Paris Cutler - Planet Cake Celebrate

It may come as a surprise that I have devoted this book to cake events rather than just cake decorating. However, for me to write a book it needs to come from my life and at the moment I am spending a lot of time creating, hosting and managing interactive cake eventsand I have to admit I am having so much fun!

My ultimate purpose with everything I do is to bring the joy of cake decorating to as many people as possible; however, my goal in this book is to make you look like a rock-star event producer in the process.

This book is for everyone who is hosting an event. There is no need to have knowledge of cake decorating; but even experienced cake decorators will enjoy themselves. I know that these events work because I have created, trialled, tweaked and tested all of them on the harshest critics of allthe general public. I hope to show you that running a successful cake event leaves you feeling like the producer of a sold-out Broadway show and may even earn you a standing ovation.

Imagine you receive an invitation to go to a party where you will meet new people, eat cake, have a laugh, learn how to decorate cupcakes, win a prize, make a social difference via a charity and then finally take your treats home to an audience amazed by your talents. Does this sound like a party you would love to attend? Now you can understand why every event in this book creates a buzz, gets people talking and makes you look like an event guru. Its the power of cake decorating!

One of my most ambitious cake events to date occurred while I was writing this book, when we made the worlds biggest Opera House cakewhat I call a stunt cake. Weighing nearly 1300 kg (1.3 tons) and taking over a week to make, this cakeand the eventwas massive. Think about me as I managed, together with my team, 22 volunteers, logistics, cake technical requirements, lunches, washing up, t-shirts, safety, cake delivery and more. This challenge tested all my cake and event management skills. However, it is a cake event people are still talking about, photos are still popping up on social networking sites, and when it was a success I felt not only that we had achieved something amazing but that I, personally, had the time of my life. What a rush!

I was creating and managing cake events long before I started writing books. Very early in my career I created and hosted my first big cake eventChristmas Charity Cupcake Drive.

My first drive was a huge learning curve in managing mass production and people who had never decorated a cake before. However, we made 1000 cupcakes for the homeless that year and these days the event is so popular that volunteers start registering at the beginning of the year for a spot on the team. We make upward of 5000 Christmas cupcakes for the homeless including dessert for over 2000 Christmas dinners.

In this book I will share with you 10 cake events from small to large. I have kept them simple and you do not need to be a cake decorator to host them. All of the cakes I have designed are for beginners. I have kept the materials and equipment to a bare minimum, you do not need a gourmet kitchen and you do not necessarily need to bake. You just need the instructions in this book, some good organisational skills and enthusiasm. The biggest drawcard for your party will be you, but the cakes make great advertising, and decorating them is an inexpensive and effective party activity.

Be prepared, however, for the stayers, the lingerersguests that tell you your event was a major success by hanging about to decorate just one more cupcake.

I truly believe that the essence of the ongoing food craze is not the good-looking chefs (although they help) or over-the-top cordon bleu cookingor, in our case, the fact that Planet Cake makes celebrity cakes. It is that the kitchen has historically been the most popular room in the home. The kitchen is usually a warm and safe place, a room where secrets are shared and grief unburdened. Bringing the kitchen into the office, school, hens night or baby showervia cake eventswill have the same powerful effect of establishing trust and friendship. There is no way you can go wrong with cake, I promise you!

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book has been designed to assist you in planning cupcake and mini-cake events. Each event is based on two designs, so your participants will each create two different designs at your eventother than the School Fete Fundraiser. Each theme is a suggestion only.

The events I have designed and that I regularly run at Planet Cake usually have one of the following goalsto raise money, provide entertainment, highlight a cause and build relationships.

In order to have a fun and successful event, all cupcake designs follow the same principles.

• They are designed for a general audience
• Designs are interchangeable; you can swap or add as your wish
• Preparation times are given for each design, and each takes a short time to assemble
• Equipment and materials are kept to a minimum

GET GOING

Follow these steps:

Choose your cake event, activity, competition, fundraising, cause or party

Choose your cupcake designs

Follow How the Party Works for your chosen event

Check the section for extra planning info

Check general information about venue requirements

Follow the timeline for your chosen event

Print and photocopy any handouts and templates for guests

Events

Of all the parties I have organised the most nerve-wracking was a bridal shower for my best friend Melanie, a very stylish modern bride. After my ego overcame the honour of being chosen as Hostess with the Mostess, it began to dawn on me just how challenging the organisation of this party was going to be. Guests included a busy bride, bridesmaids, mum, grandma, sister and everyone from future in-laws to Melanies girlfriends. I had a brainstorm and decided that we needed a theme that involved colour, creativity and connecting with each other. These elements only mean one thing for mefood! Given my experience in our cake decorating school, I knew that a cupcake decorating party would take care of itself if it was well organised. Within 20 minutes of guests arriving I was delighted to see all of Melanies friends and family mingling together and ganaching cupcakes. Soon I had to turn the music off, as it could not be heard above the raucous sound of women gossiping. As they all had a job to do, the women almost instantly formed a team and the teams focus was Melanie and making her feel cherished. The surprise for me was that the event unfolded even more naturally and successfully than I expected, and we all had the strongest feeling that we were walking along the well-worn path of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and indeed of women all over the world. I felt deeply touched by this emotion and I know the other guests did as well.

HOW THE PARTY WORKS

The best way to understand how the party works is to start with the end result. Each guest will leave the Bridal Shower Party with 10 cupcakes (five of each design) that they have proudly decorated themselves, a prize or two, some fun photos, latest gossip and new decorating skills. The cupcake decorating is made up of three partsganaching the cupcakes, which is done as a team; covering the cupcakes, which is done as a team; and then decorating the cupcakes, which is usually done individually. There are approximately two days of preparation involved, however this can be performed over a number of weeks and I would recommend enlisting the help of some assistants. It is advisable to have a trial decorating run before the party so that you can give a brief demonstration before each activity. You will also be supported with instruction notes or from this book which you can distribute to guests The designs I have selected for you are ideal for absolute novices with no cake decorating experience. They look fantastic, however, and are very achievable. If there are poor results it will just add to the hilarity of the event and they may even be suitable for a prize!