Contact

Please use this form, e-mail or telephone to contact Fi.

Phone: 910-949-2252 • E-mail: sweetfiscakes@charter.net

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Welcome to Sweet Fi’s Cakes

wedding cakes Pinehurst Southern Pines North Carolina

Specializing in wedding cakes and dessert buffets, Sweet Fi’s Cakes serves the Sandhills area of North Carolina. This area, which includes Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen and surrounding areas, is well known for its beauty, which invites many to plan weddings and receptions here.

Proprietor and cake designer, Fiona McKenzie, stays up to date on new trends and is always exploring new ideas. She works very closely with the bride and no request is too much. Sweet Fi’s offers custom design only — no cookie cutter cakes, no packet mix and no Crisco is used. Fiona uses only free range eggs and can use Italian meringue butter cream or fondant. Any flower can be made out of sugar, or Fi works closely with a florist to coordinate if you wish to use fresh flowers.

Fiona has been featured in People Magazine, Real Weddings, the Knot and North Carolina Bridal Magazine

Are you planning a wedding? Contact Fi to get started!

Dessert Buffets

Desserts are sized one or two bites so it’s easier to deal with whilst mingling instead of having to sit down with a plate and a fork. Some of the most popular selections for your dessert buffet are:

Chocolate raspberry truffles • fudge brownies • roasted almond florentines • mini orange and almond cakes • chocolate espresso truffles • mini cookies • mini chocolate eclairs • mini cream puffs

Wedding Cakes

Bring in pictures from books or magazines to show examples of what you’re looking for. Let your imagination run wild! Do you want all organic cake ingredients? Is a vegan wedding cake your desire?

Remember that tradition of freezing your top tier cake? That’s a thing of the past. Sweet Fi’s will make a free top tier wedding cake for her couples on their one year anniversary.

Free set up and delivery for wedding cakes within Moore County.

For examples of the fine work done by Sweet Fi’s Cakes, browse through Fiona’s photo gallery below.

FAQs

I don’t see any prices. How much do your cakes cost?

It’s impossible to set up a price list, since each cake has so many variables. I take into account the number of servings, the complexity of diverse design elements, and particulars important to the celebrants. When meeting with you, I like to present several possible, available variations and propose a few price tiers from which to select. My prices start at $3.50 per person for yellow cake and pound cake but I find that most of my clients choose wedding cakes that range $4.50 – $5.50 per person.

What do you charge for set up and delivery?

Set up and delivery is something I, personally, do not charge for unless I am hired to deliver the cake outside of my immediate area.

Can you copy a design from a magazine?

Yes I can, although I like to use these photos as inspiration taking several components from a few cakes and putting them together. Some brides come to me with a design they have their hearts set on. A talented Cake Designer should be able to construct a wedding cake from a single photo, or from a combination of photos. Please bring these photos along to our interview.

Do I have to pay a deposit? Why?

Most reputable Cake Designers require a deposit for 2 reasons. First, it guarantees that your event date is booked with the designer, and that you will receive a cake on your event date. Second, it ensures the designer that she/he has a legitimate sale.

Can I mix the flavours of my wedding cake?

Of course. Each tier of your wedding cake can be a different flavour.

I’ve seen a few wedding cakes that I like on your website. Can you mix wedding cake designs?

Yes. Any design shape or size can be combined to create a new wedding cake.

I like one of your wedding cakes, but I would like it in a different shape –

This is no problem. We can work together and design the wedding cake that is perfect for your day.

I want to use fresh flowers on my wedding cake; do I buy them from you?

Using fresh flowers on a wedding cake looks beautiful. Your florist will supply the flowers for the wedding cake and we will liaise with them to ensure everything is to your satisfaction. If you use fresh flowers and ribbon it will be a part of your florist’s bill.

Do you do sugar flowers?

Yes, I love sugar flowers, they will last forever if they are taken care of correctly, once they are taken off your cake they can be wiped free of any icing and put behind a shadow box or in a vase. As long as they stay out of the humidity you will have a bouquet of flowers from your cake well into your golden wedding anniversary. They generally cost as much as putting fresh flowers on your cake.

Can we taste the cakes?

