Popular Richmond wedding cake bakeries
Credit: Morsels
A wedding is an amazing event for any couple, and no wedding is complete without an exquisite wedding cake. Since Roman times, desserts have played an important role in a couple’s wedding nuptials. Today, vows are said and rings are placed on each partner’s finger. Then, a meal is consumed and cake eaten — a shared devotion to the couple’s love.
According to a recent study, nearly 80 percent of weddings include some kind of dessert. Desserts come in all shapes and sizes, but most couples want a multi-tiered wedding cake. The cake can be decorated with anything from flowers to superheroes, depending on the interests of the wedding party.
Are you looking for a wedding cake for a Richmond-area wedding? Richmond has some outstanding bakeries and independent bakers. They offer everything from traditional wedding cakes to unique custom designs. Most offer tastings, but some do charge a small fee. Imagination is the only limit.
Note: Please contact the bakery about the availability of tastings as these are subject to change during the pandemic.
Pearl’s Bake Shoppe
Baked with love and inspired by grandma. Laurie Chapman Blakey’s grandmother taught her to bake. When she opened Pearl’s Bake Shoppe in 2010 she named it after her grandmother, Pearl Gentry Chapman. The bakery is located on Patterson Ave and has a private room to taste wedding cakes. It offers over 120 flavors and provides gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free options. Blakey’s grandmother created many of the recipes.
Westhampton Bake Shop
One of Richmond oldest retail businesses, Westhampton has been making wedding cakes since 1952. The bakery provides a consultation and tasting during the wedding cake selection process, but appointments are required. Pound cake is used for all wedding cakes, and there are seven different flavors. The cakes are custom-designed and iced with buttercream.
Sweet Fix
Sweet Fix specializes in custom cake orders and offers fondant and buttercream wedding cakes. It’s been a Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award Winner since 2014 and has a gluten-free option. The bakery is not open to the public and appointment is required for a consultation. The designers work closely with the couple so the design matches the wedding theme.
River City Sweets
River City Sweets is a small-batch bakery established in 2013. It operates out of a private residence in Richmond and makes custom-designed wedding cakes. The bakery will work with the couple to accommodate dietary restrictions and special needs. A “To-Go Tastings” package is offered, where samples of four of its most popular flavors can be consumed at the home. Traditional wedding cake consultations are also offered at the residence.
Katherine’s Confections
Katherine’s is a small bakery in Chesterfield County. The bakery offers custom wedding cakes and only produces one or two cakes per weekend during wedding season. Tastings are available by appointment and 10 cake flavors are offered. The bakery uses buttercream but not fondant icing. Cupcakes and mini cupcakes are also offered.
Credit: Melissa’s Simply Sweets
Melissa’s Simply Sweets
Melissa started Melissa’s Simply Sweets after feedback from a cake for her son’s birthday party. She now runs a custom baked shop and offers numerous flavors and styles. Each cake is custom-built. Tastings are available for wedding parties over 100 and four cake flavors and two icing flavors are provided. She prefers only two to three people at a tasting.
The Mixing Bowl Bakery
The Mixing Bowl is a small, neighborhood bakery on Richmond’s West End. Founded in 1926, the bakery offers a one-hour consultation. Wedding cakes as well as a variety of wedding desserts are offered. Nine cake, six filing and four icings are standard but additional styles and flavors are available upon request.
Ukrop’s
Ukrop’s bakery was originally part of a supermarket chain, but become independent when the chain of stores was sold. The bakery has been in operation since 1976, and offers nine-pound cake flavors and makes traditional and fondant icing. They are hand-decorated and delivery options are available.
Sugar and Salt
Owner Sara Ayyash is the former executive pastry chef at the Jefferson Hotel and started Sugar and Salt several years ago. Most cakes are three layers tall and contain two layers of icing. Buttercream, fondant and ganache are the main offerings. Cakes can be designed based on a drawing and are sometimes decorated with fresh flowers.
Credit: Mosels
Morsels
Opened in 2015, Morsels is a bakery on the Northside of Richmond. The hidden gem is distinguished by a pink door. The founder started baking for friends, and that grew into a business. The bakery offers $30 tastings, which are usually scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays. A vegan option is available as well as a variety of buttercream toppings.
Carytown Cupcakes
While not a traditional bakery, Carytown Cupcakes offers 4-inch and 6-inch cupcakes for a wedding. A variety of cupcake flavors are sold. The shop offers tasting for weddings with 75 or more guests. Custom colors and decorations can be ordered. A custom flavor can be developed for an additional fee. Vegan or gluten-free cupcakes are available.
