Hello! Tell us about yourselves and how you created Alley
Cakes!
The business started in 2011 out of Alison's small kitchen
in her 1st apartment. Her love for baking came from her Grandmother, who was a
wonderful "from scratch" baker and hostess. At first Ali just baked
for fun and brought her goodies to friends, family and co-workers. Turns out
her goodies were too good to keep a secret and before long she was getting
requests to bake for weddings, birthdays and events. In 2012 Ali met fellow
business owner Rachel Deremer while catering a wedding and the two became friends.
Shortly after selling her business in 2013, Rachel partnered with Ali to open a
brick and mortar store in Neptune Beach. She also introduced Ali to
her sister and fellow baker and cake artist Hannah Halladay. The three have
been partners in the bakery for 2 1/2 years and are enjoying watching the
business grow in leaps and bounds! Most recently the Alleycakes girls
opened a small event space two doors down called Meet, Make & Celebrate. It
is here that they host "how to" classes (Macaroons are still the most
popular class followed by cake pops and designer cakes), parties and events.
Alleycakes attributes much of its success to fresh ingredients & the
"made with love" approach to everything!
When should a Bride inquire for a cake/desserts consultation?
We recommend reaching out approximately 6-9 months before the wedding day. This allows plenty of time to get your event on our calendar and also have some of your more important details chosen (venue, colors/theme, budget, guest list etc...)
What can Brides expect during a consultation?
Any advice for what she should bring along with her?
Our consultations typically last approximately 45 minutes. We offer a small sample of popular items from our bakery case while we ask questions and get to know you and your vision for the sweet part of your wedding day. We have an extensive library with photos of cakes we have created that we reference often but it is always helpful to have a few photos of cakes/dessert displays available to show and discuss with us.
What areas do you serve?
We deliver as far south as Palm Coast, West to Glenn St Mary & North to Amelia Island.
What are the current cake and dessert trends for weddings this season?
Naked cakes are still very popular. We also see a lot of Ombre cakes (this can be a great way to set your cake apart and also incorporate a little of your wedding color(s) into the design). Fresh flowers are always a welcome addition to any cake and offer another great way to add pops of color and texture to your display. We recommend talking with your florist and asking them to provide flowers for the cake/dessert display. Typically 2-3 larger blooms (peonies, garden roses) and 4 -5 smaller blooms (tea roses, ranunculus, tulips, stalk, wax flower, hypericum berries...) with plenty of greenery to complete the look (seeded eucalyptus, lambs ear, lemon leaf, rosemary etc...) Fresh berries also add a colorful (and edible) addition to the cake!
What are the most popular cake flavors that Brides are into right now?
Our "Poppin Bottles" cake is far and away the most popular flavor. We infuse our moist vanilla cake & whipped buttercream with champagne for a bubbly, sweet & celebratory combo! Fresh fruit fillings are also very popular (raspberry, strawberry or key lime/lemon).
Do you have any favorite cake designs that you'd like to share with us?
We are constantly experimenting with new techniques to add texture and hints of color to our buttercream cakes. Our newest obsession is watercolor cakes, followed by our glazed cakes!
Any funny Grooms Cake requests? We'd love to hear all about them!
To be honest we typically do sports teams & logos for grooms cakes so we LOVE it when a bride asks us to create something different (and fun)! Our two favorite cakes to this day are the Grateful Dead T-shirt - this was a cupcake pull apart cake that turned out so perfect and the kayak cake with the little figurines to complete the scene. If we have one request for brides it is - think outside the logo for your guy! What are his hobbies, his career, his favorite pet? There are loads of ideas out there to personalize and make a grooms cake that much more special!
What advice do you have for Brides when searching for the perfect cake designer for their big day?
Decide on some of the basics beforehand. For example, do you prefer the look of fondant vs buttercream, what flavors do you like, are you looking for just a cake or desserts to accompany, what is your overall style (i.e. rustic, modern, traditional)? Review bakeries websites before meeting with them to ensure they fit your style. Create a realistic budget for your cake/desserts and always ask if there is a minimum order for a particular date.
How can Brides contact you ladies to set up a consultation?
Call the bakery directly at 904-372-7081 to review basic details of your big day and schedule a consultation to discuss details, budget and most importantly your vision for the big day!
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