We just LOVED this cake that was made for Sara for her wedding at the Hilton Garden Inn Pier House in Kitty Hawk, NC on a beautiful October day this year.
Sara brought an image of a cake that she liked with her to her tasting appointment and her and Marsha were able to work together to design this amazing cake. They began by using the image as a starting point and personalized the cake so that it would be perfect for Sara and Chris’s wedding day.
All of the details were so well thought out and executed! This cake was absolutely breathtaking…almost too good to eat…almost!
- Love is Sweet
Want to give your wedding guests or party guests a little something sweet as a take home gift? Individually packaged cupcakes are a great idea to satisfy their sweet tooth and say “thank you” for attending the event. There are many different types of packaging on the market that you can purchase to wrap up your personal sized cupcakes and add your own unique touches. Check out these boxes from www.dolce.swaymyway.com
You can personalize your cupcake boxes with ribbon, labels, polka dots in the wedding or party colors, flowers, rhinestones, or even a fun print. Once you have stylized your packing to match your event, deciding how to display them is just as much fun.
This cupcake favor is adorned with a pretty flower to match the blue print and little tag that says “New Home”
You can stack your cupcake boxes in a tier formation to look like a wedding cake, you can display them at each guests seat at the table, or even on the cake table.
Next time you are having a party, consider giving away cupcakes as the party favor. Your guests will love to be able to enjoy some yummy cake even after the party has ended.
Feel free to contact us about your cupcake order and ask about the other types of party and wedding favors we have available as well: info@greatcakes.net
- Love is Sweet
From traditional to humorous, there are a number of different types of cake toppers that you can choose to customize your wedding cake…
Traditional Wedding Bell Topper (possibly a family heirloom from Grandma’s wedding day)
Contemporary Version of Bride and Groom Topper (for a simple elegant look)
Confection Bow Topper (adds a touch of whimsy)
Personalized to Resemble the Bride and Groom Topper (why not have the topper look like the “read deal”?)
Fresh Fruit Topper (this is a perfect way to incorporate wedding colors in the cake design)
Themed Topper to Match Wedding Location (helps you wedding cake fit into the scenery)
Fresh Flowers (a great way to add a splash of color and match the bouquets)
Humorous Topper (always good for a giggle)
Whatever style you decide to go with, it will surely “top off” your special day! Feel free to browse the selection of toppers that we have for sale on our website.
- Love is Sweet
Have you ever seen a wedding cake that lights up, from the inside? Neither had we, until recently. One of our brides, Alicia, (who had her wedding at The Sanderling Inn in Duck, NC on August 11th) came to us with a design for a wedding cake that was absolutely amazing…
Marsha and everyone on the Great Cakes! team worked on the design of this cake to find a way to bring this design to life. Marsha had the best time using all her creative ideas to make this beautiful, light-up cake. After much thought in the “think tank” Marsha was able to fulfill Alicia’s dreams for her wedding cake.
Many thanks to Brooke Mayo Photographers for providing us with these breathtaking images of Alicia’s cake during the daylight hours as well as the evening hours (when the cake really shines!)
www.brookemayo.com
www.brookemayo.com
- Love is Sweet
Due to hurricane Irene, the coast of the Outer Banks has been altered leaving us with two new inlets and damaging the road to the southern beaches. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our fellow Outer-Bankers in the South and to all who have had disrupted travel plans.
Since you might not be able to travel south to see the Bodie Island Lighthouse on your sightseeing trip around the Outer Banks, here it is in cake form!
“Bodie Island Lighthouse” cake (feel free to inquire about your lighthouse cake at: info@greatcakes.net)
Some other spots you will want to add to your list of places to see while on the Outer Banks:
- Corova (otherwise known as 4 x 4). Go check out the wild horses running free and enjoy a relaxing day on the beach. Note: you WILL need a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
- Wright Brothers National Memorial. The Outer Banks is home of the first flight. See where the first flight took place!
- Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This is the tallest natural sand dune on the east coast. Note: avoid going on a windy day…talk about sand burn.
