A Rifle Paper-Inspired Bridal Shower

From Melissa, Cacao Sweets & Treats’ Creative Director:
“When we create a sweet table, we like to start with a color palette or theme. Since we are kind of obsessed with spring, we wanted to create a table highlighting the wildflower print from Rifle Paper Co. print. We used a handmade “love is sweet” swag as a backdrop. Using card stock and Rifle Paper Wildflower wrapping paper cut outs we created a ’love’ garland to hang in front of the table, tent cards to describe each dessert and cake pop flags! When it comes to setting desserts out we love to use a beautiful cake as a centerpiece. In this case, we used a vanilla cake with a handmade cake crown that complimented the beautiful Rifle Paper. To give the cake some height, we stacked cake stands and put mini cupcakes on the base.

On either side of the cake, we placed hand-dipped cake pops with the floral flags. In front of the cake, we placed mini vanilla cupcakes topped with little hand-made tissue paper flowers. We used a low white plate so that the cake stood out as the centerpiece. Finally, what sweet table is complete without French Macarons?! We made ours in a peach and mint green hue to complement the Rifle Paper products we used. We also love to include fresh florals to our dessert tables, so we used simple bouquets on either side of the treats to add some freshness. Florals are truly great for creating a pop of color.

Place settings can be very simple, by setting up some sweet flowers, utensils and a place card with a cupcake on top guests know where to sit and have something beautiful to look at as soon as they sit down.

We love creating a second small table to be used a ‘thank you’ gift table. In this case we created a fun DIY cupcake favor center. We made a ‘love is sweet take a treat’ sign to frame on the table. Each guest would take an unfrosted cupcake, pipe their own frosting on, add sprinkles and a cupcake topper and put it in a box to take home. Simply put some frosting in a piping bag {or multiple flavors in different bags} and cut the tip of the bag off so guests can easily pipe frosting on. Set out two little bowls, one filled with sprinkles, nuts or course sugar and another with cute cupcake toppers. Leave out boxes and ribbon for cupcakes to be secure and easily taken home. We love engaging guests at our parties to create something of their own and using that as a delicious take home gift.

Here at Cacao, we also sell our award-winning hot fudge and caramel sauces in mini form as favor gifts for weddings and showers. So we added a ‘love is sweet’ tag to these so guests could take one of them home as well…to be poured on top of the cupcake perhaps?”

Baker, Venue: Candice Hunsinger, Cacao Sweets & Treats| Cake Decorator: Laura Pierce, Cacao Sweets & Treats | Photography: Melissa Becker, Cacao Sweets & Treats | Love is Sweet Sign: Katie Pietraszak