Engagement & roka

Engagement and roka cakes are photographed more than they're eaten, so I design them for the camera as much as for the table. Soft palettes work best — ivory, blush, sage, dusty rose — finished with pearls, gold leaf, a monogram of the two initials, or a ring of fresh roses set on just before you collect the cake.

These events usually have more guests than a birthday, so I'd plan for a 2 pound cake and above, or a two-tier cake if there's a cutting ceremony with photographs. Butterscotch, red velvet and chocolate truffle are the flavours that suit a mixed family crowd; rose and mango are lovely if you want something less expected.

Tiered and ceremony cakes need 4 to 7 days, and fresh-flower work needs to be timed to the morning of the event. Send me your date, the colour palette you've chosen for the day and your guest count, and I'll design the cake to sit inside it.