VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: OLIVIA YANG CAKES
Meet Olivia from Olivia Yang Cakes! Olivia has worked with the Chapel since 2018 and has created stunning cutting cakes for hundreds of couples on their special day. She specializes in crafting sugar flowers, detailed sugar decorations and interesting colour palette (she LOVES muted colours) and is constantly experimenting with her designs. Take a read below and get to know Olivia Yang Cakes!
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS?
I really stumbled upon baking and designing cakes as a hobby and a way to blow off steam after a grueling lecture at the university, but quickly became obsessed with the amazing reactions I would receive from close friends and family when I would bring specially designed cakes to our gatherings.
After graduating in 2015, I spent the next two years learning the ropes of the trade as a cake designer at a custom cake studio based in Toronto, and absorbing as much technique as I can from master artisans all over the world such as Maggie Austin, Jasmine Rae, and Bobo Chen. I even tired my luck at the Cake International competition in the U.K. and was fortunate enough to strike gold in 2018.
It was in July of that same year that I decided to start my own cake design studio, "Olivia Yang Cakes", hoping to offer my take on cakes to the community. 4 years in and I'm still loving every moment of this journey.
WHICH CHAPEL HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE?
The one that had a strong, lasting impression on me had to to be the November Chapel in 2020. I remember vividly that we were all still under Covid restrictions and there was just an air of glum hanging over the city. But I remember walking into the Steam Whistle Brewery that day and being immediately greeted with warm fall colours and an exciting buzz of festivity, and I couldn't help thinking how incredibly lucky those couples were for being able to tie the knot that day.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?
I'm constantly fascinated by how so many different moving parts can all come together and culminate into a perfect moment of love between two people, and it's always eye opening, especially in such a culturally diverse city like Toronto, to be able to see love celebrated in so many different ways.
IF YOU COULD DESIGN A CHAPEL, HOW WOULD IT LOOK?
I would imagine the Chapel to be in different shades of greens, almost giving off a rainforest vibe with minimalist floral arrangements that have lots of natural movements. The addition of moss would be ideal for a rainforest setting. A pop of colour can be added depending on the season that the chapel is carried out in. A mustard yellow would create a chapel that’s on the tropical side and a sand or blush colour can add a bohemian vibe to the overall setting. Vintage brass or clay vases can be incorporated down the aisle, while natural linens layering sheer tulles would be used for the backdrop. Wooden chairs in a venue like the Evergreen Brick Works or Parkdale Hall would tie together that moody and “humid” atmosphere perfectly.
HOW IS THE CHAPEL EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR TYPICAL WORK?
I love how game changing the Chapel is. It reminds us that we don't have to be bound by tradition and that there isn't a predetermined way to have a wedding. The Chapel really gives back power to the couples and allows them to define for themselves what is truly important to them.
TELL US ABOUT HOW YOUR BRAND ALIGNS WITH THE POP-UP CHAPEL VALUES: SIMPLICITY, INCLUSIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY & SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS?
The amazing thing about sugar art is that it can be kept after the wedding as an excellent keepsake and it can last a lifetime. I've been able to take the leftover sugar flowers or sugar sculpture of, say, a couple's pet from a cake and arrange it nicely in a flower pot or a small display case that can be used as a home decor to remind couples of "the day".
I also strongly discourage couples from ordering more cake than is necessary for their guest size.
Finally, I understand how frustrating and daunting the task of sourcing all the different items and services needed for a wedding can be, especially by yourself. I offer a selection of my own cake stands and some decors from my personal collection for rental, and also make a point to always check with my couples on what stage of the wedding planning process they are on to see if I can help to suggest quality vendors that I've either personally worked with or have heard amazing things about during my years working in the industry.
WHAT US SOMETHING YOU ARE WORKING ON THESE DAYS OR SOMETHING YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY?!
I have started offering cake decorating workshops in partnership with Gusta Cooking Studio and I'm super excited about having the opportunity to share my knowledge and techniques with others.There are currently 6 different workshops that you can choose from, ranging from decorating a simple, delicious semi-naked cake with fruits, to basic buttercream masking & piping and fondanting, to more advanced techniques such as making a whole bouquet of flowers out of gum paste. If you'd like more details, please visit: https://www.gusta.ca/cakedecorating.
I'm also looking to put my R&D cap on during the winter to come up with new cake flavours in time for the next wedding season. I've always thought that offering unique flavour combinations was another fun way beyond the visual aesthetics for my couples to showcase their personalities through their wedding cake, so it's definitely a passion project for me. Another area that I'm also focused on right now is trying to develop delicious gluten free and dairy free options as I believe it's really important for my couples to be able to have that option available to them, so stay tuned for updates on this!
To learn more about Olivia Yang Cakes at www.oliviayangcake.com and on social at @Oliviay.studio