How often will you commission an actual piece of art in this lifetime? Weddings are a rare occasion when you hire artists to create a beautiful — and edible — showpiece.
As the owner of Patty Cakes gourmet confectionary, Tricia Vicks is more than just a baker. She’s a sugar artist, sculpting with fondant, hand-pouring candy molds, torching tiny sugar gemstones and more.
So, what should couples know about ordering a handmade edible artwork?
Enjoy it!
“When brides come to me for a cake, the first thing that I tell them is, ‘I want you to be very comfortable with me as a vendor. You’re about to pay a significant amount of money,” Vicks said. “You want to make sure that person shares that vision for your day.”
Patty Cakes will start with a 45-minute consultation to discuss the clients’ vision and pricing (always discuss costs early, so there are no surprises later on).
A baker will walk you through the process and all angles: Is the wedding theme rustic, classic or whimsical? How many guests are coming, and how big is the dinner beforehand? You won’t need one serving per person, since some people won’t eat cake (although cupcakes are more popular). The venue size and display table will determine the cake’s dimensions. A bigger shindig may require some cake dummies or extra-high tiers.
“We consider all of these things,” Vicks said.
Will you want certain colors, flowers, cake toppers or heirlooms? Some couples want to flip through a catalog of tried-and-true designs. Others want something new, incorporating their own unique style (or, sure, something found on Pinterest).
Weddings now are trending toward individuality. You and your spouse get to make the rules, from the ceremony style to the color of the frosting.
“Brides are not afraid of color now. They’re incorporating bright reds, and gold and blue,” Vicks said. “People are not afraid to go with what works for them.” And don’t forget everyone’s favorite themes: “The rustic look doesn’t seem to be going anywhere,” she said. “Beach themes are always going to be popular, because we live near the shore.”
Later on, the couple gets to the fun part: the tastings. It’s a cake after all! Flavors are a yummy way to share your style. So, consider whether you want a safe vanilla-on-vanilla, a summery coconut lime, a wintry red velvet or a wild banana-chocolate-walnut.
Even frosting comes in different styles: smooth buttercream, rich ganache or fondant — that sugar dough that creates smooth, sculptural details.
Dessert isn’t limited to cake, either. Couples are adding dessert tables to their receptions, with all kinds of sweets: a cupcake station, a s’mores bar, a candy buffet or various chocolate-covered Oreos, Rice Krispies and painted sugar cookies.
For over 15 years, Vicks’ bedside manner has been equally as valuable to stressed families as her skill in sugar sculpting. Vicks has both met and been the bride at her wits’ end, stressed by a desire for perfection.
“Do you see all of these people in this room? They’re all here for you. Let them help you,” Vicks recommends. “I try to be more than just your cake person, because on my wedding day, I had some vendors who stepped up and went above and beyond” to calm her own overwhelmed nerves. “Usually I tell [couples] to just enjoy the process. The vendors, the dress try-ons, the cake tastings, picking all the things…”
At the end of the day, her own joy, Vicks said, comes from seeing “the look on my clients’ face” when their cake arrives.
“It’s not just cake,” said Vicks. “It makes people happy to see something created specifically for them, to see their face light up. … I always look for my clients’ reaction, because that’s where I get my satisfaction.”
Different bakeries have different procedures for delivery. They might deliver the cake fully assembled, or arrange the cake and internal structure (platforms and dowel rods) upon arrival. They can then relinquish the cake to the catering staff, along with any special instructions for slicing. Special events did get smaller starting in the spring of 2020, when COVID-19 first hit the Delmarva Peninsula.
“With the pandemic, some people are having 10- to 15-person events, not having these big lavish events like they were last year. … It’s a lot more intimate,” Vicks said.
Patty Cakes is a Dover-based gourmet confectionery specializing in custom cakes and desserts, serving all of Delaware, Southern Pennsylvania and points beyond. Contact them at (302) 200-CAKE (2253), www.pattycakery.com and on social media.
