Since opening in 2010 in Cincinnati, Ileana Saldivia’s studio, Sugar Realm became a preeminent wedding and celebration cake design boutique. In 2018, due to her husband's job relocation, Ileana and her family moved to Philadelphia, and so did her Sugar Kingdom.
Sugar Realm’s cakes and confections are known for their sophisticated flavors, unique designs, artistic sugar flowers, innovative techniques, and architectural compositions. Sugar Realm cakes are decorated with hand-crafted sugar decorations, and iced in gourmet rolled chocolate (never fondant). All cakes and fillings are made fresh, from only the finest ingredients, baked the week of the event.
The studio’s wedding cakes are regularly featured in leading bridal, lifestyle, and cake decorating magazines. In the December 2015 issue of “Cincinnati Magazine,” Sugar Realm was named “Best of the City” and featured on the cover. Saldivia’s blog “Life in a Sugar Kingdom” is regularly visited by hundreds of cake enthusiasts and professionals.
Early in 2020, and after many months in the works, Sugar Realm launched Sugar Realm Academy, an online and In-person baking and cake decorating school, with the objective of sharing Ileana’s passion for sugar craft’s. The launch of this initiative connected Ileana with local and from-around-the-world baker’s and cake decorators, from hobbyists and cake enthusiasts to cake professionals.
Sugar Realm’s process starts by scheduling a tasting and consultation held at our licensed studio in Haverford. At this meeting, clients try an array of our bestselling cake combinations, as well as additional fillings clients can choose from. During this consultation, we listen to and review ideas brought by the client. Sketchbooks and portfolios are shared, as well as samples of our sugar work, specially of our sugar flowers, which are beautifully displayed throughout the studio. We also talk about the estimated cost of your order, and share pricing options to choose from.
In our opinion, professional cakes should excel in ALL and each one of these areas: 1. Taste, 2. Design and 3. Execution.
We believe that cakes must be incredibly delicious, so we recommend that you start by scheduling a tasting. Here are some of the questions we recommend you ask during the tasting: When are cakes baked?, Can I choose my own flavor combinations?, How many flavors can my cake we have?, What type of icing do they use to cover and fill their cakes?, Do they offer any alternative to fondant, like rolled chocolate?
Once you have determined that the flavor and freshness of the cake you are tasting matches your personal preferences and expectations, it’s time to talk about the looks or “Design” of your cake. It’s important to inquire about the design options the baker offer. Ask if they provide custom designs and kindly inquire about their custom design process. Do they offer designs from a catalog? And if they do, are there any differences in the quality of the cake for custom designs and catalog designs?. Share with them images and ideas you may have collected so far, and inquire if they have made similar cakes in the past.
As you take a look at the baker’s portfolio, make sure to pay attention to how flawless the execution of their designs is. When it comes to professional cakes, as the word says it, they have to look professional!
Here at Sugar Realm, we pride in our customer service. Our cakes are crazy delicious and oh-so-pretty, but more important than that, our goal is that our clients enjoy every single interaction with us. We want to serve them as we would like to be served.
Clients come to us cherishing the anticipation of celebrating special moments in their lives, and we feel honored to have a small role in them. Regardless of the type of order that a client chooses, our promised to them is always the same: the most delicious cake and/or confections possible, and designs that are 100% them!
Our boutique operation allow us to achieve the highest standards in regards to flavor, design, and customer service. We pride in the quality, flavors and freshness of our cakes. Our designs are genuinely innovative, and flawlessly executed. Our customer service is like no other
We have been in business for over 10 years
We operate by appointment only,
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm are our typical hours of work. Weekends are dedicated to delivering orders.
Our hours of operation are flexible on weekdays. After hours tasting and consultations are available to clients with busy schedules, or for those coming from out-of-town.
Sugar Realm LLC is a legal, licensed and insured business. Permits from de Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and Lower Merion Zoning Department are posted at the studio.
Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Custom designed cakes and dessert tables
Pre-designed cakes from our catalog of cakes
Online and In-person baking and cake decorating instruction (Sugar Realm Academy)