Certainly. Please call to arrange a consultation and to let me know what flavors you are interested in.

Do you supply wedding cake stands or bases?

Yes, I do have some silver and glass cake stands I rent for a fee of $35.

How far in advance do we need to order our wedding cake?

This really depends on the time of year that your wedding is taking place. The spring/fall months are very busy and I would advise booking at least six months in advance. It is always worth calling to see if I have a space.

Do I have to order one of the wedding cakes from your website?

No. All of the wedding cakes are individually designed. You can certainly order a wedding cake from the website, but they are also there as inspiration. Please call us to discuss any ideas that you have for your wedding cake.

Steps to follow to ensure a perfect wedding cake experience:

* If you have at least a general idea of what style of cake you want when you meet with your cake designer–great– otherwise we can sit down together and design your cake.
* Bring any and all photos, swatches, notes, hopes and dreams with you to your first meeting. Be completely honest about what you really want. Don’t be shy.

* And finally, on your wedding day, relax and let me worry about your cake. After all, that’s what you hired me for!

Testimonials

Lindsay’s wedding cake was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Not only beautiful, but also delicious. Really, really good. Thank you so much for your elegant artistry. I’m happy to provide references at any time.
Sincerely,
Sally Elliott

Wedding cake designer Pinehurst Southern Pines

Dear Fiona,
Thank you for participating in the 2007 run for the roses wine tasting with your delicious desserts. Your continued support of the Sandhills Children’s Center provides much needed therapies for our children. We appreciate all of your contributions.
Warm Regards,
Teresa Copper and Kathy Desmond

Dear Fiona,
On behalf of the 2006 Festival of Trees committee, I’d like to thank you for your participating in the Gingerbread Village. It was a great success. I hope you’ll consider helping us again next year.
Best Regards,
Erin Reville

Fiona,
Thank you for helping to make Monica and Bill’s wedding a perfect one.
Tony and Roseann Kornichuk

Fiona,
The wedding cake was amazingly beautiful, and deliciously tasteful. Everyone continues to let me know how great the cake tasted and looked. Fortunately I was able to taste 3 of the 4 different flavors; it was delicous.
Thank you.
Teresa Himsel.

We loved your cake!
It was too pretty to eat! It was the centerpiece at dinner. Thank you - you are much sweeter than your cakes!
Love,
Meredith Silhol

Thank you so much for making my wedding cake! It looked perfect and tasted even better! (very moist!) I heard from several people about how delicious it was. Thanks for being a part of the equation in making my wedding day the most amazing day ever.
Fondly,
Stephanie Gross

I just wanted to let you know that the cake for our wedding last Saturday was wonderful! I actually didn’t get to have any until after we got back from the honeymoon, but it was still good after being in the freezer for a week. The details, ribbon, and monogram were so beautiful! A lot of our guests said our cake was the “best they’d ever eaten”. Thank you so much again! We will definitely recommend you to others!
Christy

I have been meaning to thank you for some time for doing such a beautiful job with our wedding cake, but with the move to London I have been pretty preoccupied. I have just seen the cake on your web site. It was a gorgeous addition to our wedding and tasted wonderful. Thank you for doing such a great job!
Angie (Stancar) Johnson

Dear Fiona,
I just wanted to thank you for making the most spectacular cake for my mothers surprise party. It was the hit of the evening. I think people will be raving about it for some time to come.Thanks again,
Stefanie

It was fantastic working with Fiona on our beautiful wedding cake, gorgeous dessert buffet, and the surprise chocolate banana birthday cake! We were introduced to Fiona several months before our wedding, and we asked her if she could make us a vegan wedding cake, which is quite a challenge for most bakers (no animal products, dairy, or eggs). Although she hadn’t made vegan cakes before, she heartily took on the task and prepared samples and tastings for us. We loved looking through her portfolio and found the perfect ideas for our wedding cake. We had so much fun working with Fiona that we asked her to do an all-vegan dessert buffet for a big party we held the night before our wedding, and my lovely bride surprised me by asking Fiona to secretly create a chocolate banana birthday cake! Everything was wonderful. Our wedding celebration was perfect and delicious, and Fiona worked directly with our florist to seamlessly create the showcase wedding cake we imagined. Thanks for taking on the vegan challenge and delivering so spectacularly!!
Mark and Jules Epstein

