Few people are inspired to make a big life change after attending a boring wedding. But that’s exactly what Zee Scott did. “I became a celebrant because I went to a wedding that was really bad,” she recalls. “I remember sitting there thinking, ‘Surely there’s got to be a better way’. Like, surely there’s got to be some fun.”

Eight years later and Scott is now a celebrant who has officiated and played the role of MC at hundreds of weddings (including one for comedian Hannah Gadsby). But unlike many celebrants, Scott also makes the cakes for the couples she marries. Both Scott’s mother and maternal grandmother were professional wedding cake makers and as a child her mum would teach her to decorate biscuits with royal icing using piping bags.

Scott continues the tradition with cake-decorating classes in her recently opened private space, Zee Scott HQ. The eight-person venue is in a Coburg North business park, where other businesses include a car-wrapping shop and a cattery. Scott’s studio is in a building that also houses photography studios, and her space is conveniently located above events installation company Bangin Hangings.

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It’s decorated with rosy pink and bold red accents and houses every facet of the UK-born-and-raised multi-hyphenate’s various businesses. It’s even available for mini weddings with Scott acting as celebrant. “The thing that I enjoy about the job is being part of people’s lives in different ways,” she says. “I’ve got couples that I’ve married in previous years, and then they’ve booked me to do their child’s christening cake or their child’s first birthday cake and everything.”

Scott immigrated to Australia 12 years ago, and within a year of moving, she started her own cake business while working as a tour manager for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The side hustle began with cupcakes before adding larger birthday and wedding cakes to the offering. Now, she’s known for her custom vintage-style tiered cakes in classic flavours like chocolate, vanilla, lemon and raspberry. The layer cakes are filled with lemon curd or raspberry, apple or cherry compotes. The cakes are finished with intricate swirls, ruffles and hearts made from Swiss meringue buttercream.

The HQ also has a kitchenette where Scott holds cake-decorating classes, and last month she launched a workshop called Bento and Bubbles. For $110 per person, guests receive a glass of champagne as Scott teaches them how to pipe buttercream onto small, bento box-sized cakes, which they can take home after class.

She has plans for themed classes too, so look out for future Taylor Swift and Lizzo workshops where buttercream colours and decorations will be inspired by each artist. Scott will also queue up their music and participants will be highly encouraged, although not obliged, to dress to theme. And if you can’t make it to the HQ for a workshop, Scott will bring her workshops anywhere within a 100-kilometre radius of Coburg.

Zee Scott HQ
36/52 Bakers Rd, Coburg North
No phone

Hours
Classes must be booked in advance and run:
Fri 6pm–8pm

Sat 10am–12pm

The next available class is Friday 25th August.

zeescott.com