5 minute read
PIECE OF CAKE
BY ELIZABETH SHANE
Choosing your wedding cake will most definitely be the sweetest part of the wedding planning process, literally. After all, who doesn’t like cake? Before you let the tasting begin, here are a few tips to consider as you embark on your cake journey.
HAVE A REALISTIC BUDGET IN MIND.
Your budget should be the first thing to consider as the cost of the cake will depend on the number of servings needed and of course the design. It takes a lot of time and skill to make a multi-layered cake and some design elements can take several days to create. If the cake is a top priority and you want it to be your dream cake, this will all need to be factored into your budget as it could easily be more than $1,000. One tip to keep in mind, rather than spending as much as $10 plus per slice of wedding cake per guest, order multiple cakes from your baker — a smaller tiered cake for photos and the cutting and a larger sheet cake for serving. Your guests will never know the difference and it will help with the budget.
CHOOSE THE FLAVOR BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT.
The most popular wedding cake flavors haven’t changed much since the 1960s and the four classics are still very popular: vanilla, chocolate, yellow cake, and red velvet. These cakes are sure to be a hit for many years to come, but most importantly choose the flavors you love and be sure to check out the current trends — you may be surprised. It can be anything from classic vanilla with lemon curd filling and buttercream to a dark chocolate matcha with berries. Flavors and smells are proven to be linked to memories so create a happy memory you will taste forever and enjoy every bite!
THE FANTASTIC FOUR Vanilla • Chocolate • Yellow Cake • Red Velvet
THE UP-AND-COMERS Funfetti • Lemon • Spice Cakes • Almond • Pink Champagne
THE MAVERICKS Cognac • Coffee and Cream • Peanut Butter Cup • Coconut
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISSY JENSEN, THE DOTTED LIME
TIP: Don’t forget to ask your cake designer or wedding planner what elements will be needed for the cake display. Items such as the cake stand, flowers, greenery and of course the knife to cut the cake.
THE CAKE’S DESIGN SHOULD COMPLEMENT THE VENUE.
Take into consideration the aesthetic of the venue. Martha Stewart notes that formal weddings typically call for a multitiered cake that can be very ornate or decorated with little detail. Fresh flowers or icing embellishments certainly add to the elegance of any wedding cake. These cakes are often round, but keep in mind the square and hexagon shapes for variation, and the tiers can be stacked for a solid look or set on pillars. White is the classic color for a wedding cake, but today chocolate or colored frostings are just as popular. For the less formal wedding, almost anything goes. If you want something other than cake, opt for cupcakes, doughnuts, cookies, or pastries displayed on a tiered cake stand for that wedding cake appeal.
Chocolate Is Bold
WEDDING CAKE TRENDS THIS YEAR.
2022 has some sweet wedding cake trends and WeddingWire says bold statements are in. Couples are looking for rich colors, uneven tier heights, alternative textures, messy buttercream, mid-tier pedestals, and metallic colors. Individual mini cakes, i.e., the cupcake, are also trendy and provide an element of safety for guests, but effortlessly allows for a variety of flavors. The semi-naked cake continues to be hot, and this trend is a great option for rustic and minimalistic weddings. It can be dressed up or down with flowers, greenery, or berries to showcase the couple’s unique style. Speaking of flowers, florals are always on trend. Whether they cascade down the tiers of cake or dried flowers are pressed into the icing to add color, it’s a gorgeous way to dress up the cake. Finally, don’t forget the cake topper. Toppers add that personalized touch to your cake. The Pink Bride says many toppers are made up of words, rather than a monogram or bride and groom, but no matter what your preference, trendy or traditional, opt for something you love. TIP: Wedding cakes are often round, but keep in mind the square and hexagon shapes for variation.
Add Some Color
Square Cake With Rose Accents
Don’t forget the groom’s cake. Groom’s cakes are often decorated to honor the groom’s hobbies, tastes, and favorite pastimes. It is a cake separate from the wedding cake, always in a different flavor, that is presented by the bride to the groom that adds a fun moment to the wedding day. These cakes are typically chocolate and paired with either fruit fillings or liquored flavorings which makes a nice contrast to a white wedding cake.
