This week’s segment of Ask a PWG Wedding Pro features one of everyone’s favorite subjects: wedding cakes! In order to venture into the cake-making industry, we spoke with Kristin Montgomery of Junebug Pure Sweets, who shared some wonderful advice and cake designs with us.

Junebug Pure Sweets is a specialty bakery located in Sacramento, CA. They provide unique cupcakes, cookies, and wedding cakes with many different flavor and design options. Here, Kristin discusses some of the current trends in the wedding cake industry as well as offering insight into how Junebug Pure Sweets aims to add “extra flavor and sparkle” to all of their products.

1. With the introduction of shows like Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss, have you started to see an increase in requests for more intricate and stylized cakes?

Yes, we’ve definitely seen an increase in more detailed and interesting cakes. There are prices that are associated with the intricate cakes that the general public isn’t aware of. Many of the cakes you see on TV are well over $1,000. There are ways to make a very personal, beautiful cake without breaking bank.

2. I want to incorporate the design of my wedding gown into my wedding cake. What are some ways I can do this? – Anna N,. Washington, D.C.

I love to incorporate the design of the wedding dress into cakes. One way is to create a lacework design, with edible glitter and pearls to match beading and the embellishments on the dress. Wedding dress draping, “skirts” and colors can be incorporated into the cake as well.

3. We want to try different frostings and fillings than usual for our wedding cake. What are some unique flavor combinations that work well together? – Heather W. , Duluth, GA

I like classic flavors with a little twist. My favorite is my mother’s dense carrot cake, which includes pineapple, nuts, and carrots then topped with orange cream cheese frosting.

Champagne cake uses real champagne — delicious and elegant for a wedding! The flavor combinations are endless, I like to find out from the bride and groom their favorites then create a cake and filling from that.

4. I’m not a big fan of the traditional bride and groom cake topper. Could you offer some creative alternatives? – Michelle K., Oklahoma City, OK

There are so many great things that can be used as cake toppers. I like to make a wedding cake very personal and create something the bride and groom can use as a keepsake. If there is an activity or item that is important to the couple that can be used as a theme to a cake topper that can work well. Most objects can be made out of gum paste and stored if wrapped in plastic and stored in a cool place. I often make elaborate sugar flowers for cake toppers then they can be saved. I also love to use family heirlooms. My display cake at the Engaged Wedding Library features a crystal heart that once belonged to my grandmother.

5. I really like the tiered-cupcake idea for our wedding cake. How can I make this trend unique to my own wedding? – Rita R., Tampa, FL

Tiered cupcakes are fantastic and if you incorporate pretty cupcake liners, colors and embellishments they can be a stunning centerpiece for your wedding. I like to create an assortment of coordinated tiered cupcakes, cupcakes with a cookie pop, other sweets and candy.

6. My fiancé and I have recently had to cut our wedding budget dramatically, due to a few unforeseen events. Do you have any cost-cutting tips to share when it comes to the wedding cake? – Stacey J., Chicago

In this economy budget is a concern for everyone. Use buttercream for your cake, much less expensive than fondant because it is less labor intensive for the baker. Keep your design simple but elegant. You may want to opt for a smaller wedding cake as the display cake, and serve guests with sheet cake. You can also consider a selection of fun coordinated cookies and other baked treats in lieu of the cake. This can save you lots!

To learn more about Junebug Pure Sweets, check out their vendor profile on PerfectWeddingGuide.com. Also, if you have a question you would like to see answered in an upcoming Ask a PWG Wedding Pro wedding blog segment, email us at profiles [at] pwg [dot] com!

I haven’t blogged in a while about my upcoming wedding. I have been getting lots of questions, so I figured I better share some decisions before I get accused of putting off planning my own wedding. In today’s wedding blog, I will share my color scheme.

Let me say that I am one lucky bride because my friends in the wedding industry have been falling all over themselves to help me plan my wedding. Their interest and support has been overwhelming. I want to thank all of them (and you know who you are) as a group now, you will get individual kudos later.

Anyway, I have been agonizing over my save-the-date stationery. What’s a girl who has seen everything to do? Evidently go see her friends, wedding planner extraordinaire, Lisa Konecny and wedding stationery design-diva, Amy Morelli. These two ladies came up with a fabulous color scheme that suits our wedding location perfectly… Did I mention that rather than Chicago, we decided on Beaver Creek, Colorado? (more on that in a future blog)

Amy tells me that she was inspired by “sunflowers- spring time and a natural rugged feeling with a modern unique rich palette that wouldn’t be the standard spring time natural type of thing.” I think that she did brilliantly.

I won’t share the actual save-the-dates in the wedding blog until after I send them to my guests, but with Amy at the helm, I assure you that it will be worth the wait.

Remember, I would love for you to share your save-the-date and color scheme ideas with the wedding blog readers. Post for me here or send an email to me at susan (dot) southerland (at) pwg (dot) com. You can also become a fan on Facebook by clicking here and follow me on Twitter by clicking here.

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan