The Sweetest Thing Dishing on Wedding Cakes
As the sweet finale to your special day, your wedding cake is much more than a dessert – it’s a reflection of your individual style and your love for one another. Think all you have to decide between is vanilla or chocolate? Think again, dear bride! Need a little sweet inspiration? Here’s a hint, it’s all in the “T”s: Themes, Taste, Tiers, Toppers, Tablescaping and Traditions.
Themes – This Isn’t Your Mother’s Cake There are literally thousands of cake designs to choose from, so you might find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed in this department. Here are a few types to consider:
Traditional – Traditional wedding cakes are vanilla with white butter cream icing. But classic does not have to mean boring. With flowers, bows or a monogrammed topper you can give the classic cake your own personal touch. Brides often choose the traditional cake because it is always stylish, beautiful to photograph and a timeless classic.
Beachy – You’re getting married on the Outer Banks, so why not let your cake reflect your seaside choice? Seashells made of white chocolate, brown sugar “sand” icing, and sculpted sandcastles are all fantastic and whimsical ways to give your cake a little touch of the Outer Banks. Several local pastry chefs specialize in this type of cake, so they’ll likely have photos to show you of their past coastal creations.
Trendy – The wedding cake is a great avenue to showcase your individual style, from color to design. It’s your wedding day, so you get to make the rules. If fuchsia is your favorite color, why not icing your cake in hot pink? If you can imagine it, there’s likely a baker who can make it. Whether you want your cake in the shape of stacked presents, adorned with cascading flowers, or intricately decorated with paisleys, the sky is the limit. Some brides forgo the cake altogether and opt for cupcakes, a dessert buffet, or even – like our featured Wedding Guide bride – a pizza cake!
Taste – Raspberry, Red Velvet, Coconut Cream, Oh My! It’s not all about looks; taste matters, too! Underneath that gorgeous layer of fondant, you can bet your guests are going to want a tasty bite of goodness. Don’t disappoint! Again, the flavor is up to you, so let your taste buds be your guide. Ask your cake baker if they have any recommendations. They may specialize in a lemon cream filling that’s to die for or a German chocolate that’s out of this world. Be open to suggestion, and ask to try samples when you’re making your decision.
Tiers – Taking Your Cake to Great Heights Your guest list is an important consideration when determining the number of tiers you may need on your cake. If you’re inviting two hundred guests, then you should think about a cake that can accommodate a crowd – something with many tiers, for example. If your guest list is under fifty, you should envision something in scale. If you are having a lot of guests but don’t want the cost of a grandiose cake, ask your baker if she can make extra sheets of cake using the same flavor and icing as your displayed wedding cake.
Toppers – They Take the Cake Cake toppers used to be a thing of the past… think old school cakes with plastic bride and groom figurines on top. Those kitschy decorations have made quite a comeback. But if kitsch isn’t your thing, consider topping your cake with a sterling silver initial. Incorporating monograms into the cake is a hot new trend; what’s more, the monogrammed topper will be a lasting memento of your special day.
Tablescaping – It’s Not Just About the Cake Anymore Besides the big kiss, the cake-cutting is one of the most photographed moments of your wedding day. The cake and the couple will, no doubt, be gorgeous, but the table also needs to look the part. Traditionally, the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets are placed on the cake table during the ceremony as part of the table decoration. But if you want more oomph, ask your pastry chef or caterer if they specialize in tablescaping. Mirrors, candles, faux sand or faux snow (depending on the time of year), flowers, colorful table linens, and metallic chargers are all tablescaping accoutrements you can incorporate to make the table look as photograph-worthy as the cake itself.
Tradition – Love It or Leave It From the ceremonious cake cutting to the bride and groom feeding each other their first slice of cake, the wedding cake is steeped in tradition. Smashing cake into each other’s faces – like your parents did – might not be for you. If it’s not, alert your groom ahead of time. Your wedding day is no time to have your first fight as a married couple!
Another much more romantic tradition is saving the top tier of the cake to eat it on your one-year anniversary. If year-old, freezer-burned cake doesn’t sound appealing, save it for your one-month or even one-week anniversary instead. Let your cake baker know in advance if this is a tradition you plan on keeping; she’ll likely bake and box up a separate layer so that the entire wedding cake can be enjoyed by you and your guests.
Whether your dream confection is a classic white butter cream or a head-turning, five-tiered, pink polka-dotted masterpiece, your wedding cake is the final stamp that you put on your wedding day. Let your guests leave on a sugar high, and the cake will be a sweet memory of the wonderful day you all shared together!
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