Tuesday, January 15, 2008

How To Get The Right Wedding Cake For You

How To Get The Right Wedding Cake For You

by Lesley-Ann Graham


Who needs that white vanilla wedding cake with sugary frosting? Do you want a wedding cake that looks good but tastes like cardboard, or one that looks good enough to eat - and is? And would you put that hard plastic bride and groom wedding cake topper in your curio cabinet?
Fruit cake, cheesecake, ice cream cakes, even chocolate with chocolate-dipped fruit - your choices in wedding cakes are much wider than they were when your mother got married. You deserve a wedding you like, and a perfect wedding cake for it.

Here are some ideas for you:
A multi-flavored wedding cake thrills everyone. Uncle Jack won't eat vanilla, but your husband's best friend is allergic to chocolate. And you have one guest who is allergic to wheat products, another who is lactose-intolerant. So get a cake with multiple layers of different cakes: cheesecake on the bottom for Mr. Wheat, chocolate for Uncle Jack, and a fluffy fat-free angel food cake on the top for you. Your baker can help. How about a filling for the wedding cake? To dress up an otherwise-bland cake or just one layer, fill it with chocolate, strawberry, or preserves. Or frost it with hard chocolate instead of traditional frosting.


Why are wedding cakes always round? A current cake trend is one that looks like a stack of presents, decorated with ribbons and bows. You can have anything you want; if you're both Nascar fans, maybe a car shape, or a cake in the shape of a rose or a castle. And don't limit yourself to one shape; you can make layers heart-shaped and have a square base, or use geometric shapes.


Match your wedding cake to your wedding colors. White cakes can be boring. Consider edible flowers for decoration as well; these real flowers add color and a real touch of class and beauty, but are totally nontoxic.
Have a gorgeous wedding dress? Dress the cake up to match. Especially if you have a very unique design, you can ask your bakery to match some of the decorations on the cake to your dress.


Look at real china, glass, or objets d'art to top your cake, instead of the plastic figures. Lladro figurines are a wonderful keepsake and look great with traditional and semi traditional cakes. Or you can go with a glass pumpkin coach for the fairytale wedding theme, or something you both love.


If you just can't agree, have a groom's cake as well. Men tend to go for richer, heavier flavors. One great wedding had a traditional tall white wedding cake next to a chocolate fountain, and then a groom's cake, devil's food chocolate (how appropriate) piled high with chocolate-dipped strawberries, with undipped strawberries around it for decoration and to dip into the fountain. Don't be afraid of being different.


Wedding cake ideas and other catering issues are always changing. Our Wedding Planning Toolkit can help you make everything about your wedding memorable, and avoid the traps and pitfalls that many couples fall into. Check it out... it will likely turn out to be the most cost-effective tool in your wedding planning budget.

An Introduction To Wedding Cake Designs

An Introduction To Wedding Cake Designs
by Max Bellamy


The wedding cake design should not only reflect personal style, but also ideally be in sync with the menu and the décor of the wedding reception. The wedding cake should fit in the theme of the wedding reception.
Wedding cake designs can come in many forms, from the usual cream or white icings in conventional designs, to wholly non-traditional designs laced with vibrant artistry.
With the passing of time, wedding cake designs have evolved. Couples are now choosing cupcake trees with greater frequency, which was one of the foremost wedding cake ideas. Yet, some still have a preference for the conventional cakes for their wedding cakes.
The size and design of the wedding cake may depend on a number of things, like the size of the wedding budget or the availability of other desserts in the reception.
Today, one can find pastry chefs who offer infinite wedding cake ideas on icings, decorations, construction, and flavors.
A wedding cake's design can be a reflection of personal taste. A couple with a passion for cars or motorcycles can have wedding cakes reflecting the same; a small motorcycle accompanying the miniature figures of the couple atop the cake, for example.
The flavor of the wedding cake is another important aspect. No flavor is off-limits for the modern wedding. One can have cheesecakes, mousse-filled cakes, pound cakes, vanilla, chocolate or sponge cake.
Today, one can find competent bakers with the ability to create the lacy look of the bride's dress with frosting or the use of pearls. With frosting, these bakers can duplicate the look of any part of the reception's décor. Also, couples can have their initials entwined in the cake with frosting.
In Bermuda, wedding cakes have a little green tree as a cake topping. Following the wedding, the newlyweds can plant the same tree in their garden, and symbolically watch it grow with time.
Then there are other options like adding edible fruits, chocolates or nuts around the cake. This will augment the designs on the guests' plates. For that matter, one can also use edible roses, lavender or oregano as designs, or non-edible flowers as cake toppings.