A Bespoke Wedding Cake at Gosford House, East Lothian
Gosford House is one of those wedding venues where the setting makes such an immediate impression. Its spectacular Marble Hall, with the sweeping staircases, marble columns and a glass-domed ceiling, provided the backdrop for Olivia and Marco's wedding celebration.
I was commissioned to create a bespoke five-tier wedding cake for the occasion, following an introduction from Olivia's mother, Elvira, who had discovered Copper Rose online while researching cake designers for her daughter's wedding.
After ordering one of my cake tasting boxes, Elvira got back in touch to tell me that she'd arranged a little tasting with her friends. They sampled the flavours together, and she was so delighted with them that she knew she wanted me to create Olivia's wedding cake.
It was a lovely way to begin what became a very special commission.
A Personal Brief and a Five-Tier Design
As the plans developed, I worked closely with Elvira and, later, another member of the family who had a background in the events and hospitality industry. They were involved in coordinating the wider wedding arrangements, so we stayed in close contact throughout the planning process.
Olivia became more involved during the design consultation, bringing her own ideas and a particular fondness for vintage Lambeth-style cakes. She shared photographs of designs she loved, giving us a lovely starting point for developing something that would feel personal to her.
Rather than recreating the designs literally, I wanted to interpret some of their decorative qualities in a way that would work beautifully within the setting at Gosford House.
The Marble Hall is an impressive architectural space, full of classical detailing, marble columns and sweeping staircases. I felt that a heavily piped buttercream cake, with the elaborate over-piping traditionally associated with vintage Lambeth designs, might feel a little too fussy against the grandeur of the surroundings.
Instead, I drew inspiration from the decorative swags and ornamental details, translating them into a more restrained design using crisp white fondant. This retained something of the character Olivia loved, while giving the cake a cleaner, more architectural finish that felt at home within the Marble Hall.
The five tiers featured delicate swags, drop details, beaded borders, moulded elements and a hand-painted monogram. Each detail was carefully considered, giving the cake interest up close without overwhelming its overall silhouette.
We also spent time discussing the scale and proportions of the cake. With a setting as grand as Gosford House, the overall height and silhouette were just as important as the decorative details. We considered both the number of portions needed and how the finished cake would look within the space.
The result brought together Olivia's original inspiration and my own interpretation: traditional decorative influences, expressed with a more refined and contemporary finish.
A Wedding at Gosford House
Olivia and Marco's wedding brought together several beautiful settings across East Lothian. The morning preparations took place at Archerfield House, before the couple were married at the historic Dirleton Kirk.
The photographs capture some lovely details from the day, including the floral archway framing the church entrance, the groom and groomsmen in traditional Highland dress and the couple's departure in a vintage wedding car.
From there, the celebrations moved on to Gosford House, where guests gathered for an afternoon champagne reception in the Marble Hall.
The Wedding Cake Display in the Marble Hall at Gosford House
For the cake display, Olivia and Marco chose a particularly striking position on the landing balcony of the grand marble staircase.
The styling brought together a rich mauve tablecloth and an organic moss-covered base, with cascading white and lilac flowers by Planet Flowers. Against this softer arrangement, the crisp white tiers of the cake stood out beautifully.
The position allowed the cake to be seen within the full scale of the hall, with the architecture and natural light from the glass dome providing a beautiful backdrop.
The photographs by Craig & Eva Sanders capture the finished display from several perspectives, including the wider architectural setting and the intricate details of the cake itself.
Behind the Scenes: Setting Up the Wedding Cake at Gosford House
Some of my favourite parts of creating a wedding cake happen before the finished display is photographed.
For this commission, I delivered the individual tiers to Gosford House and assembled the cake on the Marble Hall balcony, adding the finishing details once everything was in position.
As I began stacking the tiers, the team at Planet Flowers were working on their installation around the display. We worked alongside one another in the hall, bringing the separate elements together until the cake and flowers sat just as they should.
With a five-tier cake, the practicalities are just as important as the finished appearance. Transport, assembly, positioning and stability all need to be carefully considered, particularly when working within a historic building with a setting as distinctive as the Marble Hall.
I always enjoy this part of a wedding installation. There's a real satisfaction in seeing a design take shape in its intended setting, particularly when the cake and florals have been planned to complement one another.
Five Wedding Cake Flavours, Chosen for the Celebration
Alongside the design, choosing the flavours was an important part of the commission. We settled on five different combinations, bringing together familiar favourites and some more distinctive flavours. You can explore more of the wedding cake flavours I offer at Copper Rose.
Olivia also had the opportunity to try the flavours for herself with a cake tasting box during the planning process, helping to finalise the selection for the wedding:
Sicilian Lemon Indulgence
Lemon sponge filled with lemon buttercream and homemade lemon curd.
Vanilla Bean Dream
Madagascan vanilla-flecked sponge with vanilla bean buttercream and strawberry compôte.
Scottish Sticky Toffee
Sticky date sponge with homemade sea-salted caramel and salted caramel buttercream.
Chocolate Highland Stout & Raspberry
Chocolate stout sponge with homemade raspberry compôte and raspberry white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream.
Coconut Passion Fruit Crunch
Coconut sponge with coconut and black sesame praline buttercream and homemade passion fruit curd.
I love offering a selection like this, where each flavour has its own character. From the familiarity of lemon and vanilla to the more unexpected combination of coconut, passion fruit and black sesame, there was plenty of variety for guests to enjoy.
The flavours were chosen as part of the wider design and planning process, so the finished cake was just as considered inside as it was in its appearance.
