Question 1

What is your advice on planning a sustainable wedding?

Accepted Answer

Choose an eco-friendly topper. Look for something that can either be saved and re-used as a keepsake or a wooden laser cut topper. Or ask a relative or friend if they have a vintage topper that you can use as your something old. If you're having edible favours consider the packaging they come in – is it single-use plastic or can the item just be placed on guests' settings without packaging? Compostable cellulose bags are now available and are great for biscuits, which can also double up as place names. Ask your cake maker to use food grade bamboo dowels instead of plastic. These are a more eco-friendly option, as opposed to plastic straws, which will barely see the light of day before being destined for the bin. However, don't leave them out or your cake will collapse! Reduce waste by having a cake that's the correct size for your guest numbers, if you dream of a five-tier cake but aren't having a huge wedding, consider buying some eco-friendly card take home boxes. Another great way to ensure it all gets eaten is to use it as dessert; ask your caterer to serve a slice with berries and cream, saving you money and reducing waste.

Question 2

What is your advice on planning a sustainable wedding?

Accepted Answer

Opting for a cake maker who's local to your venue will reduce not only the cost of delivery, but also the amount of travel involved. Ask them about their sustainability policies before making your choice. Here at Caritas Cake Design we're dedicated to keeping the carbon footprint of the business down including reducing water usage and reliance on plastics. We shop locally, and buy Fairtrade where possible, while actively supporting local suppliers. You can help by choosing seasonal flavours and decorations that don't need importing or would lead to waste, such as local, seasonal fruits and using sugar flowers, which can be kept rather than fresh blooms. And try not to order too much cake or have a plan in place for any left overs. Rather than buying a new stand or other elements for your cake table, see if there's a hire option, or buy second hand. Just make sure you check with your cake maker that it's strong enough to hold the weight on the day.

Question 3

What is your advice on taking the first steps in wedding planning?

Accepted Answer

Once you've got your venue and a date all booked in, one of the next steps is to book in your wedding cake. When looking at ideas for your big-day bake, your first point of call is to have a look at some of the design options available. Think about what's most important to you in terms of style and overall vision, decide on an approximate budget, and have a look at some of the cake makers able to deliver to your venue. You may click with a particular supplier during your search, or know you want to work with someone specifically if you've followed them for a while. Do ensure they have insurance and a good hygiene rating from the local council before booking in. Each cake designer will have a unique set of skills and styles, and not every one offers every type of cake, so have a look at their previous work, check their reviews and talk to them openly about what you'd like. Most designers will be able to give you starting prices for the size and style cake you're looking at, and if it isn't in budget, or not a practical choice for your wedding, they may be able to offer alternative suggestions.

Question 4

Tell us how to plan a wedding sustainably

Accepted Answer

There are many ways to make your wedding cake more sustainable while still having a gorgeous, and of course, delicious bake at your wedding. Here are a few of my top tips: •Use your wedding cake as pudding to reduce waste and ensure it's all eaten. Ask your caterer if they can cut it up and serve with seasonal berries or a coulis. Choose rich flavours that will satisfy even the sweetest tooth, such as chocolate and salted caramel, sticky toffee or coffee, hazelnut, and chocolate. •If you're getting married out of the summer season consider a pressed flower wedding cake. The blooms are pressed at their best and last all year round for that summer meadow look without the imported flowers. •Ditch the cake topper (unless it's sentimental). If you have a skilled cake designer then a cake topper really isn't needed. •Don't use dummy tiers. If you're having an intimate wedding a one- or two-tier cake can still be beautiful. Cake can be frozen and enjoyed in the months to come and polystyrene is very slow to degrade.

Question 5

How do you inject your wedding day with the spirit of spring?

Accepted Answer

After the long winter, a spring wedding offers the perfect excuse to raise the spirits with delightful flavours, playful designs and a pop of colour. Spring wedding cakes invite light fruity tastes such as lemon, passion fruit and raspberry. Adding elements of floral or earthy tones such as rose water, basil or lavender is becoming a popular choice and offers a fresh, delicate touch. Think about being open to some variations to the traditional shape. Mixing up the tier heights, adding separators or changing up the shapes, all help to keep the style fresh, and are a great way to make your cake unique. Spring hails a more organic movement in the design of big-day bakes, with softer edges, flowing details and taller, architectural layouts. Incorporating a floral element with long stems and trailing foliage rather than tight groupings of flowers adds a playful touch. Spring colours include gentle pastel palettes, natural white tones with plenty of fresh greens or bright cheerful hues. Using white rather than an ivory base to your cake makes the colours pop and adds a lighter air, perfect for the season.

Question 6

What are you top 2023 trend predictions?

Accepted Answer

"I expect to see more abstract cakes, sometimes with fewer flowers and more texture, with plenty of movement. Here, the rice paper sails mimic the flowing ethereal feeling of a wedding dress. Edible, pressed flower cakes too are going to be big this year, especially for the more relaxed rustic couples. "Finally, vintage/retro style Lambeth cakes will be making a comeback for couples who want to have fun with their cake; not just in white, but in pastel shades too – how kitch!"

Question 7

How can we give our wedding cake a wintry twist?

Accepted Answer

Winter weddings can be designed to embrace the stunning array of sensations of the season. Use muted, gentle tones in the decoration like blush pink or ivory paired with deep rich jewel tones such as dark red or ivy green to create a comfy, sheltered feel. If warm colours aren't your thing, icy blues and greys can be used to create a soft modern design. Alternatively, embrace strong geometric patterns or bold textures with a contemporary monochrome vibe. White on white textures can be very striking and lend themselves beautifully to the season. Whichever colour angle you go for, adding some glitter and sparkle provides a magical, wintry feel. Incorporating a metallic element like gold or copper can bring a warm, inviting feel, or use silver for a bold frosty kick. Finally, bring in some winter flavours such as orange or apple, cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, or for the adults, spike a tier with a warming, spicy tipple such as brandy, Grand Marnier or amaretto.

Question 8

How can we reflect our autumnal wedding theme in our big-day bake?

Accepted Answer

Your wedding cake is the perfect way to bring together the details of your chosen colour scheme, theme or overall vibe for your big day and there are so many ways to incorporate an autumnal feel into it. The distinct colour palette of the season includes bright yet muted colours of dark orange, yellows, rich pinks, browns and greens. These can be brought into play through the use of a floral or sugar flower arrangement, watercolour details, the base colour of the cake or coloured textures. Contrast these with soft, neutral hues for a gentler pop of colour. The style of the cake can become very organic, with loose foliage, a wide trailing silk ribbon, or a flowing design that encompasses the feeling of being windswept. Including natural textures such as tree bark or stone can also be used to lend it a natural, weathered feel. Dried florals and grasses such as pampas are still popular and these embody the feeling of the seasons turning, as do seasonal fruits, which can be arranged onto the cake, such as blackberries, figs and pears. You can also flavour your cake to continue the theme. Try swapping out strawberry conserve for fig or blackberry, or adding ginger or salted caramel to your flavour choices for a sweet, warming kick.

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