STRAWBERRY SKY Cakes
it’s the most important cake that will ever pass your lips. we asked Cake designer Emma Hogg how to make the right choice
Strawberry Sky Cakes in Pukekohe delivers some of Auckland and Hamilton’s most exquisite handmade wedding and celebration cakes. Principal cake designer Emma Hogg trained in the UK before coming to New Zealand and establishing her dream boutique cake company. She reveals her inspirations and what’s hot in the world of wedding cakes.
What inspires you for each new cake design?
Above all I am inspired by the brides to be. I love hearing about the different ideas each has gathered for her big day. Wedding stationery and the embellishment on a bride’s dress also serve as great inspiration; it’s always wonderful to make cake such a special, personal reflection of the details of the day.
What are the first things a couple should consider when planning a cake?
The budget is the first, most important factor to consider. Then confirm the number of guests and the style, whether it’s simple and elegant or intricate and detailed. They should book a cake designer three to six months in advance, and if the wedding is during the summer months an even earlier booking is highly recommended.
How are the costs of each cake determined?
Most cake decorators will have a starting price for their cakes, which includes a simple iced finish and a ribbon at the base of each tier. After that, you are paying for the amount of labour that your cake decorator will put in, so if you want intricate piped detail and 100 sugar flowers that will take 20 hours or more to create, then I’m afraid you will have to have the budget to match.
What is the most important factor in a wedding cake?
There is nothing worse than a cake that looks amazing but tastes awful. You need something beautiful, but taste is the lasting thing your guests will remember.
What types of designs and themes are popular currently?
It depends on the theme and time of the wedding, but textured buttercream effects are very fashionable at the moment and I think they’ll continue to be throughout this season. Traditional white is still popular with delicate, intricate detailing, as is the vintage design with a much more relaxed and slightly rustic feel.
What happens if a couple wants different flavours?
We often recommend crowd-pleasers like chocolate and citrus flavours such as lemon that can be matched in different tiers on the same cake. This means everyone at the wedding has an option they will enjoy.
When do you think is the best time to serve the cake?
Commonly it is served late in the event when food has already played a great part and bubbles have taken their toll. More brides are now cutting and serving the cake straight after the ceremony, while photos are being taken. Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea which really celebrates the tradition and means guests are fully engaged.
How does a couple know they have found a good cake designer?
A good cake designer will work with your budget to create your ideal cake, whether big and bold or something simple and elegant that is just as beautiful. A good cake decorator can advise you about the best style for your wedding cake that will fit in with your personal theme for the day.
Do you have any favourite famous cake designs?
The royal wedding cake was very elegant and romantic. It was white, with the mix of flowers truly symbolic of love and marriage.