Choosing your wedding cake
Whether you choose a traditional white tiered fruit cake decorated with handmade sugar flowers or a more contemporary design in a bright colour made with your favourite flavoured sponge, what is certain is that, after the bride, your cake will be the focus of attention at your wedding breakfast or reception.
Choosing your wedding cake can seem a daunting task. We hope you find these Ebury words of wisdom helpful in finding your perfect wedding cake.
Styles of cake
Whereas once the cake would traditionally be white, tiered and usually a fruit cake, today couples have a far wider array of styles and flavours to choose from. Alternative cakes include sweet-looking individual miniature cakes, a pretty pile of exquisite cupcakes sometimes with a larger top tier for cutting, or even a “cake” made from a stack of cheeses decorated with seasonal fruits and flowers.
When choosing your cake, think carefully about your budget, the overall colour scheme of your day and the theme and style of your wedding. Choose a cake that complements your plans and reflects your own unique style.
Choosing a cake designer
When choosing a cake designer, ask to see examples of their cakes. Not only will this inspire you but it will also showcase their skill and expertise.
Preferably have a tasting before ordering your cake. Many cake designers will have a range of exquisite flavours of sponge, different jams and fillings and are often able to design a cake that incorporates more than one flavour. If you want to save the top tier for your child’s Christening, you could have fruit cake for the top then your favourite flavour for the other layers.
Ordering your cake
When you meet your cake designer, take along any pictures, inspiration, swatches of material you have for your dress, colour schemes, flowers, venue etc. This will inspire them and make sure they make you a cake in keeping with all elements of your day.
The best cake designers can get booked up, up to a year in advance. If you have your heart set on a particular designer, make sure you contact them in plenty of time. For most cakes designers though, order your cake around 6-7 months in advance. Once you have booked your cake designer, you will be asked to confirm the date of delivery and pay a deposit, so you will need to have secured your venue and get an idea of numbers before you book.
When thinking about the size of cake of you need, consider
the number of guests who will be attending and whether you will be serving the cake as pudding or a treat later in the evening perhaps as part of a buffet.
Confirm with your cake designer whether you will be providing any flowers for decoration or if you would prefer edible sugar flowers – and of course, don’t forget the cake stand. Some venues will have cake stands for you to use or hire, ask to see images and check sizing. You may of course want to hire a cake stand from the cake designer.
Make sure you advise the designer if they need to make allowances for guests with nut or other allergies.
Your cake designer may offer a delivery and set up service. If you have arranged for your cake to be delivered to the venue and if it is a tiered cake, it may need to be assembled. Remember to discuss assembly with your venue before the day and provide any additional guidance from your cake designer.
Cutting the cake
Believe it or not, wedding cakes are a long and ancient tradition, dating back to the Roman Empire. In those days, the groom would break a loaf of bread over the head of his new bride, as a symbol of dominance. Thankfully times have changed, and the meaning behind the cutting of the cake has evolved into a joyful celebration representing the start of the couple’s life together.
Traditionally the cake is cut after the speeches and can then be served later in the evening with coffee and summer fruits or ice cream. However if your cake is to be served as pudding, you will need to cut the cake prior to the wedding breakfast.
Don’t forget, it’s highly likely all your guests will want a great vantage point for taking photographs of you both cutting your cake, so consider where you and the cake are placed so guests can see, take photos and avoid a crush.
Also, your official photographer may well have gone home by the time you get round to cut your cake. You could ask them to take some photographs of the cake earlier in the day. And ask a trusted friend to capture the moment you cut your cake for posterity. It will be one of your happiest memories to look back on after your big day.
