Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - May/June 2020 (Issue 80)

Self-taught baking supremo Alice Gates started her cake making business in 2018, after deciding it was time for a career change. She says, “I’ve always had a passion and love for all things cake, so I decided to delve into the world of sugar. I learnt everything I know, from books, watching YouTube videos and an awful lot of trial and error. But, as cliché as it sounds, practice really does make perfect. “For me, after getting the cake to the venue safely (possibly the most nerve-wracking part of all), setting up and adding any finishing touches, the moment that you can walk away, look back at your creation with pride and know that you’ve played a big part in someone’s special day, that’s the best bit!” You can order a wedding cake sample box, including all of her most popular flavours, or challenge her to come up with a new taste sensation. All her wedding cakes can be tailored to suit individual needs and likes. “The cake should be the fun part of the day, so go wild and get creative,” she adds. www.facebook.com/gatesbakes Making birthday cakes for her two daughters gave rise to Dorset-based Jen Thomas’ passion for baking, so much so she switched from a career as a police constable to dedicate herself to it. Great news for newlyweds-to-be as at the beginning of 2019 she decided to steer her fledgling business Cakey Lulu’s in a new direction specialising in wow-factor wedding cakes with beautifully detailed sugar flowers. “I fell in love with the whole process, designing, baking and decorating,” she explains. As well as luxury bespoke wedding cakes, she offers drool-worthy dessert tables and edible favours to complement couples’ big-day themes and colour schemes. www.cakeylulus.co.uk 48