Dear Fiona,
Thank you so much for the stunning and delectable cake, it was a masterpiece!
Much love,
Jill

I just wanted to tell you how much I absolutely loved the cake. It was gorgeous (and tasted great as well!!). I don’t think it could have been any more perfect. I really appreciate all of your help, suggestions, and expertise. I had a wonderful time working with you and will certainly recommend you to all of my “bride- to -be” friends. Thanks so much!!
Meredith L. Bolton

Without a doubt, the best wedding cake Kim and I have ever had. When we bit into it, we were floored at the taste and the quality. Furthermore, the portions were much greater then we expected and when they were done cutting it, there was much more left over then we could have ever expected so now we’re cutting it into pieces for family and friends. I do wish I had a chance to meet you in person and thank you but I did not so email and telephone will have to do for now. If Kim or I can ever be a reference to you for other clients, please let us know, we’d be happy to. Thank you for making a fantastic day for us even better.
Joe and Kim O’Callaghan

Thank you for the wonderful wedding and groom’s cakes you made for Shannon’s wedding. We received so many compliments about how delicious they were. Most people had a slice of each cake. Naturally, the chocolate was the favorite! Thank you again for all your hard work in their preparation.
Sincerely,
Laura Duffy

Just a note to say thank you for the wonderful shower cake for Farra. We couldn’t find enough superlatives to describe how wonderful we found the chocolate and raspberry cake to be. We sincerely hope you have a successful business as you and your desserts deserve all the best.
Thanks again,
Pat Street

Fiona,
What a pleasure it was to finally meet you and work with you. You have such a great reputation in town and now I know why.
Thanks for making Jennifer and David’s wedding extra special and making me shine.
Keep in Touch,
Thanks again,
Erika (Butterfly Parties)

Thank you so much for the lovely cakes and pastries, they were such a hit - everyone wanted to know how to get in touch with you for their parties. It was so, so good. Thanks for everything - it was scrumptious and John loved his birthday cake.
Regards,
Louise Wee and John Hernandez

Thank you so much for making Natalie’s wedding day so perfect. Your dessert buffet was everything we dreamed it would be and more. You listened to her visions and made them delicious edible realities. Every detail from presentation, to flavor choices were perfect. The wedding cake was truly the cake you created to reflect everything Natalie hoped it to be. You listened to her, so the whole atmosphere reflected “her” I can’t thank you enough for truly giving my daughter “her day”.
Sincerely,
Gary and Susie Burns

Hey Fiona!!!
Just wanted to tell you thank you SO much for everything you did for us for the wedding. The groom’s cake was a complete hit and everyone loved it. The cake at the reception was also AMAZING…I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything more….I will refer you to everyone I know that plans a wedding in Pinehurst or any of the surrounding towns.
Thank you thank you thank you…..you made my wedding day absolutely perfect!
Kristin

Fiona,
Thank you so much. The cake was beautiful and delicious. We should have made the carrot cake the middle layer. We would reccommend you to anyone. We are going to take some to Jimmy’s daughter in Hawaii.
Diane & Jimmy Sexton

Dear Fiona,
Thank you for the wonderfully delicious and beautiful cake! It was perfect - and the guests devoured it. In case you didn’t take a picture of it before you delivered it , I have attached one.
Thank you again - we loved it!
Kristine

Hi Fiona
It was a beatiful cake and tastes great. Everbody at Ironwood was looking at it. The flowers were very nice on top. Could not have been any better. Thank you very much.
Jimmy

Fiona,
The cake was absolutely beautiful; it was everything I had hoped for and more. Everyone raved about it many said it was the best wedding cake they had ever had. Thank you so much for all of your help.
Brittany.

