Meet Somerset cake designer Baked by Bridgett

We talk to new Somerset wedding cake company Baked by Bridgett...

Please give us an overview of your business and what you offer for weddings?
Baked By Bridgett is a newly launched online bakery offering everything from elegant wedding cakes to sweet treats for when you need a sugar rush. For weddings specifically I offer the ever-popular naked and semi-naked wedding cakes - perfect for those country-fair style weddings that I'm seeing so many of these days.

Prior to any order, couples can take advantage of a cake consultation in which we discuss decoration, flavours and size - not forgetting the all important tasting! Alternatively, for a small fee, which will be deducted from the total of a final order, I can send cake taster boxes to a couple's home so that they can sample some delicious flavours and really take their time when deciding. Depending on location we can deliver and set up the cake on the day. In addition to wedding cakes I can supply cupcakes as part of a cake table display, as a pre-wedding package or even for a hen do.

What's your background and why did you launch your business?
I'm actually a qualified lawyer but have branched out a bit! I took some time off recently to do some travelling and it got me thinking about what I'd really like to do for the rest of my life. I've always loved food and baking so doing something in that area makes sense. I made my best friend's wedding cake and various other celebration cakes for family and friends before I launched Baked By Bridgett, but it's the recent pandemic that has actually pushed me to properly put myself out there as a baker.

What's your favourite type of wedding to work on?
That's a tough one, all weddings are great! Every wedding is unique and it makes me happy to work in such a positive, uplifting environment. Obviously working with those who love cake as much as I do is a plus!

What's your top tip for couples planning a wedding?
My top tip would be that it's never too early to start planning and exploring your options. Everyone has a vision of what they want their wedding to be like, but when you actually start looking around that vision can change slightly. Also, suppliers tend to get booked up so early these days, so getting out there ahead of the game will only help.

What's the most common question couples ask you?
 The most common question is about flavours. I have traditional flavours, which I make more often, but sometimes I get asked for more unusual flavours. I enjoy being asked for different flavours as it's a fun challenge for me and it's nice to see that a couple is really putting their own personal mark on the cake.

How can you help couples affected by the coronavirus crisis?
If couples have been affected by recent events and have lost their supplier or had to rearrange I would be more than happy to help in any way I can. I have friends who have had to cancel or postpone weddings because of coronavirus and I can see how disappointing it is for them.  The advantage of being a new wedding supplier to the wedding cake scene is that I may have more availability than the more established suppliers.

Bridget Essam | Baked by Bridgett | www.bakedbybridgett.co.uk | www.instagram.com/bakedbybridgett

Image by www.nickyhillphotography.com