Meet Dan: The Other Half of Cake Design by Holly Miller

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll mostly see cakes, flowers and the occasional snapshot of me assembling my creations. But what you don’t see is Dan – my husband, partner of 20 years and the person who keeps this entire operation running (quietly, without fuss and very much behind-the-scenes). Cake Design by Holly Miller simply wouldn’t exist without Dan. He isn’t just someone who helps from time to time – he is a key part of this business and an integral cog in the machine. I think it’s about time I properly introduced him!

We met at college, said, ‘I love you’ after two weeks and got engaged after two months. We’ve now been together for two decades, building a life together based on shared values that mean a lot to both of us (and now our children too): honesty, loyalty, passion and hard work. It is these very same values that are reflected within every wedding cake I make and every couple we work with.  

Dan has always, without a doubt, been my biggest supporter. He works full-time in the building industry but somehow still finds the time and energy to be hugely involved in the cake world and wedding industry too. He makes all my fillings – from Swiss meringue buttercream and ganache to homemade preserves and syrups. He even makes the marshmallows and an array of other treats for my luxury wedding dessert tables too.

He’s often with me loading up ready to deliver on wedding days, making sure everything is secure and running seamlessly. Sometimes, he even delivers cakes on my behalf. He also attends Open Days, stepping in wherever and whenever I need him. I may be the face of the business, but Dan is the engine behind it.

At home, he’s the one holding down the fort, managing household life so I have the headspace and time to focus fully on the business. His support gives me the freedom to create, grow and give my couples the very best of me: spending those all-important extra hours perfecting designs, testing new flavour combinations or collaborating with my couples about their vision.

So, while you might not see him on my Instagram grid, if you spot him at a venue or an Open Day, make sure you come and say hello. He’s not just ‘helping out’. He’s a huge part of Cake Design by Holly Miller and I truly wouldn’t be where I am without him.

Dan is the person who makes it possible for me to be a wedding cake designer. He is, quite literally, the icing on the cake.