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A delightful and delicious cake caps off a wonderful wedding and offers yet another way to show your personal style. There are as many cake designs as there are wedding gowns, and it pays to do your research before making a choice.
As for the cake itself, today there are more choices than ever before. Contemporary cakes come in flavors ranging from carrot and lemon sponge to chocolate mousse with mocha filling and ice cream cake layered with white chocolate, strawberries and coconut. In fact, couples can order multi-layered cakes with a different flavor for each tier, pleasing even the most discriminating guest.
the icing on the cake As for icing the cake, your imagination seems to be the limit. Some of the most popular choices are white chocolate, cream cheese and traditional white butter cream. Rolled fondant is a popular choice because of its elegant, smooth, porcelain-like look and the ease with which bakers can sculpt it. Bakers can fashion the tiers to look like delicious wrapped packages, can create bows of rolled fondant, or create marzipan (almond paste) flowers to dress up the wedding cake of your dreams.
The style of your wedding cake also is open to interpretation. While the tiered round cake is still the most popular, many couples are opting for new designs, such as a series of similarly decorated cakes set out along a wedding dessert table.
If theme is an important aspect of your wedding, ask your baker to decorate the cake by replicating patterns you’ve included in your tablecloths and/or other decor. There are some stunning cakes made with bands of color to match the bridesmaid gowns and others that include fresh flowers that match your bridal bouquet.
Speaking of color, you needn’t limit yourself to a white on white design if that’s not your style. While many couples select a traditional white-onwhite design, others opt for a shot of personality with bright colors on their wedding cakes. It is not unusual to see bold stripes of pink and purple, even green filigree designs, or custom “artwork” on wedding cakes. If you would like a cake that is out of the ordinary, be sure to bring photos of cakes you like to prepare for your meeting with prospective bakeries. Similarly, if you would like the icing to match some aspect of your celebration, bring in a swatch or photograph and ask if it can be matched.
As for icing on the cake, your imagination seems to be the limit
finding an expert baker When selecting a bakery, find one that specializes in wedding cakes. Ask for references from hotels, reception sites, bridal consultants and newlyweds. Most will offer you a book of their previous designs and will even let you sample some of the most popular flavors. If you don’t see what you have in mind, discuss your ideas with your baker.
Your baker will need to know how many guests will be served, as well as the wedding theme, colors and décor. Ask about cake size, delivery charges, payment schedule (including refundable deposits) and whether or not the cake will be fresh or frozen. Also ask about ways to economize, such as false layers, ordering for fewer people than plan to attend or ordering a smaller wedding cake and serving some of your guests from a separate sheet cake. As the cakes are often cut for serving away from the wedding party, most guests would not know which pieces came from the tiered cake and which came from a same-flavor sheet cake.
topping it off Many many couples are electing to crown their wedding confections with glass or crystal toppers that represent their interests or have significant meaning—as in, “We met while playing tennis, or golf, or at the symphony.” For others, topping the cake with a precious porcelain heirloom that has been in the family for decades is the perfect way to pay tribute to a loved one. Ask your caterer or server to set the topper aside so that a designated helper (groomsman or bridesmaid, perhaps) can collect it for you after the reception.
Contemporary cakes come in flavors ranging from carrot and lemon sponge to chocolate mousse with mocha filling
save the best for later? It is a long-held tradition to save the top tier of the wedding cake for the couple to enjoy on their first anniversary. Many couples arrange for the wait staff at their reception site to remove this tier before they begin serving the guests. Often a friend or relative will take the cake to the couple’s home and place it in the freezer. Other couples like the sentiment of this tradition, but would rather eat a fresh cake. Those couples usually ask the baker to make a new top-tier cake for their first anniversary celebration. |
