We are always eager to see our couples and their guests enjoying each and every detail that goes into a wedding day. Of course, one of our favorite wedding day details is the cake! We can’t get enough of wedding cakes whether we’re meeting a couple for a tasting, learning how a cake artist is going to bring a vision to life, or seeing (and enjoying!) the cake on a wedding day. Cakes are fascinating, and we know we aren’t the only ones with this view!
We’re often asked which bakeries and cake shops we favor in Philadelphia for the weddings we plan and style, and one of our very top picks is Whipped Bakeshop. The cakes taste incredible each and every time, and the artistry Zoe Lukas includes in every one of her creations amazes us. Because we are such Whipped Bakeshop fans, we thought we would go directly to the source to share a peek behind Zoe’s work (and life!) as the mastermind and creative force behind Whipped Bakeshop. Keep reading below to learn all about Zoe’s day-to-day life at Whipped Bakeshop as part of our latest Styled Day feature. We love how Zoe notes she is an artist first and foremost, and cakes and pastries are her medium.
As a small business owner, my days at Whipped Bakeshop can vary quite a bit. It’s never boring! I try to work two days of the week at home, where my day usually includes testing new recipes for the shop, sketching and planning out new cake designs, updating our website and adding images to our Instagram feed. Being at home helps me focus away from the hustle and bustle of the bakeshop.
On days when I’m not working from home, I’m hands-on at the shop. This means working with our staff to come up with seasonal menus and products, emailing (LOTS of emailing), in-shop production, keeping up with creative/quality control of our desserts, working with clients to come up with cake ideas, helping in-store customers, sourcing ingredients and specialty supplies…the list goes on and on!
Some of my favorite parts of the job are designing cakes and cookies and experimenting with new ways to work with icing and tools. I am a painter and artist first, and cake and cookies and all the ingredients that go along with that are my medium at Whipped Bakeshop.
Being creative is a job, and you cannot wait for inspiration to strike. I think some people may have a romantic view of what bakers and cake designers do – it is a challenging and physically demanding way of life, but I find it very gratifying.
I also create non-cake artwork at home, and I am working toward finding a place to show my paintings. Working with my hands is important to me, and when I am not at the bakery, I love cooking, and reading about food.
Travel is very important to me, and I use it as a source of inspiration. My husband and I recently traveled to Los Angeles for a friend’s wedding, and it was fun to see how other bakeries and shops operate, and of course try all the local offerings. I had a blast obsessively documenting everything on my personal Instagram feed (@zoe.lukas). Obviously, I have a real sweet tooth. I’m pretty much down to eat dessert after every meal, and I try to make that happen, especially when touring a new city.
Hopefully that gives you at least a glimpse of what my Whipped Bakeshop life is like. Because I wear so many hats, it can be challenging, but it is the best “job” I have ever had, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
