This was my first year entering the Grand National Wedding Cake Competition and I learned a lot. Of course, I wanted to win the gold, but I’m proud of what I accomplished for my first time.

The lilacs are gumpaste and made without cutters or veiners. There are over 700 buds and blossoms. The roses have wired petals. The board is hand painted to look like marble. the vase is made with an isomalt globe and piped with royal icing filigree. This was my biggest cake yet, it took over 190 hours.