Your Herts and Beds Wedding - June/July 2020 (Issue 80)

Meet the bakers behind the sweet creations Ready, set, bake CAKESBYANGELA I loved to bake from an early age, especially banana loaf with my nanny whenever we had a sleepover, and I’ve always had a sweet tooth. I started making cakes as a hobby for family and then after plenty of requests and complex designs I eventually started creating bespoke wedding cakes. After being made redundant, I decided to combine my baking hobby and passion for art into a business and now create edible masterpieces that taste as good as they look. I remove any stress for a couple, allowing them to enjoy their special day not worrying about whether the cake has turned up and is in the right place! It’s amazing how many venues position tables in direct sunlight and on wobbly tables which need fixing, I ensure all these potential issues are resolved. In terms of designs, during late 2019 and early 2020, there have been numerous requests for a subtle sparkly pink tier with muted tones on the other layers. Sugar flowers are popular, and I’m continually increasing the range of styles I make to match the flowers chosen in bridal bouquets. Regarding flavours, the classic lemon infused with lemon zest seems a very popular choice with my couples. However, I offer a range of flavours, including white chocolate and raspberry and bespoke flavours such as decadent Belgian chocolate cake paired with ginger buttercream. I love getting creative with flavours and always say anything is possible, so let your imagination flow! Here at CakesbyAngela we offer a completely bespoke personal design process to every couple – helping to bring their personality to life through cake design. To help achieve designs, I pride myself on learning new techniques and researching new ideas to lovingly create beautiful sugar flowers and handpainted cakes – every day is a learning journey! I love pushing myself to create exceptional designs fit for each couple. From an outline sketch, developing their concept, creating colours or reflecting their scheme and styling, I just love crafting luxurious and delicious statement centrepieces. TOP TIP Don’t be afraid to be vocal about your ideas and experiment with cake design and flavour to get what you want. Your cake designer will be able to showcase your personality through the design when you share ideas, stories, hobbies and more with them. Angela Hodson-Jones | CakesByAngela | www.facebook.com/cakesbyangelah CROXLEY CAKES I’ve been baking for as long as I can remember; I started when my children were young creating beautiful birthday cakes for them from fairy castles to Formula 1 cars. I moved into the wedding cake side about five years ago, working from home. I offer free cake tasting consultations where together we design your own very special bake. Of course, if you have an idea of the type of cake you like from photos you’ve seen, we can build from there adding your personal touches. On your wedding day, I’ll deliver and set-up at your chosen venue plus ensure it’s safe and perfect before I leave. I offer lots of different flavours, the most popular being vanilla sponge with buttercream and strawberry conserve or moist double chocolate. Here at Croxley Cakes, we make all our sugar flowers and edible lace, nothing is outsourced. My favourite part of my job is meeting the happy couples and working with them to create their own very special cake. When their day arrives, it’s a pleasure to set up and know I have been a major part of their day. The cake is one of the most photographed parts of their wedding. It’s the centre of the cutting of the cake ceremony so it has to be right. TOP TIP Before you book your wedding cake, I’d recommend meeting your baker, taste the cakes and read the reviews! Sue Creaser | Croxley Cakes | www.croxleycakes.co.uk 60