(from left to right)
Floral Frenzy
Hand-painted flowers in shades of pink, peach, blush and lavender form the focal point of this fanciful cake by Cocoa & Fig. Metallic brushstrokes edge the top and bottom layers, while three-dimensional gumpaste flowers complete the look. Says co-owner Laurie Lin, “This is the type of cake that guests stop in their tracks to admire—and we love that.”
Geometry in Motion
To create this pale-palette cake, Heather Jurisch, owner of Enticing Icing, drew inspiration from watercolor paintings. Using fondant, wafer paper and edible gels, she cut geometric pieces to adorn the bottom two tiers and hand-painted all the accents. The sugar flower topper threatens to steal the show, but Jurisch’s favorite part is the brushwork on the top tier. “It’s simple, but you could decorate a whole cake like that and it would be gorgeous,” she says.
Gold Standard
The designers at Blue Egg Cakes sought to create a timeless buttercream cake—but that doesn’t mean shying away from trends. Here, head cake decorator Megan Bignell embraces the gold craze, brushing it abstractly onto the bottom tier, painting a metallic monogram and gilding a sugar flower. “We love seeing our brides coming in with beautiful golden engagement rings,” says owner Robin DeWitt. “We wanted to pull that elegant color into the cake.”
Pretty in Pink
Blush and pink tones cascade from the center of this Sweet Retreat cake, softly flowing over a fondant canvas. Accented with small gumpaste flowers and a short all-gold tier, this towering confection shines. “I love the way the painted layers of color create movement,” says owner Stephanie Kissner of this cake that makes an elegant addition to any fête.
Lavender Fields
Patisserie 46 cake designer Mary A. Moy Frechette usually gravitates towards bold, bright colors in her confections. But for this hand-painted stunner, Frechette sought muted pastels that would still make a statement. “I wanted a wispy, old-world watercolor look,” says Frechette. The lilac-hued dessert is covered in a smooth layer of fondant, a cascade of gumpaste blooms, and a dusting of 24k gold leaf for an entirely luxe finish.