Located in Washington, D.C., Maggie Austin Cake is not your ordinary cake bakery. Oh no, it’s more about abstract art and contemporary botanical confections. Pastry Chef and Owner Maggie Austin LaBaugh designs custom wedding cakes that are light, whimsical and supremely sophisticated.  Intrigued with these delicate works of art, we thought we’d take a peek into the artist’s studio…

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}:  HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN CAKE DESIGN?

{Maggie Austin}:  After an injury put a sudden end to my career as a classical ballet dancer, I needed to find a new pursuit that would continue to fulfill me artistically. The discipline and the attention to detail that defined my life in the ballet studio was a natural fit for cake design.

I attended the French Pastry School to learn the fundamentals from the very best, but I made the deliberate decision NOT to study with another cake designer because I wanted to keep myself free of other artistic influence. In the summer of 2010, I started experimenting with designs and I took pictures of them. While I built the website, my sister and business partner Jessica set up a few meetings with local wedding planners. Ritzy Bee Events, wonderful planners in Alexandria, VA, blogged about us following a tasting. That blog posting went viral. Just a couple weeks after we launched the Maggie Austin Cake website, I got a call from a Today Show producer inviting us to participate on the Today Show Throws a Modern Wedding. Suddenly, we had exposure! Since then, it’s been a blur. We got a small business loan and built out our gorgeous studio in Old Town Alexandria, just outside of Washington, DC. Jessica handles the business, I handle the cake, and we work every moment of every day.

{TBC}:  WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE CAKE DESIGN STYLE?

{Maggie Austin}:  My aesthetic comes from ballet. Clean, dynamic, with a bit of asymmetry.

{TBC}:  WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY WITH RESPECT TO DESIGN; SIMPLE AND ELEGANT OVER OVER THE TOP?

{Maggie Austin}:  For me, simple wins every time. Even a very elaborate or complex design should be easy on the eye.

{TBC}:  FROM WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION?

{Maggie Austin}:  I’m fortunate enough to live very close to some of the finest museums and gardens in the world, so I often draw inspiration from a quiet afternoon at the Smithsonian or Botanic Gardens. I love haute couture fashion and the work of iconic designers like Alexander McQueen never fail to take my breath away. Sometimes, though, wildflowers on the side of the highway are enough to send me rushing back to the studio with a new idea!

{TBC}:  WHAT EXPERIENCE CAN A BRIDE EXPECT WHEN WORKING WITH YOU?

{Maggie Austin}:  We have a beautiful tasting room with marble Saarinen tables that are an interesting contrast to the Italianate Victorian space. The clients are presented with plated tastings of composed flavor profiles (I don’t mix-and-match). Once they’ve decided upon which compositions are the best fit, we’ll talk about their event- colors, linens, floral arrangements, and invitations all play a big role in this process. While they look through my portfolio, we’ll discuss elements they love, whether they be delicate frills or intricate hand-painting. Because each cake is custom, it’s important for me to form a relationship with the clients. They are the inspiration for the design. We only do two or three cakes per week, as the details are paramount.

{TBC}:  WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE QUESTIONS A BRIDE SHOULD ASK A CAKE DESIGNER DURING HER INITIAL RESEARCH?

{Maggie Austin}:  When researching designers, look carefully at their portfolio. Asking a designer to work outside their comfort zone or aesthetic is never a good idea, so find someone who is a good match for what YOU’RE looking for. Likewise, knowing about their pricing and average volume will inform you about how much time and energy will go into your design. When gathering information, here are some important questions to ask:

1. About how many wedding cakes do you do at the busiest time of year?
2. What is the average per-serving price?
3. How long is a typical consultation?

{TBC}:  WHERE IS THE FURTHEST PLACE YOU HAVE SHIPPED A CAKE TO?

{Maggie Austin}:  We never ship cakes, but we do fly with them! We don’t discuss specifics about our clients, but I can say that it did take quite a while to get over the jetlag!

{TBC}:  ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO BRIDES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WHO MAY WANT A MAGGIE AUSTIN CAKE?

{Maggie Austin}:  We are happy to work with international clients and will discuss everything on a case-by-case basis. Every venue and situation is different.

{TBC}:  WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL BRIDES?

{Maggie Austin}:  For international clients, an early start is essential. We only do a few cakes per week, so we book very quickly. For any client, it’s all about balancing budget and logistics with design.

{TBC}:  DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WEDDING CAKE, AND IF YES, WHY?

{Maggie Austin}:  It sounds cliché, but I fall in love with whatever project I’m working on at the moment! It’s part of my design process and it happens every time. Right now, I’m painting an exquisite orchid that is my absolute favorite. Until I move on to the next one, that is. This is related to my training as a dancer. I am exceedingly process-oriented.

{TBC}:  OF ALL OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE FLAVORS, WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

{Maggie Austin}:  I love hazelnuts, so my go-to flavor is Vietnamese Cinnamon and Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Praline and Cappuccino Buttercream.

{TBC}:  CAN YOU OFFER ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO LIVE BY FOR A NEWLY ENGAGED COUPLE?

{Maggie Austin}:  Hire a wedding planner! No one should be expected to be the director, choreographer, designer AND performer.

{TBC}:  WHAT CAKE TRENDS CAN BRIDES EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU CURRENTLY?

{Maggie Austin}:  Color! I’m seeing so much rich color in cakes this season, particularly purple. It lends itself beautifully to the textile-inspired designs I love so much.

{TBC}:  WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE FOR MAGGIE AUSTIN? ANY NEW PROJECTS YOU CAN SHARE?

{Maggie Austin}:  I’m delighted to be an instructor on craftsy.com, teaching the fondant frills technique. This is a way for me to reach the community of cake designers interested in learning new ways of working. One of the best parts of this platform is that it’s interactive. While my primary focus will always be the cakes, teaching is a vital part of my life as an artist. After this, perhaps a book! We’ll see…

{TBC}:  THANKS SO MUCH MAGGIE! HAPPY BAKING! XO