What makes a wedding truly unforgettable? Welcome to the first episode of Beyond the Cake - a series that takes you behind the scenes of extraordinary weddings, spotlighting the talented professionals who bring them to life. Today I’m honored to sit down with Jasmine Lazzari, founder and creative director of The Wedding Co. Portugal - a true pioneer in luxury destination weddings. This conversation is a tribute to the details that matter, the people who make magic happen, and the stories that deserve to be told.
One of my favorite wedding venues in Sarasota is The Ringling Museum, where art, history, and romance converge. This iconic venue offers an extraordinary backdrop with its Mediterranean-inspired architecture, lush gardens, and waterfront views. Within the property, the Ca’ d’Zan terrace makes for the perfect ceremony spot, while the Museum of Art Courtyard provides the perfect setting for unforgettable receptions. .
If you’re planning a luxury wedding or milestone celebration in Florida (or anywhere!), this exquisite anniversary event was the epitome of elegant design and personalized detail. With expert planning by NK Productions Wedding Planning and lush floral design by Botanica International Design Studio, every moment was curated to perfection—centered around a breathtaking sugar flower cake by award-winning cake designer Julie Deffense.
When it comes to planning a wedding, one of my favorite parts—naturally—is the wedding cake. It’s more than dessert. It’s a showpiece. A symbol of your style. And often, the sweet exclamation point at the end of your celebration.
I’ve designed wedding cakes for elegant palaces in Portugal and sunlit estates in Florida, each one tailored to reflect the couple’s unique love story. If you’re beginning to plan your big day, here’s everything you need to know to make your cake planning experience seamless, meaningful, and stress-free.
Milestone birthdays provide an excellent opportunity to showcase unique and extravagant cake designs that can truly surprise and delight the celebrant. One of the most popular trends in birthday cakes is the use of themed designs that reflect the interests and passions of the birthday person. From whimsical references inspired by favorite childhood memories to sophisticated cakes that echo a specific hobby, the possibilities are endless. Cake artists are skilled at transforming these concepts into edible art, ensuring that the cake is not only delicious but also a true expression of the guest of honor.
Weddings are perhaps the most significant occasion for indulging in a luxury cake, serving as a grand centerpiece that reflects the couple’s style and love story. Tiered cakes remain a classic choice, often adorned with elaborate decorations that can range from sugar flower arrangements to intricate lacework. Couples frequently choose to incorporate personal elements, such as monograms or symbols that hold special meaning, to make their cake uniquely theirs. The design process is an opportunity for couples to collaborate with their cake artist to create a cake that resonates with their vision for the day.
Once you have invested in your luxury wedding cake, showcasing it properly is essential to highlight its beauty and artistry. The presentation begins with the choice of display. A well-designed cake stand can elevate the cake and serve as a focal point in your event space. The surrounding decor should harmonize with the cake, enhancing its visual appeal without stealing the spotlight.
Selecting the right cake designer is a critical step in ensuring that your vision for a luxury cake is brought to life. The first step in this process is to conduct thorough research. Look for designers whose portfolios resonate with your personal style and the theme of your event.
While the visual aspect of a wedding cake is undeniably important, the role of flavors and ingredients cannot be overlooked. The best cakes strike a balance between appearance and taste, ensuring that each bite is as delightful as it looks. High-quality ingredients are essential in achieving the rich, complex flavors that define luxury cakes. Premium Belgian chocolate, fresh berries, pure vanilla extract and organic ingredients like butter and eggs are often preferred, as these components contribute to a depth of flavor that mass-produced alternatives simply cannot replicate.
Luxury wedding cake designs often draw inspiration from current trends, cultural influences, and timeless themes that resonate with people’s sentiments. One of the most prevalent themes is the floral trend, which features cakes adorned with intricate sugar flowers, edible foliage, and natural elements. This trend celebrates the beauty of nature and allows for customization based on the season or the specific environment of the event. Floral designs can range from delicate and understated to bold and dramatic, offering versatility for any occasion, from weddings to corporate gatherings.
Creating exquisite cake designs is a meticulous art form that goes far beyond simple baking. It involves the harmonious balance of culinary skills, artistic vision, and a deep understanding of materials. Talented pastry chefs dedicate years to refining their craft, perfecting a single recipe, procuring the best ingredients. Cake designers spend decades honing the intricacies of working with edible materials and mastering the art of cake construction. Each layer, whether it’s a delicate sponge cake, a silky buttercream or a rich ganache, is thoughtfully chosen to contribute not only to the flavor profile but also to the overall aesthetic of the cake. The process begins with an idea, often inspired by nature, fashion, or even architecture, and evolves into a breathtaking centerpiece that garners admiration.
Welcome to a world where art meets baking, where flavors transcend boundaries, and where decadence is the ultimate indulgence. In this article, we invite you to embark on a tantalizing journey through the realm of extraordinary cake designs that are simply too beautiful to eat – almost.
Let them eat cake! KL’s bridal shower tea held at the Sarasota Yacht Club was a picture perfect afternoon! The closest of friends and family gathered to celebrate her upcoming wedding by dressing up and spending a carefree and decadent afternoon sipping champagne and eating cake!
Beyond the traditional Caesar, Cobb, and Wedge, The Art of Salad (A Arte da Salada) features over 70 delicious salads that you can easily make for your family and friends. These salads aren’t just green, they are full of color, texture, detail and flavor.
This couple tied the knot in a 19th century revivalist style private palace in the centre of Lisbon. It’s in a quiet, distinguished neighbourhood in Lisbon, a beautiful spot, with spectacular views across the valley. Designed by an Italian architect, the palace was renovated a few years ago and now serves as an idyllic, cosy setting for intimate weddings and celebrations.
From London to Lisbon, this vibrant young couple’s wedding was picture perfect. Their ceremony was held in the private chapel at the Ritz Carlton’s Penha Longa monastery in the Sintra hills, followed by black tie reception in the resort. About 200 international guests flew in to celebrate as best friends Chris and Leah became husband and wife.
Persian weddings are so beautiful, the level of detail is astounding. I was mesmerised by the Aghd - so many colors, textures and scents to take in. Endless bowls filled with herbs, pastries, breads, nuts, fruit, coins, candles and more, it was a spectacular scene.
From Lebanon to London to Lisbon, this international couple’s friends and families celebrated together on a gorgeous summer day in Lisbon at one of Portugal’s most well kept secrets, Palacio dos Marqueses da Fronteira. Nancy and Daniel’s wedding was set in an Italian-inspired formal garden, surrounded by the iconic blue and white azulejos representing various arts and mythological figures. I didn’t know this but apparently the garden hedges are cut in such a way that they represent the four seasons. How cool is that! A true fairytale location, just on the edge of Lisbon.
From the moment I met Caitlyn and Ivan I knew they were going to be the coolest of couples - it was such a pleasure to work with them to transform their vision into a truly unique, show-stopper of a cake. They chose one of my favourite flavour combinations, alternating layers of raspberry champagne cake and vanilla cake with raspberry jam and white chocolate swiss meringue buttercream.
I love winter weddings in Florida. And this gorgeous wedding coordinated by Brittany Eagans at the Ringling Museum of Art did not disappoint! Deep, dramatic tones of navy, burgundy and gold were incorporated throughout every last detail of this February wedding.
