Wedding Cake: Tips and Advice

Your wedding cake is the focal point of your reception.  What is the vision for your wedding cake?  Things to think about are, how many guests will you  have, what is the overall design of your wedding?  Will it be formal, casual, beach themed, lots of bling?   How many tiers do you  like?  What colors are in your wedding?  What shape do you prefer?

Gone are the days when people thought a wedding cake was just there to look at and take pictures cutting it, but it really tasted awful.  Today, there are so many choices of filling, frosting, fondant and flavors of cake there is no reason why the cake shouldn’t taste as good as it looks.  In fact, as Branwin, a cake baker  says,  ”It should taste even better than it looks.  Otherwise it’s like wrapping a pet rock in beautiful wrapping paper and giving it to someone”.  Choose your bakery  3-6 months before your wedding as they get booked up way in advance.  Here are some helpful  tips as you think about your wedding cake:

1)  Choose your cake after you’ve chosen  your wedding dress and decided on the decor.  The cake should enhance the  overall look of your reception.  Make sure you do a tasting.  Bring the groom or  someone else whose opinion you value, to help you decide.

2)  Have pictures of what you like and what you don’t like with you when you visit the bakery.

3)  Bring samples of your fabrics with you.  Also helpful are pictures of your bouquet flowers and centerpieces so the baker can be inspired with the elements that make up your wedding. The cake designer can imitate the lace or trim on your gown, the colors in the dresses of the bridesmaids, something you loved on your invitation, etc.

4)  Since it’s the focal point of your celebration, make sure it’s prominently displayed.

5)  Confirm with your baker,  in writing the date, time and place where the cake is going to be delivered.  Get their cell number and make sure they have a number where someone can be reached at the venue.

Of course we are in an age of trying to save money while our event still has the special look we’ve dreamed about.  A money saving tips is once the guest list is compiled and you’ve determined how many guests you will have,  have your baker (or mom if she’s making your cake) make up  sheet cakes  that are  kept in the back and  used to serve your guests.  Your display cake can either be smaller to reduce the cost, or it can be a styrofoam cake decorated to your hearts content, with one layer being real for the cake cutting ceremony.

I love the simple, classic designs of these cakes.  I hope you enjoy looking at them.

What I love about the above brown cake with flowers is Wendy offers the beautiful, edible cherry blossoms or dogwood flowers for sale online so if you are having your cake made by a friend or relative, they can add these to the cake for a very professional look. There are other designs as well to choose from.

If you’d like to send your guests home with a piece of cake,  you can use individual cake boxes.

Filed under Cakes, General Info, Reception Basics | Comments (4)