From stunning wedding cakes to seamless event management, Victoria Neal has seen celebrations from every angle. With 20 years’ experience in the cake industry, she built her business, Pinkface Cakes, into a trusted name for couples across Essex and beyond.
Alongside running her own business, Victoria joined the Hylands team, where she has worked her way from Events Assistant to Duty Manager. Now, she balances her passion for creativity with helping couples bring their dream weddings to life at Hylands.
Hi, Victoria! We have to know; where did the inspiration for the name Pinkface come from?
This came from me originally working within a team who knew how easily I embarrassed, I spent most of the time with a Pinkface! And said if I ever started a business that’s what it would be called and I held true to my word.
We love that, and it’s definitely a name that sticks with you! So, onto the big question: how important do you think the cake is for a wedding?
It really depends on the couple! Everyone has different priorities, and I completely respect that. For some, the cake is a big focal point, while others just want to enjoy the tradition of cutting it together. Personally, I think it’s such a brilliant opportunity to be creative with your cake designer and come up with something unique that represents you as a couple, while still nodding to tradition.
That’s a really nice way of looking at it. And why should couples choose Pinkface Cakes for their big day?
Pinkface has been going strong for 20 years now, and we’ve built a great reputation. Couples can feel secure knowing their cake will arrive, it will look fantastic in their venue, and it will taste amazing! The feedback we get most often is how delicious the cakes are, which is always lovely to hear.
20 years is incredible! You’ve also been part of the Hylands team as both an Events Assistant and now as Duty Manager. What’s your favourite thing about working with couples at Hylands?
I love being able to make each couple’s day feel extra special. I always try to go the extra mile so they feel like the only people who matter that day. It’s where my two roles really overlap. Whether I’m baking their cake or managing their event, I just want to exceed expectations.
Let’s talk about trends. What do you see coming up in wedding cakes?
I think we will see an elegant take on design, with simple colour pallets and clean lines. We’re also seeing a lot of white-based cakes and traditional piping making a comeback, which I think is lovely. On the other end, there’s also a rise in large dessert-style cakes making an appearance.
We can already picture how amazing those would look in the Pavilion. What about weddings in general, what’s your favourite thing about them?
It has to be seeing all the ideas couples have imagined, and the moments they have played out in their minds, finally come to life. I recently managed a wedding where the bride, groom, and different groups of friends and family all had choreographed dances. The room was buzzing with energy, and it was such a special moment to be part of.
That sounds amazing! Is there a concept you’d love to see at Hylands one day?
Yes! This summer I’ve been really inspired and I’d love to organise a “summer nights” style event with live music, maybe a saxophone player, something that feels like Café Mambo meets Hylands House. We’re so lucky with the beautiful sunsets here, it would be the perfect backdrop.
We’re on board with that idea already! Finally, what’s your favourite thing about working at Hylands Estate as a Duty Manager?
It’s definitely the variety and flexibility of the job. There aren’t many places where you could be running a civil wedding one day, watching Wind in the Willows outside the next, all while organising someone’s wedding cake for the weekend. Hylands makes that possible for me, and it’s why I love working as a Duty Manger here.
Thank you, Victoria. We can’t wait to see what beautiful cakes you bring to our Wedding Showcase on 19 October!