Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts

Thursday, May 03, 2012

The wedding: cupcakes

When 1st discussing the details of our reception we thought we wanted a traditional tiered wedding cake.  Not too embellished, not to plain.  It was suggested that we look at photos of cakes to get an idea of what can be done, what we liked, and what we didn't like.  As usual, Spouse's taste went a little too far to the gawdy, and my taste was a little too traditional for him.

Then Spouse suggested decorated cupcakes.  Some could be traditional while others were more decorated.  Maybe we could get different flavors so guests would have a choice, or better yet - have more than 1.  I loved the idea!

So I gave a call to a local bakery called Cake Break and got some options and general pricing.  The owners Phil & Debbie invited us to come into the bakery for a private tasting 1 evening after they closed to the public, so we set it up.  We had lots of bites of different cupcake flavors and different frosting flavors.  Then we talked about set-up and other logistical details.  It was a great experience!
This is what we chose:
  • yellow cake with ivory butter cream frosting, piped to look like hydrangea with tiny edible pale green pearls 
  • devils food cake with chocolate sour cream frosting, topped with white chocolate starfish and tiny edible white pearls
  • carrot cake with swirled cream cheese frosting, topped with milk chocolate seashells
Debbie delivered the cupcakes, set up the tower, and arranged everything in record time.  Spouse offered to help her carry things inside and she quickly said "NO - thank you.  If anything gets dropped its gonna be ME, not you dropping it", which made us both laugh.


On the top of the tower was an 8" chocolate cake topped with a 6" chocolate cake with butter cream frosting, piped to look like hydrangea with tiny pale green pearls.  Not only were all the cupcakes and cake topper absolutely gorgeous, they were absolutely delicious too!! 

Tomorrow:  the music.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Let them eat (cup)cakes

Spouse and I have been talking a lot and have made some progress on the civil union.

Although I've been planning this event in my head for the last 20 years, I'm only 1/2 of this couple so I am aware that I need to compromise since Spouse and I have such different feelings about this.

I was sort of looking forward to a simple but elegant cake with 2 grooms on top.  But Spouse had the idea that it might be fun to have decorated cupcakes from a gourmet cupcake bakery instead of a traditional cake.  I offered to check out his idea, figuring cupcakes would be way more expensive and he'd say it wasn't worth it.  But to my surprise the cost wasn't bad at all and the nice lady on the phone convinced me to schedule a tasting!

Spouse & I went to the bakery after work tonight for our private tasting.  We got to taste 5 different cupcake flavors and 4 different frosting flavors.  I have to admit how impressed I was the tastes.

We've all been to a wedding or 25th anniversary party or going away party with a big decorated cake that LOOKED nice but TASTED yucky.  Dry, crumbly cake and sickeningly sweet shortening-based frosting.  Not what we had in mind.

Turns out this gourmet cupcake bakery makes their frostings from butter and sugar, not shortening and sugar.  And the cream cheese frosting was smooth and delicious.  So we are seriously considering an assortment of beautifully decorated cupcakes (arranged on a stand) instead of a cake.  

Who knew?!?!