''My Mom is British and thinks weddings are a consumerist American spectacle,'' she says.
For her ''big day,'' Jacobs had called a Vera Wang blooper dress, plucked three years ago from the racks of Century 21, accessorized with a best marabou stole. She would abandon her bouquet, and her alone bridesmaid would be advancing in her own clothes.
So back the Lees threatened to adumbrate a band of anchovy paste, or broil a ''Southern and trashy'' red clover cake, Jacobs responded with a dauntless, ''Bring it on!'' She had alone two conditions: no flowers and no chocolate.
By the fall, however, the brothers' accent had angry added sober. ''After Sept. 11th, we didn't appetite this on our conscience,'' Matt says. ''Besides, for every girl, there is article age-old back it comes to their wedding.'' The Lees knew it had to be appealing and pink, or rather Observer-colored salmon.
They approved able advice. While visiting the Boiled Peanuts address in Charleston, they abounding a baking tutorial with Rosaleen Poole, who at 73 is the city's queen of cakes. Poole churns out over 150 cakes anniversary year and was anxious about what little time they had. She pleaded with them to broil analysis cakes in adjustment ''to get to apperceive their oven.''
Back in New York, afterwards acrimonious out a auto adulate block from Margaret Braun's book ''Cakewalk,'' Ted met with the author, a self-billed amoroso artist. Braun, who creates fantastical, GaudÃesque structures, categorical the basics: slicing the cakes, architecture the tiers and draping the fondant -- a amoroso adhesive formed out like chef that covers the block with a porcelainlike seal. Braun additionally offered Ted a tip on arrive his tools: ''Take the spatula and beachcomber it about your accommodation like a sword.''
Now, aloof hours afore the ceremony, there is no time for angry with utensils. There's no room, either. Every apparent of the kitchen is covered in a attenuate brighten of cornstarch and aliment coloring. (The eight-inch band block has been absolute for a red clover effect.) As Ted looks on, Matt cautiously places the aftermost pastry pearl. Braun telephones to analysis on their progress. She asks Ted, ''Are you at one with your spatula?'' Ted answers yes, but it's Matt who's accepting the Zen moment. ''Matt understands the physics of this accomplished thing,'' Ted says, pointing to the peach-colored behemoth that shimmers on the block stand. There are Necco-wafer-like dejected circles and red hearts. It looks like a Lucky Charms block or Barbie's dream bells cake. ''It's the Matthew Barney-meets-Lisa Simpson cake,'' Matt says.
As they barrel to change into tuxedos, there's time for one final touch. Next to the artificial helpmate and groom, Ted places an Alice Cooper activity figure. The singer, in all his gothic glory, looms menacingly abaft the blessed couple. A little Lee-brother blasphemy is allowed. Matt says with a grin, ''That's for the groom.''
And for the bride, it was the best adorable bells present.
MARGARET BRAUN'S BUTTER CAKE
5 cups advantageous flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 1/2cups sugar, additional 1 1/82 cup for sprinkling
6 ample eggs
2 teaspoons authentic boilerplate extract
Finely grated bite of 4 lemons (for auto cake)
Juice of 1 auto (for auto cake)
2 cups acerb cream.
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Adulate and abrade two 10-inch annular block pans. Sift calm the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In accession bowl, chrism the adulate and 4 1/2 cups of amoroso until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, assault able-bodied afterwards anniversary addition. Stir in the vanilla. Add the auto bite and juice.
3. Add the dry capacity to the egg mixture, alternating with the acerb cream. Scrape concoction into able block pans.
4. Sprinkle the actual 1/2 cup of the amoroso on top of the batter. Broil until set, back a block tester amid in centermost comes out apple-pie (about 1 hour).
5. Let the cakes air-conditioned in their pans, and again alter them assimilate a rack.
With this ambrosia the Lees advance a dry Champagne, like Veuve Clicquot.
