A friend of mine sent me a link to Valerie Heggenes’ Wedding Cake Toppers website last week. I immediately knew I had to write about these incredible sculptures! As with many businesses in the wedding industry, Valerie started by using her talents as a sculptor to create a wedding cake topper for her sister’s wedding, and it has grown from there.
She creates one of a kind wedding cake toppers out of polymer clay such as Sculpey or Fimo. They are between 5 and 8 inches in height and 4 inches in diameter. She can make them as fun or formal as the client wishes, but stresses that they’re not exact replicas but meant to be more “whimsical” as caricatures of the bride and groom. One of my favorites is the sculpture below with the bride and groom in REI garb. Looking at the photographs of the couples on her website side by side with the sculptures that she made of them, you can tell that she has a knack for understanding her clients. Her sculptures seem to bring out the best features that make the bride and groom who they are. I think it would be fun to see one at a friend’s wedding!
It also occurred to me that a benefit to having a personalized mini bride and groom commissioned is that you have a wonderful keepsake. Once the big day is over there are few things that last and I think this would be such a fun reminder of the day. It would make a great wedding gift as well, for a friend or family member.
Valerie is extremely talented! Our sculpture was the big hit of our wedding - and a memento I will always treasure.