"let them eat cake!"

Credit: Cake Coquette / Photo credit: Elizabeth Messina

Marie Antoinette definitely got the dessert right when she famously declared, "Let them eat cake," but perhaps she wouldn't have endured the same fate if she had thought of additional sweet options that her subjects might enjoy. Cake is delightful and delectable to many taste buds and eyes alike, and while some palates do crave the traditional white tiered wedding cake, others adore cake but desire even more to make their wedding that much sweeter.

As you'll see below, there are some terrific cake choices, as well as alternative desserts that can be used in place of, or in addition to, a wedding cake.

Credit: Nine Cakes / Photo credit: Di Zhang

One great thing about the traditional wedding cake is the opportunity that it provides to demonstrate your creativity and visually represent your personality. If you and your fiance have a particular affection for peacocks, for instance, or if you're looking to surprise your new husband with a separate groom's cake with a symbol from his favorite sports team, a fun, personalized wedding cake would be a wonderful option!

Credit: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes / Photo credit: Mel Barlow

Photo credit: Entwined Studio

Wedding cakes also offer a visual continuity with a wedding's design aesthetic or theme. For instance, if your wedding is working within a coral, cream and slate gray color scheme then a feminine, pink-ombre cake would be a beautiful visual accompaniment to the rest of the wedding.

Whether your wedding is a more classic, art deco themed or lavender-strewn rustic affair, there is a wedding cake and a cake designer out there who can make your cake dreams come true!

Photo credit: Stephen Hughes

Photo credit: Ashleigh Taylor Photography

Photo credit: Lane Dittoe

Variations on the classic layered cake have recently become a popular trend, and can range from the rustic, vintage look of stacked Bundt cakes to individual cake pops that lend themselves to a more playful and whimsical vibe.

Photo credit: Our Labor of Love

Photo credit: Emona Hennen Photography

Providing small bites, like a cookie buffet or candy table is another option that gives you and your guests freedom when deciding on a tantalizing treat. If your fete is set to be fresh and sophisticated, perhaps French cookies like macarons or madeleines will work well with your reception venue and menu.

Photo credit: Anne McGowan Photography

Photo credit: Weddings by Two

If you're leaning towards a casual, outdoor environment with a menu incorporating all of your favorite comfort foods then chocolate chip cookies with milk shooters could be a perfect complement to your coffee service!

Photo credit: A Bryan Photography

A candy table is a wonderful option particularly if you're planning on hosting a great number of children (or young-spirited adults!) and can also double as a make-your-own-wedding-favor station at the reception.

Photo credit: Evin Photography

Photo credit: Leslie Walker

Assorted pies (apple, pecan, key lime, cherry, whichever you prefer!) or fruit tarts are a great dessert choice for a casual backyard or country rustic wedding. This option offers variety to you and your guests and satiates all sorts of different palates.

Photo credit: Jessica Claire

Photo credit: Ryan Ray Photography

To go along with a pie theme, you can even throw in a meat and vegetable pie during your cocktail hour, especially if your or someone close to you lacks that sweet tooth.

Or if you and your fiance would both prefer a savory alternative to a wedding cake and have a history of attending or hosting wine and cheese parties together then stacked fine cheeses and fruit could be a perfect way to end your wedding day!

Photo credit: Browns Photography

Go on and get inspired! The perfect cake and desserts are out there for you just waiting to be found.

While the late Mrs. Louis XIV may have started us all off in the right direction in terms of ending our weddings on a sweet note, it's nice to know that there are endless possibilities when it comes to after-dinner treats!

