Today’s wedding cakes range from traditional to ultra modern. The style of the cake you choose should reflect the mood of your wedding, as well as your own personal style.
The days of the ‘cookie cutter’ wedding cake are gone for good.
There are several things to consider when picking your wedding cake. First, you have to select a bakery. Look for a company that you are comfortable with and that has a good reputation. A good place to start is to ask your caterer or your reception hall whom they have worked with and recommend. Once you have a short list of bakeries, visit them and see their work first hand.
Bring with you any picture of wedding cakes that you are interested in, swatches of your wedding colors, and your imagination! Don’t forget to taste the cake as well. Most bakeries will offer opportunities to sample their cakes - take advantage of it. You don’t want to be surprised on your wedding day with a beautiful, but dry cake!
Once you have selected your bakery, the next thing you need to do is choose your cake design. First, what size cake will you need? Consider how many guests you are expecting to serve at your reception. The rule of thumb is to have a slice of cake for every guest. This is especially true when you are having a served dinner.
You don’t want the wait staff to get to the last table and run out of slices of cake! Times when you can cut back on the cake would be if you are having a buffet style dinner, or plan on cutting the cake late into the evening, after dancing.
Finally, you are ready to choose the decorating style! A good way to go about finding the perfect style for you is to look at the internet and browse through magazines. Save a copy of any cake that catches your eye, and eventually you will see a pattern emerge. Maybe you like bold patterns on your cake in eye catching colors, or maybe you like cakes that are mostly white on white. Do you like a lot of flowers, or a simple ribbon adorning the tiers of your cake.
Have fun and take your time.
Remember to consult with your bakery and listen to their suggestions. They have a lot of experience and can help you design a beautiful cake that will be the perfect compliment to your wedding day.
Amanda Gragg
Reeves Cake Shop
