The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Cakes for Occasions was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Cakes for Occasions is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Cakes for Occasions for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Cakes for Occasions is one of the very best Wedding Cake professionals within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/cakes-for-occasions-danvers/1afc16d86d9c05b5.html.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.

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Cakes for Occasions is proud to announce that we won the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards 2012! The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of four factors: Overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2011 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). This year’s recipients represent the top 5% of WeddingWire’s vendor community, across all service categories and all regions throughout the US and Canada.

Visit our Wedding Wire profile to see what brides are saying about us.

Danvers Bakery Launches Contest to Reward Best Customers

Danvers, MA (December 27, 2011) – Cakes for Occasions, the Danvers-based gourmet bakery, is launching their first ever “Cake Ambassador” contest to ring in the New Year. The bakery is asking their best customers to send in a photo that depicts them with a cake from Cakes for Occasions and a written explanation of why they deserve to be the 2012 Cake Ambassador. Owner Kelly Delaney believes this campaign is a great way to reward and have fun with the bakery’s longtime patrons.

“I have always been grateful for the customers who are so loyal to our brand,” explains Delaney. “I think this contest is a great way to engage those people and give a little back. They are what drives us; we want to maintain the highest standards and keep them excited about our products.”

Entries must be submitted to submissions@cakes4occasions.com and will be accepted through January 14, 2012. Three finalists, chosen by the bakery, will then be posted on the Cakes for Occasions Facebook page where fans can “like” their favorite during the voting period of January 16-21^st. A winner, chosen by Delaney, will be announced on January 23^rd.

The 2012 Cake Ambassador will receive a complimentary promotional product for each month of 2012, a 15% discount on up to 10 cakes (valued over $125) during the year, and a personal baking tour and workshop with Delaney. The winner will also be encouraged to interact with the bakery’s fans and followers on social media sites.

For the official rules of participation for the Cakes for Occasions 2012 Cake Ambassador Contest, visit www.cakes4occasions.com/t-cake-ambassador.aspx

About Cakes for Occasions

Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, Massachusettsspecializes in making the finest gourmet cakes and pastries. Owner Kelly Delaney applies over 15 years experience as a pastry chef in the culinary arts to making her highly acclaimed desserts.  Cakes for Occasions has been featured on the Today show, NECN’s Good Morning Live, TV Diner with Billy Costa, and Phantom Gourmet. She was also chosen to be a part of a national ad campaign in Gourmet and Yankee magazines. Cakes for Occasions is located at 57 Maple Street in Danvers, Massachusetts.  Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to 6:00p.m.  More information about the bakery can be found at www.cakes4occasions.com.

For many people, the holiday season represents an extended opportunity to indulge in a smorgasbord of their favoritetreats; they ride a sugar rush into the new year while visions of sugarplums dance in their heads. But for the millions of Americans living with food allergies and digestive diseases, well-intentioned get-togethers are a nightmare before Christmas.

As someone living with Crohn’s Disease, I’ve become quite familiar with the awkward, “Sorry, I can’t eat that” routine. Those of us with dietary restrictions hate to make a special request for fear of imposing, which in turn makes our gracious hosts, who have spent a lot of time and effort preparing a meal, feel bad when they find out too late that they have nothing to offer that fits the needs of a special diet.

Accommodating someone with special dietary needs doesn’t have to be stressful or mean that you have to serve weird or bland food. Here are several suggestions for working with a few of the most common dietary restrictions (and where you can find foods that fit, if you don’t want to cook).

Wheat Allergy / Celiac Disease. People with Celiac Disease have an inability to tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Fortunately, Glutenfreely.com offers hundreds of gluten-free recipes, proving there’s no dessert that can’t be modified. If you’re not a baker or don’t have the time, stop by Glutenus Minimus (697 Belmont St., Belmont) to pick up gluten-free cookies, muffins, cakes, and mixes. According to the National Institute of Health, most wines, hard liquor, and distilled beverages are gluten-free as well — but flavored wines or vodkas may contain gluten, so it’s best to stick to the plain versions or read ingredient labels carefully.