** An edited version of this post can also be seen on the blog for Stellina Events, a New York and San Francisco-based wedding and special events planning and design consultancy for which I have interned since November 2011. The Stellina Events article, posted on December 15, 2011 can be seen here**

dylan's candy bar bridal shower

today i'd like to share photos from an event i've been ooh-ing and aah-ing over for some months now. (and after you see them, i'm sure you'll understand why.) this bridal shower, (which comes from the truly unbeatable martha stewart weddings,) is that of Dylan Lauren, owner of the world famous nyc-based store, Dylan's Candy Bar, and daughter of designer, Ralph Lauren.

keeping with what i can only assume is the theme of her life, style and sweets, Dylan's shower oozes with whimsy, color, femininity and overall delight. the party seems like it matches the bride-to-be's personality and lifestyle... and how could anything be wrong with that!?

strawberry chocolate bars (personalized with the couple's initials) served as the invitations to this sweet affair.

this pink, white and yellow candy tableau welcomed guests to the party.
and that mosaic heart backdrop is made completely out of gum!

spectacular candy (i know, right?) rings from Barcelona-based bakery, Escriba were displayed (alongside oversize ring pops!)

Dylan (second from the left) and her guests enjoyed an impressive pink D ♥ P candy display...

... and made their own individual "I ♥ Candy" favor bags.

lemon drops were served with candy swivel-sticks on a pink jelly bean-lined tray.
there was also a bubblegum martini option!

salty, savory fries lended a gastronomic balance to all that candy...

... but for the more refined palate there were caviar ring-shaped snacks.

guests wrote well wishes for the couple... with awesome personalized, gold pencils.

and as a finishing and cheeky touch Dylan gave each of her guests a jewelery box with a candy necklace inside

(all photos sparkling here)

return... to macarons

well, i've been back from le tour de europe for a little over two weeks now and am still overwhelmed at all the beauty and culture i encountered across the pond. hopefully i'll be able to post some pictures and videos of my own soon. however, while i'm still processing (my thoughts and photographs alike,) i thought i'd share this delightful video, originally seen on this beaut' of a tumblr.



to me, this just screams sophistication... not to mention immense deliciousness. oh to be able to make my very own salted caramel macarons!! just toss in a move to paris and my life would be complete.

(sparkling here)

baking is sexy

well, maybe not sexy, but definitely sensual.

i'm sure some people out there have a baking housewife fantasy, and while this video is certainly not a representation of that stereotype, there is something about it that just makes my spine tingle.

(sparkling here)

olive and cocoa edibles

you guys. check out these awesome food packages from olive and cocoa. after seeing a couple of their images on birthday girl, i had to investigate for myself. and let me tell you--they are straight up foodie gourmet deliciousness and i want one so bad. just imagine the intense feelings of happiness, surprise and hunger that would hit you upon receiving one of these bad boys. prices range from $48 to nearly $200 depending on snack type and size, but i think for the right person (say, me) this could be a totally legitimate and reasonable gift. consider your hint dropped, people.

who doesn't like a nice rustic snack...

or pinkalicious sweetness...

or colorful birthday candies...

or my personal #1 favorite food--fudge...

or a little bit of everything...?!?! holy yum!

... all contained in this gorgeous wooden box.

seriously, some one get this for me. it would be slightly pathetic (though not entirely out of the question) to buy it for myself, don't you think?

breakfast

today i made breakfast!

(beautiful brunch sparkling here)

this, unfortunately, was not it.

but i am still ecstatic because even though breakfast is bar none my favorite meal of the day, i hardly ever have enough time to make anything besides toast or carnation instant breakfast. (this is usually because by the time i've decided to give the snooze button a break, i'm already 20 minutes late...)

today, however, i had plenty of time.

wanna know why? i'll bet you do. but you're just gonna have to wait until this weekend to find out. muahahaha

the prettiest cooking video ever

sarah from My New Roots has introduced a new series of instructional cooking video and the first one is, as far as instructional cooking videos go, completely to die for. it's short and sweet, and makes cooking quinoa look more than manageable. i can't wait to see the next one!

My New Roots - How to Cook Quinoa from My New Roots on Vimeo.

**if the video doesn't appear, have no fear, just hit refresh on your browser