A POWYS based cake maker has won the 2024 Hitched awards, being crowned one of the best professional wedding suppliers in a UK-wide award.

The award is based on reviews posted by newlywed couples to business Hitched.co.uk profiles.

Reviews for Gail’s Cake Pantry commented ‘Exquisite wedding cake, a taste of pure bliss’, ‘The best supplier that we hired’ and ‘Amazing lady, amazing cake and excellent service!’. Gail has 85 reviews on her Hitched online storefront and a 5.0 star rating from consumers.

Erwood based Gail Jackson creates bespoke wedding cakes where she uses recipes that are tired and tested, making use of ingredients that are locally sourced. Describing her cakes as “Old fashioned, delicious cake recipes”, gluten-free and diabetic friendly cakes can also be requested. Gail also makes celebration cakes.

Couples can request bespoke designs such as vintage chic, modern through to traditional designs. Gail previously won Hitched.co.uk Wedding Awards 2023.

The Hitched awards aim to demonstrate the excellent service the vendor has provided to their customers.

Vice President of Sales EMEA, LATAM & India, José Melo, said: “Wedding vendors have been through a lot in the past five years, and 2023 was a chance for many to feel that normal service has finally resumed.”

“Weddings always require a huge amount of work, attention to detail and dedication, and our winners have delivered that and more to their couples. We’re proud at Hitched to celebrate vendors who go above and beyond, and are helping to make wedding days across the world be unforgettable and special to those who attend.”

In 2024, the Hitched awards were based on over 150,000 couple reviews.

There are over 23,000 wedding businesses listed within the Hitched.co.uk directory, with Gail winning in Powys.

Melo continues: “The Hitched Wedding Awards is based entirely on reviews from real couples, who enlisted these professionals to help plan their weddings.”

”This award has become an industry reference and a guarantee for couples planning their wedding every year - newlyweds recognise that a Hitched Wedding Award means that these vendors were truly valued by their previous clients.”

Gail has been using the Hitched platform for 6 years, with the longevity seeming to pay off for her business. A quarter of Gail’s sales come from Hitched, her website provides another quarter, and the remainder of sales are generated by word of mouth.

Gail said: “The Hitched award means consistency of service that means a lot as reviews are paramount.”

“It is a very important part of my business as it shows again consistency, work ethic and overall tasty cakes that our reviews always shout about. It’s ok to have a fab looking cake but taste is the last thing people remember and that’s the most important thing for us. Being in Powys is just that extra cherry on the cake so to speak.”

Gail relocated her business 3 ½  years ago to Erwood from Worcestershire, where she already owned and operated a successful business. Gail said: “We were worried it might take a long time to get established but was so wrong”

She continued: “we make lots of celebration cakes and wedding cakes, leaning now more to weddings as this is more my passion.”

Having previously lived in Llyswen for 10 years, the move back to the area allowed Gail to be closer to her family and grandchildren.

The awards don’t stop there, Gail recently found out she was nominated as a finalist in the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards 2024.

The popular wedding platform Guides for Brides offers couples an online service for advice.

Guides and Brides is described as a one-stop shop for wedding planning, where couples can connect with different wedding business such as cake makers, wedding venues, florists and more.

Nikita Thorne, Head of Strategy for Marketing at Guides and Brides, said: ”For nearly 30 years, Guides for Brides has been at the forefront of educating businesses on meeting the needs of modern couples and the importance of exceeding all expectations in customer care. As an industry expert and newlywed myself, I know first hand how crucial these awards are to ensure businesses are recognised, and couples know who are the best people to contact for their wedding. Every business that has been recognised, whether a shortlisted business or finalist, should be extremely proud!”

The award which is nationally recognised, is based on quality and quantity reviews posted by couples on business suppliers pages on guidesforbrides.co.uk.

Gail has 19 reviews and a 5.0 star rating on Guides for Brides. One reviewer, said: “We chose Gail's Cake Pantry to make our wedding cake and we were not disappointed. It was really difficult to choose 3 flavours from the many options. The cake looked and tasted delicious and all our guests loved it. We've never seen so many people sniff a cake before! Gail is an artist!”

Gail, who is delighted to be nominated, said: “The Guides for Brides came out of the blue, overjoyed is an understatement. As these are UK recognised awards and we will be gong to Oxford.”

The Guides for Brides winner will be announced and celebrated at a black-tie event on Wednesday, March 27 2024 at Oxford Town Hall.

Gail’s Cake Pantry can be contacted through their website or by telephoning 01982 560581 or 07500 654003.