Diabetic. Diabetes is a lifelong condition for individuals whose bodies either do not have enough or do not respond properly to insulin, a hormone responsible for turning glucose (blood sugar) into energy. Sugar-free varieties of almost everything are widely available in major grocery stores, or look for those sweetened with sugar alternatives like sucralose (Splenda), stevia (Truvia), saccharine (Sweet N’ Low), or aspartame (Equal). If you’re baking yourself, you can use those same sugar alternatives in any recipe.

Lactose Intolerant. Lactose intolerant people are unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. For a quick, delicious snack, swing by A.k.a. Marvelicious (31 Germania St., Jamaica Plain) to try out any of their five varieties of dairy-free cookies (an added bonus: They’re vegan, too!), or pick them up at Harvest Co-Op (581 Mass Ave., Central Square). Dairy-free product lines like So Delicious, Lactaid, and Tofutti, which you can find in many large grocery stores, also provide recipes and resources.

Vegetarian / Vegan. Vegetarians don’t eat meat, while vegans go a step further and don’t eat any animal-derived products. While most desserts typically don’t contain meat anyhow, baking without eggs and dairy can pose more of an issue. Stores that specialize in natural and organic products like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods are surefire places to find a wide variety of vegan-friendly products; the latter even has a section of its website dedicated to recipes for special diets. Happily, a lot of vegan desserts can serve double-duty for those with certain dietary restrictions, as many vegan desserts use dairy and wheat alternatives.

Digestive Diseases. This category is a little trickier because there are a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders, and certain foods will bother some individuals more or less than others. General guidelines suggest avoiding dairy, fat, caffeine, alcohol, and insoluble fibers, which are often “trigger foods” that are difficult for someone with GI issues to digest. Also avoid anything with an extreme flavor profile; foods that are very spicy, sour, sugary, or greasy will more than likely upset the stomach of anyone with a digestive condition. Many desserts that are appropriate for someone with lactose intolerance, Celiac Disease, or those who follow a vegan diet are also appropriate for those suffering from digestive disorders. For more specific ideas, the ADAPT Cookbook also provides GI-friendly dessert ideas from two chefs who themselves both live with Crohn’s Disease.

Nut Allergies. Nut allergies are considered one of the deadliest types of allergies and can cause anaphylactic shock, the most severe type of allergic reaction. When baking, be sure to cook and store items containing nuts in separate, clearly labeled pans and containers, and avoid using the same utensils for desserts with and without nuts to prevent cross-contamination. When buying pre-packaged desserts, read the nutrition label carefully; companies are required to print allergy information on the packaging and will tell you if their product is processed in a facility that also handles nuts. Jeni Cakes and Hippie Chick Bakery are both nut-free bakeries serving the Boston area — but be forewarned, they take orders by appointment only. For walk-ins, you’ll have to head a bit north of the city to Cakes For Occasions (57 Maple St. Danvers).

When in doubt, it never hurts to ask your guests with dietary restrictions what they can and can’t eat; you can work together to find something and help all your guests enjoy the festivities.

Even if you or your loved ones don’t suffer from any food allergies or chronic conditions, everyone can benefit from eating a little healthier this holiday season. After all, you don’t have to resolve to lose the weight you never gained!

Bloomberg The Mentor is an original new series featuring top CEOs mentoring small business owners across America. What if entrepreneurs from around the U.S. had the chance to get real-life advice from some of America’s best-known CEOs? Bloomberg The Mentor tests that concept.

Cakes for Occasions in Danvers kids contest, deadline Dec. 3

By Sam Trapani/strapani@wickedlocal.com| Danvers Herald

Visions of sugar plums will dance in their heads for the winners of the Cakes for Occasions contest to mentor young bakers.

Danvers — Kelley Delaney, owner of award winning bakery Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, is giving some aspiring young bakers a sweet opportunity to be mentored by the creative cake bakers at her shop.

Delaney who just had her own episode of “The Mentor” show air on Bloomberg Television was so moved by the experience of being mentored she wanted to bring that to local kids on the North Shore.

She is launching her own “Cake Mentor” program to take her experiences and bring them to the local community.
The contest will allow children ages 10-15 to write to Cakes for Occasions to explain why they should win an afternoon at the bakery to learn more about the industry.

