Story Time! I can’t wait to share the pressed flower cake I created for this fall wedding look at The Estate at River Run, but first – I want to share a quick story of how this gorgeous wedding editorial came to be. If you are planning on getting married on the East Coast during the fall, I think you’ll fall in love with the gorgeous fall foliage and warm wedding color palette we used for the styled shoot. I know that I did!

PS: Have you visited our Raleigh bakery yet? Our boutique cake + confectionery studio located at
606 N. Person Street, right here in Raleigh, NC. We would love to welcome you there!

At the end of 2019, my friend (and incredible fine art wedding photographer) Perry Vaile put out a call for women to join her book club/Bible study. At the time, I was desperately craving some adult interaction (outside of work!) and I realized this was the perfect opportunity. I didn’t know then how right I was. I was able to study the Bible with old friends like Amy and Priscilla, and meet some new ones. As I am sure you can guess, our time meeting was cut short due to COVID-19, but I wouldn’t trade the time we got to spend together for anything! When Amy from Plume Events reached out to create a wedding cake for a styled shoot that she was designing with Perry, I jumped at the opportunity to get together again!

A Wedding at The Estate at River Run

The Estate at River Run is an absolutely stunning wedding venue and provided the perfect fall backdrop for the wedding setup. If you are looking for a Richmond wedding venue, The Estate at River Run offers 22,000 square feet of space with a gorgeous Georgian Revival style. It really is beauty and elegance at it’s finest with a brick promenade, 18-foot columns, and literally, anything else you might need (pool house? tennis courts? yes). I couldn’t wait to hear more about their fall wedding vision and see how I could craft the perfect wedding cake for the occasion.

Elevated Fall Wedding Colors Paired with a Gorgeous Outdoor Setting

With the setting locked down (and sure to be breathtaking), Amy from Plume Events and Perry from Perry Vaile designed a tablescape that matched the beauty of the location. Set up on one of the mansion’s balconies, they chose a warm yet elevated fall color palette, with an abundance of fresh florals as the centerpiece. They also included tall candles which made the outdoor setting feel even more intimate. Additionally, they used delicate cutlery and wax seals on the napkins to tie in how luxe everything felt. I can’t stop staring!

One of my favorite pieces was the unexpected fig additions – perfect for fall. For each place setting, we used fig tarts to complete the wedding tablescape. If only I had a dining room that always looked as perfect as this table – anyone else?

I love a wedding design that truly activates all of the senses: from touch, to sound, to sight, to smell. And to taste? Let’s talk about that gorgeous pressed flower cake next!

A Pressed Flower Cake Perfect for Fall

The table was set. After that, it was time to play my part! After all, as a wedding cake designer, it goes without saying that I take dessert pretty seriously. A cake is more than just a cake. It sits at the center of life’s most precious celebrations. For this fall wedding at The Estate on River Run, we chose a lighter brown shade of fondant as the medium. Then, I carefully adhered dried florals to all three tiers of the cake with piping gel.

It’s one of my favorite techniques but I have to admit – it’s pretty tricky to execute! First, we sourced the florals from a variety of areas. Because of the stiff nature of dried florals, I was incredibly careful ensuring they bent to the curvature of the cake. It was definitely worth it. The cake was a huge hit and I have so much excitement for more pressed flower cakes to come!

Planning a Wedding in 2023 in VA, NC, SC or Beyond

If you are planning a wedding in 2023, this gave you just a little extra inspiration as to what’s possible. Especially when you work with an outstanding wedding vendor team. Time has flown by, and I can’t quite believe how long I’ve been in the wedding industry. However, one thing I am constantly grateful for is my network of amazing wedding vendors. I have a feeling that 2023 will be Sugar Euphoria’s best year yet (stay tuned because we have some exciting additions!), and I can’t wait to see what more we create.

Amy and Perry did an outstanding job designing and organizing this fall wedding in Virginia. Also, make sure you scroll to the end of the list of incredible vendors that made this shoot possible.

Virginia Wedding Team

Photography:  Perry Vaile

Planning, Design & Floral Design:  Plume Events

Venue:  The Estate at River Run

Linens: Party Tables

Rentals:  Emerson James Rentals

Specialty Rentals:  Paisley and Jade

Cake:  Sugar Euphoria

Paper & Calligraphy:  Plume Calligraphy

Gowns:  Carol Hannah Bridal

Hair:  Studio 321

Makeup:  Captivating Complexion

Model:  UC Models