When you think "wedding cake," you probably think dry, flavorless, forgettable dessert. But what if it didn't have to be that way? In this episode, we sit down with Alison Friedman, founder of Liberty Bakery in Fairfax, Virginia, to talk about revolutionizing wedding cakes with her "birthday cake for your wedding" philosophy. From culinary school origins to pound cake pride, Alison shares how she's building a thriving business around actually delicious wedding desserts.

In this episode, you'll hear:

[01:23] Alison's culinary school journey and the "aha moment" that changed everything at a wedding cake shop

[02:47] The mission to make wedding cake that actually tastes good—calling it "birthday cake for your wedding"

[20:37] The logistics of wedding cake production—maxing out at 6-8 cakes per weekend in peak season

[23:10] Design trends: the return of fondant and why cake trends start in Australia and New Zealand

[34:40] How a viral TikTok about free cake tastings nearly broke her business and led to charging for tastings

[47:48] Managing client expectations around copying Pinterest-perfect designs from other weddings

[58:11] The photographer collaboration challenge and why cake makers feel like "the forgotten vendor"

Key Takeaways:

• High-quality ingredients and chef training can create desserts that guests actually want to eat
• Charging for tastings solved the problem of non-serious inquiries while compensating for time and ingredients
• Temperature matters more than you think—buttercream melts in Virginia heat, so timing and venue type dictate design possibilities
• The best vendors adapt and pivot—from fighting Instagram to embracing it.

Learn more about Alison & Liberty Bakery:

Website: https://libertybaking.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/libertybakingco

Instagram: @libertybakingco

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