Etsy's Handmade Blog
Handmade Weddings: A Happy Cake for a Happy Family
Story by bunnywithatoolbelt
Published on March 20, 2009 in This Handmade Life 		Photo by

James Newman

Hilary, aka bunnywithatoolbelt, created her business in 1987, a time when she could easily be picked out from a crowd in her head to toe bunny suit.  Although Hilary no longer goes on daily jaunts dressed as a giant rabbit, she still loves her business name, and more importantly, her business! Today she is well known for her offbeat, charming wedding cake toppers and wooden critters of all sorts.

Some girls dream of being the bride, but as a young girl, I dreamed about making the bride that sits on top of the cake.  Romance and relationships have found their way into the sculptures and other artwork I've made since I quit my day job two decades ago and became a full time artist.  In that time, I also became a legally ordained minister, and have officiated the weddings of eight of my closest friends. Both of these interests have come together in the line of handmade wedding cake toppers I sell on Etsy.

One of my favorite commissions of all time came last summer.  My friends Katherine and Davis were getting married, and I was called upon for double-duties as artist and officiant.  Their marriage was non-traditional in many ways, and they definitely wanted their cake to reflect that sentiment.  Each was walking down the aisle for the second time, as well as bringing children from previous marriages into the mix. The traditional bride and groom cake topper didn’t quite tell their story.  They asked me to create five colorful figures to represent the members of their newly formed family.  I also made some matching painted wood flowers to scatter around the sides.  Since the couple was footing the bill for this wedding, they economized by making the cake the backdrop for the ceremony, standing in for flower arrangements.   The baker integrated my artwork with her cake’s shape and decorative icing, and even built on the themes I started by adding a cascade of floral-topped cupcakes surrounding the base so the guests could have their cake and eat it too.


Creating the perfect set of figures for a wedding cake have given me personal connections with people all around the world.  My experience working with friends to create their own wedding ceremony has been incredibly helpful with this aspect of my business and I employ many of the same personal touches when I work with my customers. Cake toppers are a very personal statement about a couple’s outlook on life.  They are also one of the few actual mementos of a wedding that couples display in their homes after the special day has passed.  I am so fortunate to have a job where I am constantly reminded of the power and value of the handmade object in people’s lives.

For more from Hilary, check out her website and blog. She also put together a photo portfolio with details on her cake topper technique.
Handmade Wedding Series | Cake Toppers on Etsy | Weddings and Celebrations Gift Guide

Tags art, bridal, Bunnywithatoolbelt, cake toppers, DIY, family, Handmade Weddings, Handmade Wedding series, hilary pfeifer, love, officiant, Oregon, Portland, real weddings, reverend, shopping, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, unconventional, wedding, wedding cake toppers
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69 comments     Login to add your own!

March 20, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. WoollyWonka

I love the smiling gators! So fun!

March 20, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. horshid

So lovely;)

March 20, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. courtneyannedesigns

so cute!

March 20, 2009 at 1:32 p.m. Lunatiger

What a cute wedding! I wish I was getting married just so I could shop for wedding items!

March 20, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. MewPaperArts

I got my cake topper last year from www.missavocado.etsy.com She created the characters to look just like us! It is my favorite keepsake from our wedding!

March 20, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. EpicBones

ummmmm bunny with a tool belt is the cutest name ever. love it.

March 20, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. blackbirdtees

I heart bunnywithatoolbelt. Particularly fond of her bride & groom elephant cake toppers.

March 20, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. uncharted

i love the cupcakes!

March 20, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. CarryTheWord

Love the penquins!

March 20, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. botodesigns

what a fun day/night job! I love bunny's creations especially the gator couple.

March 20, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. OhFaro

How lovely! The gators are pretty dang cute.

March 20, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. mosey

so sweet, love the zaney cake!

March 20, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. dragonhouseofyuen

in bunny's shop is a wonderful wooden whale sculpture
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

that would look great on a wedding cake for marine mammal lovers!
would look great on a mantlepiece! or car dash board... or..

March 20, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. SASessories

that looks like a fabulously fun and festive wedding! i once bartended a wedding w/ all the male wedding party in kilts! yah!

March 20, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. Waterrose

What a wonderful wedding topper representing a new family! The cake looks scrumptious too!

March 20, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. notmoira

That Elvis garter is the bomb. If only I had that in my wedding! Maybe for my second marriage! Ha! Don't tell my husband! Here's hoping!

March 20, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. BeadsBySam

Love the wedding cake among little cupcakes!! Lovely!

March 20, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. beatricestudio

so cute!!

March 20, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. FancifulForm

omg I love that cake! It's so adorable and so very unique.

March 20, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. CutieDynamite

How cute! Loving the Elvis garter!

March 20, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. PipocaHandmade

That cake is a true work of art!
What a wonderful idea for your wedding cake!

