NOTES FROM THE COTTAGE TABLE

Notes from the Cottage Table is where I share ideas, thoughts, and the practical bits I’ve picked up along the way as a wedding cake designer here in Somerset. It’s a place for seasonal inspiration, flavour ideas, and a peek behind the scenes of how my wedding cakes, dessert tables, afternoon tea, and grazing tables come together.

You’ll find posts about when to plan things, how flavours work best through the seasons, styling ideas I love, and alternatives for couples who don’t want to do things the traditional way. It’s meant to feel relaxed and helpful - somewhere to browse, get inspired, and feel a bit more confident about the choices you’re making.

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.

Lydia Kraitman

Jan 33 min read

Five Ways to Style an Autumn Dessert Table with Natural Textures

Published 18 November 2025 Autumn set up at Pennard House There’s something about autumn weddings that makes dessert tables feel right at home. Maybe it’s the candlelight, or the way guests naturally gravitate towards anything that looks warm, glowing, and slightly sticky. Either way, this time of year has its own rhythm - slower, softer, and full of colour. At Pennard House, working alongside the wonderful team from Kinsbond Events, we created an autumn setup that captured e

Lydia Kraitman

Nov 18, 20253 min read

Autumn Weddings Inspired by Somerset Orchards

Published 4 November 2025 Blackberry, dark chocolate and hazelnut Lambeth cake Every year, just as the air starts to smell faintly of bonfires and apples, I find myself drifting back toward the orchards. The ones where the trees lean a little, the grass is damp underfoot, and the cider press is already humming somewhere in the distance. I tell myself I’m going for a walk, but somehow I always end up coming home with a basket of apples, a handful of pears, and a mild sense of

Lydia Kraitman

Nov 4, 20252 min read