Choosing the perfect wedding cake can often be a complicated affair, where many factors come into play, and at the same time it’s one of the most enjoyable and rewarding steps towards the making of a perfect wedding reception.
Budget
Allocating the proper budget for the wedding cake can be tricky, for the many choices available, one would think the most expensive option is the best, however that is not the rule of thumb.
The wedding cake, although it plays the most important role in a successful reception, it is in fact simply filling and frosting and should be budgeted carefully with cost-efficiency in mind so that the total wedding allowance won’t be excessively dented.
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Frosted floral ornament are unnecessarily expensive and should be replaced by fresh fruit and real flowers.
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Using plain patterns and lessening the ornaments can be both cost-efficient and provide for a more unique and creative use of layers.
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Proper use of Faux tiers gives the cake height while at the same time requires less filling.
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Rent a fake cake and serve slices from separate cake pans in the back. This practice is becoming more and more popular and guests won’t know the difference!
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Opt for a small two-tier cake and then serve your guests from separate sheet cakes. Keep the sheets out of sight, and they’ll never know the difference!
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Choose a square cake instead of a round. They serve more guests, and are more pleasant aesthetically.
Theme / Color
A common mistake of many brides is that of picking a cake design and trying to match the rest of the wedding around it. This always turns into a disaster. Pick out a theme BEFORE shopping around for cake designs. The best bakeries are able to match colors and themes and incorporate them into the design of the cake.
Once a bakery has been chosen, bring everything you have to the table, from bridesmaids swatches to a picture of your wedding gown. Every single detail will help the baker create the perfect wedding cake design.
Find the Right Bakery
Locating the ideal bakery is a time-consuming task that requires patience. Don’t settle for anything that does not feel 100% right. Local bakeries online are often the safest bet, as they have their creations on display on their web sites. Word of mouth from friends and family can be just as efficient. Give every referral thoughtful consideration before making a decision.
Sampling
Sampling every element that will be incorporated in the cake is extremely important. Invest plenty of time in thoroughly sampling everything to get a feel of all the possible combinations. Taste everything that you consider important, even those fruit fillings that you think you’ll dislike. You may be surprised to find something in there that strikes your fancy.
Size
The size of the cake depends very much on the size of the guest list. If you are unsure about the number of guests, hold back on ordering the cake until you have an exact estimate. Bakeries usually charge per slice and although it is nice to let guests have seconds, it is not necessary, and for the bride on a budget, this can signify a difference of hundreds of dollars.
Flavor
Choosing the flavor can be as simple as taking the safe route with Chocolate and Vanilla, or as exciting as venturing into more sophisticated flavors such as Carrot, Red Velvet, Banana, Yellow or Chiffon.
With some of these flavors only some fillings and mousse will suffice, so make sure not to go too extreme. Exhausting cake sampling will help a great deal in finding the perfect combination of flavor and filling.
Filling
The filling is one of the most important parts of your wedding cake and there are plenty of choices to create the perfect combination.
Fillings come in two categories: mousse or fruit:
Mousse is popular for it’s creamy and silky consistency and it’s available in a broad array of choices.
Fruit fillings are also highly favorable especially during the warmer seasons. Amalgamated with Chiffon cake, custard or butter cream will have your guests spellbound.
Frosting
Many brides will be surprised to know that there are as many as six different frosting types, each with their own positive and negative contributing factors. Selecting the perfect frosting depends on numerous factors such as the setting, the season and the cake design.
Outdoor reception are not the best for butter cream and whipped cream, as these frostings tend to melt faster in warmer settings. This is only a good option if the cake is kept indoor for the majority of the party, only to be brought out for the cake-cutting ceremony and whisked back inside right after.
Marzipan is highly delectable, however due to the unknown nature of the ingredients, should be investigated thoroughly with the baker as it may contain nuts and other ingredients many people are known to be allergic to.
Fondant is the easiest and most popular frosting, and its elastic properties make it perfect to achieve the most complex designs. That said, its taste leaves often something to be desired, as it is comprised mainly of sugar and water. Some guests may find its slightly chewy sensation, however there will be those who will find it bland and unpalatable.
The Topper
Give careful consideration to the choice of your wedding cake topper. Something too extreme will cheapen the look of the cake, while something too bland will not look worthy of being a keepsake.
Cake toppers come in literally thousands of different shapes and styles, some shops can even carve figurines in the shape of the actual bride and groom and even capture the facial expression and the design of the wedding dress. Of course this option will be more costly, but if the budget allows it, it should be considered over other blander options.
