Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • News
  • Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 8 Breakout Hair Color Trends of Winter 2021

      The 8 Breakout Hair Color Trends of Winter 2021

      Expect to see these shades all over Instagram. Read More
    • What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? 10 Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Closet

      What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? 10 Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Closet

      Fashion designer Misha Nonoo weighs in on the essential items that'll make your 'nothing to wear' days a thing of the past. Read More
    • "Maskne" Is a Thing — Here's How to Fight Face Mask Breakouts

      "Maskne" Is a Thing — Here's How to Fight Face Mask Breakouts

      As if stress breakouts weren't bad enough. Read More
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion
    How to Find the Best Color to Wear For Your Skin Tone

    How to Find the Best Color to Wear For Your Skin Tone

    It's not as tricky as you think.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity
    The 39 Most Naked Dresses of All Time

    The 39 Most Naked Dresses of All Time

    Naked dresses are perhaps the most impressive of all red carpet feats. While they may not always make the best-dressed list, they do require a certain breed of celebrity to pull off. Not only do you have to have the balls to risk a wardrobe malfunction, but you have to do it with enough confidence that you look fierce — not terrified — in the photographs. Take Naomi Campbell's appearance in Valentino's couture show during the spring/summer 2019 presentation. The legendary model gracefully strutted down the runway in a see-through gown with a ruffle skirt. (Click through the gallery for the NSFW photo).  Get the inside scoop on all your favorite celebrities with our FREE daily newsletter, InStyle Celebrity. Breaking news, relationship updates, hairstyle inspo, fashion trends, and more direct to your inbox! Let's not forget Rihanna’s infamous CFDA dress either. The girl rocked a completely sheer dress without a bra — and later remarked that her only regret was not wearing a bedazzled thong to match. That, my friends, is dedication. Then, there was the year 2015, when the Met Gala saw not one nor two but three naked dresses on the red carpet, all worn by Hollywood’s hottest A-listers. Jennifer Lopez, above, bared her famous curves in a custom Atelier Versace illusion gown. Beyoncé was nearly naked in Givenchy. And Kim Kardashian West almost looked modest in comparison in her sheer Roberto Cavalli dress, because no one’s getting naked without KKW joining in. Click through to see the best naked dresses of all time.
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty
    How to Treat Stubborn Cystic Acne, According to Dermatologists

    How to Treat Stubborn Cystic Acne, According to Dermatologists

    If you're struggling with breakouts on your chin and jaw area, read this.
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair
    The 5 Haircut Trends That Will Dominate 2020

    The 5 Haircut Trends That Will Dominate 2020

    The beginning of the new year comes with the irresistible urge to start over fresh, which means it's a great time to get a haircut.  This decade's first big hair trends include looks at every length that can be tailored to your hair texture and personal style. For anyone with a blunt bob — the most popular haircut of the past few years — you probably already guessed that the cut will still be going strong into the next decade. But there will be a few tweaks. As seen on Kerry Washington, 2020's bob has textured, softer edges, and looks amazing whether you part it down the middle or off to the side.  RELATED: The 10 Hairstyles You'll See Everywhere This Winter But if you swear that 2020 is going to be the year you finally grow out your hair, let Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian's extra-long lengths be your inspiration. Or, you can get the look instantly with the help of some clip in extensions.  To help you figure out how to wear your hair in the new year, we've rounded up the five biggest haircut trends of 2020, so you'll be sure of what you want before you head to the salon in January.  VIDEO: The Five Biggest Haircut Trends of 2020
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    Your Essential Keto Grocery List

    Your Essential Keto Grocery List

    If you're embarking on the keto diet, here are the must-have items to add to your cart.
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues
    Joe Biden Broke Barack Obama's Nationwide Popular Vote Record

    Joe Biden Broke Barack Obama's Nationwide Popular Vote Record

    Obama's record goes back to 2008.
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture
    Introducing InStyle's First Podcast: Ladies First with Laura Brown

    Introducing InStyle's First Podcast: Ladies First with Laura Brown

    Join editor in chief Laura Brown as she talks to trailblazers like Emily Ratajkowski, Michelle Pfeiffer and Storm Reid about their historic "firsts" in the industry.
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping
    The 13 Best Shapewear Pieces to Shop, According to Thousands of Customer Reviews

    The 13 Best Shapewear Pieces to Shop, According to Thousands of Customer Reviews

    Upgrade your lingerie drawer with these top-rated body shapers.
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. HomeChevron Right
  2. LifestyleChevron Right
  3. Home & DecoratingChevron Right
  4. EntertainingChevron Right
  5. Wow-Worthy Wedding Cakes: A Slice of Sweet with Dessert Designer Sylvia Weinstock

Wow-Worthy Wedding Cakes: A Slice of Sweet with Dessert Designer Sylvia Weinstock

By Amy Shey Jacobs
Updated Aug 04, 2014 @ 9:30 am
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

There are some wedding cakes that take dessert to a place of "wow!" and nothing could be more true of Sylvia Weinstock’s legendary wedding cakes. As a dessert designer to the stars, Weinstock has created confectionery statements for a host of celebrities and A-listers from Oprah, Robert De Niro, the Trumps, J.Lo, and Kim K. to the Kennedys, Clintons, and more. Her cakes have traveled around the world, often take weeks to decorate, have stood 6 feet tall and, at $30-a-slice and up, some have rung in at a whopping $70,000. InStyle sat down with the original cake maven to get the scoop on what makes her cakes so special.

