama without being 10feet tall. I love this idea and think it would work just as well inside.

Found via Rebecca Thuss