We had first discovered Fiona’s talents quite providentially. When stopping by her husband’s studio to pick up some photography, we admired her lovely portrait hanging on the wall. We then flipped through her brochure, and upon returning home, plugged into her website and were very impressed. We were excited, as some good friends were soon to be wed in a very private gathering and we were unsure what to give them. They hadn’t planned to have a cake, and we thought it would make the absolute perfect gift! Well, it did!! It was a total success and everyone enjoyed it. Being a couple who is very interested in food preparation, particularly baking and pastry, we were completely overwhelmed! Not only was the cake sumptuous in taste and presentation, it looked like a piece of art! Fiona is truly gifted, and we are blessed to have her available to us here in the Sandhills.
Sincerely,
Stephen and Barbara Boyd

After tasting Fiona’s sample cakes I knew she had to make my bride’s and groom’s cakes. Together, we dreamed up the perfect blend of chocolates, almonds, and fruits to create two cakes that made my little-girl-dreams a reality. Fiona was able to duplicate perfectly a delicate leaf pattern I found in a magazine for the bride’s cake. It made a very elegant center piece for the reception. Her passion for baking and attention to detail ensured me that this detail of my wedding would be flawless. Thanks again, Fi !
Sincerely,
Margaret Gilbert

This note is long overdue. Karen and I want to express our appreciation to you for the wonderful wedding cake. People are still talking about how delicious it was 3 months later.
Kindest regards,
Lee Hillgrove

Thank you so much for the beautiful wedding and groom’s cakes. They were absolutely delicious! You are a true professional and we would not hesitate to utilize your services again.
Sincerely,
Fay and Cletis Gore

Wedding Cake by Fiona of Sweet Fi’s Cakes- Golden butter cake with vanilla scented buttercream — The cake for Katie and Jeff’s celebration was wonderful. Our guests just raved about it and all three flavors were big hits. Katie and Jeff did not save the top layer for their first anniversary. YEAH!!!
Thanks again,
Susan Fink

The wedding cake was absolutely beautiful. But the best part about it was how it tasted, it was really really good, very moist, it even tasted great three days after the wedding. The greatest thing about it was how you came over to our house a couple of months before and let us try three different types of cake. We were able to sit at our own kitchen table and choose the flavor and also the decoration and design from your portfolio. That level of personal service meant a lot to us. Our cake was everything we could have ever wanted.
Thanks again,
Irene Russel

Everyone loved the cakes from what I hear, and had their favorites! We have saved the tops of both the bride and groom’s cake and plan to eat the Bride’s soon as I did not have the opportunity to eat a whole slice at the wedding. However, those that did said it was the best tasting cake they had ever eaten and some even wanted to know who made it (Both were in the food business.)! The leftover cake was taken home by several people, my sister Tracey being one of them. The bride’s cake looked beautiful. Can’t wait to see pictures of it again….my memory of the wedding is a slight blurrrrrr from everything that went on that day!
Thanks again,
Tara

John and I want to send our sincerest thanks to you for making us such a beautiful and delicious wedding cake.
Thanks again,
John, Suda and Kendall Ryan

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I want to express my gratitude for donating the wonderful tea party. The art Council’s fund raiser was a great success thanks to you and others like you.
Fondly,
Brenda Ketner

Thank you so much for the beautiful cakes and the chocolate espresso truffles! They were a hit. My mother and I can’t thank you enough for doing such a beautiful job! Scott loved his surprise Groom’s Cake and thanks you also.
Take care and God Bless,
Scott and Kristen Proffitt

Your cakes were wonderful! Thank you for your professionalism and kindness. We have already passed your business cards out to many of our friends! Hope you get calls.
Thank you,
B. Mason

Thank you again for supporting the 7th annual Run for the Roses wine tasting through your extremely generous donation. It was a great part, raising critical funds for the young children served by our vital community program. We were so pleased with the delicious foods, which were beautifully presented and plentiful. Thank you again for your amazing support.
Sincerely,
Melanie C. Gayle, Executive Director Sandhills Children’s Center

Flavors & Fillings

Use this page as a mix and match opportunity pairing your favorite cake flavor with a filling and icing to suit you and your guests. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see some popular flavor combinations.

