cakes, prose, woes -- the photos, food & thoughts of a french-speaking seattle-native in brazil

In the end, you're just happy you were there—with your eyes open—and lived to see it. -AB
In the end, you're just happy you were there—with your eyes open—and lived to see it.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

There Was a Wedding

Cupcakes and Cakes

Readers, i know you will forgive me for my absence when i say that i have been busy with a big project: a wedding. Yes a wedding cake! In Brazil, fondant is known as "American Paste" or something like that, as very few wedding cakes in Brazil are covered with the stuff. Leave it to an American to fulfill the prophecy. Petit in size, the two-tiered cake was accompanied by an army of cupcakes; also unheard of in Brazil. I signed up to make the cakes from the minute i found out about this wedding, and of course i planned all along to bake and decorate it all on the day before the event as i knew there would be a few other things to do; such as getting the rest of the event planned and legalized. Wedding planner too? Whose wedding was this? My own :)

Yes. me. wedding on Saturday at 10:35 am in a civil registry office wearing a very tight (but coutour) pearl white dress that hit the knee. No fluffy "Say Yes to the Dress" princess gown. The plan: small wedding as un-wedding like as possible. But do not think we are rebels; it wasn't because we didn't want, but because i wasn't interested in having a real wedding with my side of the aisle empty. With the rest of my family back in the United States, there was no possiblity of asking everyone to fly to Brazil at the same time. The result: civil registry office with 16 witnesses followed by a lunch at a Brazilian steak restaurant (yes the ones with the dressed up Gauchos) and my laptop computer planted squarly on the table in lieu of my plate. Wedding reception via skype. Yes much different, but to me, the day was perfect.

Because of cake.

What is the perfect day to bake the cake for a saturday wedding. Answer: friday. I woke up friday morning (with an unexpected hangover from the previous night's dinner with fancy pants business men visiting from the US. i am asked along of course because i am an English speaking curiosity. what?) to do all the shopping for the cakes. Started baking about 2 (after a nap of course) and finished the army of cupcakes and small two-tiered rice and tapioca flour lemon cake. I covered the cake in white fondant and embellished with white fondant polka dots and white fondant ribbons to cover the horrid seams. I dusted the dots and ribbons with an irridescent pearl dust (not particularly visible in the photographs). Cupcakes, well they are too many flavors to list. The point is, I made my own wedding cake. And everyone, in particular my husband and I, loved it. So in my mind, the day was a success. Well, that and also driving to Paraty in Rio de Janeiro state right afterward. But that's for another post.


I moved to Brazil two months ago to attempt a new language, a new culture, a new career, a new life, and above all the rest, to get married to the man I love; The crazy brazilian who has been part of the Salty Cod since the beginning, the "editor" for those of you long-time readers who can recall. This blog began three years ago because of Paris, and that's exaclty how H and I began; three years ago because of Paris. Two months of paperwork, two months of house work (moving in tomorrow!), and just 6 more months of pending permanent residency, but we're married. We're happy. And now we're back on track with more regular posting.

Upcoming: Exploring the colonial town of Paraty, Rio de Janeiro & inaugurating my new kitchen. Stay tuned.

a bientot


15 comments:

El said...

OMG Congratulations! What a wonderful surprise.Everything looks wonderful. Glad things worked out and wishing you all the best! Cheers!

Alejandra Ramos said...

Congratulations!!! What a beautiful post. This is just fantastic to read. I just got engaged last month, and from the moment that I said yes, I knew that I would be making my own wedding cake. I cannot wait!!

Your cake looks beautiful. What a perfect day.

The Golden Papaya said...

Parabens! Beautiful photographs.

Kaitlin said...

What a beautiful couple! Congratulations!

Your wedding cake turned out beautifully!!

R said...

Very pretty, I'll pretend I was there as a bridesmaid and that my dress was Tiffany blue like the little cup cakes...

Christy said...

You're maaaaaarrrriiiiieeeedddd!!! *Cue 'Here comes the bride', then flower petal sprinkle*

I can't be there, and am late in 'attending' ur ceremony, but I was hoping I'd get to be flower girl if I were somehow able to have made it there. So, by the sound of it, are you going to have another 'party' in the States, when u go back? And are you two going on a honeymoon or what? Is that in Paraty? I want the full scoop please.

Btw, J is thinking about moving back to Portland so we may actually be in the same situation in a couple of years' time. I want my wedding outdoors though; I actually have quite a specific vision which is either good/bad according to ur take on weddings.

Anyway, congratulations my dear, I hope you two find a lifetime of happiness and marital harmony ahead of you. And hopefully you'll come for a visit when we move back to Portland.

Laranjinha said...

Congratulations, Mallory. Muitos Parabéns.
O teu bolo de casamento ficou lindo.

Um beijinho grande e votos de muitas felicidades.

Elena B. said...

Congratulations! It certainly must have been a very special day! The photos are beautiful, and the cake looks absolutely delicious!

Jim said...

Congratulations. And I'm quite sure your getaway to beautiful Paraty will be/was wonderful.

Moira - Tertúlia de Sabores said...

Muitos Parabéns pelo teu casamento.
The cake was beautiful, simple and perfect as wedding cakes should be (it's my opinion)
In my weding i had a bouquet just like yours :)
Espero que sejas muito, mas muito feliz.
Beijinhos
Moira

Unknown said...

Awwwwww!!! Congratulations! :D

Andi-n-Rio said...

I loved your story....and your cake was just gorgeous. I moved here 8 months ago. The thing I miss the most was that I was working my way through the Cake Bible , before the whole Julie&Julia thing came out. However, your cake reminds me to return to baking glorious cakes with sweetened condensed milk!

Anonymous said...

Congrats Mallory. I wish you and your new family the best.

Sonho Meu said...

Congratulations !!!!!
Beijos,
me

Rachel said...

Beautiful! The cake, the photos, the wedding! Congrats!