Wedding Cakes Galore & Tips

Friday 29 November 2013

Last time I spoke about my favourite theme at weddings, this week it's all about cakes.
Yes, you heard correctly...  cakes. I love cake, not that my figure tells it, but I love seeing the bakers creativity on someone’s day. That cake can even be the cherry on top for the couple – pun intended.
 I share with you some of the amazing cakes I've seen, and thankfully had a taster of.
All these photos are taken from me, from weddings from last year and in the summer this year.





I've noticed recently, that more and more couples are choosing to have cupcakes to share with their guests, and to have a smaller cake on the top for the traditional, cutting of the cake. When asked why, couples have replied saying it's a lot cheaper, and even more so when you make the cupcakes yourself.
After the recent cupcake craze, you can now walk into any supermarket or craft store and buy numerous amounts of materials for decorating your cupcakes.



If you're a quirky couple why not have something different. Recently, we've been seeing a lot of these, Pork Pie wedding cakes, as well as actual Cheese Cakes. It's completely different and cost's around £75 for approx. 105 portions from Nelson's. There are other butchers that may be able to make one, but Nelson's are amazing, and get my recommendation every time! ;)


The tradition of cutting the cake is becoming more and more scarce. And nowadays, all couples are trying to find ways to cut the cost. Plain fruit cakes are normally the way. This is a simple two-tiered fruit cake. Now fancy icing, nothing. Actually I quite like this, what do you think?



Now this cake was really something else and with the design, is easily in my top two favourites (my first one you will see in a second.) This was a three tiered cake, each tier was completely different. The first was Lemon drizzle, the second a raspberry ripple and the third was a Victoria sponge. The outside of the cake was made of chocolate.. all of it! Even that teapot!! My dream cake!
 Despite how amazing it was, the time it took to take off each individual decoration and then to cut through the chocolate to serve was a pain. But oh my god!! Still amazes me to this day how we managed to carry it out, it was so heavy!



Now this cake is my favourite of the year, hands down! You might recognise it, as it's an actual ChoccyWoccyDoodah cake! 
If you don't know who ChoccyWoccyDoodah are, they are the Gucci and Christian Dior of cakes.
They are just amazing in terms of design and taste!!
The whole thing was made of chocolate and I cannot begin to imagine the prices! Now this wasn't a wedding cake as such, it was actually a Wedding Anniversary Cake, but I really wanted to share with you this amazing creation! Like the cake previously, it was so heavy to manoeuvre, that it took 5 of us to get it out of the box, and carefully place on a cake table! Nervous staff or what!
It even travelled overnight by courier from Brighton and that's a good 3 hours journey!

These are just some of the photos I have of the amazing cakes that we've seen, and hopefully I will be able to share with you more of them. If you want any tips to cakes remember this;

  • Insist of asking for the baker's portfolio of cakes. This way you can see what their work is like, and you may see some cakes you like.
  • If you want something different, add personal touches. You can even get cake toppers to look like yourself and your partner.
  • Always ask if you can try cakes, some bakers will invite you to see a taster of what it will look like. That way you can try and change any aspects you don't like. 
  • If you're looking to cut down on price, maybe ask a friend or family to make one as a wedding gift. 
  • Finally try and find out when your cake will be delivered and who will construct it. We have seen may brides who forget this and panic on the day. Thankfully we are more than happy to help!
For more tips head over to Food Network UK.

Weekly Wishes #12

Monday 25 November 2013




Right, I'm going to quickly write this as by looking at The Nectar Collective's Blog I clearly have not done Weekly Wishes for a while, and I feel awful about it!
Annyway! I'm back which is the most important thing no? I can't even remember why I was gone..but I wrote it over here :)

It's that time of the week again when the Blogging Community come together and link up to The Nectar Collective's Weekly Wishes!
This is were we all think of goals or wishes that we want to complete as well as meeting new people!
Link up & Join in!

The Nectar Collective

This week the theme for the photo's are 'New Beginnings.' I thought long and hard about this one and you know what? I have no photo.. except if I took a picture of me blogging.. I'm having a brain freeze just trying to imagine how I would do that. But seriously, as soon as I started Blogging back in April I had no idea what doors would open for me. Yes I would love to have 10,000 followers, but right now I'm happy with the number I have. I've met some brilliant people on the way and plan to meet many many more. So thank you for reading, following, re-tweeting etc. :)
I love blogging, and it really has been a New Beginning of my life :)

So what was last week's Weekly Wish? Work. Crafty. Blogging.
Ok so it was actually the end of October that I set myself that task... HA!
But I actually de-plugged myself from blogging, and focused on my assignments. I handed it on time and my presentation went really really well. We get our grades in 2 weeks now, so massive fingers crossed for a good grade :) But I have just started blogging again, especially about my recent trip to London which you can read the first part here and second part here. - Enjoy!
I did start knitting.. did, because I then noticed I had a thousand holes in it! Yes, you can stop giggling because your meant to have holes in it, but I mean like dropped-a-stitch hole.. So I gave up and when I get a chance I will start all over again, despite doing about 17 rows... *sob*

What is this week's Weekly Wish? Improve my blog design.
I really, really need your help on this one. If you've been reading my blog for a while now, you may of noticed a few design changes. I think at one point I had my name in huge letters which took up all of my screen..hehe.
Anyway, safe to say I well and truly suck at blog designing. Like majorly!
All I want it a lovely, simple blog design... WHY CAN I NOT ACHIEVE THIS!
Why does blog design need to be so difficult!?!? It probably isn't and I'm just being a HUGE drama queen about it!
Can you help me? Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top? I will start batting my eyelids. :):)
I've searched on all the free blog design websites, but I would love something different.. :D
Drop us a comment or an email, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.

