I describe my cake decorating style as “modern, stylish wedding cakes with clean lines” that match the style of a wedding day beautifully and often my couples have set ideas or examples of cakes they’ve seen that they like. But sometimes it’s the venue itself that inspires the design of a wedding cake. So here are a few examples of cakes that were inspired by, or that fit, the wedding venue perfectly. Let’s be honest, I’ve actually got a whole album of these because this is what I love the most – matching a cake to the style and vibe of a wedding theme and venue. And with so many beautiful wedding venues in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire (I’ve designed wedding cakes for couples at over 30 venues so far – and some several times) there is no shortage of venue inspiration and venue variety too. But here’s just a few ‘stand out’ cakes at some of my favourite wedding venues in North East Scotland. Hopefully you can feel inspired about how we can pull your wedding style and venue into your cake décor.
How I have matched my cake designs to wedding venues in North East Scotland
The cake with the stag at Mar Lodge
I just LOVE Mar Lodge near Braemar, Aberdeenshire – it’s so grand with the room full of antlers, high ceilings, and all that wood! It has this really impressive traditional (and royal, even) Highland feel without being over the top.
It’s definitely characterful and makes me think of all the people who have travelled to and stayed at this hunting lodge. So when Mr & Mrs Christie came to me about their 2022 wedding, I knew straight away that whatever we created had to pull in the features of the space and make it feel like it really belonged in the room.
My couple wanted a wedding cake that was elegant but still quite natural and rustic – nothing too fussy. The idea of the stag came up pretty early on, and once that was in my head, I couldn’t imagine anything else. That little stag head detail on the top tier turned out to be the perfect nod to the room’s incredible antler details in the room.
The bottom tier had a bark-effect finish, which brought in that natural woodland vibe. The flowers were fresh flowers supplied by Jill at Hays Flowers which I cleaned, prepped and made as food safe as possible before arranging onto the cake. I love how the (real!) roses and foliage pick up on the romantic touches in the rest of their décor.
It was one of those cakes that, when I set it up, I just stood back and thought “yes – that’s exactly right”.
The bold, green cake at Drumtochty Castle
Like Mar Lodge, I’m a bit of a sucker for a traditional, fairy tale like venue. Drumtochty Castle near Stonehaven is just that. The stained-glass windows and oak pews of the church there make for a beautiful religious ceremony followed by reception in the castle itself, or there is an array of room options for a wedding ceremony and all that follows in the castle too.
There’s also a lake, beautiful lawns, and stunning décor like floor to ceiling windows, ornate ceilings and detailed fireplaces and historical architecture at every turn. It’s really the full package for someone wanting a one location wedding spot rich in history and detail.
So what a delight it was to be asked to work on the cake for Mr and Mrs Voss at Drumtochty in 2024. The obvious choice would be to pick something understated and traditional – to let the venue itself “do the talking”. Instead, we discussed going for a bold, modern cake – vibrant green with geometric details with bright, bold sugar flowers.
This style of cake not only stood out in the traditional setting but also tied in with the other wedding choices and colours such as on the signage, table centres, the bride’s shoes etc. The flowers for the bride and the venue were by the absolutely brilliant florist Kim Dalglish so it made sense to tie the style of flowers and colours into the design of the cake too.
And it worked – because of the contrast to the venue. Going bold was perfect for Mr and Mrs Voss because of their youth but also because of the uniqueness of their wedding celebrations – young Americans in a 19th century castle: a mix of old and new. What a dream!
Floral work by Kim Dalglish taken by photographer Sophie Alexandria
I just have to mention those little dog figurines tucked in on the side of the cake to represent the couple’s little dogs who weren’t able to travel with them for the celebrations – a lovely nod to their special family members.
The hexagon shaped cake on a bed of petals at Meldrum House
Meldrum Hotel is a great wedding venue in Oldmeldrum. An old manor house dating back to the 13th century but with a big modern extension where most weddings and wedding receptions take place. It’s a great blend of old and new. The great thing about this type of old and new space is the option to do exactly that – go old or traditional, or go modern, fresh or maybe even daring with décor choices.
Décor by Edna from Higher Calling
The lovely arch feature and magnificent table with flower petals and glass top was something that had already been decided upon by the couple before booking my wedding cake services so it was important to select a style that would complement their romantic vision and luxury vibe for the day in Meldrum Hotel’s grand ballroom.
The sleek, three-tier hexagon shaped cake with delicate floral accents and a minimalist elegant look works beautifully with the floral display on the table because of the contrast and how different it is.
It also doesn’t overwhelm the setup – instead of the cake taking centre stage the whole look works together so that there is a “wow, look at that” feeling about every aspect.
I love the soft lighting in this set up too which makes it look very dreamy!
This is very much a collaborative effort. Styling, floristry, and cake design came together to make this whole look “pop”.
Each of these cake designs reflects not only my couple’s unique wedding ideas but also the personality and charm of some of the most stunning wedding venues in North East Scotland. Are you choosing a Highland lodge, a romantic castle, or a modern-meets-historic manor? Whatever your choice, your cake can be just as much a part of the overall look as your dress or flowers. And I just LOVE figuring it out with my couples.
