Now that Macy and Ethan have been named the winners of our Dream Day Giveaway, they’ve got a wedding to plan! You’re invited to accompany them as they plan each element of their big day with our partner vendors, leading up to one special celebration on September 10 at The Mason Dallas. If you’re planning your own wedding, be sure to follow along for tips and insight on what to expect with each step, what to know going into every meeting, and how to make sure your path to the altar is a smooth one.
Almost anyone who’s celebrated a birthday has had a cake made for them, but your wedding takes the cake game to an entirely new level. Never before (and likely never again) will couples commission a cake of such magnitude—and that can be a little intimidating. With so many flavor options and design styles to choose from, it would be easy for our Dream Day winning couple, Macy and Ethan, to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, they’re working with none other than Dallas’ queen of cakes, Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren. Lauren not only has the technical prowess to pull off any design, no matter how elaborate—seriously, just check out her Instagram to see what we mean—but her years of experience working with clients means she understands how best to guide couples to their dream design. She’s also honest about what will look best with your venue and design, and where it’s worth it to save or splurge. We asked Lauren to detail what goes into a cake design meeting (and how best to prepare for it), what you should consider when choosing a design, and how concerned you should be with pleasing everyone with the flavor.
How did the appointment with Macy and Ethan go? Can you tell us a bit about the look and flavors they settled on?
Macy and Ethan are the kindest couple and easy to please. They loved a lot of different cake styles, but the one that stood out most for them is the vintage wedding cake look. It’s a great fit for them especially considering their venue. You really don’t have to add much decor at The Mason because it naturally provides it all. From antique furniture and exquisite wallpaper to stately wall mirrors and perfectly stained wood floors, this venue has an approachable vintage feel. And so will their cake.
How do you suggest couples prepare for their initial meeting with their baker?
I always say that the cake is the easiest element of your wedding to design. But that’s only if you’ve got all of your decor chosen and you know the general feel of the wedding/reception. From all of those choices, I can guide you to a cake design with the perfect fit and feel for you, or we can take a walk through the Pinterest page of cakes you’ve pinned. Lots of little (or sometimes big) design elements of the cake can be altered to get the exact look you want. And I’ll sketch the cake out for you along with images of the real thing so we can see where this is all headed.
Can you briefly walk us through your typical process working with clients?
The meeting Macy and Ethan had with me is exactly what each client is given during their cake tasting and design meeting. At this point in my career, because of the strength of our reputation, it is rare that a client makes it to their meeting with me and decides to go a different direction. So the time I give each client becomes a huge asset to both of us. I need to connect with the client and listen to what they want. And they need to feel comfortable with me, the cakes, and the cost. I know weddings and I love people. It’s easy for me to connect and ease the process.
After the design meeting, if they have not yet booked their order, they may do so inside their client portal, which contains all of their paperwork, cake sketches and inspiration, and their contracts and billing options. It’s a great way to have everything you need in one place. Wedding planners especially love this. And if changes to the order need to happen, we can change anything on the portal. The final balance and all changes to the order are due two weeks before the wedding. You have lots of time
What should couples consider when deciding on the design of their wedding cake?
Macy and Ethan have a clear path to their wedding decor simply because of the high style of their venue. With most clients, we weigh the wedding décor—from table linens and gowns to flower colors—to the time and season the wedding will take place. Every detail is accounted for in the cake-design process.
What about when choosing flavors?
Couples typically feel a lot of pressure when it comes to choosing the cake flavor. They really shouldn’t do that to themselves. At a tasting of any kind, you will be hyper focused on every flavor and texture you have in front of you… Carefully discerning each cake flavor while keeping in mind you have 200 people to please.
Here’s the truth: You won’t please everyone. And wedding guests aren’t nearly as discerning of the cake at your wedding as you were at your tasting. The bar for wedding cakes seems to stay low for some reason. And if they cake isn’t dry, your guests won’t care what the flavor is. They are all thrilled they don’t have to endure an unpleasant piece of cake. So get what you want! No one will put the plate down because you chose the strawberry filling over the raspberry one.
Macy and Ethan chose our most popular cake. The vanilla cream cake with salted caramel filling and vanilla buttercream icing. I asked if they wanted to have some chocolate cake served as well. But they are gonna keep things simple. Sometimes when you throw in another cake flavor, it’s a good idea to get more cake just so you don’t run out of one particular flavor.
We know it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the options. What are some ways you help guide couples through the process, and what advice do you have for couples going through the process themselves?
The overwhelm clients have is enormous, especially since the social media age began. One day you’re perfectly happy with the flowers you’ve chose, then the next day you see something “better” on Pinterest. It’s hard to maneuver, and pretty soon you just need to put your phone down and stop searching.
I’ve had to simplify my cake tastings over the years. I’ve narrowed down my tastings to the six best-selling cakes of my career, and I’ve assigned their fillings to each cake flavor. In the past, I had too many cake flavor options with separate filling options. Not only did this take too long at the tastings, but the confusion and stress it created for the client was not helpful. I’ll take cake flavor requests when asked, but it’s best to stick to the classics.
What are some of the latest trends in wedding and groom’s cakes that you’re seeing?
Cake trends lean heavily to the vintage wedding cake right now—and it doesn’t seem to be letting up. Two years ago, we made the wedding cake for Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Gwen wanted us to take inspiration from her parents’ wedding cake from the early 1960s, a very sweet nod to her family with whom she remains close. We created a five-tier vintage “extravaganza” that went viral. Even though the vintage cake was coming back, it wasn’t showing up in weddings until Gwen and Blake exchanged vows. I’m so lucky I started making cakes when that style was still in demand. That’s how I made wedding cakes in the ’90s before simplification in design took the lead.
What about for guests with dietary restrictions? Are you able to accommodate with a separate cake, if needed?
It’s so hard to think about pleasing all your wedding guests, then having to consider a food allergy on top of that. My take on this is simple. Let us make a gluten free, or nut free, or dairy free cake for the guests suffering from the allergy. If someone is allergic to a food, they will be hyper vigilant wherever they eat, so they are used to asking lots of questions. Make sure you tell your wedding planner or banquet captain which guest will require the special cake. Then everyone is safe and happy.
A few months ago, we had a client who had about 12 guests with a gluten allergy. So we served the champagne cake to the guests, then made a smaller gluten-free champagne cake with confetti sprinkles baked in. She told the gluten-intolerant guests to “look for the funfetti cake.” Brilliant idea!
