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As 2023 welcomes the introduction of civil ceremonies within the UAE, experts are expecting to see a large uptick in weddings and events. Notably, the Middle Eastern wedding market is valued at more than 16 billion dirhams, with Dubai ranking as one of the top five wedding destinations for couples in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. With brides having such high expectations for their big day, regional wedding vendors are upping their game when it comes to perfecting every wedding day detail. Cake artist for The Cake Boutique by Waldorf Astoria DIFC, Beth Lauren, explains that when it comes to planning one of their wedding’s sweetest elements, a perfectly personalized cake can bring extra meaning to the wedding reception. “Weddings are such a special occasion for me,” she says. “The wedding cake is the symbol of love and unforgettable memories. I believe it’s essential that the couple have the perfect cake to celebrate their special day, from designing the cake together to tasting it and incorporating personalized details.” Read on to discover what The Cake Boutique’s Beth Lauren wants brides and grooms to know when deciding on a wedding cake.
Photo: The Cake Boutique
Do your research
“When designing a wedding cake, it’s important to choose a reputable cake designer who can guide you through the process. Getting married for the first time is an exciting time and creating the wedding cake should be a seamless process for them. As a designer, I lead them through every aspect of the process, from cake design to cake cutting. As a hopeless romantic, I love getting to know couples and designing the cake of their dreams for their big day.”
Plan every detail
“My approach to designing wedding cakes begins with an initial meeting with the bride and groom as well as their family members, where we discuss all of the intricate and delicate details of their wedding – flowers, bridesmaid dresses, bridal gown details, venue, and favors are all excellent sources of inspiration. In the hours following the inspiration meeting, I start sketching the cake for the couple. As an artist, it’s crucial to me that the couple has a clear vision for the cake.”
Photo: The Cake Boutique
Tell your love story
“The most enjoyable and rewarding element of my job is getting to know each couple, because they are all so unique. My inspirations are drawn from their wedding details, pursuits, passions, and cherished shared interests. Every couple has a unique love story that I incorporate into their bespoke wedding cake. As part of our one-on-one consultations, we sketch, create mood boards and taste cake to capture the couple’s vision. Whether it’s an elegant three-tier cake or a lavish 20-tier showpiece, each cake is designed with love.”
Photo: The Cake Boutique
Choose your trend
“Metallics, edible gold leaf, and pearl shimmers are among the most popular trends. With wafer paper, you can create soft waves and ruffles, which is a great way to incorporate accents from your gown. Beading and intricate painting will also be popular this season. The use of textures and sugar paper flowers in wedding cakes in 2023 will be prominent. Soft ruffles with pearl details will also be a large part of wedding cake artistry.”
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Celebrate good taste
While the cake may look like a piece of art, that doesn’t mean bridal couples should compromise on taste, says Lauren. “At The Cake Boutique we pride ourselves on providing cakes that are not only aesthetically pleasing and extravagant, but also flavorful. We use high-quality ingredients to make our cakes. As a company dedicated to inclusivity, I created our portfolio with this in mind when creating the menu for The Cake Boutique. I am pleased that we offer gluten-free, sugar-free, and plant-based alternatives that taste just as good as the other cakes on our menu.”
Photo: The Cake Boutique
Add a little regional flavor
“Saffron, rose, cardamom, cinnamon and pistachio are just a few of the Middle Eastern flavors that lend themselves so perfectly to cakes. Additionally, dates are incredibly versatile in baking and flavoring.”
