What is the revolution, or could it be evolution, with themed parties for the last several years? Weddings, children's birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, grooms parties, or any ol' plain party for that matter. I think I've seen them all while searching for cakes.
I'm seeing the most elaborate cakes, decorations and themes I could never even have imagined. Some are just parties for no reason at all with what could only be several hundred dollars spent on the little cherub for whom the party is being given. I'm lucky I can even remember to get a cake for hubs' birthday, if even that! Caroline had a cake on her first birthday but no glittery decorations. Am I missing something here? Is this really for the kid or are the mommies competing to see who can throw the most elaborate Hollywood-type party for a kid who has absolutely no clue what is going on? I'm talking ELABORATE parties, the likes of which I've never seen or truly never even imagined—fantastic cake and cookies and candy and designer lemonades, candy beyond lollipops but handmade gorgeous candies, popcorn in designer holders, pretzels dipped and done up in gorgeous hangers, just beyond my imagination.
In doing a tiny bit of research on the cost of cakes, I found that they can be priced from $17 a slice to $200 a slice! Can you believe paying that much money for one cake? So if you're having 250 people, which I'm guessing is a close to average number for a middle class wedding, you'd maybe be paying $3,400 to $50,000 for a cake? Beyond insane in my book.
For Love Bunny and me, we've stopped going to most weddings and receptions as most of the couples have gotten a divorce within a few years. That's even in the Mormon community. What's up with that? We've gotten invitations to weddings that we've never even met the kids. I think they just scatter the invitations around for gifts. Well, I'm old enough now that I don't have to do anything I don't want to because I don't care what other people think. That's the advantage of obtaining senior status. ;-)
Rant over. Now, on with showing you some gorgeous cakes.
This one is French looking.
Is this chandelier divine or what?
This is actually a tiered cake that looks like it has tiered cakes. Very clever. However, it is not the prettiest of cakes; it looks more like a silo on a farm.
I'm seeing the most elaborate cakes, decorations and themes I could never even have imagined. Some are just parties for no reason at all with what could only be several hundred dollars spent on the little cherub for whom the party is being given. I'm lucky I can even remember to get a cake for hubs' birthday, if even that! Caroline had a cake on her first birthday but no glittery decorations. Am I missing something here? Is this really for the kid or are the mommies competing to see who can throw the most elaborate Hollywood-type party for a kid who has absolutely no clue what is going on? I'm talking ELABORATE parties, the likes of which I've never seen or truly never even imagined—fantastic cake and cookies and candy and designer lemonades, candy beyond lollipops but handmade gorgeous candies, popcorn in designer holders, pretzels dipped and done up in gorgeous hangers, just beyond my imagination.
In doing a tiny bit of research on the cost of cakes, I found that they can be priced from $17 a slice to $200 a slice! Can you believe paying that much money for one cake? So if you're having 250 people, which I'm guessing is a close to average number for a middle class wedding, you'd maybe be paying $3,400 to $50,000 for a cake? Beyond insane in my book.
For Love Bunny and me, we've stopped going to most weddings and receptions as most of the couples have gotten a divorce within a few years. That's even in the Mormon community. What's up with that? We've gotten invitations to weddings that we've never even met the kids. I think they just scatter the invitations around for gifts. Well, I'm old enough now that I don't have to do anything I don't want to because I don't care what other people think. That's the advantage of obtaining senior status. ;-)
Rant over. Now, on with showing you some gorgeous cakes.
This one is French looking.
Is this chandelier divine or what?
This is actually a tiered cake that looks like it has tiered cakes. Very clever. However, it is not the prettiest of cakes; it looks more like a silo on a farm.
Cute decorated bottles in a very vintage container.
A ruffled cake which is one of my favorites.
Sweet decorations for a luncheon. I'm getting ideas for one I'm having soon.
Cute for a kid's party.
Neat storage idea for bathroom items.
This is a crêpe cake. One of my favorite desserts is crêpes stuffed with blueberries and whipped cream.
I would call this cake Nutcracker Suite Cake.
Oh, yeah, my idea of a great craft room!
I tried to see if a local bakery would make some like this but they said they would be cost prohibitive. I didn't care about price but they seemed reluctant to take on the job.
Can you even imagine having these in your garage to store items, much less somewhere in your home? Darling idea for a cottage.
Is this a sweet sweet shop or not? I'd love to visit it but I have no clue where it is; however, you can rest assured it isn't in Idaho!
My all-time favorite cake—coconut. Actually, my favorite dessert is coconut pie. Just love coconut!
And this actually is a cake. I don't know how they did it!
And this apple basket cake.
We all are lusting for this look in our cottages.
*In Hollywood a marriage is a success if it outlasts milk.
I'm thinking age is a very high price to pay for maturity now that I've got it. ;-)
~*~
You wouldnt want to cut some of those cakes!
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you about this necessity to have overdone parties Connie. My children had fun parties but they were always at home, simple games, a nice tea and a balloon to take home...not the expensive party-bags that seem to be obligatory now. The most exciting thing we did was to rent a Charlie Chaplin film to show them on an old projector!
I posted my comment on the wrong post; sorry. I agree with you about being selective when choosing which weddings to attend and buy gifts for. I like to give generously to those who have not been married previously, and who have never lived together before marriage, but I had to quit attending other kinds of weddings not just for the expense of the gift, but for other reasons as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree - I think it's insane to pay Mega-$$$$$$$$ for these theme parties/events! I just can not believe it either!
ReplyDeleteI used to create some of the most beautiful wedding cakes - for up to 500 people! I had my Bridal Business and that was one aspect of it. I would not only make the cake, but deliver, set up and be there to cut and serve the cake (or wrap it). Word of mouth brought me more Wedding Cake and Event Cake business than I could even tackle. I loved it!! But, when I did it, some 20 years ago...bakeries (local ones) only were charging at most $1.50 a slice and even then, I could slash that price and STILL make money!!
Love all your photos!!!
Jan ♥
My goodness! I had no idea cakes were so expensive! Like you, my favourite is the crepe cake with the blueberries and whipped cream! It's a beauty with those purple flowers!
ReplyDeleteThat linen closet is so well organized. I love it but do not have room for such a huge piece of furniture! I can see it in my dollhouse, though!
I love the photo with the porch. That porch has the "home sweet home" look that I love. Plus, I have a weakness for a window sporting a sheer single tied back curtain!
That last photo with all the vintage pots, polka dots and scale is so inspiring. I'm looking for ideas for my dollhouse. I'm stuck in time with that house. I need to get on with it. A lot of your photos are very inspiring but the 1/12 scale execution is not always easy. Still, I need to challenge myself!
I agree about weddings. I've become very selective as to which ones I will attend. You're right, that is one of the benefits of senior citizenship.
I love the cakes! However, a nice little homemade one for my birthday is the best kind of all. I would not want to ruin the prettiness by cutting into it! Also, wow, they are sooooo expensive! I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of the dream craft room! How lovely! I would love mine to look like that. I also like how neat and tidy the linen closet is. Mine is so not that neat!
Even though I am not a senior, I am very particular about going to weddings too. One of my cousins is getting married in August and she calls it a "drunken debauchery" so you can just imagine how much I don't wish to attend. I don't go to drunken type events so I am not sure I am going to this one.
Heather