Forty and Free

I had the greatest pleasure of putting together a dessert table for a very close friend last week. She had not only turned forty but had also managed to shake herself free from some very hideous shackles. We decided on a butterfly theme to symbolise a new life and as she is a lady with expensive tastes we added some gold too.

As she is a special friend I wanted to create something fabulous for her cake. Only the top two layers are actual cake but I kept on adding more dummy layers until the cake was suitably spectacular! There are forty butterflies (I counted three times but I still may have got it wrong so don't check!)

On the dessert table there are lemon drizzle cupcakes with fondant butterflies decorated with real gold leaf, sloe gin truffles, salted lavender caramel sharing pots with gilded cookie spoons, chocolate pots with chocolate dipped cookie spoons and gold splattered meringues.

The early evening light was just perfect while I was taking my photographs!

After setting up I raced home, put on my dancing shoes, and partied the night away to an Abba tribute band. It was a fabulous night, and I must admit to getting a little tearful and emotional with so many good friends there to help the birthday girl celebrate.

xxx