- North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo. They have an amazing shark tank. Not to mention, this is a popular wedding venue that always makes for breathtaking pictures.
- The Lost Colony in Manteo. After an afternoon at the Aquarium, enjoy the production at The Lost Colony that brings to life the mystery of the lost colony. Note: Bring bug spray.
Enjoy your trip around the Outer Banks taking in all it has to offer!
- Love is Sweet
Many thanks to Elizabeth for choosing Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks to make her extremely special wedding cake for her July 2011 wedding at the Sanderling Inn. The entire team had a blast making this cake. Marsha put her heart and all of her creative abilities into creating this one of a kind masterpiece. Thanks again Elizabeth and Congratulations on your new life!
- Love is Sweet (and sometimes a little bit wild!)
As we are in the midst of another wedding season, Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks wanted to share with you some of the wedding cake trends from this year…
Flavors
This is not a new trend for Great Cakes! as we offer so many delectable flavors, but was worth mentioning all the same. Wedding websites have noted that this year has shown a rise in the number of brides that are venturing out from the traditional “white” cake and going with different flavors. At Great Cakes! we offer a range of flavors that will please any palate. Of course, our signature flavor is the most popular, Key Lime Bliss, perfect flavor for a beach wedding that will keep your guests talking about your cake for years. We also offer a range of other of delicious flavors, including an amazing “white” cake as well. Feel free to browse our selections by clicking on the “Menu” tab.
Vintage
Vintage styles have been quite popular this year for everything from dresses to decorations. Our brides have enjoyed applying this style to their wedding cakes as well for a beautiful touch of “something old” on something tasty!
Height
This year has shown that brides are looking to go BIG. Tall, that is. Whether the bride has ample guests or just wants to create a grandiose effect, cakes are gaining height! One of the best ways to add altitude to your cake is with a cake stand. Great Cakes! has a variety of cake and cupcake stands that we rent. These can be viewed by clicking on the “Menu” tab and then clicking on “Toppers and Stands”.
This beautiful wedding cake is shown on our 18″ ivory pedestal stand from “Sarah’s Stands”
Bling
In 2011, Great Cakes! has created cakes that had some major “razzle dazzle”. Our brides this year have been introducing sparkles on everything for their big day, including their cakes! If you are looking to add some “bling” to your cake, Great Cakes! has some amazing, edible “sparkle dust” that can be added to your cake by request. Of course, we can also add your own personal “bling” as well as can be seen in the image below.
Dramatic Flowers
Large dramatic flowers can be seen on many wedding cakes this 2011 season. Having just a single or just a few of these edible handmade flowers on your cake adds an elegant and striking effect.
Color
Splashes of color are all the rage for the 2011 wedding season. Our brides this year have really taken to adding color to their cakes to tie in their theme and add a punch of color. Conversely, another hot trend this year is a black and white theme. When not going with a bright color, our brides have found that a traditional black and white design is the way to go.
Photo courtesy of Shelley Chamberlin Photography: www.shelley-chamberlin-photography.com
What will 2012 hold for wedding cake trends? Only time will tell. Everyone here at Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks is eager to see what the future holds while we enjoy these amazing designs for the remainder of 2011!
- Love is Sweet
Wedding Insurance. What? Why? When? Where?
In light of recent weather events, Hurricane Irene, we wanted to share some helpful information about wedding insurance. As a bride or mother of the bride or anyone helping plan a wedding, you will most likely think of everything from the most important things such as wedding cake (yum!) and a wedding dress to the most detailed items such as the color of ribbon in the flower girl’s hair. One other thing to add to your list of considerations should be wedding insurance. With many factors involved with weddings, there are just as many things that might not go according to plan (even though you might not want to think about it), that is when wedding insurance comes into play.
What is Wedding Event Insurance?
Wedding event insurance covers the bride and groom’s investment in uncontrollable circumstances. For instance, if the caterer cancels the week before the wedding and another caterer has to be hired, at double the price. Or, there could be a major weather event or illness that causes cancellation/postponement for the wedding. Or quite possibly, the bride’s luggage gets lost at the airport and the wedding dress is missing. Wedding insurance can help protect from these types of instances.
