Journal

Planning a wedding cake or dessert table often brings up more questions than couples expect, and that’s exactly what The Wedding Journal is here for.

Drawing on my training as a Red Seal pastry chef and years spent in five-star kitchens, I’ve carried those same standards of flavour, service and attention to detail into every wedding I work on today.

From intimate celebrations to multi-day weddings with large teams and plenty of moving parts, this is where I share the practical, honest things that actually come up once the tasting boxes arrive and the planning gets real.

Person pouring champagne into a tower of glasses on a decorated table with colorful flowers, creating an elegant and festive ambiance.

Winter Wedding Cakes & Behind the Scenes at Lydia Kraitman Cakes

October is my favourite kind of quiet. As peak wedding season winds down and the cottage slows, there’s space to reflect, gather the last of the garden produce, and lean into richer, more comforting flavours. This behind-the-scenes look at life at Lydia Kraitman Cakes explores autumn wedding cakes, seasonal Somerset ingredients, and the gentle shift towards winter, with a simple quince paste recipe and a glimpse into what this time of year really looks like in the kitchen.

4 min read

Assorted desserts on a table: fig tart, chocolate cake, layered cream cake, pastries. Soft lighting, elegant and indulgent setting.

Seasonal Wedding Cake and Dessert Table Inspiration for Every Time of Year

A seasonal guide to wedding cake and dessert table flavours, with inspiration for spring, summer, autumn, and winter celebrations.

3 min read

The Beauty of Naked and Semi-Naked Wedding Cakes for Summer

Naked and semi-naked wedding cakes are a perfect fit for summer celebrations. This post explores why they work so well in warm weather, how flavour and styling shine, and why simplicity can be the most thoughtful choice.

2 min read

Two-tier floral cake with pastel icing and large white flowers, set on a table amid greenery. Sunny, delicate, and picturesque.

Wedding Cakes in the Heat: Keeping Summer Celebrations Calm (and Intact)

Planning a summer wedding doesn’t have to mean worrying about melting cakes or wilting dessert tables. This post shares calm, practical advice on choosing flavours, finishes, and setups that actually work in warm weather, so your cake can be enjoyed without the stress.

2 min read

Hands arrange flowers and pastries on a floral-patterned tray. Teacups and cake slices are set on a white tablecloth with a soft, cozy vibe.

Summer Wedding Cake Flavours from Somerset’s Fields and Gardens

High summer in Somerset brings with it the kind of flavours that don’t need much fussing. Soft fruits at their peak, herbs growing faster than you can pick them, and cakes that feel fresh, generous, and made for long, warm days. This post explores how summer wedding cake flavours can be shaped by what’s growing right now, how those flavours translate beautifully into both cakes and dessert tables, and how choosing seasonal combinations can make your wedding desserts feel thou

4 min read

How Your Wedding Cake Comes Together with the Rest of Your Day

A look at how collaboration and clear communication between your wedding suppliers helps your cake, stationery, florals, and styling come together beautifully.

3 min read

Elegant dining setup in a sunlit room with large windows. A table with flowers, a sign, and a dessert stand conveys a warm, festive mood.

Cosy Afternoon Teas for Micro Weddings

Micro weddings move at a different pace. Fewer people, more time, and far less pressure to do things a certain way. That’s why cosy afternoon teas work so beautifully for smaller celebrations. They’re generous, flexible, and designed for lingering conversations, second helpings, and food that’s actually enjoyed. If you’re planning a micro wedding and want something relaxed, thoughtful, and quietly confident, afternoon tea might be the perfect fit.

4 min read

Elegant cake adorned with white flowers and pearls in a dimly lit setting, surrounded by glowing candles and glassware, creating a romantic mood.

Display Wedding Cakes and Gateaux Cakes: A Practical Guide for Modern Somerset Weddings

A practical guide to display wedding cakes and gateaux cakes, explaining how they work, why couples choose them, and how they fit beautifully into modern Somerset weddings.

4 min read

Wedding Cakes and Dessert Tables, Calmly Explained

Cakes and dessert tables often feel bigger than they need to be. This post breaks down the things couples worry about most, and explains why wedding desserts are far more relaxed, flexible and enjoyable than you might expect.

4 min read

Two women in a garden, one holding a basket of fruit, the other picking berries. Lush green leaves surround them, evoking a joyful mood.