Cake Flavors

  • Absolut Citron Syrup
  • Banana Cinnamon
  • Coconut Lime Syrup
  • Chocolate Mudd
  • Carrot and Maple (raisins, pecans and walnuts optional)
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Orange Poppy Seed Syrup
  • Tres Leches (lovely light cake with a three cream syrup)
  • Orange and Almond Cake
  • Hummingbird (fresh banana, pineapple, and cinnamon)
  • Yellow Cake
  • Pound Cake (lemon, orange or almond)
  • Chocolate and Roasted Almond
  • Spice

Icings

  • Italian Meringue Butter cream
  • Chocolate Ganache
  • Rolled Fondant

Italian Meringue Butter Cream Fillings

  • Citrus Curd (Lemon, Lime or Orange)
  • Coffee Toffee Crunch (Espresso Bean Toffee Praline)
  • Almond Praline (May Substitute Hazelnut, Pecan or Peanut)
  • Caramel
  • Butterscotch
  • Almond
  • Vandermint (Chocolate Mint)
  • Absolut citron
  • Madagascan Vanilla Bean
  • Mocha (Chocolate and Espresso)
  • Vanilla and Fresh Peach
  • Mocha with Fresh Raspberries
  • Vanilla and Fresh Pineapple
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • Coconut
  • Cream Cheese
  • Seville Orange (Seville Orange Marmalade with Pieces of Candied Orange Rind)
  • Nutella Crème (Chocolate Hazelnut)
  • Peppermint Patty (Peppermint Candy Crunch)
  • Bananarama (Chocolate with Slices of Fresh Banana)

Whipped Chocolate Truffle Fillings

  • Raspberry
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cognac Truffle
  • Amaretto Truffle

My Favorite Combinations

  • Rich chocolate mudd cake layers filled with fresh raspberries and a chocolate espresso buttercream.
  • Tres leches cake layered with an almond buttercream praline crunch filling.
  • Moist absolut citron syrup cake with a creamy citrus curd buttercream filling.
  • Layers of rich orange and almond cake with whipped cointreau chocolate truffle filling.
  • Banana cinnamon cake filled with a peanut butter and chocolate truffle ganache filling.
  • Moist chocolate mudd cake layers with a coffee toffee crunch buttercream filling.
  • Layers of coconut lime syrup cake with a butterscotch buttercream filling.
  • Humming bird cake with a caramel cream cheese filling.
  • Orange poppy seed syrup cake with seville orange buttercream filling.
  • Grand Marnier spiked strawberry shortcake with madagascan vanilla bean buttercream.
  • Moist Banana cake layers filled with fresh chopped bananas, and a peanut butter chocolate buttercream filling.

About

A native of Queensland, Australia, Fiona has been cooking since 1988. She trained and traveled up and down the east coast of Australia working in small restaurants and large hotels.

Her career took her to Europe in 2000, and then to the United States working at The Little Nell, a five star / five diamond Relais Chateau property in Aspen, Colorado. For the next 18 months, she was involved in all aspects of their kitchen operation from the Banquet Department to the Pastry Kitchen.

In early 2002, Fiona moved to Pinehurst as a newlywed and started her own business, “Sweet Fi’s Cakes”.
Her portfolio is extensive, ranging from dessert buffets for 400+ to contemporary and traditional wedding cakes.

Only the finest ingredients are used. French Coverture Chocolate and free range eggs. No packet mix and no Crisco!

During her 20 years of experience she has researched and tested hundreds of recipes and has compiled a book of those that are tried and true. It’s all in the pursuit to create the one-of-a-kind delicacy you’ve dreamed of.

Your choice in wedding cake design makes a statement about your personality and sense of style. It should reflect you and your good taste. You may choose a sophisticated elegant look. Or show your playfulness and sense of humor as in the case of “whimsical” styles. It should also fit well with the location, the decorating, and ambience which you have created for your reception.

Sweet Fi’s reputation, experience, and techniques enable her to create the perfect cake for you. She specializes in the latest techniques using fondant, which gives you the smooth porcelain like finish so popular today; and Italian Meringue Buttercream which will give you that wonderful creamy and delicate flavor so often sought after. Choose from simple designs, to elaborate multi-tiered masterpieces.
Fiona invites you to contact her at 910-949-2252 or sweetfiscakes@charter.net.

Fi is involved in the community through her mentoring of high school students from Union Pines and Pinecrest past since 2007. She also works closely with the Sandhills Children’s Center and their charity events.