Wedding Cake Making at the New Roundhouse Cakes & Sugarcraft
Here at the Suffolk Weddings Guide we know that the Wedding Cake is one of the most important elements of your special day - it will wow your guests as the centrepiece on your Head Table, and the 'Cutting of the Cake' is a much celebrated, photographed and memorable moment.
For some top tips on what you need to think about when planning your wedding cake, please see our article on Wedding Cakes from Suffolk.
The following is an interview with John, chef and wedding cake maker extraordinaire, from the New Roundhouse Cakes & Sugarcraft.
What process do you follow when the bride and groom begin choosing their wedding cake?
I listen to the bride and groom and try and match to their personality and specific requirements - NOT what I think they want. A large proportion of brides and grooms just want a nice cake at a price within their budget. However, boundaries are being pushed all the time and some brides and grooms know exactly what they want. These cakes are by far the best cakes to create and they are usually delighted with the finished results.
All couples like the cake to have some sort of theme linked to the rest of the celebrations. Colour co-ordinated is usually the top request, but links with the bouquet & wedding dress are the other two top choices.
Here are 2 cakes that were completed precisely at the bride and groom's request - -
Sea Side Treasures
Fairy Grove
What is your best selling wedding cake design?
I have not sold a design that has been repeated. All my cakes are individually designed based on the client requirements. However the tiered cake is still the most popular choice either traditional or off set, followed by the cup cake phenomena.
What is the most popular cake filling?
Although the rich fruit still has its place and is often requested, chocolate, lemon, carrot, red velvet, and strawberry are a popular choice in sponge or mousse - particularly if the cake is going to be used as the dessert, which is often the case. But there are lots and lots of other flavours and it is quite the thing to have one of each in the design.
Have you received any unusual wedding cake requests?
The last unusual request was for a band stand with band members playing instruments. This was for two people who belong to, and have a passion for, brass bands.
Brass Band
How long does it take to decorate a cake?
Quite a difficult question to answer as it really does depend on the required design. The blue three tier cake is designed with simple cut-out shapes and butterflies, and could be made in a few days (and this is only because of the drying times).
The other extreme - anything to do with flowers can be time-consuming (I spent nearly eighty hours on my son’s wedding cake, replicating the bridal bouquet cascading down five tiers of rich fruit cake). Other time-consuming designs would include run-out collar work, bridge work and precise modelling.
From where do you get most of your orders?
Mostly local, from Suffolk and Norfolk. I feel about one and a half hours maximum drive time to deliver is enough. However, if orders came from further afield I would certainly consider them.
How did you become a wedding cake maker?
Snowballing effect! I have always decorated cakes since the early seventies. I started as most people, making cakes for my family. Over the years I have made all my brothers and sisters wedding cakes and all types of other celebration cakes for my family. Then friends see the results and start to ask. I was in teaching before we came down to Suffolk. Teaching Sugarcraft has always been a pleasure due to the type of people that attended. I taught all levels from 1 to 3. All courses ended with a qualification for the student.
During my own personal development, my catering qualification consisted of Advanced Sugarcraft Skills. My Sugarcraft skills are wide and varied - I do enjoy making sugar flowers, but as I still teach I have to maintain this wide range skills level. I also like to demonstrate to an audience, this must be the show off in me! Not everyone does but when people take the time to write and thank me for the cake, this I feel is the best reward.
Can you please tell us about your cake decorating workshops and demonstrations?
I have taught for many years and in some ways I missed it. I was asked if I would in teach adult education at St. John Lemans in Beccles, and I now do this every Tuesday Evening.
Although I have done some workshops at The Roundhouse, these have never been promoted other than by just word of mouth. But after demonstrating at a local sugar craft club in Oulton Broad and Halesworth Library a few people have asked for a little help developing their skills. Hence the beginning of my workshops, which are now promoted and creating a reasonable amount of interest. I have even had professional cake makers making inquiries and attending some workshops!
For more information on wedding cakes, workshops or to contact John, please see New Roundhouse Cakes & Sugarcraft.
