So, if you haven’t already heard the news… I’m now an award-winning cake maker! I recently won the coveted Best Wedding Cake Maker award at the 2018 EDP Bride Awards.
Which means I’ll be quadrupling my wedding cake prices.
Just kidding!
I’ve been up on cloud nine for the last few weeks, getting my head around this tremendous honour. Even though I’ve been shortlisted for the award before, I was over the moon to discover that I’d won! I’d had my fingers and toes crossed for weeks, but I had some serious competition, including last year’s talented winner, Nicky from Little Millies in Stalham.
Nominations… and so much prep!
Work for this year’s entry began months ago, first with the nominations period – a huge thank you to everyone who nominated me. A few lovely customers even emailed me to ask ‘did I mind’ if they were to nominate me, bless their hearts!
I reached the final for two categories, ‘Best Wedding Cake Maker’ and also the ‘Wedding Innovation Award’. I needed to prepare a portfolio of my best work from the last year and also bake up some delicious and impressive cakes for the judges to try. I felt like I was starring in my own private Great British Bake Off, thankfully without the cameras. It’s a lot of pressure and of course I needed to fit all this in around my existing wedding cake orders too.
Fast forward a few more weeks and before I knew it, the awards night was upon us! I was a little nervous but all the hard work had been done, the judges had been met, my portfolio examined and cakes tasted, there was nothing more I could do!
My long suffering husband Jeremy threw himself into a black tie tuxedo (and looked rather dashing I must say) whilst I treated myself to a blow dry and… wait for it… a manicure! It sounds silly but it’s such a treat for a professional wedding cake maker like me to have neat, painted nails! Usually my hands are covered with chocolate ganache and icing sugar.
Glitz and glamour
The EDP Bride Awards ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn in Norwich North. We arrived to a red carpet reception with Prosecco and were entertained during the night by violinist Alison Sparrow, very glam! The food was delicious and of course there was plenty of wine! We had a wonderful evening, meeting and socialising with other people from the wedding community and celebrating everyone’s creativity.
In the days and weeks after I feel like I’ve been in a total spin! I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the support we’ve received on social media from friends, family, customers, fellow cake makers and other Wedding suppliers. I thought I’d be elated but it really took a few days for the shock to wear off and for the win to really sink in!
I couldn’t have ever dreamed our little cake business would win an award! I’m so proud of what my lovely team and I have achieved in such a short space of time.
But of course this is no time to rest on my laurels. I’ve already got an order book full of wonderful bespoke wedding cake orders for this year and I’m looking forward to working with lots of lovely brides, venues and other wedding day suppliers this year.
If you’d like to have a chat about designing your dream wedding cake, please do get in contact and arrange a free wedding cake consultation. You can reach me on: 01362 692705 or via email: [email protected]
I’ll also be at EDP Bride: The Wedding Show at Holkham Hall on Sunday 18th March, why not come down and say hello?