photographs by April Reed Cake Design

April’s silhouettes are so chic, so incredible modern and her attention to detail is, well…perfection. She approaches each design as if it were her one and only, infusing style and creativity that are beyond belief.

The first cake (above) was inspired by a chic farm affair…elegance defined with an ivory and gold palette using Dogwood flowers to add intrigue. The second cake was made for a wedding at the Gramercy Park Hotel and uses the fabulous Mokuba ribbon as an accent.

Garden Rose cake photographed by Antonis Achilleos, Large Truffle Cake photographed by April Reed, Purple Winter Cake photographed by Erik Ekroth

This set is my fav. Starting in the top left (clockwise), the Garden Rose cake was featured in The Knot New York mag recently. The large truffle cake was made for a wedding on the Tribecca Rooftop and the Purple Inspired Winter cake was perfection featuring Mokuba ribbon.

I am head over heels (if you can’t already tell) with all things April Reed. From her towering truffle cakes to her more demure, sweet designs…every little bit is purely delicious.

Yellow Cake photographed by Andrew McCaul, Carnation Cake photographed by Patricia Heal, Small Truffle Cake photographed by April Reed

That fabulous yellow cake was made for a feature in Brides magazine and again features Mokuba ribbon (clearly an April Reed favorite), the small truffle cake was made for Martha Stewart magazine and is so incredibly unique. LOVE.

Thank you so much, April, for yet again inspiring us to no end. Your cakes are little pieces of heaven…that have started a complete revolution in cake design! xoxo

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: April Reed, Wedding Cakes
Post categories: Wedding Cakes

A bit more from the lovely bride…I felt really lucky that I had such amazing wonderful vendors to work with that made my day very special and run seamlessly. Our photographer, Shawn Connell for Christian Oth, our amazing cake designer, April Reed, our florist, Kampo Floral Design and our perfect favors by Meli & Angi Cookies.

Ahhh…simply beautiful. Thank you so very much to Jina and Andy for sharing their GORGEOUS day wit us. Congratulations on creating a day that was romantic, personal and all about the pretty!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: April Reed, Christian Oth, Jina and Andy, kampo floral design, meli and angi, New York City, New York Weddings, Tribeca Loft
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: April Reed, Farnsworth House, Gingerbread House, Wedding Cakes
Post categories: Featured

Invitations by Abby Jean, Gown by Lela Rose on Brides.com, Cake Details by April Reed, Florals by Camilla Svennson Burns

This piece is all about Southern charm. That pretty monogram and grosgrain ribbon inspired detail, paired with the gorgeous color palette is sweet and yet completely sophisticated. I see this invitation being used in a traditional wedding for a more modern bride. A girl who wants to add a bit of “chic” to her beautifully traditional style. I love the deeper coral, paired with creams and a lighter terra cotta color. So warm and pretty. With that said, this design comes in lots of different color combinations!

I have another NEW Abby Jean design coming so stay tuned!

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Post tags: Abby Jean, April Reed, Camilla Svennson Burns, Lela Rose
Post categories: Color Palettes, Wedding Invitations & Stationery

And in my opinion, I’ve saved the best for last. These next two cakes are sheer perfection…AND they epitomize the April Reed look. Simple, sophisticated, gorgeous…

Thank you SO much, April for sharing these stunning cakes with us! We can’t wait to see the new designs you are working on!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: April Reed
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I absolutely love the sweet simplicity of these two cakes. Set among these gorgeous backdrops, these little gems don’t fight to take center stage!

Stay tuned, I even more gorgeous April Reed cakes to show you!

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Post tags: April Reed, Cupcakes
Post categories: Wedding Cakes

Last set of photos by Henry Top

How completely beautiful are these cakes? The simplicity is perfection and yet the details…oh the details! The flowers, by the way, are ALL real…made completely out of sugar. Isn’t that amazing? I sound like a twelve year old girl right now, I know. But, I just love April’s work so much that it’s hard for me to find the right words to express just how lovely these cakes are!

Here are a few more from her collection…

Top photo by Michael Dwornik / Last set of photos by Henry Chan

Stay tuned! I have lots more GORGEOUS April Reed photos to share with you!

