For those who love dessert, there is no greater decision than coming up with the perfect wedding cake! And with designs, styles, and flavors, which range from the traditional to the fanciful, this is no small task.
*Reserve your designer – the sooner, the better*
Whether you go with the local bakery down the street or a more commercialized wedding cake designer, this is a decision that should be made sooner in wedding plans rather than later. Allow for four to six months prior to needing your wedding cake to make sure that the designer you want is available.
If you are not familiar with wedding cake designers, you can often see and taste their wares at local bridal fairs. Many wedding reception facilities and caterers will also either offer wedding cake services or can recommend a wedding cake designer to you.
*Choose a style with great taste*
Each wedding cake designer will have his or her own specialties. Before you go in for a consultation, you may want to think about some of the elements that you are looking for in your wedding cake.
*Your style*
Do you want a traditional white cake, a brightly colored one, or one flowing with real flowers? Consider taking in pictures from weddings, bridal fairs, or magazines of design elements that you like.
*Your guests*
How many people do you have attending? This will often affect the number of tiers that your cake will need. Some brides will also choose to have multiple cakes – one for pictures and the ceremonial cake cutting, and then large sheet cakes to use to feed the guests.
*Your frosting*
Traditionally, you have three options in frosting for your cake – butter cream, fondant, and royal icing. Certain styles can only be done in certain types of frosting, and certain frosting's go better with certain cake flavors.
*Your flavor*
Do you want a traditional white cake or are you in love with chocolate? Maybe you want each tier to be a different flavor? Some couples also like cakes to be filled. Make sure that you taste a sample of the different flavors to see which ones you really like.
*Your design*
Do you want the entire design done in frosting or do you want other accents? You will need to talk to your wedding cake designer about gum paste or edible flowers, edible beading, and other accents.
*To top it off*
Does your ideal cake include the traditional bride and groom at the top, or do you have another design element in mind? Your wedding cake designer can help you come up with the perfect look – even utilizing crystals in the shape of your initials.
*Your price*
If you have a wedding budget, you will need to consider the price of the cake, as well as any delivery and set-up fees.Also, different design elements, cake flavors, or frosting styles may cost more.
*Other concerns*
If someone in your wedding has food allergies, you may inquire about the ingredients in the cake, frosting, and design elements. You can see if any of these are able to be substituted if necessary.
However, there is more to buying a wedding cake than walking into your local bakery. As with anything else in your wedding, style should be considered as well. You can ask for photographs of a wedding cake designer’s latest creations.Talk to previous customers to find out how well they liked the service. And of course, you will want to have a taste or two of your favorites – since that is usually equally important as the look.
Remember, your wedding cake should be a part of your wedding style and theme. And since it will likely be the last thing your guests will eat before they leave for the night, you want it to taste as good as it looks. Other than that, only your imagination will limit your design options.
