Deciding on the inside and outside of a wedding cake is one of the sweetest tasks of your wedding planning. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to presentation, decoration and flavour.
Most wedding planners suggest ordering the cake at least six months before the wedding, or as soon as possible after you’ve chosen your reception venue, theme and colour scheme. All those decisions need to precede your choice of cake, and help narrow down the vast choice, simply because the cake needs to fit in with the general aesthetic of the day.
If you’re very traditional you’ll probably want a multi-tiered rich fruit cake iced in royal bright white, but when it comes to modern wedding cakes, anything goes. Choose any size, shape, flavour or colour you wish, elaborate or simple … it’s all about putting the cherry on top of your wedding reception with a confection that will wow the guests. It doesn’t even have to be a cake; many couples go for towers of cupcakes or even a syrupy stack of doughnuts.
The very latest trend is for “naked cakes” – sponge cakes that without icing. Instead, it’s filled with all sorts of delicious fruity and creamy extravagances and decorated with a dusting of icing sugar, fresh fruit and edible flowers.
If your budget runs to hiring a creative baker to craft you a bespoke wedding cake, it’s best to have some idea in mind of what you want before you approach the professional cake artist. Estimates of the average cost of a wedding cake vary between £300 to £500, depending on how intricate the design and recipe is. Supermarkets such as Waitrose and M&S offer plainly iced wedding cake tiers, that you can decorate and arrange yourself – you could “do it yourself” for around £100.
Have a look through bridal magazines to get some ideas. Make a sketch if you can, and have some swatches of your wedding theme colours on hand to help the cake designer create your dream cake.
Whatever you choose, selecting the right creative baker is crucial if you want your wedding cake to taste as good as it looks. Professional cake bakers also know the best way to pack, store and transport a wedding cake creation so that it arrives and survives the reception until you are ready for the ceremonial cutting.
Ask around for recommendations for wedding cake designers from friends and family. The reception venue hosts will also probably be able to suggest likely prospects in the area.
You can also choose to not have the traditional sponge or fruit cake. Many couples have chosen to go down the path of tiers of sweet things such as doughnuts, cupcakes, sweets and even cheese!
Before making a decision ask to see a portfolio of the baker’s work, and for a tasting of your chosen cake flavour. Make sure they have factored in any special requests into the quoted price, such as delivery to the venue and assembly of the cake if required. Nail down all the details, such as time for delivery, and make sure someone is designated to meet the baker and put the cake in place.
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