March 20, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. SouthwestFlower

Edible art is amazing, i bet it tastes as good as it looks!

March 20, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. dogties

Great items.
Love the happy cloud.

March 20, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. amorevivo

Love the name of your shop and that you have kept it all these years!

March 20, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. 4TheSparrowsNest

Weddings with kilts!! I love it when a couple makes their wedding entirely their own.

March 20, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. IceCreamCandy

lovely:)

March 20, 2009 at 8:21 p.m. invitesbyjen

Amazing work done by an amazing artist!

March 20, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. KellesKitchen

Awesome feature! Just another little detail to plan - I can't wait to start looking for cake toppers on Etsy!

March 20, 2009 at 8:35 p.m. voleurdebijoux

Sweet story....love the cake! :)

March 20, 2009 at 11:10 p.m. SweetAndKindOf

i love everything about this...so personal and perfect!

March 20, 2009 at 11:57 p.m. bhangtiez

what a great story...thanks 4 sharing & amazing creative-ism!

March 21, 2009 at 3:29 a.m. intrinsicimagination

Great story! I'm excited for all of the wedding planning that Spring brings.

Hopefully some brides to be will find my fabulous Feather Eyelashes and consider them as an accessory for their glamorous day.

Check them out at...

http://intrinsicimagination.etsy.com

I also have beautiful beaded and crochet Barefoot Sandals... perfect for barefoot weddings at the beach!

March 21, 2009 at 4:06 a.m. bunnyboutique

How cute is the bunny bride!!!

March 21, 2009 at 6:41 a.m. ellabellamay

Wonderful, thanks for the great story - and the gators, what a laugh! :D

March 21, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. flyingrhymes

Your wedding bouquet was stunning!

March 21, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. NickyBeeShop

Your work is wonderful !

March 21, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. stylegarden

The cake topper is classic, I love it!

March 21, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. UglyBaby

I love the bunny costume idea.

March 21, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. TheCottageCheese

Such cute cake toppers! Love the picks as well. It's so neat that Hilary officiated weddings for her friends too, very special!

March 21, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. luv4design

cutest cake toppers! im looking for some for my wedding cake so it's cool to see something so unique :)

March 21, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. maggiemaescolours

Your work is wonderful. I was in the floral business over 30 years and saw some good and bad. This looks great. Keep it up!!

March 21, 2009 at 5:40 p.m. RoyalPrincess

The cake toppers are real nice !! I work on real flowers preserved, and there are a few stores that preserve wedding flowers, which is a good way to remember the special day

March 21, 2009 at 7:45 p.m. metrostation

very nice cake toppers they are always treasured after the event!

March 21, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. BTWinwin

Obviously someone who takes joy in every day things!

March 21, 2009 at 11:36 p.m. odiliafu

So cute and special!!

March 21, 2009 at 11:50 p.m. itsMyDesign87

very adorable!

March 22, 2009 at 2:35 a.m. ishtarolivera

I LIKED THIS article! very sweet!!!!

March 22, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. sandali

Happy Days ;)

March 23, 2009 at 5:04 a.m. amarshall

I wish I had Etsy when I got married! There are so many great offerings!

March 23, 2009 at 7 a.m. MademoiselleG

Aww what a cute wedding! I wish that mine could be as perfect as this one! (and I already found like 10 wedding dresses for when I'll get married!)

March 23, 2009 at 7 a.m. MademoiselleG

Oups forgot to say: those dresses are all on etsy of course! ^^

March 23, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. ExQuisiteInVitation

So original and unique.

March 24, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. snoble24

i love this i have a wedding box to so if any one wants to look. but all this stuff is very nice

March 24, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. nakedpeggies

Great story!
Thanks for sharing it!

March 24, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. DoodlebugAccessories

Love them all!

March 24, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. bedouin

thanks for sharing, colorful and unique

March 24, 2009 at 11:32 p.m. VictorianInspired

Lovely!

March 25, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. embroideryChinese

Happy time

Benediction !

March 25, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. coltsgroovies

I LOVE it!

March 25, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. patysclay

lovely, thanks for sharing

March 26, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. 13bees

what a colorful, unique assortment for a wedding. great pics!

March 26, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. DodgeStationPottery

How creative, I love it!

March 28, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. SitareJewels

What a stunning creation. With Love

March 29, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. hanginmoon

WOW, Handmade Wedding. Nothing better than that.

April 2, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. fineartstoneware

Very nice!

April 3, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. immikkuma

WOW!

April 5, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. vivilian

wow i love it so much.
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April 20, 2009 at 3:11 p.m. blondiemom11

fabulous

xo

May 7, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. monkeyandsquirrel

my husband and i got married one month ago. a very DIY wedding. i made our cake topper too... a bride and groom day of the dead couple! original cake toppers are where its at!!!

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