CAKES
Complement your wedding with a tower of cake that represents your individuality and personal style. Cutting the cake represents the first shared task of your married life, so choose a cake that makes a statement about you as a couple.
Today’s cakes are as diverse as the couples who marry. Cakes today are beautiful and delicious. They are meant to be shared with your guests. From elegant and refined to just plain fun, your cake possibilities are practically endless. Now is the time to think out of the “cake box.” Think about your all the aspects of you event. The venue, the décor and even the style of your dress all play a part in the final decision your wedding cake. Remember: the design should be consistent with your wedding.
• Need a different centerpiece idea? Instead of the usual flowers, have a cake for each table. Going for trendy? Individual gourmet cupcakes can be displayed nicely in the center of the table.
• Add some color! Color adds instant drama. Flowers, sugar ribbons, or fruit accents are good ideas. If you decide to use fresh flowers to decorate the cake or cake table, make sure they're pesticide-free. Coordinate between your florist and baker to decide who will do that aspect of the decorating.
• Chocolate? Vanilla? Lemon? Carrot? Anything goes! If you can’t decide, consider having a different flavor for every tier.
• Still can’t decide on a cake flavor or style? Brides and grooms sometimes have different ideas on what their perfect cake should be. Pamper your groom and let him have it his way – with his very own cake! Traditionally, the groom's cake was brandied fruit, chocolate or another favorite of the groom's. It might be baked in a creative shape, like a tux or top hat, or perhaps whimsical to represent his favorite sport or hobby. The groom’s cake can be served at the rehearsal dinner or the reception as a second dessert choice.
• If your doing something really fun or unique for your centerpeices tell the baker or bring some of the materiasl with you as it may be really neat to incorporate some of the centerpeice decorations into the cake design. Submitted by: The Icing on the Cake, Tempe, AZ. 480-756-CAKE (2253). www.icingonthecake.com
• Consider the season. Fresh berry filling is luscious for spring and summer weddings. How about a yummy fresh fig filling for early fall?
• Many times the cake flowers are overlooked, or they can be a place where one might want to save money on. However, the cake flowers can actually be used as a focal piece when entering the banquet room. Use the cake, and the flowers around the cake, to lead the eye into the room and help to create the vision you have for your reception, The cake flowers will help to give a “wow” factor. Submitted by: Desert Rose Florist, Cave Creek, AZ. 480-575-8909. www.desertroseflorist.com
• Where’s the cake? Think carefully before you “dump” the wedding cake in the corner of the reception room. Ask about the options the location offers. Are there mirrors or panes of glass that reflect the flash back at the photographer? Is there an ugly light switch or fire extinguisher on the wall? Place the cake away from the wall so the photographer can move around the table. You will spend a lot of money on a reception hall, be sure the cake corner is decorated too!
• The best part of planning a wedding? The cake tastings of course! Schedule appointments with several bakers. While you are there, ask to see a portfolio of their previous work and for a few references.
• When you are meeting with the baker and you see samples of their work, make sure to ask if the person who decorated the sample cakes will be the same person who decorates your wedding cake. Submitted by: The Icing on the Cake, Tempe, AZ. 480-756-CAKE (2253). www.icingonthecake.com
• Edible flowers: Since there is no agency that regulates the growing process, one can ever be sure of anyone claiming edible flowers are free from pesticides. However, romantic it may seem, I am a practical florist and would not recommend eating flowers. Submitted by: Desert Rose Florist, Cave Creek, AZ. 480-575-8909. www.desertroseflorist.com
• Before you go to the baker, look through magazines to get an idea of what you like. Bring along some cake photos you’ve found and color/fabric swatches from your dresses to give the designer a starting point. The cake designer will also want to know what type of flowers you will have at your wedding and how many guests you are expecting.
• Specifically ask about the icing that will be used on the cake. Will the icing retain its flavor for the duration of the wedding and reception? Will it melt easily? Let the baker know if the cake will be outside or indoors.
• Question to ask your baker: Does she bake fresh the day before? Or does she bake early in the week and then freeze the cake, putting the finishing touches on the day of the wedding? Be sure you taste the cake you will be getting – fresh or frozen.
• Does the baker’s price include a cake stand and other tiers or support stands? Be sure to get a written proposal.
• Find out if the baker will deliver on the day of the event and if there's an extra charge for delivery. Also, does the delivery person have enough experience to deal with any last minute icing emergencies?
• The first record of a multi-tiered Wedding Cake. One of the oldest and fondest wedding traditions, the wedding cake has been associated with weddings throughout history. Many say that the wedding cake as we know it began in England in the 17th century. The first record of a multi-tiered wedding cake was in Great Britain in 1840, for Queen Victoria’s wedding, it was more that nine feet in circumference.
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