Creating a Secret Garden Sweet Table
Wedding Desserts at Castle Ladyhawke
As a Pastry Chef I have had the opportunity to work on all kinds of fun projects and desserts! Whether it has been a giant gingerbread display or a Stanley Cup Wedding Cake, each challenge is a sheer joy to be a part of. This weekend I had the unique opportunity to create a sweet table encompassing the amazing magical theme of The Secret Garden. You may be curious of how this theme came about so let me share the details of this sweet display with you.
It All Starts With an Idea…
It is Monday morning and my phone rings. It’s a wedding planner describing a wonderful bride with a deep love and professional commitment to organic farming. Is there a way to put the desserts in flower pots? Is it possible? Would I be willing to do this? The answer is simple. YES! Absolutely yes!
The Incredible Venue
Up a narrow single lane road, at the top of a mountain in Tuskasegee, North Carolina stands an incredible wedding venue, Castle Ladyhawke. Sitting on 62 acres of land in the Western North Carolina mountains, this venue with breath taking views was built in 2005 using authentic period design inspired by real Scottish Border Castles. The result is magical and the venue fit for a Queen and King. No doubt, a wedding held here is a dream.
Our Challenge:
Planning a wedding at a special venue like Castle Ladyhawke commands a menu and a food presentation equal to the setting. Our challenge - how to honor our bride with these unique and personal desserts in flowerpots and have them make sense in such a royal setting. What’s more, our bride does not care for cake (daggers to my heart) and does not want a wedding cake. So, how do we create a focal point when all of the desserts are in the same size and style of vessel?
Creating a Theme, Seizing Our Challenge:
The story of the Secret Garden is enchanting. It has been a book and made into a movie a stunning total of 5 times with the first made in 1919. This story has literally been enjoyed by generations of fans. For those of you who may not be familiar with the story it is a period piece featuring an orphaned young girl who goes to live in a large castle with her austere Uncle and his confined sickly son. As she explores the grounds, she makes friends with a young boy and they discover and revive a fallen secret garden. As their efforts come to life they share their secret with her cousin who seems to be revived and blooms just as the garden is revived and blooms. Simply enchanting.
Weddings should be personal and unique to each couple. Our bride and her family have enjoyed The Secret Garden as children and we quickly embrace our theme! What’s more, a traditional American wedding cake is thoughtfully replaced with a Croquembouche. As luck has it our bride loves creampuffs and now we have a wonderful addition and focal point to our display.
Top left: Castle Ladyhawke, Top Right: A view of the sweet table with its gorgeous floral, varying heights and many layers and textures, Lower Left: A close up of Flourless Chocolate Cake and Chocolate decor, Lower Right: Guests enjoy the fall mountainous view while partaking in cocktail hour.
Creating the Display:
Our Giddy team chose a layered and tiered approach to this special sweet table!
Step 1: We start with an L shape table arrangement. The table is covered with a sophisticated textural linen table cloth. Step #2: We strategically place the Croquembouche on a grand silver stand and raise the stand up even further by placing it on a wooden stand. This makes the Croquembouche the perfect focal point in which to build the display around. Step #3: Next, we layer in textiles, wooden food boards, a wire basket and tiered black stands. Note: these substantial black stands not only help to ground the terra cotta flowerpots but their colors play off each other and look sensationa!. Step #4: We arrange the beautiful custom-made Secret Garden floral by weaving them in and out of our display. Created by Kirk at Oakleaf Floral of Highlands, North Carolina these groupings of moss, leaves and flowers are absolutely spot on for your theme! Kudos, Kirk! Step #5: We layer in the desserts and stand back to admire our work! Lol!
The Dessert Menu:
Salted Caramel Croquembouche
Flourless Chocolate Cake with layers of Chocolate Cream, Salted Pretzels, Salted Guinness Caramel
Local Honeycrisp Apple Tart, Cinnamon Crumble
Molasses Stout Gingerbread Cake Trifle
Guests enjoyed the favor of a terra cot pot and seeds.
Oak Leaf of Highlands, 828-526-8000, @OakLeafstyle.com
Castle Ladyhawke at Bear Lake Reserve, 833-522-7853, @castleladyhawke.com
