Happy Wedding Day!

 When I first began baking/decorating...I started out with cakes.

I took the Wilton Basics cake decorating class.

I had always wanted to learn cake decorating.

 As time went by, I got more into custom cookie decorating and cakes fell by the wayside.

I still had a yearning to learn more with cake decorating, but I never really had any requests.

So I didn't really have the opportunity to grow and learn.

 I also had some fears of cakes.

Then...

I got this request.

A wedding cake.

(aaaaggh!)

Major fear set in.  Could I do this?

Was I capable? 

I decided to go for it.

 After all, it was a fairly simple design and a fairly small cake.

I got this.  I can do this.

I read.  I studied. I watched videos. I asked questions.

I was ready.

 I set to work making the fondant flowers.  Amazingly enough, they were very easy!

It was like being a kid all over again and playing with playdough!

I honestly had a lot of fun with them.  I made homemade marshmallow fondant, tinted it lavender, and once finished...added a little luster dust for a pretty shimmer.

 The cake was a gluten-free vanilla with classic buttercream.

Fondant roses.

 The finished product in my frig.

I think it turned out pretty good for my first wedding cake!

After all, it was not only my first wedding cake...but my first gluten-free cake, my first stacked two-tier cake, and my first with fondant roses!

I'd say it was a success!

Not only did I do the small cake for the bride and groom...

I also did 400...yes FOUR HUNDRED...cake pops for dessert for the guests.

I did 200 chocolate and 200 vanilla.

It was a really nerve-wracking, but overall a great experience and one that I was truly happy with.

Congratulations to the bride and groom!

Wishing you a lifetime of health and happiness!

Wedding Belle's!

 WOW!
How did I forget to blog about these beauties?

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with a very kind mother of groom on these particular cookies.

 It was such a fun job.

I was given pretty much, free reign over the design.

The only request was "wedding gowns" and "wedding cakes" with hints of pink.

 Some cookiers enjoy KNOWING EXACTLY what they're going to do.

They enjoy being given a design to follow.

Me?  No way.

Some of my best work comes from when I just let loose and those creative juices start flowing.

 Many of my fellow cookie baking friends all sketch their designs before decorating.

I have never been one to do that.

I "do" get somewhat of a design in my head...but I never sketch.

 I just kind of let my hands go...and see what turns out.

That was the case with these dresses and cakes.

 It was so much fun.  Pretty much each dress was unique...with maybe a few being similar.

 The wedding cakes were fun too.

 It was kind of like decorating a cake, yet on a cookie!

 These I did in 5 designs.

I was happy with the outcome of all of these.

They were a lot of fun to do.

I wish the new couple a lifetime of health and happiness!

Bridal Collection...

 Every time I have an order for cookies...I usually end up with extra dough.

When I end up with extra dough...

 I inevitably always end up digging for cookie cutters that I've bought, but have never used yet.

That means it's time to...

 Make samples...

Or as I call it...

 PLAY!

(or maybe I should say "experiment" new techniques...that sounds better)

I did this bridal set tonight as a sample for future brides to see for upcoming weddings and bridal showers.  I've done several weddings and bridal showers/luncheons now and I thought it would be nice to have some samples.

White on white is one of my favorite color palettes.

My friends always love it when I'm experimenting and practicing...

Because that means they get to eat the fruits of my labor!

Haha! 

Wedded Bliss...

 MASSIVE.

That is the only word to describe the project I took on.

I was contacted by a local bride (referred by my new friend Madri).

She wanted to know if I'd make favors for her wedding.

 As someone who usually takes on smaller orders (i.e. two or three dozen)...

I was hesitant...but welcomed a challenge!

I decided it would be good to push myself out of my comfort zone.

 Thankfully, the lovely bride was easy to work with and very flexible.

We decided on 6 mini cookies per favor, each tied with ribbon, and a thank-you card attached.

  The final tally she needed was 1380 cookies.

I think I made enough extras that I was more in the ballpark of 1400-1500 minis.

 It was quite a project.
My mom volunteered to come up and assist me one day.

I had all the cookies baked...and then we started an assembly line of sorts.

She did all of the "flooding" while I started "detailing" the dry cookies.
It got to the point, where my youngest son actually said to me, "I CAN'T TAKE THE SMELL OF COOKIES ANYMORE! WHEN WILL YOU BE DONE?"
LOL!
For a child to tire of the smell of cookies...you KNOW you've baked a lot of cookies!
I put together a few collages of my journey on this project.
Below is a look at my journey with this project...enjoy!

If you are ever challenged to take on something you've never done before, I encourage you to try it.  You may just surprise yourself...I know I did!

Remember planning and preparation are key!

...and they lived happily ever after...

Wedding Samples!

These are a few samples of some wedding favors I did for a bride and groom of an upcoming wedding this spring.  I will be posting pictures of the actual favors within the next month, as the packaging will be a little different.  We are going with long, skinny "strip" bags, 6 to a bag, and tying them off with ribbons and a "Thank-You" tag with the bride and groom's names/date.

If you are considering placing a large order with Sweet Ivy (i.e. wedding receptions, large parties, etc.)...we do offer samples/tasting for large orders.

Please let us know if we can ever help you out with your next wedding, shower, party, reunion, or get-together!