SWEET SWEET SELECTIONS Selecting a Wedding Cake WRITTEN BY: Jean Hailey
A WEDDING CAKE IS THE UNIVERSALLY SERVED CREATIVE CONFECTION for all weddings. Everyone loves wedding cake. The newlyweds deserve to have a cake that is not only delicious, but one that you both will remember forever. Luckily, the days of tasteless and dry wedding cakes with uninteresting icing are over. Today, cakes provided by artistic bakers and caterers are a literal banquet for both the eyes and lips. Wedding cakes are both visual and culinary extravaganzas. These artistic bakers are creating cakes as edible art. Bakers can fashion cakes that look like gift boxes, ships, musical instruments, city landmarks, square shapes, heart shapes and any other imaginable shape. Many couples still go with the traditional-looking wedding cake, but inside this wonderful package might be surprises such as; carrot cake with cream cheese, pound cake with lemon filling, chocolate cake with mocha mousse, classic genoise with white chocolate icing, even cheesecake with ice cream. While many wedding cakes are still mainly white, whimsical designs and colorful accents can turn them into a visual and edible work of art. You can have whatever kind of cake you want, after finding the perfect baker to create your dream cake. It is all up to you, the baker, or caterer’s creativity.
STYLE DECISIONS Your cake should coordinate with the rest of your wedding. The wedding cake decision should be made after you have made the decisions about the style, theme, and reception décor. These basic decisions can serve as a guideline for the design of your wedding cake. Many couples are choosing to use fresh flowers to decorate the cake or cake table. If you choose flowers for your cake, be sure they are pesticide-free flowers. You will want to coordinate between your florist and baker to decide who will do that aspect of the decorating. Choose a cake that is well suited with the venue’s style, the season, the flower arrangements, or the menu. You may want colored accents such as sugar flowers or icing ribbons. Have samples of fabric swatches for your baker if needed. Along with your creative baker, create a cake that will be a beautiful part of your wedding, not a sideshow.
FLAVOR One of the hardest decisions can be the selection of the flavor. You might 38 | N.O.W | NOWWeddingMagazine.com
Photo: Twisted Eye Photography | Cake: Kimbla’s Cakes
consider a multi-flavored cake. This is a wonderful option if you want to give your guests diversity. Some couples choose a layer of chocolate cake, layer of carrot cake and a layer of traditional almond cake. This adds a little something for everyone. Ask your baker for ideas. Seasonal possibilities, such as light lemon cakes filled with fresh strawberries in the summer, or chestnut puree in the fall, will complement seasonal menus. Wedding cakes should look good but should also taste good for all the guests waiting for that first slice. The texture and flavor of the cake is important so when you’re out shopping don’t hesitate to ask for samples of cake flavors. You may taste cakes with a different flavor for each layer, from mocha with Kahlua to hazelnut praline crunch. You may savor the taste of the always-popular carrot cake with cream cheese icing, a delicate angel food cake or even cheesecake stacked and layered with fresh strawberries and decorated with whipped cream.
SHOP EARLY & BE PREPARED Begin shopping for the wedding cake six months to a year before the date, even earlier if you’ve requested a truly unique cake, if the bakery you have chosen is very popular, or if you are being married in a peak season. Make sure that you are familiar with the style and quality of the chef’s work before you buy. When shopping for the perfect baker, come prepared. Be sure to bring all the specifics about the size and type of wedding your are having, as well as information about the reception location, room décor, ceiling height, temperature, lighting, linens, and wedding colors. Also have the names and numbers of your caterer, florist, wedding planner, and anyone else the baker may wish to contact in order to consult and coordinate the details and delivery. Inquire whether the baker bakes fresh or works from frozen cakes. Some will bake early in the week, and then freeze the cakes, decorating them on Friday. Generally this involves handling the finishing touches on the day of the wedding. Fresh will probably taste better. continued>>>
