Choosing a Wedding Cake
How to Select, Display and Cut the Cake
Wedding cakes are rooted in a tradition that dates back to early Roman times when cake was served at marriage feasts. A piece of specially prepared cake was broken over the bride’s head as a symbolic gesture. The cake, made from flour, salt and water, was seen as a sign of good-fortune and fertility.
Weddng Cake Shape, Size and Flavor
The wedding cake is likely to attract attention at the reception and should reflect your personal taste and compliment your wedding theme. The shape, size and flavor of the cake are some of the first decisions you’ll have to make.
Square and round cakes are very popular because they are easy to cut into uniform slices, but if your wedding has a distinct theme like hearts, butterflies or horseshoes, you may want the cake shape to follow suit. Fruitcakes were once used exclusively for wedding cakes, but today chocolate, sponge, cream cake or angel food cake can make a wonderful show.
Your wedding cake need not be a cake at all. Truffle or chocolate towers or layers of cupcakes are popular with modern brides and are easy to serve, especially at large weddings.
Meeting with the Cake Decorator
If you are having your cake professionally made, set up an appointment to see the wedding cake designer at least four to six months in advance. Take along some drawings or a picture of the cake you have in mind. You may want to duplicate the flowers from your bouquet on the cake. Professional sugar-artists can make exquisite replicas.
Tell your decorator about your tastes and your dress. If you are not wearing white but ivory or cinnamon you can request that the icing be tinted accordingly. The color of your wedding is also important. Make sure the decorator knows exactly what colors are going to be used in your wedding.
At the Wedding Reception
Cutting the wedding cake is one of the highlights at a wedding celebration, and it’s probably going to be the first joint-venture you will undertake with your new husband. Visit your reception venue and plan the cake’s exact location. It should be easily assessable from the main table and in clear view of the guests. Ask the caterers to make sure a sharp cutting knife is placed on the table.
If you would like a special song to play as you cut the cake, cue the MC as to when this will happen and make sure the DJ as a copy of the song. Ask the MC to let the photographer and videographer know its cake cutting time so your special moment is captured on film.
If you are serving slices of cake to guests, have someone on hand, either a family member or one of the catering team, to take over the actual cutting once you’ve made the first cut and taken a bite with your groom. This will enable you to pose for photographs before you begin greeting guests at the tables.
Some couples prefer not to serve the main wedding cake but still wish to share something with guests. A simple solution is to have another cake baked, iced and cut into slices, then package into boxes or placed on a serving tray to be handed to guests on the greeting round.
Sugar replicas of the bride's bouquet
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Cup cake towers are colorful and inspiring
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