I really did start a new post. It’s just taking too long to finish it! My last week was crazy busy and I apparently have a lot to say on the subject. So, I decided I will just write something else that won’t be as involved that I can post sooner…so y’all won’t think I was furloughed yet again.
Last year in August, a young couple from church tied the knot and endeavored on a new life journey together. They asked me to do the groom’s cake and I accepted. Now, had they asked me to do the wedding cake, I would have surely balked. That would have been a much more intimidating request initially, but only because there is a certain stigma that comes with the wedding cake. It’s for the bride. Let’s face it, the bride is the star on the big day. HER big day. Everyone knows it. She has most likely planned this day from the moment she was old enough to understand the concept. The groom, on the other hand, has probably never even heard of a “save the date,” much less realize the endless list of precise wedding rules and regulations disguised as “etiquette.” There is no show called Groomzilla nor is there one called Say Yes to the Tux. No one cares about that. This poor soul has only one responsibility….to show up. Someone (most likely the bride) will pick out what he will wear and someone will assure that he is dressed and standing in the spot where he is required.
So, when one initially considers the grooms cake, the pressure isn’t there. Notice I said initially. However, once considered you realize, this is most likely the only aspect of the wedding where the groom gets something for his very own. It usually represents who he is and what he loves. He may even get to be the sole contributor to this one wedding detail. This groom, in particular, is a fireman. An honorable profession that deserves respect and distinction. This is how he wants to be represented at his wedding. The pressure begins to build even more. It was decided that I would do a fireman’s helmet. So, I consult my handy internet to see if I can find any assistance is this task. There were tons of ideas, but mostly for the younger crowd of little boys who love firemen. I needed something with prestige. As luck would have it, a nice lady presented a step-by-step tutorial of a helmet she had made for her husband as a celebration for his promotion. As misfortune would have it, I’m not near the cake decorator she is.
I started a couple of weeks in advance preparing the details. The eagle on top of the helmet was quite a challenge. In fact, the one that made it on to the cake was not my first attempt nor my second. The shape of the helmet alone was difficult to get just right since I didn’t have a cake pan with that exact shape. At any rate, I finished it. As my own worst critic, I could see imperfections every where, but it was as good as I could get it. I threatened my kids with their lives if they went anywhere near it. They have a bad reputation of tampering with baked goods. The next hurdle would be getting it to the reception in one piece, as it was fairly heavy and I was absolutely terrified that the transport would not go smoothly. It did and they loved. Whew! What a relief! So I enjoyed the reception and the fruits of my labor with a big slice of cake. Here is how it turned out.
Well, the story doesn’t quite end there. A few short weeks later, the happy couple discovers they will be adding to their new family. So this past weekend we threw a baby shower for the mommy-to-be. I, of course, was in charge of the cake. When doing a baby shower cake, I usually go with the theme of the baby’s room or the theme of the shower, if it is different than the room. The baby’s room will be decorated in a “Roll Tide” theme, as the parents are Alabama fans. The theme for the shower was Old Fashioned Southern Tea. I had no idea what to do for the cake. I had known for weeks that I would be making this cake and I just wasn’t coming up with anything. Finally, the week of the shower I got a couple of ideas and went to work. Here is what I came up with.
I didn’t realize the teacup was crooked until after I had taken this picture, so I did straighten it up a bit. My kids were delighted and quite giggly over the exposed baby’s bottom and kept asking why it was showing. I threw in the little Alabama elephant mascot with the Alabama A to incorporate the room theme with the shower theme. All of the decorations are made with fondant and are edible. I thought it came together nicely considering I was completely at a loss at the beginning of the week.
I also decided to get crafty and make a couple of items for the sweet boy to use and wear. Please forgive the poor quality of the pictures, I forgot to take them before I left and had to snap these with my phone at the shower. The first set is Alabama attire and the second is suited for a fireman’s son.
hayride to heaven 