A Succulent Cake

You probably remember this succulent filled dessert table and this succulent accented dessert design that I shared with you. Ever since I saw them, I've been on the lookout for succulents combined with desserts. This Erica O'Brien cake is so beautifully detailed and wonderfully shot by Charla Blue that it immediately caught my attention. Handcrafted fondant succulents sit atop three white tiers of cake, striking the perfect balance between simple and sensational.

This cake manages to be so lifelike, that it's hard to differentiate the real blooms from the fondant ones.

Dessert Table: Succulent Sweets

I've got two great posts for you today, so let's kick things off with a beautiful dessert table. This Cinco de Mayo inspired butter was featured on Green Wedding Shoes and is full of succulent plants and luscious flowers. Soft hues and subtle cultural elements make it feel more like an intimate Mexican party rather than a loud, late-night fiesta. The cake is strung with a traditional papel picado banner, while margarita cupcakes, candy favor bags, and churros sit amongst glass covered succulents and rock beds.

Just look at how well the dessert table coordinates with the event's other decor. In all dessert table planning, this type of cohesive design is my ultimate goal. I want the buffet to be a seamless addition to the look, rather than just a random assortment of sweets. That doesn't mean everything has to match or be mirror images of each other, but the dessert table should feel like it belongs in its surroundings rather than being just a colorful afterthought. I also thought this dessert table was fabulously cohesive.

I really like how the entire design reflects a Mexican theme without seeming cliched or gimmicky. It's subtly is it's beauty. You can tell from its styling that it's a planned design, but it doesn't feel too structured. It's much more organic than that, and it's lovely. What's your favorite element of the design?

Don't forget to come back later today for the second post! See you soon.

Dessert Table: Sparkling New Year's Eve

If you loved the metallic sparkle from today's first post, and the simple opulence of today's second post, then this luxe dessert table will send you over the moon.

Martha Stewart Weddings recently featured this inspirational photo shoot on their blog, and I immediately filed it away to share with you for a little New Year's Eve party eye candy. So, as you prep your place, think about incorporating some of these shimmery accents.

Isn't it fabulous how well the dining table coordinates with the dessert table's design? That's no accident. By using the same linens, flowers, and decorative vases, the design crew is able to use a mixed collection of plates, risers, and chargers to display the desserts without creating a disjointed look.

Of course, you have to end the festivities with a midnight kiss. I'll definitely be planting a big one on my husband and daughter. Last year, they were both passed out by ten o'clock and I watched the fireworks out of our bedroom window while I reflected on the blessings of the year past.

No matter who you spend the holidays with, I hope you can reflect on 2010 fondly. See you in 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

production:  Be Inspired PR
photography:  Jose Villa
event styling: Canvas & Canopy
desserts: Cupcakes Couture
props: OC Prop Girl
tabletop decor: Small Masterpiece