After over a decade of making spectacular wedding cakes Colleen Brent has learned a lot about how to ensure you get the cake of your dreams. While any cake design from Cakealicious will involve personalised consultations where we guide you through the design process, Colleen has compiled a few tips to help you choose the most important dessert of your life.

1. Browse, browse, browse.

Not long-ago prospective brides and grooms had to spend a fortune on cake magazines to find inspiration, but thanks to the internet you can now browse cake designs from the most incredible bakers around the world. Make the most of this amazing recourse, take notes, screengrabs, photos, anything that can help guide you when it comes time to designing your own cake. The process can be a little daunting, it helps a lot to have a good idea of what you want.

2. Don’t forget about flavour.

Many people plan their cake design for weeks or months before even thinking about the taste. A beautiful centrepiece is nice but it’s even better if it is delicious.

3. Slow down.

Not everyone has the luxury of time to spare but be aware that designing and crafting a cake is a time-consuming experience. Whenever possible, start planning your cake as early as you can. Take the time to consider all the different options, this will almost always result in you being happier with the final product. You will need a minimum of two consultations with our head baker including the tasting and we require a minimum of three days to produce a cake, please allow plenty of time before your big day.

4. Consider any special food requirements.

Is your new mother in law vegan, gluten free or dairy intolerant? Does Grandmother have a deadly peanut allergy? There are an endless variety of special dietary requirements that your wedding guests may have, catering to them will require either some compromise or elaborate planning. Many of our clients require that their guests advise them of their dietary limitations when they RSVP, this assists them in planning the meals and drinks which they provide. We will work with you and whatever your needs are, to ensure everyone can enjoy the moment when you cut the wedding cake of your dreams.   

Colleen Brent, owner and head baker at Cakealicious Cakes, traveled to Napier this weekend to compete in the prestigious Chelsea Sugar Craft Competition. The sun was beating down on the 43 competitors from around New Zealand gathered to exhibit their mastery of baking; despite the heat the competition was an absolute success. Colleen participated in the Luxury Cake Clash, the Pavlova Playoffs and the Bread Baking Battle, taking home trophies for 1^st, 1^st and 3^rd respectively.

Speaking after the competition Ms Brent said she was absolutely elated with her performance and praised the high standard of competition: “That was one of the toughest line ups of competitors that I’ve ever seen in the luxury cake division, I have to admit I was very nervous. When I saw Pierre Patisserie’s spectacular seven tier black forest gateaux, I knew I needed to bring my A game. The pavlova division was equally tough, but I’ve been training particularly hard for that event, so I just stuck with my plan and it all came together. I was slightly disappointed with my results in the Bread Battle, but I’ve really got to give it up to my competitors. Christina Crast created the crustiest Ciabatta I have ever seen, and Dorothy Dow baked the most delicious date nut bread in the history of the competition. I take my hat off to them and look forward to competing against them both next year”.

2020 marks the eighth year that Colleen has competed at the illustrious invitation-only event and provided her most successful results to date, bringing her total trophy count to eleven and confirming her position as one of New Zealand’s most illustrious premier cake designers.