Super Supplier Saturday! Michelle Shulman @ La Belle Cakes

This month's Super Saturday Wedding Supplier is Michelle Shulman, Cake Couturier & Owner at La Belle Cake Company covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London.  

Michelle established La Belle Cake Company back in 2006 and it is now run by both Michelle and her husband Daniel who joined the company full-time in 2015 . Daniel bakes and manages behind the scenes whilst Michelle is much more about creating all the prettiness with her beautifully skilled sugar crafting.  

I met Michelle some years back at the prestigious wedding venue Luton Hoo Hotel where we are both recommended suppliers.  I can honestly say Michelle is always professional, hardworking, caring and fun and her cakes are delicious as well!

La Belle, make bespoke delicious cakes for all occasions and are luxury wedding cake specialists plus they have also had many celebrity clients along the way which is always nice to know!



Shelley Shulman  Q&A:

What advice would you give to couples currently searching for a Cake Maker?

When looking for a cake maker, look for one that matches your style. Do they types of cake they make look like style of cake you would want at your wedding. And make sure you get the opportunity to try some cake too! After all a cake need to taste as good as it looks! 

How far in advance should a couple book you?

We recommend couples book at least 12 months in advance. Whilst we don’t have to confirm an exact design at the point, booking early ensures you get the suppliers you want for your big day. 

What is your top tip for Brides?

My top tip for brides is to remember the phrase 'two many cooks spoil the broth’. Whilst it is lovely that friends and family want to be involved, sometimes their well meaning opinions can get overwhelming and your wishes can get lost. We limit the amount of people who attend our consultations so that our focus remains 100% on the couple and what they want. 

Why do you love working in the wedding industry?

It may be a cliche but it is wonderful to be surrounded by love! It is such a happy industry to work in and it is a true honour and privilege to be included in one of the biggest days in a persons life! 

Describe your style?

We create, what we would describe as 'clean and fresh' wedding cakes. Modern and contemporary with beautiful detailing and a flourish of sugar flowers. 

Why should a couple choose you?

The wedding cake is one of the most photographed parts of the wedding day. In fact it’s one of the only parts of your ‘wedding decor’ you actually ‘pose’ with so it is so important it is perfect. We work closely with all our couples to make sure they have the perfect wedding cake for the picture perfect cake cutting moment.

If you have a vision for your dream wedding cake La Belle Cake company can turn it from your dream into reality.

See more of Michelle's work and get in touch with Michelle below:

https://labellecakecompany.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/labellecakecompany/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/Labellecakeco/boards/
https://www.instagram.com/labellecakecompany/

Super Supplier Saturday! Wedding Photographer Esmé Robinson

My next Super Saturday Wedding Supplier is Esmé Robinson who is a Bedfordshire based Photographer with over fifteen years experience.  Esmé began taking photographs as little girl when her dad brought her an SLR camera for her tenth birthday, she has been photographing ever since.  Now Esmé is fully qualified with The Masters Photography Association, The British Institute for Professional Photographers and The Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers.  

Her photography in her own words is all about capturing the love - between couples, parents and children and family members.  

As the image below shows Esmé will always be full of fun and energy on your wedding day!  I am lucky enough to have worked with Esmé at many weddings and can say she is really great to have around and super talented as well!

Esmé Robinson Q & A:

What advice would you give to couples currently searching for a Photographer?

Corona specific: We still need to be making forward plans, it is so important to keeping things moving and for our own well-being. 2021 and 22 now look to be bumper years with so many couples changing their dates. Keep booking things up if you can. 

Non-Corona specific; 

I think of it a little bit like a job interview, you wouldn't necessarily want to employ someone with the flashiest looking CV.  I would, instead, ask questions about how long they have been doing it? Are they fully insured? Do they have any industry qualifications or awards? How would they handle a wet, rainy wedding day? If you have a rambunctious groups of guests, ask how they are at confidently organising group shots and ensure you see images taken in non-ideal situations as well as the sunny-day ones. 

How far in advance should a couple book you?

My average booking date is about 12 months to 2 years, but sometimes I have some peak dates still available just a few months before, so it is always worth enquiring. 

What is your top tip for Brides?

Brides (and grooms!) shouldn't worry too much about anything being "perfect",  for me some of the best and funniest moments that occur at weddings are the unplanned things that just happen! If some of the favours haven't arrived in time or the bouquet isn't exactly the right shade of pink. Dont worry! Nobody else will know but you and I promise you these things are not worth bothering about in the big scheme of things. 

Why do you love working in the wedding industry?

I love working in the wedding industry and we get to be a part of such a special day in a couples life! We get to see everyone looking their best, celebrating and relaxing and share in such a wonderful day.  Within the industry, I find the vast majority of suppliers are just so professional, friendly and so willing to help each other.  I know I am always happy to recommend others good suppliers like Niki, who are always fabulous to work with and help to keep our couples happy!

Describe your style?

I learnt on film, so my style is a little more classic than some photographers about at the moment.  I love to take natural and candid images of you and your guests having a great time; love toddler tantrums, grumpy guests and drunken exploits as much as the next photographer and take these as they happen throughout the day! However, I also feel there is an inherent value with timeless and classically styled images and I love to deliver these too. So my style generally tries to stay away from trends - ie: I didn't partake in the vintage photography look that was huge a few years ago - instead my images and editing like to represent true colours.  I think every couple, regardless of age etc deserve something classical and self-indulgent; something to pass down the family and something to shamelessly admire in 30 years time.

 

Why should a couple choose you?

I would hope a couple would choose me first and foremost because they got on with me and loved my work!  My couples come from all kind of backgrounds, so some might choose me as part of a huge budget and others might be having an intimate, relaxed wedding but prioritise funds for myself (something I always take as a huge honour). I imagine experience is reassuring, so many of me couples choose me because of my 13 years in the industry of 550+ weddings and hopefully all of my testimonials from happy couples help as well :) 

Even after all that time, I still love my job (occasionally slightly obsessively!) and find it such a privilege to shoot different couples and their versions of the perfect wedding day. 

Check out more of Esmé's work below:

Instagram: esmérobinson_photo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EsmeRobinsonPhoto

www.esmerobinson.com