Why Do I Need Wedding Insurance?
As a wedding cake company on the Outer Banks of NC, the best answer to that question is weather! We experience hurricanes and tremendous thunder storms here during the wedding season which can dampen your plans. With wedding insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that even if a hurricane is on its way, you are able to reschedule your wedding. Instead of checking the news channel every five minutes, you will have time to communicate with your vendors to begin the process of rescheduling.
When Do I need to Purchase Wedding Insurance?
The sooner the better. You will need to check with the specific company you want to use but if you can secure your wedding insurance before putting down deposits, that is best.
Where to Look for insurance?
You will want to check with the wedding insurance company to find out exactly what is covered. This most likely will depend on the amount of coverage you want to get. Each company and policy is different. One company that we would suggest you research is Wed Safe www.wedsafe.com.
Here at Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks, we want each of our bride’s wedding day to be special and perfect. unfortunately, with so many variables involved with a wedding, there is chance that something may not go according to plan. This is why we recommend purchasing wedding insurance to help cover the unexpected and give everyone a peace of mind.
- Love is Sweet
There are many different techniques and design details used for cake decorating. Ever wonder what a “dragee” is? Don’t have a clue what “ganache” is? Well wonder no more, here is a list of the most common cake lingo. Enjoy!
All Over Dots OR Swiss Dots
A piping technique that forms tiny dots in random patterns that resemble a fine dot swiss fabric.
Basketweave
A piping technique that features interwoven vertical and horizontal lines (like a wicker basket).
Beaded Border
A piping technique that forms “beads” at the base of the tiers of the cake.
Buttercream
A smooth, creamy icing that stays soft so it’s easy to cut through. It can be colored and/or flavored. Also used to create piping, swags, and other borders, as well as decorative rosettes. It can be used as filling too.
Dragees
Round, edible sugar balls coated with silver or gold and used for decorative purposes.
Fondant
A sweet, elastic icing made of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin that’s literally rolled out with a rolling pin and draped over a cake. It’s a smooth, firm base for gum paste flowers, decorative details, and architectural designs, and has a porcelain finish.
Ganache
A sweet, rich chocolate, denser than mousse but less dense than fudge, which can be used as icing or filling.
Gum paste
This paste of sugar, cornstarch, and gelatin is used to mold realistic-looking fruits and flowers to garnish a cake. Gum paste decorations are edible and will last for years as keepsakes, but, say some, they don’t taste as yummy as marzipan.
Marzipan
A paste made of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, used to mold edible flowers or fruit to decorate the cake. Marzipan can also be rolled in sheets, like fondant, and used as icing.
Pillars
Separators used in a tiered cake. They can be made of plastic or wood in several lengths to achieve the desired look.
Piping
Decorative technique created using a pastry bag and various metal tips. Piping details include leaves, borders, basket-weave patterns, and flowers.
Royal icing
Made of egg whites and confectionary sugar, this icing starts life as a soft paste piped from a pastry bag to create latticework, beading, bows, and flowers.
Trio Dots
Similar to “All Over Dots” or “Swiss Dots” but the dots are piped onto the cake in threes, thus called trio.
All Over Dots Or Swiss Dots
Basket Weave
Beaded Border and Trio Dots
Buttercream Icing
Fondant Icing with Fondant Icing Bows and Ribbon
Chocolate Ganache Icing
It’s always a good feeling to check the mail and find a thank you card amongst the bills and weekly fliers. We received one in particular that we wanted to share. This couple was married on April 8th of this year…
“It has been a pleasure to work with such a delightful and easy staff. The cake selection and tasting was a fun experience. However, when we ordered the cake, we had no idea how amazing it would really be. WOW! Not only did it look fabulous, it was delicious!!! We had tons of compliments. Thank you for helping make our wedding perfect! We will highly recommend you in the future. Thanks again!”
- Love is Sweet