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Post tags: April Reed, Henry Chan, Michael Dwornik
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Top Row: Gown by Kenneth Pool on Brides, Flowers by Kathleen Deery, Dress by Melissa Sweet; Center Row: Photo by Mark’s Garden, Calligraphy by Tracy Joe, Champagne on Wedding Style Magazine; Bottom Row: Cake by April Reed, Car by British Motor Coach, Flowers on Brides.

Here are some nice details that you could incorporate into this type of affair…some a bit over the top and expensive, others very doable on any budget:

-When I saw the wedding dress above, it reminded me of a Grace Kelly-ish, Oscar gown. I love that. A soft white dress is perfect for this occasion and of course, I gigantic full skirt fits the bill entirely. If that is a bit too much for you, I also love these sexy, but sophisticated gowns that are a little more understated. If you are having a winter wedding, a cashmere wrap and red lipstick would be stunning. If not, you could play up the glam by wearing a sleek low ponytale and a gorgeous diamond necklace or bracelet.

-Boys should be in a Black Tie…classic, simple and sophisticated. For the bridesmaids, a super-chic black cocktail dress or gown would be stunning. I am not really into matchy-matchy, which is why I love the Melissa Sweet cocktail dress above. It is such a twist on a classic look and it allows the bride to be center stage.

-The flowers would look beautiful if they are all kept in the soft white, cream and ivory families. Not a lot of greenery or you will end up looking a lot more traditional, than glam. If you are sticking to one color palette with your flowers, it is a great idea to vary the shades and textures of the flowers to provide depth and interest. Keep the vases really sleek and simple if possible.

-For an event like this, lighting is really key. Make sure to talk to an expert at your venue about unique ways to create a chic ambiance. Lighting is one way to completely change the look and feel of a room. You really see your dollars at work when you utilize your lighting options.

-Crystal and Candles…what more can I say. Use them everywhere…in everything, on everything, next to everything. Sprinkle loose crystals on the table around the centerpieces and tuck tea lights into them. Use a large tray, covered with loose crystals to display your place cards. Pour the crystals in about 2″ deep so that they become a bed for the cards. Hand strands against a boring wall to bring dimension and sparkle into the room. Have your florist place little glitzy crystal pins inside your arrangements…you won’t notice that they are there, other than to give off a beautiful sparkle. If you can, bring in chandeliers. Oh, and if you really want to go nuts, have your baker use sugar glitter to coat your cake…we did this and the result was STUNNING.

-Mirrors…places like Garden Ridge Pottery and Home Depot sell large, pretty mirrors at great prices. It would be beautiful to prop extra large mirrors against walls in various rooms. This will help facilitate that glamorous, romantic environment and will accentuate the glow from the candles and crystals. Make sure to find mirrors that are either antiqued looking or are pretty ornate.

-Tables…for complete luxury, use square tables with plush benches, all individually lit with hanging chandeliers and accented with low, tightly-packed centerpieces. If your budget isn’t that great…stick with the round tables but cover them in a gorgeous fabric either a darker color like chocolate, or a soft white. Use gold chivari chairs rather than the banquet style chairs. Make sure that the table is dressed with all of the appropriate glassware and silverware….the more you adhere to correct etiquette, the more opulent your table will look.

-When you go for a style like this one, it is important that every detail reflects your overall look. The food should be indicative of indulgence and decadence…caviar and crisp champagne, filet mignon, sorbet to cleanse your palette and of course, lots of chocolate. If you can’t afford to do all of these, pick one part of the menu and make sure that it is superb.

-Leave your guests with a lasting impression by sending them off with lavish chocolates, a mini bottle of champagne, something luxurious and extravagant.

This wedding is all about romance and glitter. Just remember, an over-the-top affair can often seem impersonal and a bit staged. Counter that feeling by bringing in really intimate elements….personalized vows, hearty and warm toasts, hand written menus, notes of thanks on each person’s place setting…anything that will allow your guests to feel like not only are they at a beautiful event, they are at a beautiful event given for two people that they love.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2007. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: April Reed, Kenneth Pool, Melissa Sweet
Post categories: Inspiration Boards