Approved Crafting - Blog

In previous posts I have talked about using a dummy cake for your wedding reception then serving cutting bars for your guests. But there are plenty of shops and companies that offer blank cakes in variety of sizes, shapes and flavours for you to assemble and decorate. So, here are some options for you to purchase your perfect wedding cake on a budget. Later on I will give yo some great examples (and shamelessly plugging my cake toppers) for your enjoyment.               The first thing to remember when choosing and pricing up your store bought cake is that, unlike the polystyrene version, if your cake is teared, you will need supports. These supports (usually pillars and dowels) help distribute the weight to the base, basically stopping the cake from turning into the leaning tower of wedding cake or worse, a cakey smush. This is especially important if you are having a fruit cake because they weigh a tone.             ...

I am so excited to launch my new range of paper flowers, whether they be for a bridal bouquet, wedding decor or an arrangement for your mantle I am ready to make what you need. these photos are just examples, remember I am happy to work to your requirements/ colour scheme and if you live in the north wales are I offer a consultation and venue dressing service too. So please get in touch theres something for every taste and every budget. Check it out ........... https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ApprovedCrafting?ref=seller-platform-mcnav I want to get married again, just so I can have these flowers

Ok, so let's face it, not everyone likes cake and nobody likes the huge price tag attached to wedding cakes. But panic not! There are so many alternatives to a traditional fruit sponge that will knock your guests' socks off and in most instances, save you some pennies to put into your honeymoon G&T piggy bank. With lots of newer ideas I have intermingled some oldies but goodies. And yes we've seen them before but WHOOOAAHH MAMMA they are still good. Pour example......... 1. Cheese Towers - If you, like me, enjoy cheesy good times and teetering on the edge of a heart attack, then this is the one for you. Serve it with crackers, biscuits and slices of fruit. It will be a winner with any wedding party. And if you are in the North Wales /The North West of England, why not check out my buddies at The Little Cheesemonger in Rhuddlan, North Wales. The people there are beautiful but more importantly, the shop sells cheese, bread and Gin - enough said. Cheese towers star...

Gone are the days where the only option available for the top of wedding cakes is a generic bride and groom (thank goodness!!). Today, there are so many amazing options to finish off your cake and here are Approved's top 5. 1. Bent wire topper - Personalised, Lazer cut wood cake toppers have been around for a few years now, so these metal versions really feel up to date and would suit any style of wedding from rustic to super modern with its industrial feel. These toppers from Not on the High street are a bit on the pricey side at £35 but they're so pretty!!! And you can find similar options on Etsy for different prices. TIP: Why not spray paint your cake topper to match your theme. 2. Sign post topper - I love this topper, it's so fun. It would suit a casual, outdoorsy or barn wedding. It would be beautiful on a traditional cake but it would look amazing on top of a Cheese wedding cake. Plus its a bargain at £10 from Pretty flamingo designs on Etsy . ...

There are lots of options to cut the cost of a wedding cake. Get a relative to make it, buy a supermarket version, get a small version.......... OR use a dummy cake! OK, so what is a dummy cake? A dummy cake is a polystyrene cake that bakers use to practice their cake skills on. Dummy cakes come in all different shapes and sizes and can be used to create your perfect show piece without the price tag. Think of a dummy cake like a prop, a bit of culinary slight of hand that will trick your guests (in a good way) into thinking your cake is treat both for the eyes and the taste buds. So, How it works - your dummy cake is out on display at your reception, you cut it, it is taken away and then you bring out pieces of real cake for your guests to enjoy.   The benefits of using a dummy cake for your wedding are: A dummy cake does not go off, so you can prepare the cake in advance. A Dummy cake is easier to decorate and can be re decorated if there are any accidents. You ca...

The average cost of a wedding cake in the UK is around £350-£400 for a 3 tier cake. And although they are just a fancy pudding that will be demolished by the end of the night, they are a focal point, a decoration in their own right. They add to the feel of the wedding and by being cut, they bring the happy couple and their guests together in tradition, pageantry and a killer photo opportunity.                 The amount of work and skill that can go into a cake can be more than worth the high price tag however, for those on a more modest budget the beautiful, tiered cake of their dreams just isn't attainable. Or is it???? This week I am going to show you some alternative ways to have your sweet (or not so sweet in some cases) wedding centrepiece on a budget. As usual with Approved makes, it might take a little extra work but it will be well worth it. I will show you how to ice and decorate your own cake, look at alternatives to the tradit...

                 Over the last few weeks, while working on other peoples weddings, I have been thinking back to my own wedding. It seems like a lifetime ago now but I have been reflecting a lot on our special day, what we did right and more importantly wrong.                    Compared to now, weddings, even 9 years ago, seemed a lot less complicated than today but as usual I managed to complicate it as much as possible. I was 23, I had never even organised a small party never mind a whole wedding. My husband was away with work for several months when we got engaged and we decided (I decided) that we should get married less than a year later. I had piles of ideas, I booked a venue, I bought a dress and I started making invites. Then my fiancé came home. He didn't like the venue (he was right), he had no idea what my vision for the wedding was and added the complication of him being married ...