What’s your favorite flavor profiles and how does a Sylvia Weinstock cake differ from the rest? My personal favorite is lemon cake with raspberry filling ... but my husband is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. That is probably the reason I encourage brides and grooms to select their own cake flavors and fillings so we can alternate tiers and everyone is happy. I would say that while some cake designers do beautiful art, and others do cake that tastes very good, you can count on our cakes to be both gorgeous and delicious.

What was the most extravagant cake you ever created? Extravagant in look? Price? Size? Extravagance is in the eye of the beholder, so I've probably created quite a few.

What was the most unusual cake you can recall? It was one of the most subtle, and least appreciated but in my mind amount the most elegant. A couple getting married at the New York Public Library had their monogram illuminated in an open book—the book, of course, was cake. It is one of my favorites.

Some sugar flowers take weeks to create. How many flowers do you typically create for a cake? How long does it take? We never count the flowers on a cake ... rather, we add, and add, and add until it pleases the eye. That could be hundreds, or thousands. To put it in perspective, one artist can create 100 roses in a typical (40-hour) week. They are all individually hand-crafted.

How do you take a cake from a sketch to the serving plate? We usually begin at design at the six month mark. The step-by-step process is, from the consultation and sketch, we bake, fill, ice, decorate. Sometimes this requires architectural design as well. Then comes the (sometimes tricky) business of delivery—some of the very tall cakes travel in several boxes and assembled on site.

Speaking of the business of delivery, celebrities and clients fly your cakes all over the world! How do you ensure that your delicate creations make it through security? What is the farthest distance a Sylvia Weinstock cake has traveled? We are what are called "known, registered shippers." Our cakes travel in cargo, on nonstop flights which are often charter or private. The furthest distances? Probably Mumbai and Abu Dhabi.

Click through our gallery to see Sylvia's gorgeous confections!

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pretty in Pink

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

For a regal Waldorf Astoria wedding, designed by Preston Bailey, Sylvia created a caketo play off the pink motif like all of the florals, and raindrop crystals were suspended from the ceiling. The filling is raspberry and strawberry in keeping with the "pinks" and the design matched fabric of the bride's gown.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sweet Heights

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

This was for a Malibu, Calif., wedding, and the bride requested "something no one has ever seenbefore!" "So we created a cake that was so tall that the bottom ring of the floral chandelier had to be removed to fit the cake beneath,? explains Weinstock. The flavors were a mixture of chocolate/raspberry tiers with lemon/coconut tiers.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Buttercream Dreams

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

What do you create for the family of a premier N.Y.C. chef? A cake with the most popular flavor selection: yellow cake with lemon/raspberry fillings! And Weinstock notes that all of her icing is Italian butter creme (according to her, “fondant is never used on a true Weinstock cake!”).

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Eight is Great

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

For an extravagant Manhattan hotel wedding, Weinstock created a display of eight satellite cakes at the bottom to represent the eight years of couple's courtship.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

White Decadence

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

This cake's white-on-white color palette was inspired by the flowers on the bride's gown. It has whitecake and coconut and strawberry fillings inside.

5 of 11

6 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Something Blue

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

Another cake to match the bride—who wore a light blue gown—Weinstock’s cake was fully covered in hand-crafted, completely edible blue and white hydrangeas. Not to be outdone by its exterior, the mixed tiers featured two flavor profiles for guests to enjoy: almond/hazelnut and chocolate/salted caramel.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Ivory Tower

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

For the family of major New York real estate developer, Weinstock’s ivory-on-white eight-foot-tall masterpiece, mixed tiers of yellow/coconut/raspberry and yellow/blood orange.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Topsy-Turvy Cake

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

Weinstock loves this joyous, topsy-turvy cake, which she created for a 60th birthday celebration. The cake is frosted with tinted butter creme icing, is illuminated by sugar crystals, and features a variety of exotic orchids throughout the bouquet. Inside, the cake is almond torte with pistachio, vanilla, and apricot fillings.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Butterflies and Bows

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

Sylvia created this enchanting confection for an event at Bergdorf Goodman to celebrate a new designer. Adorned with colorful, handmade butterflies and bows, inside revealed decadent chocolate cake, with chocolate mousse and raspberry filling.

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spring Bouquet Cake

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

Sylvia created this "spring bouquet" cake for a New York wedding at the Four Seasons. Fillings and flowers coordinated in color, and inside, the scrumptious yellow butter cake featured layers of fresh key lime, raspberry, and blood orange.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Fashion-Forward

Cynthia Weinstock wedding cakes
Credit: John Labbe

Inspired by the embellishments of the bride's gown, Sylvia created a grand swirl of sugar flowers and hand-piped embroidery on the surface of this six-tiered wedding cake. Inside was yellow cake with a refreshing mélange of citrus flavors including blood orange, key lime and vanilla!

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Amy Shey Jacobs

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Pretty in Pink
    2 of 11 Sweet Heights
    3 of 11 Buttercream Dreams
    4 of 11 Eight is Great
    5 of 11 White Decadence
    6 of 11 Something Blue
    7 of 11 Ivory Tower
    8 of 11 Topsy-Turvy Cake
    9 of 11 Butterflies and Bows
    10 of 11 Spring Bouquet Cake
    11 of 11 Fashion-Forward

    Share options

    Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
    InStyle InStyle

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Accolades Licensing
    • Content Licensing
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithInStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

    View image

    Wow-Worthy Wedding Cakes: A Slice of Sweet with Dessert Designer Sylvia Weinstock
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.