I recently made a cake for a lovely couple who had the most unusual (yet still elegant) hand made topper I'd seen. She was kind enough (and trusting) to give me creative freedom so naturally, I was instantly inspired by the topper. Twisted "silver & gold" wires with figures sculpted from cloth & wire, and some enamel flowers that resembled stained glass. I designed the cake around the topper, and chose to create whimsical flowers using a technique I developed that creates a "stained glass" surface on the sugar flowers and leaves. I also wanted to mimic the twisted wire somewhere on the cake, so I made some curled pieces of fondant and finished them with edible gold & silver.
The cake was iced in frosting (no fondant) on what seemed to be the hottest, most humid day of the summer. The reception was outdoors at an idealic and romantic setting...between an ocean, a forest and in a farm field. The view of the ocean was quite stunning. I was very concerned about the humidity and what happens to icing in heat...melting...but according to the bride and the photos she sent, the cake held up for several hours in extreme heat. *YES!!!* ~ I was told that the caterer was very pleased all the decorations were edible, because she had nothing to remove from the cake prior to cutting it. I'm beginning to think Bride-zillas are an urban myth....either that, or I am repelling them somehow. ;o)
