|
|
How Do You Want Your
Wedding Cake?
By Matt Callen
Countless receptions
have centered on the wedding cake. And, why not? It tells a story about
the tone of the wedding - formal, light-hearted, themed - and it brings
a delicious end to the occasion. Besides wedding dresses, wedding cakes
are one of the most important components of weddings.
The wedding cake is,
without a doubt, the centerpiece of the reception and the most talked
about decoration. Failure to take the many aspects of choosing a wedding
cake into consideration will almost surely result in disaster.
Today, couples have many choices for their wedding cake. Not only does
the cake not have to be white, but also it can be composed of different
flavors in the different tiers. As the tradition has swung away from the
all white cake, flavor and external appearance has become much more important.
Today's cake designs reflect a more modern style, some very simple and
understated, others very elaborately decorated. Just like the other decorations
at the reception, the wedding cake should be a reflection of the bride
and groom's sense of style.
The shapes of wedding cakes include round, oval, hexagon, heart, and square
- to name a few. Many brides are still choosing tiered cakes, whether
on pillars on not. Tiered wedding cakes are usually seen in levels of
anywhere between three and five.
The traditional wedding cake flavors are either white or yellow, while
leaving chocolate for the groom's cake (that is, if one is provided).
It is becoming quite popular to decorate wedding cakes with fruit, along
with the lavish flower and icing designs.
What colors are available? As I previously noted, most wedding cakes are
white, but there are various shades of white - ivory, butter cream, pristine
white, etc. In addition to the main color of the cake, there are also
accent colors to consider. Many brides choose to incorporate at least
one of the wedding's colors into their cake decorations.
When choosing your
wedding cake, I certainly recommend browsing through bridal magazines,
online websites, and even bridal shows where you can taste cakes firsthand.
However, before you begin this search, I suggest you take a few minutes
to read through the list of ideas, steps, and money-saving tips I have
provided. If you don't have a clue where to start, this is the place!
Good luck and enjoy!
§ Visit as many cake makers as you can. Similar to choosing a photographer,
ask to see samples of previous work done - and get a tasting of their
cakes. If they have a website, check out the designs they have available
§ Reserve a cake maker in plenty of time, especially if you want
a personal and special creation - which most couples do. As with any service
a good decorator will get booked quickly.
§ Get the details of your order in writing - normally a deposit will
secure your order.
§ Calculate the number of cake slices required, not forgetting to
also allow for giving to absent friends and relations.
§ Do you have a wedding theme that the cake can reflect? Remember
to personalize the cake
§ Would you like to coordinate colors on the cake with those used
in wedding flowers or the brides dress?
§ Cake recipes can usually be tailored to suit special problems (e.g.
nut allergies) so bear this in mind if you know this could cause a serious
problem for anyone.
§ Be sure to ask if stands/pillars, boxes, and delivery are included
in the price. These little extras can add to the cost of your cake when
you least expect it! Be aware, high prices are not a guarantee of quality.
§ Ask about delivery details. When will it be delivered? Give the
phone number and name of your reception venue to the cake decorator to
avoid any confusion - especially for large reception halls who may be
dealing with more than one wedding on that day.
§ Insist on having what YOU want. If the cake maker tells you something
is "fashionable", but you don't like, make sure you speak up.
This is your wedding, not theirs.
§ Don't forget to ask for a viewing date to see your finished cake;
you don't want to be surprised on your wedding day!
Money-Saving Tips
Coming Your Way!
1) Consider purchasing your cake from a non-commercial baker who works
out of his or her home.
2) Don't have a groom's cake.
3) Keep the decorations simple. Don't go overboard with elaborate decorations
- many times the most elegant cakes are the simple, personalized ones.
4) Order an elaborate, smaller "display" cake for the ceremonial
cake cutting. Then have sheet cakes of the same recipe made to serve the
guests. This is what my wife and I did, and it really fit into our budget!
5) If you prefer an elaborate cake, ask your baker if you can provide
some of the extras like flowers, ribbons, or other decorations easily
available at cake decorating or pastry shops.
6) You can also consider having a small cake for the ceremonial cake cutting
and decorated cupcakes at each place setting. Decorated cupcakes can also
be set at the cake table, stacked on a tiered server of some kind. Cupcakes
are a great idea if you are not into lavishly decorated cakes and are
on a budget. Yet another way to personalize your reception!
7) Consider asking for a cake topper on your gift registry or as a wedding
shower gift. Make sure you are clear on what type of topper you want!
8) Order less cake if you plan on serving a dessert in addition to the
wedding cake, or are having a sweets table. In such a case, offer fewer
servings of your cake and serve smaller portions.
9) Many couples save the top of their cake to eat on their first anniversary,
yet don't eat it because after a year in the freezer, it tastes horrific.
With time the quality and appearance of the wedding cake also lessens.
Nevertheless, if you want to preserve the tradition, try keeping just
one or two pieces of the top tier and not the entire section.
Just remember, that
even though it seems there are millions of decisions to make when choosing
between wedding cakes, the ultimate deciding factor should be the perfect
cake YOU envision at your wedding.
|
Learn the secrets
to planning the wedding of your dreams - without the extra costs of hiring
a professional Wedding Planner. Find out how we saved money and
attained our fairytale wedding at the same time!
Click here
to learn the secrets.
|
