How would you like to get your wedding cake for free?

Option 1 … 6 for 6

Just tell 6 brides about Cakes by Graham and if they order their cake from Cakes by Graham and those 6 brides tell 6 more brides join the program and tell 6 more brides each, if the last 6 brides each order from Cakes by Graham I will refund you the purchase price of your cake.

The 6 brides you tell can get their cake for free if they enroll 6 brides who order from Cakes by Graham and further enroll 6 new brides.

Option 2 … 10 for 10

If you tell 10 brides about Cakes by Graham and they schedule a visit with me and those 10 brides join the program and tell 10 more brides each, if they in turn schedule visits with me, then I will refund you the purchase price of your cake.

The 10 brides you tell can get their cake for free if they enroll 10 brides who visit Cakes by Graham and further enroll 10 new brides.

While serving with the Parachute Regiment Graham completed a televised parachute jump into the sea.

The Economy

It seems that everyone these days, both here in Richmond, Virginia, and all over the country is constantly discussing “The Economy”. Is it better or is it worse? Can you really believe what you hear or what you see on TV? Who knows? What I do know is that the past few years have been difficult for both brides and grooms and the vendors providing services for them. Several years ago I made a pledge to my clients and to my employees that there were certain things that I would and would not do during tough economic times. I practice those promises, and I’d like to share them with you:

I will not:

• cut down on using the highest quality ingredients,
• cut my employees’ pay,
• lower the quality of my workmanship, and
• spend less time crafting each cake with individual care.

There are absolutely places in the marketplace that offer lower prices. Unfortunately, many times it is mainly due to lower quality, fewer choices, price cutting and/or poorer customer service. Be mindful that your wedding day is the one day you have dreamed of for many years. You will invest many hours planning this important day and you will remember it for the rest of your life!

Your wedding cake is the centerpiece of the reception, second only to you! It is the centerpiece of toasts, as well as the last thing that guests will eat, and thus, it always leaves a lasting impression. I will work with you individually to plan the cake you want and to find ways to adjust the investment you will be making to fit your needs. Let’s work together to make the wedding cake of your dreams!

Graham Haddock, Owner of Cakes by Graham eats chocolate every day!

Wedding Cake Stands

Cakes by Graham has a selection of wedding cake stands to enhance the presentation of your wedding cake. These elegant stands may be used to present your cake in an elegant fashion on your special day. Graham has personally selected these stands, which are similar in style to those pictured.

The stands are available for rental at our Richmond, Virginia Cakery and may be reserved on a first come, first served basis. They include 11 silver round, 2 silver square and one glass stand. Pedestal stands (3) are also available but are not as stable for cutting the cakes on.

You may be able to choose your stand initially, but your selection may be changed in order to meet the requirements of the cake size, style, and decoration. Not all cakes will fit on all stands. Graham will make the final decision in the best interest of the cake’s presentation.

A rental charge of $50.00 and a cash security deposit is required. These fees are in addition to any others concerning your wedding cake. To reserve your silver stand please call us at 804-288-1920.

At the time of the reservation you will be required to make the deposit and sign a Wedding Cake Stand Rental Agreement.

Graham has 3 daughters, 1 grand daughter and 3 grand sons.

Preparing for the cak

The three most important things to do when preparing for the cake tasting visit  are;

Time

Patience

A realistic Budget

Try not to squeeze the cake visit into your lunch break. Doing so, you may find yourself rushing, not only to get there and back, but also with the decisions you may need to make during the visit.

If you have seen a wedding planning time line remember it is a guide. Don’t let it lead you to believing it is absolute. You may have set your priorities in a different order than the guide recommends, so ask each wedding professional what they recommend for you. In Richmond, Virginia the advanced time to order a wedding cake will be different from the national average time.

Make your decisions about your options and move on. Don’t agonize over your choices or second guess yourself. You do not want to be walking down the aisle thinking “I wonder if I should have bought the other dress?”

Along with time is patience and we are all aware there are times when planning a wedding may become stressful.  If you are rushing, and impatient with yourself, you will not enjoy the experience. There is a chance you may not be as attentive to the things that require your attention and something may get overlooked.

Now, on to the sometimes sensitive subject of budget! Your budget is something we must use wisely. Do not pre set a budget based on your sister’s, friends’, or the wedding planner’s statistical average budget. It does not matter what other people spend on their cakes, it matters what you want to spend on yours. The cost of living in Richmond Virginia is relative to the cost of wedding cakes and therefore it is irrelevant to what others may have paid elsewhere. If cake is a high priority for you then you will do whatever it takes to get it. If it is not a high priority then you can still have a beautiful cake without using too much of your budget. Ask your cake designer for options that may be more economical after you have understood how they are priced.

Bring photos or ideas of things you like from magazines or from the Internet, I recommend about 5-10. If you bring too many they will either be repetitive or not show a consistent style of things you like. A word of caution about magazine photos is that most are not real cakes and may have to be changed to meet your circumstances. Color swatches may be helpful if you would like color on your cake and a list of your weddings fresh flowers is helpful.

