Project Wedding Cake
The wedding cake, this element of your big day is so important that it has it’s very own moment of glory during the Reception! This is why we have titled this post ‘Project Wedding Cake’ because deciding on how this confectionary pièce de résistance should look and taste is a project in itself. The very first thing to decide is how much of your budget you would like to spend. This will inform your final decision on how the cake will look, who will bake it and how many flavours it will contain.
Generally speaking, a wedding cake which is large enough to feed 100 guests will cost several hundred Euros. However, with many couples wanting to use their cakes as a display of their unique taste and style, wedding cake prices can elevate in to the thousands. This may seem like a ridiculous amount, a cake is simply flour, eggs and a bit of flavouring after all, but bear in mind that a wedding cake can take up to a week to make. In addition, you are paying a skilled baker for their many years of expertise.
If you are planning a wild or unusual cake, it is very important to find a supplier with the skill to deliver your dream. Ask whether you are able to have a wedding cake tasting so you can check the flavour and texture of their work. It’s all very well having a cake which wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery but if it’s as dry as sawdust, well, that’s just a waste of your hard earned money.
Supplier location is also an important consideration. Wedding cakes are often delicate and easily damaged in transit. It makes sense that if you’re having a destination wedding, you choose a supplier based close to your wedding venue. Of course this makes planning a little more challenging but many suppliers offer a postal sample service where they can send you slices of your chosen cake for you to try. If you’re working on a tight budget, you can still have a fabulous cake. What if you’re having a small wedding but your heart is set on a 4-tier work of art, iced to perfection? No problem, consider having just one tier which can be cut and served with the remaining layers created from cake inserts, made from polystyrene but decorated to match.
What if you have a huge number of guests to feed but your budget just won’t stretch? Its possible to use the same idea of having a single layer to cut with artificial layers to give the look of a huge cake. In order to offer everyone a slice, have your baker make a number of plain cakes which your venue can cut behind the scenes and serve to the guests. It’s important that you consider any allergies or dietary requirements of your guests when choosing your cake. One easy way to do this is to have different layers, baked to cater for all. Vegan, fat-free, gluten or dairy free cakes are usually as tasty as their traditional counterparts and are often indistinguishable from a dairy-filled, full fat version. Simply have an allergy and dietary appropriate layer added to your cake. Ask your venue to label each tray of cake so that your guests can choose a slice which is the most appropriate to their requirements.
When it comes to the decoration of your wedding cake, the sky’s the limit. You might choose to walk a very traditional path and serve a fruit cake complete with plain white or ivory frosting. You can keep this extremely minimalistic and sleek or opt for a more elaborate design. This type of cake can look stunning in a contemporary venue and will be timeless in your wedding photographs. You might want to consider matching your cake to your theme with frosting in your chosen colours. The interior of the cake could also be coloured to match, or contrast. If you and your partner can’t agree on a style for the outside decoration for your cake, you could opt for an understated design for the icing with a surprising interior, such as a rainbow coloured cake.
Half and half cakes don’t simply have to apply to the wedding cake interior itself. Chose a multi layered cake which offers your guests a choice of flavour or texture and extend this to the icing too by having one half decorated with one icing flavor and a different flavor on the other half. There are no rules when it comes to wedding cake, and cakes are not required to look one way or be one flavour. Mimic your wedding day attire with one partner’s style on one side and your look on the flip side. Use one side to showcase a common interest you share as a couple and one side to be your standard wedding cake.
We’ve all seen those plastic cake toppers, you know the ones, with a bride and groom sitting atop the cake. But why limit yourself, especially at same-sex weddings where this type of topper is just not appropriate. Rather than leaving the top layer bare, there are now companies that make individualised cake toppers which actually resemble the wedding couple. Some feature a beloved pet too or are more subtle, showing the figures engaged in a hobby which is important to the couple. Another lovely idea is to highlight a family member or friend who is unable to attend the wedding by having a small framed picture on top or displayed beside the wedding cake.
What better way to express your individuality than with a cake with a surprising flavour. It’s the perfect way to make your wedding stand out from the crowd. Serving a cake with a unique flavour will enable you to show off your unique style to your guests. If you can’t agree on a single taste sensation for each layer, why not have each one differently flavoured. A true marriage of your individuality!
- Pink Champagne – Celebrate your big day with a pink champagne flavored cake topped with raspberry mousse and vanilla buttercream. Beautifully summer-y and light, your guests are sure to love it.
- Grand Marnier – A French inspired wedding cake enlivened with the citrusy flavor of Grand Marnier is a grown-up choice. The cognac provides dimension to a simple cake flavour. Adding brandy can also amplify the flavor of a wedding cake.
- Hazelnut Almond – If you’re a fan of rich, nutty flavours, a hazelnut almond cake filled with dark chocolate ganache, mocha buttercream, and raspberry preserve is a great choice.
- Ginger spice – If you are having an autumn or winter wedding, a rich, spicy cake flavoured with spices and ginger will give a lovely warming touch, appropriate to the season.
- Spiked Red Velvet – decadent layers of red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Take your icing to the next level by lacing the cream cheese with decadent amaretto.
- Peanut Butter Cup – Everyone loves a rich chocolate cake. Elevate this absolute classic with a layer of peanut butter buttercream and chocolate and peanut butter ganache, then top it all off with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Of course, a wedding cake doesn’t actually need to be a ‘Cake’! If you’d prefer, you can serve an alternative. If you’re a pastry fan, you could have a selection of your favourite pies, placed on a wedding cake stand if you like. If you don’t have a sweet tooth or want to avoid sugary treats for other reasons, wheels of cheese placed on top of each other and served with fruits and biscuits are a lovely alternative. By now, you should have a good idea of what type of cake you’d like at your wedding. We can’t mention every type and style of cake here but we would love to hear your ideas. Do you have a cake story to share? Contact us and let us know!
Lisa Lloyd
… If you liked Project Wedding Cake you could also read Where should I get married
