Well that, a beautiful bride, a charming groom, a dress to die for, a three tier cake and a few snaps to remember the big day… but that’s not quite as catchy now is it?

Gemma and I have been friends since we were 4, an orchestrated friendship (so i am told) by plotting mothers at the school gates. It worked out well and we’ve been friends ever since. Yes, this is us, aged umm.. young, playing in my folk’s garden.

So when she asked me to make the cake for her wedding how could I refuse. When she then asked if I would take the photos at her wedding i started getting a bit nervous. I mean, that’s two out of three of the BIG DEALS when it comes to weddings! I’m just surprised she didn’t ask me to make the dress as well! (I’m kidding of course- i’m rubbish at sewing.)

Still, i’m not one for turning down a challenge and i knew deep down this was a real honour to be trusted as both cake maker and photographer, so after a few autumnal drinks last year I agreed.

The cake was to be a three tiered cake for 120 people, all white chocolate, (hubby-to-be doesn’t like REAL chocolate cake – i know, how very dare he) wrapped in cigarellos and filled with strawberries and raspberries. As fondant is my normal weapon of choice this cake was definitely going to be something a bit different for me!

Cigarellos. I needed my friend google for this one. HOW MUCH????! Who knew these tiny sticks of chocolate could cost so much? I suspect gold bars would have been cheaper yet as the brief was white chocolate cigarellos and not precious metals  i ordered 300!

I used a wonderful recipe, tried and tested by our soon to be newly-weds earlier in the year. It’s gorgeous, it’s definitely not an all-in-one, yet well worth the pile of washing up it creates.

White chocolate cake

And here is it, the final result.

I also found this wonderful topper on Etsy which really set the whole thing off.

Wedding cake on site, stacked and fruits added it was off with my cake hat (not an actual hat you understand,) and on with my photography hat and away to take on the rest of the day.

The bride looked more beautiful than you could imagine, the couple looked as starry-eyed as you’d expect and the whole day was totally magical. Magical – partly due to the sun-light through the church windows, the confetti caught in Gemma’s train, the little hand-made favours and all the other trimmings that make a wedding, yet mostly it was magical because I got to be a big part of the day my friend had been dreaming about since she was 4. You can’t really get any better than that can you?

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Watkins. xx