Custom Panna Cotta Favors for a Holy First Communion

My dearest best friend is having her 2nd daughter's holy 1st communion next weekend and she had asked me to work on the invitations. We had discussed doing edible favors for the party since she was drooling over all my yummy desserts I've been posting on my FB page. So we decided to do small panna cotta verrines. She decided on the coffee panna cotta with coffee gelee and cocoa nibs for one and the other will be creme fraiche panna cotta with strawberry mousse and fresh strawberries. 

 We tossed around ideas for the containers and I finally decided on getting these small mason/canning jars that are 4 oz. I decorated it with pink fabric that has cute butterflies on them, tied them with green sheer ribbon, a custom stamped spoon and a favor label. Love how they turned out. Next week I'll be busy making 40 panna cotta verrines!

Custom Cake Toppers

More clients these days are asking me to create custom cake toppers or cake flowers for their wedding cakes. I think because the art of sugar or gumpaste flowers are so expensive that clay flowers are a great alternative. Plus the ready made ones already in a vase make great mementos of your wedding day and of course decorate your new home at the same time.

Stacie Tamaki wrote a great article in her Nitty Gritty section of http://www.theflirtybride.com/. It talked about how wedding guests steal everything they can get their hands on. I think even more so when the items are handmade guests go crazy. My Magnolia Bride, Kristy had her magnolia cake flowers that I made for her stolen before her wedding coordinators could take them for safe-keeping. At least with the cake topper in a vase, it would be hard for someone not to notice that it's being stolen. The same thing at my wedding happened, we made an announcement via the DJ to notify everyone what they could take and what they couldn't take. It's sad that you have to make that announcement, but sometimes it's necessary. Especially when your centerpiece vases are a rental from your florist. So although it may seem tacky, sometimes it's a must. Definitely check out Stacie's website because she has some great stories that have even better words of advice for brides.

Anyway, this cake topper was requested by a client who found me via Etsy and she asked if I could make Esperanza pink roses and green hydrangeas with pinkish tones. She has a square tiered cake with green ribbon on each layer and just wanted a topper. Although I could have said "no" to the order (since I'm completely booked as it is), I agreed to do it. We discussed various alternatives for the vase, but since she has a square cake, I figured this 5 inch flat vase would work nice without looking like it's another layer. Plus after the wedding is over, she can place it in her home and remember her wedding day and wedding cake with fond memories!

I love the unique cake toppers out on the wedding market, but I feel like the ones I create are unique in the sense that it becomes a floral arrangement you can have in your home and not something you just tuck in the china cabinet with all your china and crystal.