Why Ingredient Quality Matters for an Unforgettable Wedding Cake

Why ingredient quality matters when it comes to wedding cake, from local, seasonal sourcing to making everything from scratch for cakes that actually taste as good as they look.

3 min read

Glass jars filled with various dried goods like chickpeas and sultanas are neatly arranged on rustic wooden shelves in a cozy pantry.

Early May at Lydia Kraitman Cakes: A Seasonal Wedding Baking Journal

Early May at Lydia Kraitman Cakes is a season of joyful chaos. As wedding season gathers momentum, the kitchen fills with rhubarb, plans, and possibility. This behind-the-scenes journal explores what life looks like right now, the ingredients coming into season, and why this time of year is all about patience, flavour, and letting things unfold naturally.

5 min read

Woman in a white dress joyfully eats with a fork, smiling. Black and white image, indoor setting with blurred background.

How to Work with Your Wedding Cake Designer to Create Your Perfect Wedding Cake

Your wedding cake isn’t just dessert. It’s part of the room. It sits there quietly doing its thing while everything else happens around it. It gets photographed. Admired. Cut slightly wonkily by a well-meaning best man. And designing it should feel enjoyable, not like another item on a very long list. Working with a wedding cake designer is a collaborative process. When it works well, it feels calm, considered, and actually quite fun. Here’s how to make that happen.

3 min read

Two women laughing in a kitchen, one holding a mug, the other writing in a notebook. A tiered cake and macarons are on the counter.

What to Expect from a Wedding Cake Consultation

A calm, behind-the-scenes look at what happens during a wedding cake consultation, from tasting boxes and design ideas to practical planning and next steps.

3 min read

Man and woman laughing, eating pastries in a dimly lit room. He wears a white shirt, she a black jacket, creating a playful, cozy vibe.

Do Your Wedding Cake Your Way: Rethinking Traditional Wedding Cake Ideas

A behind-the-scenes look at alternative wedding cake ideas, from ditching the traditional cake cutting to finding solutions that make the day feel more relaxed and personal.

3 min read

A smiling couple admires a lavish dessert table in a warmly lit rustic setting with wooden beams and candles.

Somerset Wedding Dessert Tables: From Classic Flavours to Something Unexpected

A guide to designing a Somerset-inspired wedding dessert table, from classic local flavours to more unexpected combinations, with seasonal ideas to help you build a table that feels thoughtful and personal.

3 min read

Aerial view of a wedding with guests in colorful attire around a white tent on a sunny day, set in a lush green countryside.

Marquee Wedding Cakes and Dessert Tables: How to Make Your Sweet Setup Work Beautifully

Planning a marquee wedding? This post covers how to make your wedding cake and dessert table work beautifully, from placement and weather to styling and serving, without the stress.

4 min read

Elegant white tiered cake adorned with peach roses, green leaves, and pearls on a glass stand. Warm-lit staircase in the background.

The Wedding Cake Design Process: From First Ideas to a Finished Winter Wedding Cake

This post walks through the wedding cake design process, from those very first ideas through to the finished cake on the day.

4 min read

People toasting at a candlelit dinner, smiling and holding wine glasses. Elegant chandelier and pearls hang above a decorated table.

A Styled Wedding Shoot in Somerset: Behind the Scenes at Everards Farm

A behind-the-scenes look at a styled wedding shoot in Somerset at Everards Farm. From chaotic woodland dining and baby goats to collaborative creativity, this post explores why styled shoots matter, how they shape real wedding ideas, and what happens when talented vendors are given the space to experiment, connect, and create something truly joyful.

6 min read

Four-tier cake with landscape paintings of hills, a bridge, and a river. Set outdoors against a rustic brick wall, creating an artistic vibe.

Hand-Painted Wedding Cakes: Cocoa Butter Designs That Tell a Story

Hand-painted wedding cakes use cocoa butter to create detailed, personal designs, from florals and landscapes to houses, animals, and meaningful details that tell a couple’s story.

3 min read

Tall floral cake with painted and sugar flowers set against a serene nature painting background, featuring trees and a calm lake.

The Perfect Sweet Timeline: When to Order, Design, and Finalise Your Wedding Cake or Dessert Table

Your cake or dessert table might feel like a small detail in the grand scheme of things, but it’s one of those elements that sits right at the heart of the celebration. It deserves a bit of time. And a plan. Here’s how that usually works best.

3 min read