Choosing Your Wedding Cake Wisely

Filed under: Wedding Cake    

If you’re like me, browsing through pictures of wedding cakes and planning your own bridal confection will be a delightful adventure!

While choosing your wedding cake may not be as exciting as shopping for your wedding dress, it comes in a close second in importance.

As a cake designer, I might be biased, but ask any wedding planner and they’ll tell you the same.

Your wedding cake, after all, will likely be the first thing that captures the guests’ attention as they enter the reception.

And, between the wedding vows and leaving the reception for your honeymoon, the cake cutting ceremony is the most honored tradition of this special event.

A bride-to-be’s life is busy, to say the least, so just remember that you will be rewarded for the time and care you put into choosing your wedding cake wisely!

Wedding Cakes – So Many Choices, so Little Time!

Here are some tips to help you sort through the myriad of wedding cake options out there:

  • If your wedding is to have a theme, then this will give you and your wedding cake designer an idea of where to start.
  • Selecting your cakes’ colors can be as simple as coordinating them with the weddings’ colors.
  • Remember your wedding cake is a reflection of you. Your cake may be elegant, fancy, fun, summery, light-hearted, extravagant, etc.
  • The wedding cake may feature fondant, satiny bows and edible pearls or daisy chains and whimsical butterflies. Just be sure it’s your style (or you and your fiance’s) that is reflected.

Choosing Your Wedding Cake Maker

Finding the right person to create your wedding cake may call for some shopping around. Start early because many cake designers require a minimum of six months notice.

If you are employing a caterer, be sure that you are in on the selection of the cake designer.

You will want to be sure that your wedding cake designer is willing and able to reflect your style and personal taste.

Don’t be shy about asking to see the cake decorator’s wedding cake portfolio and to taste samples.

Creating Your own Wedding Cake

While the wedding cake making and presentation is usually left to a professional, I’m receiving an increasing number of requests for cake making tips from brides-to-be and couples who want to make their own wedding cakes.

I wouldn’t be surprised if savvy cake decorators replace part of their wedding cake making business with wedding cake consulting!

You really don’t need though a professional wedding cake consultant to plan and create a wonderful cake for your wedding. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

  • Invest in a helpful video guide that you can review at home as needed.
  • Ask family and friends who are skilling in cake baking and/or decorating for their help. Most will be honored!
  • If you are new to cake making, allow yourself time to learn the basics first. Then move ahead to the more advanced techniques, like assembling a tiered cake.

When selecting a wedding cake recipe, only consider ones that use real, not imitation ingredients. A quality recipe, for example, will call for real whipping cream, not a substitute that comes from the grocer’s freezer.

Browse through a cake decorating supplier’s Website such as Wilton, for ideas.

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Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author
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