Albert Michael/startraksphoto.comTalk about too pretty to eat!
At their wedding reception, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries cut into a massive black-and-white cake that was actually taller than the 6-foot, 9-inch groom. (As you'll see during this week's two-part event on E!)
But the show-stopping confection wasn't just so much eye candy—it was also an edible dessert!
Patrick Hansen, whose Hansen's Cakes provided the sweet (on so many levels) finish, exclusively gave E! News the dish on what went into making—and transporting—this pimped-out pastry:
J.Lo Meets Royal Wedding: Hansen told us that Kim wanted an elegant design akin to the cake served for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their big day—but with a snazzy, Jennifer Lopez-style twist. (Better than Lopez's 40th birthday cake, which had her picture on it.) Hansen's, an L.A. institution that has been making cakes for the Kardashians since Kris Jenner married Kim's late dad, Robert Kardashian Sr., also supplied Khloé Kardashian Odom and Lamar Odom with a multitiered, black-and-white wedding cake, so Kim knew she was in good hands.
The Specs and the Secrecy: Hansen and his team needed stepladders to decorate the seriously massive cake, which stood 8 feet tall and weighed nearly 600 pounds. Baked in L.A., it was to be transported in pieces to the Montecito in three separate unmarked vans and assembled on site. Each octagonal tier had a unique Italianate design. Patrick says he went through sketch after sketch until everyone—and a bunch of Kardashians and Jenners had an opinion—was happy. "There was so much pressure," he said. We guess it's not every day his customers are being tailed by 50 paparazzi.
A Real Tier-Jerker: Underneath all the razzle-dazzle, Kim, Kris and their guests dug into chocolate-chip marble cake with buttercream frosting. Separately prepared sheet cakes were what was ultimately served, because the real thing would have just been too much of a chore to cut!
It's the Memories That Are Priceless: The Kardashian-Humphries wedding cake cost a cool $20,000. And that's $15,000 more than the "average" cakes Hanson's prepares for lavish events.
No Copy-Cakes: Patrick owns the design rights to Kim's wedding and shower cakes.
Final Resting Place: First and foremost, Patrick wanted to put to rest a rumor that the entire thing was thrown away. Sure, some of it got thrown away, because you can't just keep a partially picked-at tower of flour and sugar around the house forever. But he assures us he put the top tier in Kim and Kris' car himself and they took it home.
Traditionally, couples may freeze that piece and bust that baby out on your first anniversary. May this year and all the ones after it be as sweet!