WEDDING CAKES From tum to

A PIECE OF CAKE

Arguably the most exciting part about planning a wedding. There are many different options for your wedding cake to suit a variety of budgets, styles, themes and of course, tastes...

A couple’s budget for a wedding cake varies drastically. You may feel like the cake is a very temporary wedding item, used for photos, eaten then gone. However, you may feel the wedding cake plays an important part in your wedding day celebrations. However you feel about the cake, you can make it look stunning on any budget. If you want a smaller cake and you have a small budget for this part of the wedding, go for just one tier. It is becoming increasingly popular to have just one long tier. Make sure you introduce your florist to your cake maker too! They can make your cake look bigger and more beautiful through the power of flowers. Another alternative for a more affordable cake is a naked cake decorated with fruits. As there is no icing and therefore no timeconsuming detail work, most cake makers charge considerably less for them. On the other hand, if you’re going for grand and making your wedding cake your centrepiece, we have inspiration over this page to show your cake maker whatever luxe style you’re opting for. If you really are going all out, have a sweet table too. Make your cake the centrepiece and add biscuits, cookies, cake pops and macarons to the table for people to help themselves too. This way you can cater for all tastes. Making a sweet table helps for a smaller budget too. If you’ve friends or family who are a whizz in the kitchen and can cook up a cake or two, get them to contribute two or three little cakes of varying flavours and a few sweet things for the table. It will look impressive and it’s much more affordable than one grand cake. If you’re more a fan of savoury foods, make your very own cheese cake! This is super easy to construct yourselves, doesn’t cost too much and tastes great with crackers! Some cake makers can go into serious detail like Rosalind Miller (lollipop cake to the right, flower cake and royal cake far right). This obviously costs more but can make a lasting impression on your guests. Top right is Fiona Cairns’s naked cake. Another great way to make a naked cake look special is with your florist adding her own touch to it. n For more information and wedding ideas please visit the website www.ukbride.co.uk.

Questions to Ask

YOUR WEDDING CAKE ARTIST

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? q The first indication to tell you if someone is an experienced baker is how long they’ve been in business. This question is your background check. It also indicates whether they’re just good at baking or whether they know how to construct and transport cake. HOW SOON WILL YOU BAKE MY CAKE? q If the cake maker is making multiple cakes for a weekend, they chill or freeze the layers before assembling closer to the wedding. Make sure they’re not baking the cake too far in advance; if a cake is frozen for too long, it can dry the layers out. IS TASTING INCLUDED IN OUR FEE? q Some cake makers will charge for cake tasting sessions. This will be included in your final cost so make sure you’re aware of this hidden cost before choosing them. It’s also worth asking if they offer a consultation tasting session or just a tasting session; a consultation allows you to discuss your design ideas with them. CAN YOU WORK WITH OUR FLORIST? q Double check if the cake maker is happy to work with your florist. The cake maker will bring an undecorated cake to the venue and your florist will then dress it.

MONEY SAVING TIPS

n The easiest way to save money on your cake is having a smaller cake. The smaller the cake, the smaller the cost. n Forget the fondant. Go for buttercream.This will save you loads of money as it’s less labour intensive for the cake maker and less expensive for them. n DIY your cake toppers. Instead of asking for an intricate design, buy cake toppers or try to make one yourself. This will personalise your cake too. n This may seem a strange idea, but you can use fake foam tiers. Your cake maker will work with you to produce a beautifully iced cake with half to slice and half as presentation. HOW DO YOU PRICE YOUR CAKES?

q Most bakers will charge you per serving (how many slices your cake will make), but some will charge on the amount of detail, number of tiers or the amount of time it will take. You may get a completely bespoke price depending on your order. It’s worth knowing just in case you need to cut costs. HOW DO YOU DELIVER THE CAKE? q This is surprisingly one of the most important parts of a cake maker’s job. You need to know what will happen if the cake is damaged in transit, how they’re taking the cake to you, when, and you need to make sure your cake table is ready for it! CAN YOU CREATE CUSTOM CAKES? q Some bakers will only work from a set selection of designs with few variations. If you want a really personal or unique cake, it’s worth asking before you get into the design process having already signed the contract.