Weddings and other spring celebrations provide ample opportunities to cross-merchandise and showcase your cake shop’s best promotional efforts.

One great example involves offering party supplies that complement your cakes. At Cake Life Bake Shop in Philadelphia, chef/owners Nima Etemadi and Lily Fischer sell eye-catching Meri Meri party supplies, including 6-inch birthday candles and party hats. “Being a bit of a one-stop shop is important,” Fischer says.

Thanks to the clever chocolatiers at Let Them Eat Candles, cake shoppers can now offer customers a new way to top party cakes and cupcakes with premium milk or dark chocolate candles, festively decorated in 12 colorful candy designs. These edible artisan candles are the brainchild of architect/mom Loree Sandler and are available at www.LetThemEatCandles.com.

Making colorful fondant cake decorations (like fun animals, owl faces or striped bow ties) is another marketing tool for customers to see in your front display case and choose to add to their favorite cakes. These fondant decorations can sell from $1 to $7 apiece. This serves as another way the bakery helps customers create one-of-a-kind experiences.

For the coming year, The Knot predicts that eats with a twist will be popular at America’s weddings. Think pairings that are unconventional and Instagrammable, such as root beer floats in champagne flutes. In desserts, the wedding industry saw donuts become a big part of receptions in 2018, and that trend will extend to a different baked good in 2019 as cinnamon rolls take center stage.

Wedding cakes will remain popular, but they will evolve in appearance. Couples are hiring professional cake bakers to create unexpected shapes and varying sized tiers that effectively turn cakes into art installations. Many cakes will feature stunning designs rich in color and texture.

Bakery owners including John Lupo at Grandma’s Bakery in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and John Roeser of Roeser’s Bakery in Chicago recognize the importance of offering party supplies that add profits for your bakery. Roeser’s has a party shop right next door to its bakery, offering convenience for customers who want to fill all their needs in one shopping trip. Other creative promotional ideas include happy hours.

3 Women and an Oven, based in Overland Park, Kansas, conducts a variety of creative promotions that include happy hours that feature cocktails paired with unique flavors of French macarons (champagne, piña colada).

One of the groups the bakery works with locally is Top Shelf Bartending Services, a popular company for Kansas City weddings. Collaborations like this one help increase business and boost creativity in product development. In other wedding trends from The Knot, couples will incorporate details that show off their personalities and love stories in bold ways over the course of their entire wedding celebrations.

“Today’s weddings are all about creating an event to remember—for both the couple and their guests. From the wedding cake to the late-night eats, the invitations and the escort cards, there are dozens of opportunities to personalize the details and create unforgettable experiences,” says Kristen Maxwell Cooper, editor in chief of The Knot. “Our team is dedicated to helping couples plan their wedding every step of the way. We can’t wait for 2019 weddings and all the thoughtful ingredients each couple will infuse into their celebration.”

In St. Louis, Butler’s Pantry, a leading caterer for more than 50 years, is pleased to announce new additions to Café Madeleine’s award-winning menu.

Café Madeleine, located in Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park, allows wedding guests and others to enjoy brunch in a setting unlike any other. Constructed in 1878, Piper Palm House is the oldest standing greenhouse west of the Mississippi River and the most historically significant building in Tower Grove Park.

Café Madeleine’s revamp includes added features such as tenderloin carving station, made-to-order waffles and a reconfigured buffet layout allowing guests to enjoy easier access and navigation around the historic venue. The dessert table now features Piccione Pastry’s authentic, Italian desserts.

“Our French-inspired menu, enchanting atmosphere and superior customer service is what makes brunch at Café Madeleine so special,” said Richard Nix, Jr., president of Butler’s Pantry. “Every Sunday we look forward to serving our guests traditional yet inspired menu offerings.”