Marisa Battaglia’s background is in marketing and design – but she’s always loved sweets, so when she wanted to bring high-end dessert tables to Buffalo, she partnered up with the top bakeries in all of WNY to create custom dessert items that look and taste incredible – like edible works of art! We chatted with Marisa about her sweet business and all that goes along with it.
The Sweet Life…
Marisa: I’m very selective of the bakeries I work with as I like to maintain a high standard of quality. I like to say you get “The Best of WNY!” It’s extremely important that each dessert tastes as good as it looks, and looks as good as it tastes.
All about the details…
Marisa: Each dessert item is custom designed, from flavors and textures to shapes, sizes and finishing touches, each serveware piece is hand-selected, and then to tie everything together, I add the small details, such as gorgeous scalloped cupcake wrappers, beautifully designed cake pop sticks or luxe satin ribbon, for example. I’m also very selective of the serveware I choose to display each dessert item on or in. I have a huge collection of neutral, high-end pieces mixed with one-of-a-kind antiques, such as individual cupcake pedestals, stylish cake stands, glass apothecary jars in all shapes and sizes, modern trays, bowls and plates, delicate, mini acrylic phantom chairs or old-fashioned typewriters, to accommodate many themes and color palettes. The selection continues to grow so I can continue to accommodate more and more requests!
A Sweet Start…
Marisa: I started B Sweet Designs with the hope of bringing to those celebrating in WNY a memorable sweets experience. I am a Buffalo native, but I had a destination wedding up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. I had hired a Canadian company to create a dessert table for my wedding, and it was the talk of the entire night! It made me realize if I had chosen to get married in Buffalo, I wouldn’t have had access to such a creation. So I felt it was the perfect opportunity for me to bring this very special element to couples and anyone planning an event in the WNY area.
Leap of Faith…
Marisa: I will officially be celebrating two years of business this coming November and to be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when I first took that leap of faith. I left my comfortable corporate job and haven’t looked back since. As any small business owner will tell you, it’s kind of like an emotional rollercoaster, one day you’re up, the next you’re down. But through it all, I have met some of the greatest people living and working throughout this beautiful city, small business owners who are creative and open-minded, couples who are incredibly fun and put their trust in me. And as I continue to move forward, my business continues to grow. Looking back, I never thought I’d be where I am today and I am beyond excited for what’s in store for the rest of 2017 and 2018!
The Sweetest of Them All…
Marisa: What is the most popular item? That’s hard to say. It definitely depends on preference, but I’d say there are a few. Chocolate covered Oreos are always a big hit because they are so decadent, and Oreos are such a classic. Chocolate dipped pretzel rods are great for satisfying that sweet and salty craving. French macaroons add just the right amount of elegance to any dessert table and glitter doughnuts are always a fun addition! People really love the “grab and go” style of dessert tables, like cake pops, which come on sticks and can be dressed up in so many different ways, or individual mini pies or cheesecake bites.
Playing Favorites Is Tough…
Marisa: I’ve really loved all of the tables I’ve ever designed because behind each table is a story, whether that’s a love story or a celebration of life. Each person I’ve ever designed a dessert table for brings their own style to the table, quite literally, as well. So no two tables are ever the same. Personally, I am a sucker for soft, neutral tones, rose gold and greenery, but I also swoon over deep, rich tones and clean, modern styles. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with people who choose the most gorgeous color palettes and themes, so I’ve had the pleasure of designing a variety of styles from elegant affairs inspired by nature with champagne and ivory color palettes to gold glam/Art Deco themed events, and everything in between!
Special Requests – Including From my Friend, Kate & Her Kate Spade Inspired Table
Marisa: This table was a blast to design because even though there was a specific theme to follow, there were so many ways to integrate this theme throughout the dessert items and serveware…the possibilities were nearly endless. We had gorgeous, black and white cake stands for three different cakes (insane!), gold shimmer cake pops on black-striped sticks, all different types of candy to bring in that pop of bright pink color, gold glitter doughnuts, French macaroons accented with gold leaf, gold and white cookies shaped like bows and black and white striped heart cookies with sugar roses on top…just to name a few!
Labor of Love…
Marisa: It typically takes 2-3 hours to set up a table on-site, depending on the size of the table, which can be anywhere from six to eighteen feet long! There’s also the design of all the desserts, layout of the entire table/serveware, packing and traveling around town to pick up all the desserts and candy beforehand to consider as well.
Love is the sweetest part (almost) …
Marisa: It is truly an honor to help people celebrate the most important day of their lives. I love hearing about people’s love stories and it warms my heart to know that I get to create the sweet ending to their new beginning.
To get in touch with Marisa from B Sweet Designs – call 716-445-6044 or visit their website at B-SweetDesigns.com.
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