Your easy guide to choosing perfect wedding cakes
Cutting the cake is one of the highlights of your
reception, so how do you go about choosing or preparing the perfect wedding
cake for you?
Wedding cake ideas
Your first decision is what type of wedding
cake to have: a traditional tiered and iced fruit cake; a tall and oh so modern
display of individual cup cakes: one for each guest; a chocolate fudge
extravaganza or a fabulous French fancy: the ‘croquembouche’ which you’ll need
a tiny hammer to smash into!
The traditional British wedding cake, a rich
fruit cake, is either square or round and comes in two or three tiers; these
tiers can be separated by pillars or 'stacked' on top of each other, which is
more the American style. The traditional cake is generally decorated with
icing, and perhaps sugar or fresh flowers or a cute cake topper depicting the bride and groom. These
days personalised or bespoke cake toppers are available so you could even have
a tiny you and your fiancé with your child or pet atop your cake!
If you like the style of a traditional cake,
but are not keen on fruit cake, then consider going for a sponge cake in
chocolate, lemon, carrot or vanilla, or even a combination of these flavours to
give your guests a choice.
Commission a creative cake designer to make
you a wonderful novelty cake - a great idea if you're having a themed wedding.
You might choose to have a cake with your own photo in icing or images of the
sea, or in the shape of a stack of suitcases; a talented cake-maker will be
able to show you a selection of designs and work with your ideas.
Cake-buying options
When buying your cake, you have a number of
options:
·
buy an iced cake and decorate it yourself
·
have the cake made by a specialist
·
have the cake entirely made and iced by a
relative or friend
·
order your cake from the local bakery
If you decide to have your cake made
professionally, make sure you shop around. Some cake designers, for example,
will specialise in sugarcraft and make wonderful tiered cakes with incredible
designs in sugar, while others might specialise in chocolate and patisserie,
such as the croquembouche. It's important to make the most of someone's
talents.
When you visit a cake designer, ask to see
examples of other cakes they have created. You might also ask to taste a tiny
sample. Take along any ideas you have and see what they suggest. A good cake
designer will work with your ideas while also offering a few suggestions of
their own.
Order early
Whatever you choose, do order your cake in
good time. A multi-tiered cake can take months as it will need to be made and
iced in different stages. Ideally you should order your cake at least four to
five months before the wedding.
Cake timing
Ideally, a cake should be delivered to the
reception venue unassembled and then the tiers put together in situ. This,
however, will not work with a stacked cake which the cake designer will have to
put together beforehand. Ask your cake designer how your cake should be
transported -- they will have done it plenty of times before! If your cake is
arriving the day before the wedding, make sure your venue has somewhere safe to
store it. Also, make sure they have a suitable cake stand and
knife. Alternatively, your cake designer may be able to provide these items or
hire them out to you.
Cutting cake prices
Ready made cakes are an increasingly popular
option and are ideal for couples on a tight budget, giving you the opportunity
to decorate it yourself. Marks & Spencer produce ready-made cakes in sponge
or fruit cake, available in different sizes so you can present them in tiers. Cake toppers or fresh flowers can be added to the
cake as you wish. To save on wedding breakfast costs, serve your wedding cake
as dessert with ice cream, a fruit coulis or a hot chocolate sauce.
Making the cut
You don’t have to have a wedding cake at all,
but it is traditional for the couple to formally ‘cut the cake’ while everyone
looks on and cheers. The wedding cake is in fact meant to be good luck as it’s
an age-old symbol of fertility. Tradition also says you should keep the top
layer for your first child’s christening cake, but only if it’s a fruit cake
tier.
The cake is traditionally cut after the speeches,
or you might even like to wait a little longer into the evening. If you are
planning to serve your cake as dessert, the cake will need to be cut before the
wedding breakfast is served, to enable it to be divided into portions in time
for pudding. Ask your caterer about providing cream, ice cream or a sauce to
accompany it.
If you would like
Kliq Weddings to cover your Video and Photography of your Wedding then please
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Article first published at: http://www.confetti.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk
– Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer
http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/
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