Entries can be submitted to submissions@cakes4occasions.com by December 3. The winners will spend 4 hours at the bakery on December 10. Delaney said the kids will have a chance to put their own creativity into some creations on the day and will learn a lot about techniques and what it takes to run your own successful bakery. For details on the promotion, visit www.cakes4occasions.com.

For more information about Bloomberg The Mentor, visit www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/the-mentor

Read more: Win a chance to be your own ‘cake boss’ for the day – Danvers, MA – Danvers Herald http://www.wickedlocal.com/danvers/news/business/x1952881565/Win-a-chance-to-be-your-own-cake-boss-for-the-day#ixzz1f7GT2uJn

What’s happening at Cakes for Occasions? Is an expansion on the horizon? Are they going to temporarily shut down while they renovate?

We have your questions covered in this week’s You Ask Patch Answers.

A few weeks back, owner of Cakes for Occasions Kelly Delaney was featured on Bloomberg TV’s original series “Bloomberg the Mentor.” While on the show, Delaney spoke about her dreams of expanding her retail space and diversifying the business.

And now, those dreams are coming true.

“Those who have been in the bakery know that it can be a bit of a tight squeeze on any given day,” said Mikki Wilson, Cakes for Occasion [C40] representative. “This expansion gives us the opportunity to layout our floor plan in a way best designed to serve our customers.”

So what does this mean for customers?

Not only will the renovation provide more space, Wilson said, but also it will help to deliver the WOW! Factor way before a customer’s cake is finished. Wilson said “we want them to experience it as soon as our customers walk through the door!”

The changes will include a hidden bridal consultation area for brides and grooms as well as computer kiosks on the retail floor where the staff can sit with customers who need help with designing their cakes.

Another new feature will be the glass windows reminiscent of fudge and taffy shoppes on boardwalks, where adults and children will be able to see cake artists decorating different products as they go by.

Luckily for us, Cakes for Occasions is going to be documenting the changes and keeping us up to date on their Facebook page.

But are they going to be open during the renovation process?

“Absolutely,” they said on Facebook. The entire project was planned out, with initially planning started last year, on the idea that they would never have to shut the doors to customers.

And don’t worry. Wilson said once the renovations are complete, there is one thing that will remain the same: “the smell of fresh baked cakes and desserts as you walk into the store!”

Had Tuesday’s episode of The Mentor aired on any other night, Kelly Delaney and her husband Frank would’ve hosted a watch party for all their acquaintances.

But the owner of Danvers-based Cakes for Occasions (57 Maple St.), the gourmet bakery being featured on the Bloomberg Television Network show at 9 p.m. tonight, has 315 orders to fill for Thanksgiving.

“We’re kind of keeping it low key, the timing happens to be before our Thanksgiving pick up for the store,” Delaney, who has owned the business for 15 years, said during a phone interview last night.”The timing is not the greatest because we’re going to be out straight up till it airs.

“Definitely we’re going to find time to watch it, it’s just going to be with family. If it was any other date than before the Thanksgiving pickup it would be a different story.”

The Mentor is an original series featuring top CEOs mentoring small business owners across America. These entrepreneurs have the chance to get real-life advice from some of America’s best-known CEOs. Camera crews were on site several weeks ago filming the episode that includes Delaney being paired up with Mindy Grossman, the CEO of Home Shopping Network.

“It was great for us in order for us to grow our business,” Delaney said. “I’d like to be able to open multiple locations and this is a great avenue to peak the interest of investors and partners who have the backing. And the endorsement of Mindy Grossman from Home Shopping Network knowing our product is definitely great.

The half hour episode not only focuses on Grossman’s advice on how the bakery can expand, it also features Delaney traveling to the Home Shopping Network’s headquarters in St. Petersburg, Fla..

The Danvers resident is no stranger to local and national media attention. Her gourmet cakes and pastries. have been featured on the Today show, NECN’s Good Morning Live, TV Diner with Billy Costa, and Phantom Gourmet. She was also chosen to be a part of a national ad campaign in Gourmet and Yankee magazines.

But she said Grossman’s business savvy gave her a kick-start. In fact, the bakery is now an official partner of the Home Shopping Network and Delany’s products are going to be sold on Home Shopping Network at the beginning of the new year.