Some brides like to bring other people to the cake appointments to help them make decisions i.e. the Groom, Mom or maid of honor. I recommend bringing the main decision makers to the visit so that they can share the full experience of all the services we offer. However, remember that everybody has an opinion and they may unknowingly make the selection process more difficult if you have too many opinions to deal with … yours is the opinion that counts!

It is important to bring an open mind. You may have pictures, swatches and others with you but let the professionals guide you. Remember that this is probably the first time you have ever purchased a wedding cake but professional cake designers do it for a living, so find someone you can trust and get the cake of your dreams.

I remember the precision that was required for this cake. Although the frosting dots look very simple, piping them to the exact size was a little challenging but I think you will agree they came out rather well.

It’s the beginning of wedding season here in Richmond, Virginia, and we would like to share a little wisdom that might help brides everywhere.

One of our brides picked up her wedding cake flowers herself and took them to the reception site the day before the wedding. In doing so she saved some money, which is good. She informed us that the flowers would be at the cake table when the cake arrived and left them with the venue’s staff member, who put them, as they told her “somewhere safe”. We arrived at the reception site expecting the flowers to be on the cake table, but they were not. No one knew where the flowers were, nor could they or the staff member be found. After a while we had no alternative but to go, leaving the finishing of the cake to someone else.

We can all guess what happened…….the bride was not happy with the cake flowers and she called to express her disappointment. We found out that the “responsible” staff member had not conveyed to anyone where the flowers were…..i.e., a lack of communication, which resulted in someone less qualified finishing the cake.

Many times brides and grooms try to find ways to save money when they are planning a wedding. While we always recommend that you use a professional florist, picking up and/or providing your own cake flowers is certainly one way to save a few dollars if you choose to do so.  You must, however, communicate fully with all of your vendors in order to ensure that you not only have what you need, but that you ensure that those products are where they need to be on your wedding day! That will ensure that your cake is as you want it and that it is the cake of your dreams!

Although from England he does not drink hot tea but does enjoy sweet tea with Lemon.

Kitchen cakes, sometimes referred to as “cutting cakes”, are usually simple undecorated sheet cakes which are pre-cut in the kitchen (hence their name). This option benefits the caterer as the cake can be cut ahead of the official cake cutting ceremony and pre-plated onto racks in the kitchen. The caterer will enjoy this as the cake can be cut during more quiet times for the staff. You will not know when the cake is cut, as it is done in the kitchen where you cannot see it. Then as soon as the official cake cutting occurs, the staff walk out of the kitchen carrying the pre-sliced cake servings for the guests. The unfortunate result is that the cake will not only dry out when cut, but will also absorb smells from the kitchen environment. Even the cleanest kitchens smell, especially when they contain food scraps, and cooking and dish washing areas.

The best looking cakes are sized to the event, meaning that the number of guests determine the size of the cake. Cakes will look out of proportion if they are too small for the reception and guests will quickly know they could be getting sheet cake if they see a small wedding cake. Secondly, the guests who are served the pre-cut kitchen cake will not get the same quality cake as guests who are served from the wedding cake. Considering this is one of the most important days of your life and that you have spent a lot of time preparing for it, you have only one chance to make a lasting impression.

Styrofoam or “dummy” cakes are foam blocks covered and decorated with frosting made to look like real cakes from the outside intending to make the wedding cake appear larger. Some brides are influenced by the ceiling height of the location and try to make their cake “fill the room”. A more meaningful approach is to consider when the cake cutting occurs.  The guests’ attention should be on the bride and groom, with bias towards the bride. Their focus should also be on the happy expressions on the couple’s faces and not on how tall the cake is. If the cake is taller than the bride’s eye level, it can be a distraction from what guests should be looking at, i.e., the bride and groom.  Even if you did add an additional layer, it would only add three (3) inches per tier to the overall height of the cake, making little overall difference in a tall room.

Typically, the order in which the cake is cut is to cut the first ceremonial piece from the bottom tier; then the caterer cuts and serves from the top down, excluding the top anniversary tier. If you decide to add a fake tier, it would need to be at the bottom so it would be left untouched at the end of the evening. Obviously, you will need to adjust to the next tier up for your cake cutting photographs. Considering that decorating the “dummy” layer adds a lot more work for the baker and no one will be actually eating it…..why bother? Wedding cakes are sized to the event and will look out of proportion if they are too large for the reception.

Why not achieve a more spectacular effect by placing the cake on an elegant silver cake stand. These stands are taller than the height of a tier of cake and are rented for about $50.00.

The most appropriate cake serving occurs when the cake is cut and served to guests where it is displayed.  A skilled and confident caterer should have staff capable of cutting the cake correctly and serving it directly to the guests without taking it to the kitchen.

If you are considering either kitchen/cutting cake or fake Styrofoam cake, ask yourself a question…what will you and your gusts remember in the future? Will it be the few dollars you saved by using kitchen cake, the three inches you added with your cake’s fake height or will it be a correctly sized, beautiful a delicious cake you served to your family and friends on your very special day?

This 4 teir stunning shaped cake was difficult to cover in rolled fondant as our friend gravity wanted to pull the frosting from the underside of each tier. So you could say this cake defies gravity.

