Seashell Cake

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I posted last ( been a little busy with school and finals), but I'm on break with 3 weddings cakes to do! Over the weekend, I did a wedding cake for a bride getting married on Fripp Island at the Beach Club House. Of course, since it was on the beach, she wanted White Chocolate Seashells and a Watermelon ribbon to match the bridesmaids dresses. How Cute!

Words from the Mother of the Groom:

"Hi Courtney, the cake was beautiful ( and delicious!) Thank you so much! "

Sunrise Wedding

So this morning, I was up super early to deliver a cake to the Dunes House at Palmetto Dunes, for a sunrise wedding ceremony with a breakfast reception. I must admit, this is and probably will be the earliest I will ever deliver a cake. I thought a sunrise wedding was very unique and very cost saving idea. Having breakfast food stations instead of plated dinners or buffets is a great way to cut costs. Also, no alcohol or just mimosas are another way to saving money. Plus, what's more romantic than saying your wedding vows when the sun comes up! This wedding had me thinking about other cost saving ideas.

• Breakfast or Brunch Receptions
• Having the Ceremony and Reception in the same venue
• Limit your amount of guests to family and close friends
• Have your wedding on an off day, like Sunday or Friday instead of Saturday to save on rental fees
• Beer and Wine bar only
• Book your wedding during an off month, like December, January, February. Venues rates go up from March to May, and again usually from September to November.
• Provide your own alcohol if the venue allows it.
• Reuse Floral arrangements. Bridesmaids bouquets can also serve as head table decorations. Table Centerpieces can be used for the ceremony if placed on columns ( which can be easily rented)

   Things not to cut corners on:

• A good wedding planner, no matter how small your wedding is.
• A good wedding photographer. This is definately the item you need to splurge on. The day goes by so fast, and all you have is pictures.
• A good cake baker :) Preferably Brown Sugar Custom Cakes. Do not DIY your cake, you will regret it. Even if you cake is a simple white cake with flowers, babysitting a cake is not something you want to do on your wedding day. Leave that to the professionals :)



Sunrise Wedding
Dunes House, Palmetto Dunes HHI



First Birthday Cake

I love how Brown Sugar Custom Cakes can not only be a part of your wedding day, but for other special occasions as well! Little Gracey's mom came to me to make a special cake for her daughter's first birthday. She is the only girl, so her mom wanted something very girlie and pink. I made a giant cupcake topped with sprinkles and a cherry, a smash cake, and some complimentary cake pops. To make it even more girlie, I even made the actual cake pink also!

Gracey's First Birthday Cake

Giant cupcake with cherry on top

Cake Pops with pink and purple ribbon

Smash Cake



Cake Pop Bouquet Birthday Arrangement


Stay tuned for next weekend's brunch wedding cake...........

When to book a Cake Baker

I wanted to post a quick guideline of a schedule on when to book your cake baker. According to The Knot, you should start shopping for a cake baker  6 to 8 months before your wedding.  Because I also attend school full time in addition to running Brown Sugar, I'm one of those cake bakers that tend to book closer to the wedding date, versus cake bakers that do this full time and can book up to a year in advance. I personally tend to book all September dates. October, April and May are also pretty popular months.  For all those 2012 brides out there that I met yesterday, that should give you an idea on when to start looking for a cake baker ( preferably Brown Sugar Custom Cakes :)   I'm going to be working on new cake flavors and cake fillings, so you late 2011 and 2012 brides are in for a special treat.

Cake by the King of Southern Wedding Cakes Mr. Jim Smeal
(sighhhhhhhh, how gorgeous)

These are one of the bakers that you have to book over a year in advance just to get the date you want!
Brown Sugar isn't on that level yet since I am new, but I hope to be soon!!!!!!

Beaufort Bridal Show

Hello Everyone,

     I would like to first thank everyone that came to the 2nd Annual Beaufort Bridal Show. That was probably one of the best bridal shows I've been in. I had a great time meeting all the brides and also all the great vendors. Alot of the businesses I didn't know existed in Beaufort, and alot of people didn't know about Brown Sugar, so the exposure was great for everyone. Here are some pictures from the show:


One part of my table. I had to make both of those cake stands and I think they came out pretty good if you ask me :)




Other part of my table. I ended up moving from my previous table assignment because I had soo much stuff! That was ok, because I ended up between two of my favorite vendors in the Beaufort/Bluffton area, Amanda Rose Weddings/My Purely Decor, and Amazing Event Rentals. Amazing Event Rentals provided the wavy silver platters for my cupcakes and the table for my candy buffet.



I am so proud of my candy display, and the kids loved it also. I  just wanted to showcase other options, because believe is or not, not everyone likes cake, so it's nice to give your guests options at your wedding.

Magnolia Cake

Tiffany Cake

Seashell cake with Brown Sugar Sand

White Chocolate Cupcakes!

Red Velvet Cupcakes!

Cake Pops!!!

I honestly didn't know that people would like Cake Pops. It was something new I was trying. I ran out towards the end of the show, so I wish I made a few more. I'm glad my new product was so well received.

So I ended up raffling off a free groom's cake if you book your wedding cake with me in 2011. I only had a few brides that were eligible, since everyone is getting married in 2012. Lo and Behold, the prize went to Ms. Dominque, from Amazing Event Rentals, who is also a bride!



My assistant ( AKA Mother Glover )  and I in our t shirts made by New South Shirts, who were also a vendor at the show.



Beaufort Bridal Show 2011

I want to again invite everyone out to the 2nd annual Beaufort Bridal Show on  Saturday, February 26th, from 12pm-4pm at the Holiday inn Beaufort. Brown Sugar Custom Cakes will be there, with cake samples, cake pops, display cakes, and a candy buffet. More than 40 wedding professionals will be showcasing their products and services.  The event is free and open to anyone planning on getting married, their families and wedding attendants. Prizes will be given away. The event is co-sponsored by 104.9 The Surf. The Holiday Inn Beaufort is located at 2225 Boundary Street in Beaufort on Highway 21. Call (843) 379-3100 for more information.

Non Traditional Wedding Dresses

Lately, I've seen alot of weddings in which the bride does not choose the typical white or ivory wedding dress. Not that there's anything wrong with the classic white wedding dress, but it's always nice to see brides break out of the mold.







Modal Cynthia Bailey ( Real Housewives of Atlanta) in her custom metallic silver couture wedding dress by designer Ruben Singer



Jennifer Williams ( Basketball Wives) in a custom made pink Ines Di Santo Wedding Dress

Wedding/Event Planner to the Stars Diann Valentine in her non traditional radiant magenta wedding gown