If you weren’t already feeling a smidge snackish, you will be after this one! Grab yourself a hot cup of tea and settle down to meet talented baker and cake maker Susan of Elizabeth Anna Cake Design.
We’re introducing you to the skills of another incredibly talented UNVEILED Network Member today, and we know this one is going to really whet your appetite for wedding planning!
Elizabeth Anna Cake Design creates elegant and contemporary wedding cakes, favours to delight your guests and mouth watering dessert tables laden with goodies that taste as good as they look. It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it!
Cake may well be one of our favourite topics of conversation, so we’ve been chatting all things delicious and delightful to get you the inside scoop, from tastings to trends, flavours and florals, and Susan’s even offering Brides Up North and UNVEILED readers a special offer that you won’t want to miss! She’s been telling us about why it’s important to find just the right supplier for every detail, highlighting the questions to ask and pitfalls to look out for. All valuable information as you, our brides and grooms, are planning the details of your own celebrations – edible or otherwise!
Images with thanks to: Rebecca Bridges Photography, Rachel Clarke Photography, Emma Ryan Photography, Gail Secker, Tanya Flannagan Photography, Glix Photography, Emily Robinson Photography, Jenny Appleton Photo & Film, Kerry Woods Photography & Sara Cooper Photography.
Well hello there Susan!
Hello! I’m Susan, the cake designer behind Elizabeth Anna Cake Design. I specialize in classic elegant wedding cakes and sweet treats including favours and goodies for dessert tables like the ones you’ve seen in the amazing Brides Up North styled shoots!
Where did your passion for cake design come from?
I have always loved baking. I have lots of memories of making fairy cakes and Victoria Sponge cakes as a little girl. I then took a few cake decorating courses as a hobby and discovered a love for it.
Do you have a dedicated workspace?
I work from my home studio, which is really important to me as I have three children. My business enables me to be totally flexible, balancing family life with work whilst still doing a job I love; creating cakes for my wonderful couples!
Why do you think that the wedding cake plays such an important part in a wedding?
Cutting the wedding cake is one of those traditional moments at every wedding. In fact, traditionally, the cutting of the cake is the first act a bride and groom make together as a married couple. It is a moment that will grace every wedding album and be captured forever. I love knowing that I’ve played a part in that.
Do you have a signature style?
I’d say my signature style is elegance. I love to create classic cake designs that will stand the test of time.
Tell us about the taste?
A beautiful wedding cake should taste as good as it looks. I offer flavours such as classic vanilla, zesty lemon and decadent chocolate, but I also offer some more interesting flavours such as Cherry Bakewell, toffee fudge, strawberries and cream.
Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?
Usually I take inspiration from the theme of the wedding, the colours, the textures, the flowers. I like to create mood boards and then mull over the design options in my mind until it comes to me. For couples Pinterest and Instagram are a great source of inspiration. Look for suppliers whose work you love and then stalk their social media and you will find lots of inspiration including other suppliers they work with.
How do you approach each wedding?
Often couples will get in touch with some idea of their design already but, either way, I will always invite couples to come for a design and tasting consultation. Prior to the consultation I suggest sources of inspiration and ask them to have a think about colours and flowers. At the consultation we narrow down the design based on the theme of their wedding, their venue and some aspects of other designs they have seen. I then sketch their bespoke cake and send this to them for approval.
What do your couples love about your service and creations?
I have a very relaxed collaborative approach. So I encourage couples to keep in touch and to feel free to send across any questions, anything they see that they like as we go along and my couples seem to like this interactive, relaxed service.
What are your top 3 tips for couples when choosing their wedding cake?
- Do your research and look at portfolios before choosing your wedding cake designer, for example, if you want delicate sugar flowers, do their sugar flowers meet the brief?
- It helps to have decided upon some aspects of your wedding such as colour scheme, theme, flowers and even the dress as this can all inform the design of your wedding cake so it is truly bespoke and complements your wedding.
- Consider different ways to make your cake a showstopper, you might choose to do this through colour, through texture, different height or shaped tiers, and listen to your cake designer as to what will work well, or perhaps more importantly, what will not work well.
And your no-nos?
- Consider your time of year and venue. A buttercream cake in a marquee in the middle of a heatwave in June might not be the best idea!
- Remember that you don’t have to just copy a cake you have already seen. Your service includes a bespoke cake design so you can make it truly unique to you.
- Be wary of opting to have a family member or friend make your cake for you. Find out if they have ever made a tiered cake, do they know how to support the weight of the tiers to ensure the cake is level and won’t end up like the Tower of Pisa? Are they comfortable with the stress involved in transporting and setting up a wedding cake on the day?
What trends do you see emerging in wedding cakes for 2021 and beyond?
The buttercream trend is still going strong and I think it will continue for some time. Different shapes such as hexagon tiers also remain a strong trend. I think we will see more use of metallics and delicate textures in the coming months, such as wafer paper.
Your personal favourite…
Flavour combo? For me it’s Cherry Bakewell all the way, with silky vanilla buttercream and a morello cherry conserve.
Shape? I like a classic round tier but to then mix this up a little, perhaps with clear acrylic separators to create floating tiers.
Icing option? I love the versatility of sugarpaste and of course the delicious ganache that accompanies it.
Decorative finish? I adore flowers and, for me, you just cannot beat delicate sugar flowers.
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about?
I also create delicious sweets to accompany and complement your wedding cake. Decorated cookies, macarons, cakesicles, cupcakes and cake bars make very popular wedding favours or a spectacular dessert table to really wow your guests.
Is there a special discount that you would like to offer to our readers?
Quote ‘Brides Up North 2021’ to receive a free 4” cake dummy tier with every three tier wedding cake!
How can couples get in touch with you?
You can find me on Instagram or on Facebook.
