Every town has its beloved baker – someone who pours passion, expertise and creativity into every delicate sweet treat, transforming food into an experience you’ll want to revisit time and time again. But when it comes to planning a wedding, choosing the perfect cake can feel overwhelming, with so many flavours and styles to explore. From rich, velvety chocolate to indulgent caramel, your cake should simply mirror who you are as a couple. Join Melbourne Wedding & Bride’s Josephine Day as she delves into the world of baking with Alannah Faulkner, owner of Kat’s Cakes Melbourne and Little Reds Café, to uncover her journey, inspiration and goals for the future.
Faulkner is no stranger to success, with baking being in her blood from a young age. “I have been making cakes and other sweets for friends and family since I was little. My father taught me how to pipe cupcakes and how to ice cakes, having being taught by his mother. Making cakes has been in the family for generations with my grandma being a cake decorator and patisserie chef too,” she shares.
After high school, Faulker completed her Certificate III in Patisserie, further deepening her love for cake decorating and sparking a passion for creating elegant, timeless designs that customers adore. In 2022, her dream took flight when she purchased her first business, Kat’s Cakes Melbourne. Over the past three years, she has poured her heart into maintaining the much-loved reputation of the brand, earning awards and receiving ongoing support from a loyal, local community.
Specialising in wedding, engagement, birthday and communion cakes – as well as cupcakes, cookies and petite fours – Kat’s Cakes Melbourne offers something sweet for every occasion. Whether it’s a treasured family recipe or an exciting new creation, Faulkner remains grounded in one unchanging mindset – challenging herself to create new designs and finding new ways to bring amazing cake dreams to life, bringing people together.
Image courtesy of Kat’s Cakes Melbourne.
YOUR WEDDING DAY CHEERLEADER
From three-tier masterpieces to simple delights, Faulkner has seen it all. As soon as a couple walks through her doors, they’re met with a warm smile, enthusiasm and unwavering support.
So, what’s Faulkner’s process?
“I first try to get a feel for the inspiration of their wedding – like colours and themes. We will go through some examples of other cake designs to see if anything sparks ideas. From there we normally combine a few different aspects together to create something unique to the couple and their style,” she explains. Each couple also receives a tasting box to take home, giving them the chance to find a flavour that truly speaks to them.
Once preferences are locked in, the creative process begins – through conversations, sketches and inspiration images, the dream cake begins to take shape. However, if couples ever feel overwhelmed by endless choices or trending designs, Faulkner reminds them of important advice – their wedding cake should reflect them. “Whether that means elegant and classic, playful and colourful or something unexpected. Trends fade, but when your cake mirrors the couple’s personalities and love story, it will always be meaningful.”
THE CAKE PROFESSIONALS
With wedding cake designs constantly on the move, it can be quite hard for decorators to keep up with the ever-changing demand. Yet, Faulkner thrives on every challenge that comes her way, defying expectations with her trusted expertise and meticulous craftsmanship.
Over the last five years, Faulkner has observed a rise in classical piping making a welcome comeback within the wedding scene, with more couples admiring and opting for the delicate, handcrafted details of a decorator’s work. However, as we look into the future, AI generated and heavily edited cake images are driving couples away from what is realistically possible. “They are beautiful but sometimes what is pictured isn’t actually possible for a real, edible cake. Some AI cakes defy the laws of physics in their design,” Faulkner explains. Though a challenge, Faulkner and her team dedicate themselves to recreating the couples’ vision to the best of their abilities, creating a cake that is both practical and truly inspiring. “The way we overcome this is by setting clear expectations for the customer about what we can actually achieve with the cake design. Most of the time we can achieve something similar to what they have asked for but I have to make it clear about what might not be possible,” she continues
KICKING GOALS AND DREAMING BIG
Achieving so much at a young age, Faulkner shows no signs of slowing down, creating bigger and better plans for her business. In addition to Kat’s Cakes Melbourne, she has also opened the bespoke and cosy Little Reds Café, serving endless sweet treats, home-style meals and classic café favourites. With indoor and outdoor seating available, the café is the perfect spot for a mid-week treat or catch-up with the girls, tucked quietly away from bustling Doncaster.
As she reflects on how far she has come and what her future has in store, Faulkner is grateful to share this experience with the lovely team, couples and customers that have stood lovingly by her side. “My staff and I are always excited by expanding our skill sets in both the café and the cake decorating, we always strive to be as equipped to make the best products for our customers both in their day to day lives and on their special day,” she emphasises. “Making bespoke cakes always challenges your skills and often forces you to develop new techniques and abilities to achieve the desired result. This is why I love making unique cakes.”
Faulkner also continually strives to be recognised as an industry leader in design, quality and taste, working to keep up with new trends, alongside improving her products and customer service. “Seeing the couple’s reaction to the cake we have made for them, reflecting their personality is the most rewarding part of our job,” she concludes.