Q. What is the cost of a wedding cake topper?

Q. How do you start a celebration cake topper?

A. The creative process starts with an idea. For example, details of the bridal gown and tuxedo are collected. The wedding couple participates in the process of designing of the sculpture (one couple wanted their sculpture "cartoonish" with their dog pulling on the veil.) Each sculpture is then sculpted to reflect the ideas of the client and can include pets, symbols, or imaginary images (click here to see sculpture creation from start to finish.). Since many elements are combined for each one-of-a-kind sculpture, please allow at least 3 months ahead of wedding date.

Q. What is the sculpture made of?

A. The sculpture is made of polymer clay (various manufacturers names Premo, Sculpey, Fimo, Cernit) - a modeling compound that is fired in a conventional oven and changes chemically (polymerizes) to form a strong hard, durable substance similar to ceramic clay. It can be painted, sanded, glazed and reinforced with aluminum or other materials. Polymer clay has become a favorite medium for original figurine and doll makers.

Additionally, Carol is skilled at creating bronze sculpture. For a truly unique keepsake that will literally last centuries - a bronze piece can also be commissioned (bronze sculpture so durable that is the only thing which survived the 9-11 crash).

Q. How big are these polymer clay sculptures?

A.Traditional "cake toppers" are small - 6 inches round at the base, and about 7 inches tall. Wedding cake toppers are true miniature sculptures (imagine a 6 ft man (72 inches) shrunken down into 7 inches). Each cake topper or gift sculpture can be customized in any size and shape . .. large or small, square or oblong to compliment wedding theme or distinctive hobby/pursuit. One couple had their cake decorated like a golf course and their wedding cake topper was designed with the bride in her wedding dress and the groom as Tiger Wood (please see "Contemplating the shot".) The size and shape of the wedding cake topper is determined by the client's wishes. Some brides have asked for larger oblong sculptures so that their beautiful long wedding train can be shown. The wedding sculptures can also displayed near the reception signature book and not be placed on the cake (one bride thought it tacky as a cake topper). These are wonderful keepsakes and can be displayed after the wedding on the mantle piece or other prominent locations. If desired, they can be preserved in a glass figurine dome. A gift sculpture may be made requested in any size that is reasonable (for example the graduation gift sculpture "Marsha" with the figure in an airplane is 12 inches long).

Q. Will the sculpture look like me?

A. Getting a good likeness depends upon the quality of the photos submitted (is there good lighting or is the photo flat with no emphasis on bone structure). The more information, the easier it will be to get a likeness. For cake topper sculptures - the heads are slightly larger than body to capture details of the face (with faces this small even 1 mm will make a difference). Ideally, many photos are used as a reference (for example, full face, profile, and other angles are studied). However, if there is only one good photo, it is still possible to create a sculpture ("Beautiful Swimmers" is an example). It depends upon what the clients want - sometimes the likeness is captured by primarily by the costume/attire (the groom is a fireman) or the props. In any case, Carol uses her intuitive/analytic feeling for space/proportion (click here to see figures) and has studied figurative anatomy many times over due to her previous training (Ph.D. in Medical Physiology). Additionally, Carol has worked many yrs as a professional portrait painter and has experience in creating a likeness. Click here to see portraits.  

Q. How long does it take to make a sculpture?

A. Sculptures may take about 40 hours to complete. The work is challenging because many hours are spent looking at very small objects (a jewlery magnifying lense is used in the process). Details of the individual request are checked and rechecked to make sure everything is included. Photos are requested from the client 3 months before the due date, since questions often arise about the design. If there is a large backlog of orders, additional time may be required. Please confirm availability by calling or emailing the Artist. Rush orders may be accomodated however, there is additional charge of $150. Rush orders are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q. How many commissions do you take?

Only a handful per year because Carol works in many areas - portrait commissions, illustrations, floral oil painting (for more information click here). Last year she received a commission from URB magazine on behalf of the Toyota car company and did a series of cars models for them. Curently she is currently working on a series of bronze sculptures (click here to see bronze dance sculptures).

Q. What if the cake topper is broken during shipment?

Luckily, this is a rare occurance and has happened only once in 5 yrs when UPS delivery damaged the box. Every cake topper sculpture package is packaged in special foam insulation, boxed in styrofoam, then reboxed in an outer boxed. They are insured and sent out well in advance of the wedding date. If there is damage to the sculpture, then the client has a choice of accepting the insurance money, or if there is time the sculpture, will be remade and a second one is sent. If it is a minor problems like the flower stem broke often it can often be glued back. For these reasons it is very important to start the process EARLY so that any circumstances can be taken care of.

Q. Can my "cake topper" have animals or items?

A. Each wedding sculpture is made individually - various animals, fantasy images, and special vehicles etc. Anything you can imagination, experience, or dream are posssibilities. Each design is custom made to be a meaningful keepsake for each couple

Carol Shireena Sakai also creates bronze sculpture.

In 2005, her bronze sculptures were show in the Loveland Invitational Sculpture show in Loveland, Colorado - the largest outdoor sculpture show in the United States. In 2006, she showed bronze sculpture and relief sculptures in the International ArtExpo held in NYC. Her bronze sculptures are represented nationally by Sculpture Collector in Scotsdale Arizona, Christi Sothers in NYC, Gallery 57 in the Chicago area..

A feature article has been written about her and the creation of cake topper sculptures in the Washington Post Magazine. Click HERE for the link.