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When the bride is Lori Hutchinson, the celebrated UAE-based cake designer, you can be certain the wedding cake won’t just be dessert—it will be a defining moment. To bring her vision to life, she turned to Carousel Events by Zainab Al Salih, the creative force renowned for transforming spaces into living works of art. Together, they reimagined the Oak Room at The Edition Abu Dhabi into an enchanting English garden, brimming with fragrance, candlelight, and whimsy.
The vision was clear: to reimagine the space into a living fairytale where Dutch Master-inspired florals, layered textures, and vibrant tones played against the soft romance of candlelit tables. Every detail, from the towering cake to the delicate place settings, told a story of artistry and imagination.
The Bride’s Inspiration
The bride stepped into her Oscar de la Renta gown embroidered with painterly wildflowers—a gown that would ultimately inspire the entire design narrative. With its tapestry-like florals and bold hues, it became the muse for the poetic butterfly accents, lush garden installations, and immersive storytelling. Choosing not to wear traditional white, she embraced a gown that mirrored her artistic spirit and dared to celebrate individuality.
Her Dior Joaillerie jewels sparkled like sculptural blossoms, a perfect complement to her gown’s textured blooms, while her bouquet echoed the celebration’s palette: lilac, soft yellow, blush, and ivory wrapped in wild greenery.
The Design Concept
With Carousel at the helm, the bride’s dream of a garden in full bloom was brought to life with remarkable artistry. Every corner of the Oak Room was infused with the drama and depth of a Dutch Master painting—lush floral meadows spilled beneath the tables, butterfly-adorned place cards rested delicately at each setting, and lavender napkin treatments layered seamlessly with custom-printed menus. Hand-painted backdrops extended the illusion of an English woodland, transporting guests into a world where fantasy and reality intertwined.
Candlelight danced across the tablescapes, illuminating crystal glassware, fine china, and abundant floral runners. Each table became a garden scene in itself—a carefully curated composition that reflected Carousel’s gift for storytelling through detail and design.
The Cake: A Sculptural Masterpiece
At the heart of the celebration stood the bride’s own creation: a towering cake wrapped in hundreds of delicate butterflies, each crafted to appear as if in mid-flight. Rising like a sculpture, it was more than confection—it was performance art. Beneath its base, floral meadows spilled outward, blurring the boundary between cake and garden, fantasy and reality.
As the founder of @thecaketress, Lori Hutchinson brought her signature artistry to the most personal canvas of all—her own wedding. Adding the final touches herself, the moment felt deeply intimate, a merging of her professional mastery with her love story.
The Atmosphere
Guests were serenaded by a live cellist dressed in lilac, her melodies weaving through the celebration like the final thread in a poetic tapestry. The evening unfolded as a five-course culinary journey, each plate thoughtfully composed to match the narrative of the night.
From the macaron towers standing among floral meadows to the warm glow of endless candlelight, every element resonated with the bride’s passion for artful storytelling.
A Celebration Beyond Tradition
This was more than a wedding—it was a love story told through color, detail, and imagination. Every bloom, every butterfly, every note of music was carefully chosen to reflect the bride’s bold and artistic spirit.
Butterfly Waltz became a setting where fantasy met reality, where love was celebrated not just through vows, but through artistry, fragrance, and beauty. It was a wedding that dared to be different, soft yet dramatic, romantic yet bold, and above all—deeply personal.
