Sweet Somethings

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Guests will likely always remember a few cornerstone wedding moments: the vows, first dances and the dessert! So, here’s your chance to have fun with it.

THE DONUT WALL Just envision the beauty of dozens of donuts hanging like a giant piece of art for guests to choose from. You can select multiple flavors and no one can resist the doughy goodness of a perfectly glazed donut. The different flavors and colors provide a stunning visual, which is ultimately what most couples are looking to create with their dessert.

RAISING THE BAR Bars aren’t just for drinks anymore. Bars of the dessert variety can be curated with all sorts of themes. Think: cookies, pie, ice cream and s’mores. There are a couple ways of doing this. Set up your unique dessert bar in a central location where guests can create their own dessert experience with different flavor options and toppings. Or you can bring the experience to your guests with mini bars set up at each table.

DITCH THE TABLE Who doesn’t get excited about a food truck? Hiring a food truck for weddings has become increasingly popular and guests feel like they’re getting a VIP experience. Go old school with an ice cream truck; surprise guests with churros; or consider classic options like cupcakes, cake and cookies. but a rough estimate can dictate how many tiers of cake you need in order to offer everyone a slice on your big day. 4. Flavor Ideas – Deciding on the flavor of the cake may be the most difficult part of the process. You want to find something that everyone loves, while making sure you still enjoy the cake as well. If you and your partner have different tastes, consider alternating flavor combinations by tier.

You can pick something safe for the largest tier — think vanilla or chocolate — and then each choose a more personalized flavor combination for the remaining tiers. Consider choosing more daring flavor combinations, such as lemon raspberry, hazelnut praline, cookies and cream, coffee or salted caramel. Selecting unique, personalized cake flavors can help put a delicious twist on the final notes of your celebration. 5. Design Ideas – You and your partner should have rough ideas on the floral and décor, or the overall look and feel of your wedding before you go in for a consultation. Make sure you compile cake inspiration to share with your cake designer. Swatches of your gown, bridesmaid dresses or tapestry colors are also ideal for your cake designer to create a cake that is a perfect color match. The more specific you are with your vision and examples, the more creative the cake designer can be with bringing your ideas to life.

If your wedding is designed with elegance in mind, you may want to go with a wedding cake that is more traditional in style. This can include piped flowers like roses or real flowers as accents. Lighter colors are usually associated with elegance, so stick with a fair color that matches the rest of your wedding theme to make the cake the centerpiece of your reception.

If your wedding is more modern, you may want to go with more vivid colors. An ombre cake, for example, can create an eye-drawing centerpiece. You can keep it simple, or spice it up with flowers and other decorations. Including bright, dramatic colors can ensure that your cake matches your contemporary theme.

A rustic wedding may inspire you to pick a naked cake. Naked cakes

usually include some type of filling, like fresh fruit, but aren’t fully frosted on the outside so some of the “naked” cake shows through. If you don’t enjoy the taste of icing, this may be exactly the cake for you! And bonus — less frosting means less of a mess! 6. Budget – Do your research to get a feel for what you may want in a cake and to determine what aligns with your allotted budget. After deciding on a potential vendor or two, set up a meeting. Keep in mind that most wedding cake tastings come with a fee of around $25 per session. However, this price is often credited to your cake purchase if you choose that specific designer.

Always remain realistic about your budget, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. A cake designer may be able to help you achieve the look and feel you want with an alternate technique or product.

SAVOR

For the cake designer, setting up a cake tasting appointment can take two-anda-half hours at the very least. However, on the day of the tasting, you can look forward to spending about an hour at the consultation. The first half of the meeting is typically spent confirming details and specifications, as well as going over the design of your wedding and any ideas you already have for your wedding cake. The last half hour is then usually spent on everyone’s favorite part — tasting and rating the cake flavors and options.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your cake designer is an expert and wants you to feel comfortable making decisions about your wedding cake. And you want to be comfortable with your final decision, so ask questions about processes you may not understand or if you have a special request. For example, many bakeries present the couple with a selection of their most popular cake flavors and fillings, as well as their seasonal selections. But if you have something specific in mind, it’s alright to ask for a different flavor. If you already have this flavor in mind prior to your tasting, ask ahead of time so the bakery can be prepared and have that flavor combination ready for you.

THE LOGISTICS

There’s a lot to consider once the cake leaves the bakery and makes its way to the venue. Leave the delivery up to the baker so you don’t have to worry about the cake arriving safely. Most bakeries service the immediate areas around them; however, if you live far away from the cake designer you really like, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose him or her. Simply ask what the charge would be to deliver to your desired destination.

ENJOY

After your tasting, you should follow up to confirm your choices and any additional details. Overall, with a little preparation, every cake tasting can get you one step closer to choosing the perfect cake designer for your wedding. While your wedding cake is only one aspect of your big day, the joy you will receive when you find the perfect slice is so sweet. Bon appétit! ■

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