A Lovely Wedding Cake
Some say a wedding isn’t complete without a wedding cake (and I agree). Hence, it is usually the highlight of a wedding reception. But what if you don’t have a reception? Does that mean no cake?
Three weeks ago I took this biggest risk of my life. I took my then boyfriend of seven years on a surprise vacation. All he had to do was pick out a suit for a “semi-formal event” and I would take care of everything else. When our plane landed in Dallas for our connection, I handed him the boarding pass for the second leg of our trip to Maui, Hawaii. He was floored. Three hours into our flight to Maui, somewhere over the pacific, I asked him to close his eyes for surprise number #2. When he opened them, he was shocked at what he saw on the tray table in front of him – an engagement ring and two wedding bands. Poor thing was so confused and speechless, especially after I officially popped the question and told him that I wanted us to get married. An hour later (yes, he was so shocked that it took him an hour to say yes) I told him about surprise #3 – I arranged for us to get married on a secluded beach in Maui two days after we arrived.
What transpired was the best wedding I’ve ever been to; and not just because it was mine. It was romantic, easy, simple and fun with the absolute best setting anyone could ask for – Po’olenalena Beach in south Maui. I never thought of myself as the type to elope, or propose for that matter. But I would not change anything about the day. With the help of Jane Lopez (wedding planner), Mike Adrian (photographer), Mira Carmen (makeup artist), Pastor Vance (officient) and Ryan Robinson (musician) my wedding day was perfect and truly magical.
And to answer the above question – if you don’t have a wedding reception, you can still have a wedding cake. For me, it was a requirement. As I told the wedding planner, I don’t care for flowers but the cake has to be the best in Maui. And that it was – white sponge moistened with strawberry syrup, filled with mousseline cream and fresh strawberries and iced with my favorite frosting – Swiss Meringue Buttercream. It was absolutely delicious and the fresh flower decoration made it look gorgeous.
I still can’t believe I got Maui’d!!!
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Cristine — August 31, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Congrats! What a cute story!
Anonymous — August 31, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
what a beautiful story! Congratulations!
5 Star Foodie — August 31, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
How wonderful, congratulations!!! You guys look gorgeous on the beach! And the cake sounds fantastic!
Snooky doodle — August 31, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
wow how nice! Great wedding. . CONGRATULATIONS!I admire your courage to propose.
Nice cake!visit my new blog at http://snookysrecipedoodles.blogspot.com/
Paris Pastry — August 31, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
OMG!!! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you!
What a beautiful story and even a more beautiful dress. I hope it was your most magical day ever. I wish you two all the best 
!Ps. Gorgeous Cake!
mimi — August 31, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
Congratulations! I hope you have many anniversaries and cakes in your future.
Mimi — August 31, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
Congratulation! I hope you have many anniversaries and cake in the future.
Nina — September 1, 2009 @ 12:10 am
oh wow! congrats! The pictures and the cake look amazing!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction — September 1, 2009 @ 1:03 am
Wow – congratulations! I'm sure you will have many, many happy years to come! It sounds like it was a perfect day… and the cake looks great, too!
Izzo — September 1, 2009 @ 1:41 am
I've missed you. Now I know what you've been up to. Congratulations. Everything looks perfect. God bless you guys. Hopefully there will be tons more cake and celebrations in the years to come.
Liliana — September 1, 2009 @ 1:49 am
Congratulations! What a wonderful story! Best of health and happiness to both of you!You both look amazing and the cake looks fantastic.
Pamela — September 1, 2009 @ 2:06 am
Fantastic!! Congratulations and much, much happiness to the both of you! The pictures are fabulous!! Thanks for sharing.
Sarah — September 1, 2009 @ 2:26 am
Congratulations!!! What a wonderful and romantic way to get married! You look beautiful, and so happy.
spike. — September 1, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
how romantic! congrats- it looks like a magical event
steph- whisk/spoon — September 1, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
that is so beautiful–congratulations!! my husband and i eloped, too, in the british virgin islands. i agree…so simple, so fun, and a cake was a must, even if it wsa just the two of us!
Hanaâ — September 1, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
Congratulations!!! How romantic! Wow, hawaii! That sounds great. Both of you look very nice, and more importantly, very happy. The cake is absolutely adorable too. Out of curiosity, did you have Hector Wong make the cake for you? He's a pretty famous baker in Hawaii. Congrats again!
