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There are good wedding cakes and there are great wedding cakes.

Lux team • December 7, 2021
A cake with chocolate drip and fruit on top of it.

There are good wedding cakes and there are great wedding cakes. But wedding cakes described as “bringing the bride’s vision to life” are in a special class of their own.

In this class of cake creators belongs Karen Donatelli, owner of Karen Donatelli Cake Designs. She has received all sorts of rave reviews for the amazing items she has created for weddings, birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. 

For more than 20 years, Karen and her staff have built an impressive reputation, one dessert item at a time, as a place that makes the highest quality cakes, cookies and other treats for any occasion. Their custom-made creations and elegant baked goods use the best of the best available ingredients.

Although Karen Donatelli and her staff are based in Asheville, word has spread around the world about the look and taste of these wonderful culinary creations. Cakes can be customized based on size, flavor, color, filling, décor, and other options, so every customer has something unique.

Karen Donatelli Cake Designs is currently located in a “cake cabin” in South Asheville along Hendersonville Road. 

For many years, the company was on located on Haywood Street in a space that included a café, dining area, and retail space. 

However, due to the challenges created by COVID-19, Karen Donatelli Cake Designs relocated in 2020 to its newest location and is currently open by appointment only. She is in such high demand appointments need to be made well in advance.

The cabin was built in 1852 and is on the grounds of the French Broad River Women’s Club and Gardens, which is quite a lovely location. The club was chartered in 1927 and received admission into the Garden Club of America in 1930, with the goal of promoting conservation and intelligent of the state’s natural resources. 

Today, the staff includes Karen Donatelli, her husband Vince, who is also an accomplished pastry chef, and several other pastry professionals.

Because a big part of the company’s business is for weddings, the staff is happy to offer tastings by appointment. This gives engaged couples an opportunity to sample different flavors and see what will fit the best for their wedding day and really be pampered for the day. 

For more information visit karendonatellicakedesigns.com/ or call (828) 225-5751. 


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