By Nicola Meir.The Icing on The Cake
With TV programs like ‘The Great British Bake Off’ so popular these days, cakes are so much more than simply ‘cake’ and play a huge part in your wedding day.
Choosing the right cake for your special day very much depends on many different factors…
How many would you like it to cater for?
Would you like it to be served as the dessert to your wedding breakfast or just simple finger portions to serve to your evening guests?
How many tiers and which flavours?
Do you need to cater for special dietary requirements such as gluten free?
Do you want a traditional cake or is your wedding themed?
So many more questions to be answered so hopefully this simple guide will help you decide…
What size?
The size of your cake depends on the number of guests you have attending and whether you wish to have dessert or finger portions. The below illustration will help you decide… https://www.cake-carousel.co.uk/portion-guide-pricing/
Image reference – Cake Carousel
What Flavours?
Traditionally the top tier of a wedding cake was always a fruit cake similar to that of a Christmas Cake. This was then kept uncut and re-iced for the Christening cake of the first born child.
These days there are a plethora of flavours to choose from…Victoria sponge, chocolate, red velvet, lemon, carrot cake to name but a few…not to mention all the different flavour fillings that can be used…vanilla sponge with a Biscoff filling…or lemon cake with prosecco buttercream perhaps? Try to cater for everyone’s taste including perhaps a gluten free tier or other special dietary requirement tier so that no guests miss out on your delicious centrepiece.
Which Icing?
Image reference – WVSA Supplier – For Goodness Cake
Fondant icing, traditionally white or cream covers the cake with a layer of icing which will keep the cake inside airtight until cut and therefore will last much longer than a naked cake.
Image reference – WVSA Supplier – Ambers Bakes and Cakes
Buttercream Icing covers the cake in a layer of buttercream icing and great for those not keen on the heavier consistency of fondant icing.
Consider the time of year you are getting married and the style you wish to create. For example, fondant icing will tolerate the hotter months better than buttercream!
What style?
Gone are the days of a simple white tiered wedding cake. Now the options are endless. Even flowers can be sugarcraft, real or artificial.
Image reference – WVSA Supplier – Cakes Fabulous Cakes
Themed cakes, cupcake towers or even a ‘double-take cake’ where the front of the cake is traditional while the reverse is themed with something personal to the bride and groom…these generally are placed with the traditional side showing for the wedding breakfast and then turned around to reveal the fun, themed side at the evening reception!
Image reference – WVSA Supplier – Leanne’s Cake House
Perhaps include personalised ribbons or a sentimental cake topper that can be kept as a keepsake from your special day.
Some couples prefer cupcakes over a tiered cake and these could be placed in little gift boxes as wedding favours for your guests to take away with them. You could even have a tower of different desserts and cakes to provide your guests with even more choice!
Image reference – WVSA Supplier – For Goodness Cake
Don’t forget your Bespoke Wedding Planner will have experience of the many types of cakes available and can help you decide on the size, style, theme, flavours etc as well as obtain quotes from our extensive list of accredited suppliers.
So you really can have your cake…and eat it!
Nicky xx