Barbara GF — September 1, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
(((Sigh))) That is so romantic, Eliana! What great planning on your part and a willing beau to boot – best of luck to you. The description of your cake is making me hungry now. Nice photos, too!
Erin — September 1, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
Wow! Congratulations! What a perfect wedding!
pinkstripes — September 1, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
OMG!A surprise wedding! Congratulations.
k.a.r.e.n — September 1, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
OMG How beautiful!!! Congratulations. You made me cry in the office!!!!
How To Eat A Cupcake — September 1, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
Oh. My. God! What an adorably romantic story! You are so awesome! Congrats to both of you, and your cake looks perfect!
Jackie — September 1, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
Hi ElianaCongratulations and best wishes to you and your new husband.
Peabody — September 1, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
Congrats! And yes, cake is always needed at a wedding.
Teanna — September 1, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
WHAT?!?!?! That is AMAZING! Congratulations!!! What a fantastic wedding story, and what a gorgeous wedding!
Bunny — September 2, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Talk about talking the bull by the horns girl!!! Congratulations!! You look beautiful!!!
The Food Librarian — September 2, 2009 @ 12:37 am
Wonderful!!! OMG. How absolutely romantic. What lovely lovely photos of a beautiful couple! And I agree…flowers wilt but cake is forever.
Congratulations!!!!!!! – mary the food librarian
Engineer Baker — September 2, 2009 @ 12:43 am
Chills – that's all I have. What a wonderful experience, and a wonderful story.
Ingrid — September 2, 2009 @ 2:35 am
Oh, my goodness Eliana! That is so awesome! Congrats! I'm estatic that is was a wedding keeping you away.~ingrid
Megan — September 2, 2009 @ 2:47 am
Congratulations! What an amazing wedding story!!And that cake sounds spectacular!
The Scootabaker — September 2, 2009 @ 3:43 am
Oh my goodness! I love a story where the woman take charge of what she wants in life and makes it happen! Untraditional and sweet. I would have it no other way myself!Many congrats!luv,heather
Flourchild — September 2, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
Perfect surprise for your man! Congratulations to the both of you. I love your story and it will be a wonderful story to share with your children and grandchildren someday! You both look lovely and I love the ocean side wedding;)! Only thing missing was ME..lol!
biz319 — September 2, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
OMG, I just got tears in my eyes – love this story!!!!!Congratulations!And my husband loves wedding cake so much, I buy the top tier of a wedding cake from our local baker every year for his birthday!
Jaime — September 3, 2009 @ 2:44 am
WOW you look gorgeous!!!! CONGRATS Mrs
we were married in Hawaii in a small intimate ceremony (wasn't quite your exciting elopement) but I was so happy we did it. that cake sounds wonderful!
Katrina — September 3, 2009 @ 3:17 am
Oh my goodness, you go girl! Way to take matters in to your own hands!
Fabulous photos, you look beautiful and LOVE the cake. So simple, elegant and perfect!Congratulations!
burpandslurp — September 3, 2009 @ 4:51 am
I. LOVED. This. Post!!! OMG, I am So touched and inspired by you! You are one unconventional and courageous woman, you know what you want, and your husband is LUCKY and BLESSED to have you!And haha, you and I are on the same page…The Wedding Cake is the most important!
Apples and Butter — September 3, 2009 @ 6:26 am
Congratulations! How amazing is that! You are brave and look how wonderfully it turned out! What a beautiful day!
Mary Ann — September 3, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Congrats! That is just about the sweetest story I have ever heard! What a great way to celebrate. The cake looks beautiful and sounds like it tasted amazing!
The Whimsical Cupcake — September 4, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
awww i got all misty eyed!! congrats!!
Angelia mcgowan — September 5, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
what a beautiful story! I eloped too. I think everyone should elope and marry where they are honeymooning! It saves money and is so non-stressful!
Tracey — September 7, 2009 @ 2:21 am
Wow, congratulations!! The cake looks amazing
Trysha — September 7, 2009 @ 5:13 am
I'm so behind on my google reader so I'm just reading this. CONGRATS!! What a wonderful surprise and a beautiful cake and place to get married. And of course, the happy couple is beautiful as well.
Kaitlin — September 7, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! It looks like you had a blast. All the best in the future for you both.
mangocheeks — September 16, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Truly truly joyful.CongratualtionsPS my first visit here and I will be back.
Jelli Bean — October 6, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
Gorgeous photos! A late congratulations from one newlywed to another.