Community Highlights: Meet Amelia Grondin of Amelia Elaine Cakes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Grondin. 

Hi Amelia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Florida but grew up in NC my whole life. My mom was always an amazing cook, so I took up on the sweet side. I began by redecorating store-bought cakes for my siblings’ birthdays which turned into trying out different recipes myself. I love challenging myself and experimenting with flavors! In 2018, a friend suggested I supply a cake for their sibling’s birthday party. I was nervous as I had never created a cake for anyone outside of my family before, but I agreed! Creating that cake and receiving such great reviews and feedback from strangers really gave me the confidence to believe in myself and take the leap to grow my skills and turn my hobby into a business! Since then, I have had the honor to be a part of so many special celebrations and memories for strangers who became loved clients. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It took me a while to find my personal style. At first, I took any design request and always said yes to a design, even if it was a new technique for me. This helped me to grow and learn what works for me and what I enjoy. I want to accommodate for as many clients as possible, so I tend to not say no. This often causes time management challenges when I bite off more than I can chew. While growing my business and working full time, I found myself having many 2 am nights to complete orders in the free time I had. Over the years, I am proud to say I have gotten better at saying no and remembering to prioritize my sanity and take time for myself. This was a huge mental challenge for me as I love being part of a special memory and always want to accommodate an order if I can! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
My original business name was AE Cakes, AE comes from my name, Amelia Elaine. When I rebranded my business in early 2022 and registered my official LLC, I had to decide once and for all on my business name. I decided to lengthen to my full name as I love the professionalism and personality it added to my business name. Still go by AE Cakes for short, but I love my full-length business name. 

I am currently a one-woman show and specialize in custom American buttercream cakes. As a dairy-free girl, I am so proud to be able to accommodate many allergies and dietary restrictions as I know the struggle of finding delicious and inclusive baked food firsthand! I offer gluten-free, dairy-free, and fully vegan options. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I absolutely love seeing the smile on a client’s face when they see their cake vision come to life at drop-off! Cakes are such a special way to be a part of someone’s special memory of an event, and I love being included and adding extra love through cake! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aecakes.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ae.cakes
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ae.cakes.rdu 

Image Credits
Mary Gorry Photography