In 1996, Robin Martin had been married exactly one year and she enjoyed a busy career as a photographer. "My first year of marriage I was really bummed because I never saw my husband," she says. "So I switched over to what seemed like a logical thing at the time and started my own business." Martin had discussed her dream job idea with friends and she was shocked at their positive responses, and the response of her husband who said, "Robin, you're so type A that anything you do will be a success."

Armed with nothing more than The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum and Collette Peters' Wedding Book, Martin was ready to set off on her new career. "[These books] taught me everything I know about decorating," she says. So she set out to "take their style and make it so normal, people will like it." Which is exactly what she's done.

People not only clamor for Gateaux's decorative style, they're nothing less than enthusiastic about the deliciousness of the cake itself. "As early as our first show people were commenting on the taste," says Martin. "We bake on such a small scale that we can really pay attention to taste and quality. I decided then and there that we would never do this on a bigger scale." That was the day she remembers declaring, "I won't buy a freezer!"

 Nine years later, Gateaux is a thriving business and one that our readers confidently and overwhelmingly elected "Best All-Around Vendor." Martin maintains a strict limit of only three weddings per weekend, so Gateaux turns away approximately 60 weddings a year. This policy helps Martin keep the business manageable, and allows her to give each and every couple the individual attention, and amazing cake, that they deserve. To this day, Martin holds strong to her original freezer-less vision. 

"I like to customize to the bride and groom," says Martin. "I love a wedding with a good design theme, something that's carried though that we can imitate." Today, Gateaux is more equipped than ever to help brides carry out a wedding theme. Their recent affiliation with Beaux Papier and a few select favor vendors allows them to customize each wedding so that everything glows with the same Gateaux chic as the cake. While Martin doesn't call herself a wedding planner, she does share that she's willing to be as involved as possible in making your wedding day perfect. "We're old school," she says. "We'll do anything for our brides, even if it means sitting down and listening to your wedding music CD and helping you pick out ceremony music. Maybe that's why we've been so successful."
Our readers and editorial staff heartily agree!