An Afternoon Champagne and Cake Reception
One of the details I particularly liked about the arrangements for Olivia and Marco's wedding was the decision to have the cake cutting during the afternoon champagne reception.
Rather than waiting until the evening, the family wanted guests to enjoy the cake as part of the daytime celebrations. It made the cake a central part of the reception and allowed the display to be enjoyed while everyone was gathered in the Marble Hall.
To make this work practically, I also provided additional cutting cakes, which were kept discreetly in the kitchen. This meant portions could be prepared and served to guests following the cake cutting, without needing to dismantle the main display.
There was also a little more to consider once the afternoon reception came to an end. The balcony was needed for the photographer to capture portraits and group photographs on the staircase, so the cake display had to be moved.
A five-tier cake, together with its moss-covered display table, is substantial, and moving it safely required a little teamwork. One of my favourite behind-the-scenes photographs from the day captures the catering and events team carefully lifting the entire table together to move it into the kitchen.
The main cake was then sliced and served again during the evening reception, with portions also enjoyed at family gatherings the following day.
A Taste of Scotland: Scottish Tablet and Macaroons
The wedding commission extended beyond the five-tier cake. During the planning process, Elvira also became interested in some of the traditional Scottish treats I make.
I initially sent her a small tasting batch of Scottish tablet and Scottish macaroons. She enjoyed them so much that she decided to order considerably larger quantities to serve alongside coffee after dinner.
With Marco's family travelling from Italy to celebrate in Scotland, it was a lovely opportunity to include a little taste of Scotland for guests coming from overseas. The final order included around 170 Scottish macaroons and 250 pieces of tablet.
My Scottish macaroons have a traditional potato fondant centre, hand-dipped in 54% Belgian dark chocolate and coated in toasted desiccated coconut. Alongside the tablet, they offered something a little different from the wedding cake itself, while bringing a familiar Scottish favourite to the celebration.
I thought this was a lovely addition to the commission. It gave the family another way to make the occasion feel connected to its Scottish setting, and to share a little of that with guests travelling from abroad.
The Evening Reception at Gosford House
As the celebrations continued into the evening, the setting changed from the bright marble of the central hall to the warmer atmosphere of the dining room.
The tables were dressed in pale linen, with taper candles and low floral arrangements by Planet Flowers running along their length. Against the historic stone walls and architectural detailing, the overall styling carried the colours and floral details from the afternoon through to the evening.
It was a lovely continuation of the overall design, while allowing the dining room to have its own distinct character.
Kind Words from the Mother of the Bride
Following the wedding, I received a lovely review from Elvira. It's always particularly meaningful to hear that a cake has been enjoyed as much as it has been admired, and her words meant a great deal to me.
She wrote:
"A heartfelt thank you for the magnificent, truly delicious, and exceptional wedding cake you created for Olivia and Marco’s wedding at Gosford House...
The cake was not only a stunning centrepiece – admired by everyone – but it was hands down the most talked-about wedding cake we’ve ever come across. I’ve never heard so many compliments about a cake at any wedding I’ve attended (and I’ve been to quite a few!). It was absolutely perfect in both taste and design.
From the very beginning, you were such a help – guiding us through the process with your creativity, expertise, and warmth – and the final result was nothing short of splendid. Your attention to detail and dedication truly shone through.
We also have to mention the tablet and macaroon – they were equally remarkable and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Thank you again for being such a special part of the day and for creating something that was as memorable as it was delicious."
It's a lovely message to have received, and I'm so pleased that the cake, along with the additional Scottish tablet and macaroons, formed such a special part of the family's celebrations.
Planning a Wedding at Gosford House
Creating a bespoke wedding cake for a setting such as Gosford House is an opportunity to think about more than the design alone. Scale, proportion, architectural detail and the wider styling all play a part in how a cake sits within its surroundings.
At Copper Rose, I create bespoke wedding cakes for couples marrying at some of Scotland's most distinctive country houses, estates and castles. From my studio in Perthshire, I oversee each commission from the initial design through to delivery and installation, with particular care given to the finish, proportions and finer details.
Whether you're planning a wedding at Gosford House or another special Scottish venue, I'd love to hear about your plans.
Gosford House Wedding Supplier Team & Credits
Venue: Gosford House
Photographer: Craig & Eva Sanders
Florist: Planet Flowers
Morning Prepartions Location: Archerfield House
Church Ceremony: Dirleton Kirk
Caterer: Culinarians
Stationery: Magenta Ink Calligraphy
Tableware: Splendid Hire
Hair: Pamela Docherty
Make-up: Stephanie McDowell Make-Up
Videographer: Olive & Thistle Wedding Films
Dress: Phillipa Lelpley
Groomswear: Kinloch Anderson
Band: The Soul Establishment
Bridesmaids Dresses: Maids to Measure
Bridal Shoes: Emmy London
Wedding Cars: Lothian Classic Wedding Cars
Musician: Patrick McClair
All professional wedding photographs included in this post, with the exception of those taken during cake delivery and set-up, are courtesy of Craig & Eva Sanders, fine art wedding photographers based in Scotland, who kindly shared these beautifully captured moments of Olivia and Marco's wedding at Gosford House, East Lothian.
Bespoke Wedding Cakes in Scotland
As the cake artist behind Copper Rose Wedding Cakes, I create bespoke wedding cakes that bring together considered design, refined detailing and exceptional flavour. From my studio in Perthshire, I oversee each commission from initial concept through to final installation, delivering regularly to some of Scotland's most beautiful wedding venues, including Gleneagles, Gosford House, Barnbougle Castle and Dundas Castle.
Planning your wedding celebration?
