Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Contursi.
Nicole, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to becoming a cake designer has been anything but traditional.
Long before Purple Cow Cakery, I spent decades working in finance. But even then, baking was always part of my life. Nearly twenty years ago, my husband owned a restaurant, and I started making desserts for the menu in the evenings and on weekends. Before long, customers weren’t just ordering dessert—they were coming back asking for *my* cakes. That’s when I realized this passion might be something much bigger.
While I continued my corporate career, I spent years teaching myself, refining my techniques, and creating cakes whenever I could. In 2018, I finally took the leap and founded Purple Cow Cakery, combining my love of art, design, and baking into a business focused on creating luxury wedding cakes that taste every bit as beautiful as they look. I specialize in Swiss meringue buttercream because I believe couples should never have to choose between a stunning cake and an unforgettable one.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
That first year, there were days when I was convinced I should be updating my résumé and interviewing for corporate jobs again. Leaving a stable career to start a business was exciting, but it was also incredibly scary., especially with my family relying on me. There was a lot of uncertainty, and for the first couple of years I worried constantly about whether I had made the right decision.
Slowly, though, the cake orders started coming in. Just as I felt like I was finding my footing, COVID hit, and overnight everything changed.
Like so many small business owners, I had to pivot. I shifted my focus to small-batch specialty desserts, French macarons, porch pickups, and local deliveries. Weddings became intimate celebrations and micro weddings, and people were looking for ways to celebrate safely at home. Before long, I had developed a reputation for my French macarons, and that unexpected shift helped keep my business moving forward during a really uncertain time.
When weddings finally returned, it felt like starting over again. I had to rebuild the business, reconnect with couples and wedding professionals, and continue growing from there.
Looking back, another challenge was finding my own artistic voice. Like many creatives, I spent years learning techniques and trying different styles before I truly discovered what felt like me. Today my work is much more intentional and recognizable, and I think those years of experimenting helped shape the designer I’ve become.
Every challenge taught me something. They made me more resilient, more adaptable, and even more grateful that I get to do work I genuinely love every day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today, I specialize in designing luxury wedding cakes for couples primarily in New Jersey and New York. Every cake I create is custom designed to reflect the couple, their wedding, and the feeling they want their guests to experience. I love meeting my couples and learning their story and drawing inspiration from their venue, flowers, invitation suite, or even the details of a wedding dress to create something that feels completely personal.
I’m probably best known for elegant buttercream wedding cakes that are as memorable to eat as they are to look at. Beautiful design is important, but I’ve always believed that a wedding cake should never just be admired—it should be the dessert everyone talks about after the wedding. That’s why everything is baked from scratch using high-quality ingredients and finished with Swiss meringue buttercream.
What sets Purple Cow Cakery apart is that couples work directly with me from our very first conversation through delivery and setup on their wedding day. I intentionally take on a limited number of weddings so I can give each couple the time, creativity, and attention they deserve. It’s a very personal experience, and I think that’s something couples really value.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any one cake—it’s the trust my couples place in me. They’re inviting me to be part of one of the biggest days of their lives, and that’s something I never take for granted. Knowing that a cake I created became part of their memories, their photographs, and the moments they share with family and friends years later is incredibly meaningful.
At the end of the day, I’m not just making cakes. I’m creating the centerpiece of a celebration, and I feel incredibly lucky that this is what I get to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.purplecowcakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purplecowcakery?igsh=MXVhamd1cHNmaWxoaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: Ww..Facebook.com/purplecowcakery
