Picking the Perfect Wedding Cake
-By Wedding Cakes by Dawna
March 12th 2009
Thanks for coming back to visit our Blog. If you have a cool idea you would like to share with other brides, even something you are doing for your wedding click here to see how to submit your very own blog entry!!! If you are interested in seeing something in particular on our blog that you don't see, please don't hesitate in contacting us. See you next time!
Focal Point:
A bride’s wedding cake is often considered to be the focal point of the wedding reception. It can be ordered from your local bakery or a specialty bakery that specializes in custom wedding cakes. Most bakeries allow the bride and groom to choose from different cake shapes and sizes and will decorate the cake using the color theme from the wedding. The cake must not only look good but taste good as well. Custom bakeries allow multiple flavor choices for the couple to choose from. The cake is often the final remembrance of the couples wedding day.
Ordering your cake:
Order your wedding cake early especially if you are planning a summer wedding. Most bakeries prefer three to four months in advance. Before you place your order, there are many ways to gather ideas for that perfect cake. Custom Bakeries will often provide wedding cake pictures for the bride to view during her consultation. Some brides prefer to search the internet or bridal magazines for ideas. If you find something that you like, bring it to the consultation and discuss the ideas with the designer. Your cake can be big or small and make sure to ask if you can make each layer of the wedding cake a different flavor. If you have your wedding colors selected bring a small sample for the designer to place with your order. When deciding on frosting types, buttercream usually tastes better but it can melt during the hot summer months. Fondant is a beautiful icing that will withstand the heat but it normally costs more. When using fresh flowers, your designer can assist you with providing the florist with the measurements of your cake.
Cakes for every Budget:
With the recent crunch of the economy for most families, weddings can become an overwhelming financial responsibility. It is so important to let your bride have the cake of their dreams without breaking the bank. We have found that some brides are trying to serve a certain number of guests while others are targeting a certain price range. At Wedding Cakes by Dawna we take a two step approach to assist brides in choosing the most beautiful cake and still keep it within her budget. First of all there are two types of icing available. There is buttercream icing and fondant icing. Buttercream is a less expensive than fondant and most people agree it tastes better. Fondant on the other hand is a chewy frosting but it handles the summer heat better. If you need to serve a certain number of guests we can design your cake to accommodate that. One idea to save money is go with a smaller sized wedding cake and then serve sheet cakes to the majority of your guests. This is also a nice option because you can isolate some of the mess from cutting the wedding cake by serving the sheet cakes from the kitchen area which also allows the wedding cake to be on display longer.
Delivery:
Now the big day has arrived and I would encourage all brides to have their wedding cake delivered even if it costs a little more. Some bakeries include the delivery in the cost of the wedding cake. The last thing you need to worry about on your wedding day is having something happen during delivery. During your consultation, the designer will need to know what time your reception starts so there is ample time to deliver and set up the cake. Remember if you are using fresh flowers, you need to allow extra time for the florist. It is important to have your facility open and the cake table ready for the cake. If you are planning an outdoor reception, the delivery may need to be later to prevent any damage due to the heat.
Cutting the cake:
The cutting of the cake is one of the final events at your wedding. The groom places his hand over the brides and together they cut into the bottom layer of the wedding cake. This symbolizes the love and nurturing of the couple. If your fiancé is planning to smash the cake into your face, make sure to remind them that the frosting can ruin your wedding dress. It is recommended to have someone assigned to assist in cutting the wedding cake for the rest of your guests. Some caterers will do this for you but there may be an additional charge. If you server your cake, make sure to keep all of the decorator plates or pillars to return to your bakery. If pieces are lost, you will need to replace them or cover the cost of them. The top layer of the wedding cake is traditionally saved and frozen for the couple’s first anniversary. Ask your bakery if they provide boxes for the end of the reception to assist in getting the cake home.
Payments:
Typically your bakery will require a deposit to book your wedding cake with the final balance being due before the wedding day. Make sure to ask if there are any special fees or directions on returning the decorator plates to avoid un-necessary charges.
Leave a Reply