“It definitely was great,” Delaney said. “When you’re in business 15 years you get stuck doing the same thing the same way and you forget to open your eyes and think about it from the customers’ point of view because you are so busy day to day.

“It was great just kind of jump started me again. It was great for that and it was an unbelievable experience and I’m looking forward to taking my business to the next level and hopefully we’ll get some interest from some investors.”

Delaney is also launching her own “Cake Mentor” program to take her experiences and bring them to the local community. The contest will allow children ages 10-15 to write to Cakes for Occasions to explain why they should win an afternoon at the bakery to learn more about the industry. Entries can be submitted to submissions@cakes4occasions.com by Dec. 3. The winners will spend four hours at the bakery on Dec. 10. For details on the promotion, visit www.cakes4occasions.com.

For more information about Bloomberg The Mentor, visit www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/the-mentor/

Danvers Herald | November 17, 2011
A few weeks ago camera crews could be seen going into a Danvers bakery. Cakes for Occasions, the Danvers-based gourmet bakery, is garnering media attention once again after being chosen to appear on an upcoming episode of “The Mentor” on the Bloomberg Television Network (Channel 246 on Comcast, 353 on DirecTV) on Tuesday, November 22 at 9pm.

“The Mentor” is an original series featuring top CEOs mentoring small business owners across America. these entrepreneurs have the chance to get real-life advice from some of America’s best-known CEOs. Camera crews were on site several weeks ago filming the episode that includes owner Kelly Delaney being paired up with Mindy Grossman, the CEO of Home shopping Network (HSN).

The half-hour episode will focus on Cakes for Occasions rapid growth and Mindy’s advice on how they can take the bakery to the next level as they prepare for an expansion and the possibility of opening additional locations. In addition, Delaney got the opportunity to travel to HSN in St. Petersburg, Florida to gather recommendations from Mindy at HSN headquarters.

“It was not only an honor to be selected but very exciting to be paired with someone as experienced and well-respected as Mindy Grossman,” explains Delaney, owner of Cakes for Occasions. “I learned a great deal and plan to incorporate her advice into my business strategy as Cakes for Occasion moves to the next level.”

Local Twist
Delaney is also launching her own “Cake Mentor” program to take her experiences and bring them to the local community. The contest will allow children ages 10-15 to write to Cakes for Occasions to explain why they should win an afternoon at the bakery to learn more about the industry.

Entries can be submitted to submissions@cakes4occasions.com by December 3. the winners will spend 4 hours at the bakery on December 10. For details on the promotion, visit www.cakes4occasions.com.

For more information about Bloomberg The Mentor, visit www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/the-mentor

Bakery Owner Shares Business Advice with Other Women Entrepreneurs

DANVERS, Mass (October 25, 2011): Kelly Delaney, owner of Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, has been selected to be featured in The 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada. Delaney’s quote was chosen from over 5,000 submissions.

Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman’s Advantage, selected Delaney’s quote because it was powerful yet easy to understand. “Her idea is relevant to almost every woman in business today,” says Cantando. “Women business owners and those who dream of starting a business will learn so much from the advice provided by Delaney.”

The Woman’s Advantage 2012 Calendar provides sound bites of advice on key business issues including: organization, promotion, sales, and human resources. The 2012 issue will be released on October 27th.

About Cakes for Occasions
Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, Massachusetts specializes in making the finest gourmet cakes and pastries. Owner Kelly Delaney applies over 15 years experience as a pastry chef in the culinary arts to making her highly acclaimed desserts. Cakes for Occasions has been featured on the Today show, NECN’s Good Morning Live, TV Diner with Billy Costa, and Phantom Gourmet. She was also chosen to be a part of a national ad campaign in Gourmet and Yankee magazines. Cakes for Occasions is located at 57 Maple Street in Danvers, Massachusetts. Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to 6:00p.m. More information about the bakery can be found at www.cakes4occasions.com.

About The Woman’s Advantage:
The Woman’s Advantage is a line of information products, including books, workbooks, audio CDs, and calendars designed exclusively for successful women business owners. For more information, call 919-841-0401 or visit http://www.WomansAdvantage.biz