Good Luck with your weekly wishes!

Becky x

P.S I've just read and realised I say anyway far too much.. HA!
P.S.S << Who does this.. seriously!?



Clos Maggiore & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Covent Garden - London. Part 2

Thursday 21 November 2013





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After a gorgeous meal at Clos Maggiore, we then quickly marched round the corner to Drury Lane to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical.

I was a bit sceptical about this, as I had watched both the 1971 and 2005 films of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Now the Tim Burton rendition completely wowed me over the original, though I'm putting that down to having Johnny Depp in it.. mmm Johnny Depp. Right, anyway, slightly of the track there..
The west end musical was written by David Grieg, while the music and lyrics were written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It premiered in London on 25 June 2013, and since then have sold 300,000 tickets.
With an amazing cast, and many fans from around the world, no wonder its sold so many.

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We quickly found our seats, and apart from the seat kicking children behind me, they where good seats :)
I won't ruin it for you, as I know you want to buy your tickets yourself... :)
The musical follows the true story behind the original but the only song I recognised in the musical was Pure Imagination, and even then it was a brief encounter. They've modernised the story by bringing it into the 21st Century by talking about the latest gadgets and gizmo's.
Even the Oompa Loompa's have had a make over, and my god I love it! The 'rave' was something out of this world!
The theatre design is amazing, and they use the space very wisely, especially for the glass elevator. They even made parts of the stage edible..amazing!

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As much as I want to give this musical a raving review, I have to say that when the children sang, the music was far to loud to understand what was being sung. Which really annoyed me, and was the only downside.
Apart from that, the production was really good, and to this very day I am entirely baffled as to how Willy Wonka disappeared at the end of the musical!!

I'm very glad to of seen this production as I love musicals, and this is really something you should take the time to see next time your in London! Well done Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cast and crew!!
You can find tickets over here!

Becky x

Clos Maggiore & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Covent Garden - London Part 1

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Despite living 100 miles away from the city of England. Going to London is still a rarity for me.
However, when I am there, I feel at home. A duck to water. So when we do go down, it's for either work or a special occasion.
This time, it was for my mum's birthday.

Before going to the Theatre, we firstly enjoyed a gorgeous meal at Clos Maggiore.
Situated on King Street in Covent Garden, this wonderful restaurant looks tiny and reminds me of a Tardis. 
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I must say, first impressions are very deceptive, one glance and the outside Christmas decorations where too much for me.

However, as soon as you step through the door from the corridor, the building expands and you forget what you've just seen outside. There are cupboards adorned with bottles of ageing Armagnac's, and mirrors to make the small areas look deceivingly big, and it has an upstairs too!

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We were greeted by a lovely lady, who took our coats and shopping bags and walked us to our table in the conservatory. As we walked through, every single waiter and waitress said hello. Yes, I know, not unusual, but it's lovely to hear manners, and that was a lot of manners!


Nestled in the corner of the flower covered conservatory, was our table, right next to a lit fire. That's one box ticked. I love warmth and cosiness, none of this clinical cold malarkey!

All the waiters that served us, were attentive but not intrusive and happy to help, as well as patient as we waited 30 minutes for my brother to arrive - and they say, women keep you waiting, pfft!
After much thought, I ordered a Strawberry Bellini and shared a bottle of Prosecco with the family.
Starters where up, and my seared scallops, served with crushed Ratte potatoes and sea lettuce butter sauce was absolutely divine! A bit too buttery for me, but none the less amazing!
My parents and brother chose the Devon crab served with a smoked anchovy mayonnaise, which they also thoroughly enjoyed!

After wiping the bowl clean, in the politest way I could, my main course of belly of Limousin Veal was so tender and scrumptious! - I'm running out of adjectives here.. The sauce was again a bit salty, but I really wasn't going to complain.
Again, the others ordered the same thing, and went for the Goosnargh Duck, which smelt a-ma-zing!
Along with our mains, we ordered sides of wilted spinach and triple cooked chips, which came served in small copper pans..three chips each..so cute!
To be honest, my brother had my chips..

 Completely stuffed, I ordered the Amalfi lemon curd & crisp meringue with shortbread. I have a third stomach I swear when it comes to puddings!
You could really taste the bitterness of the lemons, but absolutely stunning. The presentation was spectacular, especially with the gold leaf on top!
My brother chose the Paris Brest, Dad opted for the cheese selection - a few stinky cheeses as well! 
While my mum went for the Chocolate Fondant, and was later spoilt by the chefs with a selection of Petit fours on a plate which had 'Happy Birthday' scripted in chocolate.
I was equally over the moon, when my pot of Early Grey tea was served the 'proper way'. Loose tea leaves! Yay!

I am not surprised this small restaurant has three rosettes from the AA and also been awarded the London's Most Romantic Restaurant of Hardens Guide.
I would strongly recommend going to this place, the food is divine, and the environment and ambience lets you forget that actually your in the most busiest part of the UK.. London!

Thank you Clos Maggiore!

After our meal, we then popped over to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, review is here!

I return!

Guys I'm back...
..Yes slap my wrists for not blogging for a while, but truly, I needed the break from the social networking.

The past three weeks have been very hectic for me with my assignments and what not. I will admit I had a breakdown, ok maybe two... but who's counting. Sometimes it's good to just cry and get all the emotions out, no?

So please forgive me! We all knew these 6 months would be hard on my Top up Degree, but I also promised back in April when I started this, that I wouldn't let it fail. Nah ah! Not gonna happen Sonny Jim!




That's right I'm back! - Not gonna lie, I've just spent 15 minutes trying to find a perfect picture...
I've scheduled some posts for when I don't think I'm going to be able to blog..

Have fun guys!

Becky x