Your London Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 72)

CAKES 59 MEET RACHEL HILL OF RACHELLE’S Where did you journey into cake creation begin? I used to work as a set designer for film and TV, but I lost work during the economic downturn in 2007. I bought a lot of books and taught myself the art of cake design. I’ve always been creative with a love of art, architecture, floristry and photography so this was the perfect job. What’s your favourite thing about working in the wedding industry? I adore seeing the end product on delivery day, when all the suppliers come together to set the scene. I get to see the other elements the couple have chosen and how it all fits together. The cake is the finishing touch. What sweet treat do you turn to for comfort? Funnily enough, I’m a savoury girl and I love hummus. I’m also a sucker for uncooked fruitcake mixture and Daim bars! What’s your top wedding planning tip? Be adventurous; it’s the only time you’ll send spend this much money on a cake. I love it when my couples come up with a quirky idea. Always make sure you do a tasting, you want your bake to taste as good as it looks. Visit www.rachelles.co.uk MEET HEIDI SCHEKIRA OF SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE CAKES LONDON Where did you journey into cake creation begin? My dad was a chef and we used to bake together when I was young. I started making birthday cakes for family and then I was asked to make a wedding cake for my friend – I was hooked! I took classes to hone my skills and over time I’ve taught myself and developed my style. What’s your favourite thing about working in the wedding industry? I love everything from meeting couples and talking about their plans to the design process and baking. My favourite aspect is creating sugar flowers and arranging them into stunning displays. What sweet treat do you turn to for comfort? I feel I should say cake, but my guilty pleasure is a bar of Bournville after a long week. What’s your top wedding planning tip? Get organised early so you can enjoy the planning process. Have fun doing it and don’t stress over the little details. Visit www.simplyirresistiblecakes.com MEET MARIANNA VAKI OF WHISK & DRIZZLE Where did you journey into cake creation begin? I trained at Le Cordon Bleu London in 2013. The main focus was classic French patisserie, but we did short courses on celebration cakes and sugar centrepieces. Creating something delicious that’s a work of art was what I wanted to immerse myself in. What’s your favourite thing about working in the wedding industry? I used to be a dancer, and prepping for a wedding is like getting ready for a big performance. You work on your little piece of art and then you get to look around the venue and see that the vision of the couple has magically come to life. What sweet treat do you turn to for comfort? I love cookies more than I love cake sometimes – I know, controversial! What’s your top wedding planning tip? If you can afford to, hire a wedding planner or at least someone for on-the-day coordination. It allows you to relax and enjoy the process and it makes everything run much more smoothly. Visit www.whiskanddrizzle.co.uk www.clai repenn.com www.dan nyinwoodphotography.com