Suffolk Weddings Guide
For some top tips on what you need to think about when planning your wedding cake, please see our article on Wedding Cakes from Suffolk.
The following is an interview with John, chef and wedding cake maker extraordinaire, from the New Roundhouse Cakes & Sugarcraft.
What process do you follow when the bride and groom begin choosing their wedding cake?
I listen to the bride and groom and try and match to their personality and specific requirements - NOT what I think they want. A large proportion of brides and grooms just want a nice cake at a price within their budget. However, boundaries are being pushed all the time and some brides and grooms know exactly what they want. These cakes are by far the best cakes to create and they are usually delighted with the finished results.
All couples like the cake to have some sort of theme linked to the rest of the celebrations. Colour co-ordinated is usually the top request, but links with the bouquet & wedding dress are the other two top choices.
Here are 2 cakes that were completed precisely at the bride and groom's request - -
Sea Side Treasures
Fairy Grove
What is your best selling wedding cake design?
I have not sold a design that has been repeated. All my cakes are individually designed based on the client requirements. However the tiered cake is still the most popular choice either traditional or off set, followed by the cup cake phenomena.
What is the most popular cake filling?
Although the rich fruit still has its place and is often requested, chocolate, lemon, carrot, red velvet, and strawberry are a popular choice in sponge or mousse - particularly if the cake is going to be used as the dessert, which is often the case. But there are lots and lots of other flavours and it is quite the thing to have one of each in the design.
Wedding Caterers from Suffolk
Please click on the link above to view details on Wedding Catering services in Suffolk - find a wedding caterer to suit all tastes and budgets. Absolutely delicious!
Please click on the link above to view details on Wedding Catering services in Suffolk - find a wedding caterer to suit all tastes and budgets. Absolutely delicious!
Have you received any unusual wedding cake requests?
The last unusual request was for a band stand with band members playing instruments. This was for two people who belong to, and have a passion for, brass bands.
Brass Band
How long does it take to decorate a cake?
Quite a difficult question to answer as it really does depend on the required design. The blue three tier cake is designed with simple cut-out shapes and butterflies, and could be made in a few days (and this is only because of the drying times).
The other extreme - anything to do with flowers can be time-consuming (I spent nearly eighty hours on my son’s wedding cake, replicating the bridal bouquet cascading down five tiers of rich fruit cake). Other time-consuming designs would include run-out collar work, bridge work and precise modelling.
From where do you get most of your orders?
Mostly local, from Suffolk and Norfolk. I feel about one and a half hours maximum drive time to deliver is enough. However, if orders came from further afield I would certainly consider them.
How did you become a wedding cake maker?
Snowballing effect! I have always decorated cakes since the early seventies. I started as most people, making cakes for my family. Over the years I have made all my brothers and sisters wedding cakes and all types of other celebration cakes for my family. Then friends see the results and start to ask. I was in teaching before we came down to Suffolk. Teaching Sugarcraft has always been a pleasure due to the type of people that attended. I taught all levels from 1 to 3. All courses ended with a qualification for the student.
During my own personal development, my catering qualification consisted of Advanced Sugarcraft Skills. My Sugarcraft skills are wide and varied - I do enjoy making sugar flowers, but as I still teach I have to maintain this wide range skills level. I also like to demonstrate to an audience, this must be the show off in me! Not everyone does but when people take the time to write and thank me for the cake, this I feel is the best reward.
Can you please tell us about your cake decorating workshops and demonstrations?
I have taught for many years and in some ways I missed it. I was asked if I would in teach adult education at St. John Lemans in Beccles, and I now do this every Tuesday Evening.
Although I have done some workshops at The Roundhouse, these have never been promoted other than by just word of mouth. But after demonstrating at a local sugar craft club in Oulton Broad and Halesworth Library a few people have asked for a little help developing their skills. Hence the beginning of my workshops, which are now promoted and creating a reasonable amount of interest. I have even had professional cake makers making inquiries and attending some workshops!
For more information on wedding cakes, workshops or to contact John, please see New Roundhouse Cakes & Sugarcraft.
Suffolk Weddings Guide
