Central Massachusetts Wedding Resource
Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1541243
54 We Do! • Winter 2025 • www.wedoweddingsma.com A A TIERED CAKE HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY ICON of weddings for generations, but like many traditions, couples are eager to put their own spin on things when it comes to dessert. According to The Knot, 77 percent of couples had a traditional cake cutting in 2021 but even those who serve cake are expand- ing their sweet offerings for guests. The towering cake that rose to prominence by the 20th century is now joined by confections such as donuts, candy bars and assorted pastries. Cake or o cake, "Every couple wants to thell their story," says Al- ice Lombardi, owner of the Bean Counter Bakery in Worcester. Lombardi, a seasoned cake designer who runs a busy team out of two locations in the city, is energized by the variety her clients are looking for today. A 600-piece, gluten-free baked treat tower, four-foot long sheet cakes, and tiered cakes covered in big, sugary flowers were among her recent orders. . The latter, Lombardi says, is owed to the increased popularity of all things vintage. Ornate wedding cakes covered in floral garnishes are experiencing revival, with a modern twist. Much of today's requests, Lombardi says, are driven by social media by cake designers across the globe. Lombardi keeps an eye on trends coming from the United King- dom and Asian countries. Lately, she's learning about 3D sculpted flowers made by hand with a palette knife. "It's not exausting," Lombardi says. "It's exciting to do something new and to challenge ourselves." But increasingly, cake is not a must. That was the case for Hayley and Harrison Corder, Townsend newlyweds who wed at the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield in September 2024. The pair did en- joy a small cake by themselves following the wedding after party Let Them Eat Cake and Everything Else P H OTO : K E L S E Y H A L E Y M E D I A P H OTO : A L I C E LO M BA R D I 3D flowers are the latest trend in cake decor, says Alice Lombardi, owner of The Bean Counter Bakery in Worcester. Bean Counter cake designer Marcela Lazcano uses the method on a tiered wedding cake.