 SELECTING YOUR WEDDING CAKE DECORATOR

INTRODUCTION – When selecting your wedding cake decorator there are many to choose from, especially here in Richmond Virginia.  They range from family members, friends and neighbors working from their homes, to bakers, cake decorating equipment shops, caterers and specialty shops. The list is long and often confusing. How do you choose the right one for you? Here are the seven (7) key points to help you make the right decision:

REPUTATION – What is the reputation of the business? Ask for referrals from your friends, preferably someone who recently got married. Ask people who are assisting you with your wedding – like your coordinator, florist, photographer, caterer or the reception facility coordinator.

CUSTOMER SERVICE – Once you set up appointments, keep these questions in mind:

Will the baker do what “you” want and ask you what “your” requirements are, or will the baker show you what they do and you must choose from their selections? Are the photographs shown from cake books or from the bakers’ actual cakes? Observe the cleanliness and organization of the appointment area. Is the appointment with the baker and decorator, or someone else?

EXPERTISE – Do they specialize in cakes only or do they bake other goods? What are the choices offered in regards to the number of batter flavors, frostings, fillings, stands and designs?

SERVICE – Is the appointment informative? What extras will they do at no charge to relieve you of worry and stress? Are you pressured to make decisions quickly? Are there particular financial concerns? Cake tops and groom’s cakes are traditions. Are the reasons explained to you? Why are wedding cakes round? Do they know these things?

CAKE PRICES – Is the cake sold by the pound or serving? Does it include the top tier? Is the price quoted the bottom line price or are the extras added on afterwards – like tax and delivery?

VALUE – Are you looking for a quality cake or an economy cake? The cheapest priced cake is not always the best value.

RAPPORT – Can you and the baker communicate with each other? Do you feel comfortable doing business together?

Now you know what you are looking for! Call Cakes by Graham at 804-288-1920. Graham has a sweet tooth and eats ice cream daily.

First, and most popular, is a single letter from the groom’s last name, which typically becomes the bride’s new last name. Italics and fancy fonts are often used with the single letter, and the height of the letter can be up to 5 inches as a topper or whatever the height on the tier is. Example - ”H”

Second, your new married monogram consisting of the bride’s first name initial on the left, the groom’s last name initial in the center (larger) and the groom’s first name initial to the right.  While we can pipe a variety of fonts, typically non italic and simpler fonts are used. The height of the letters can be up to 5 inches for the groom’s last name (H) and 3 1/2“ 4 inches for the first names (D,G). These cake toppers are usually three different and separate letters.  Example - ”DHG”

Third, using the bride and groom’s first names, with the bride’s name on the left.  Again, this can be done as a topper or as a monogram piped on the cake.  An ampersand may be used which is often smaller than the letters. As a topper, the height of the letters can be up to 4 1/2 inches with the ampersand 2-3 inches high. This type of monogram is used least often. Example – “ DG” or “D&G”

It is typical to use only one monogram per cake. Considerations for selecting the monogram are font, material, size, color, finish and added decorations. If you use a single letter a more elaborate font may be used; however, if you use the new married (3 letter) monogram a simpler font will be more easy to read. Prices can range from $15 to $200 per letter. An alternative to using the monogram as a cake topper is to (s).the style of the cake topper. Most often it is placed near the middle tiers depending on the number of tiers, the cakes construction and design. A skilled cake designer will place the monogram on the appropriate tier after getting your input.

Here are some real wedding cake examples

1. Coordinate at the reception:

• Smoke will impair the delicate flavors of the cake.
• Heat will soften the cake, particularly butter cream and Ganache frosting. Ideal temperature is below 75 degrees for outdoor receptions.
• Serving size is 1” x 2”; cake tiers are approximately 3” high.

Damage control can be eliminated by providing a secured area for the cake prior to the reception.

• Level floors must be used to situate the cake.
• Level and secure tables must be provided.
• Cutting time should be no more than 10 minutes prior to eating

2. Coordinate with your florist:

• Try to compliment the cake, not overpower it.
• Fresh flowers and greenery must not be pushed into the cake.
• Flowers spikes, water spraying or drips will damage the cake and the frosting.
• Oasis blocks must be in containers.
• No chemicals or sprays may be used on flowers and on or near the cake.

3. Storing the top tier:

• To ensure freshness, be sure to wrap and freeze the cake within 24 hours of the reception. Place the cake in the box provided and wrap the box with cling wrap in two directions (front to back and side to side). Now wrap the box with tin foil in the same way. Wrap the box again with two more layers of cling wrap, being sure to label the box clearly. Store in the freezer.

4. Defrosting the top tier on our first anniversary:

• On the day before your anniversary remove the box from the freezer, and, keeping all the wrapping in tact, place the box in the refrigerator overnight to defrost.
• On the day of your anniversary remove the wrapped box from the refrigerator and leave the cake on your table or counter. Be sure to leave the wrapping in place.
• Finally, unwrap the cake two to three hours before eating and once again enjoy…Cakes by Graham!

Graham  was born in Reading, England but is not a Beatles fan.