Wedding Cake

is super important. I'm sorry but as I reflect on all the elements that pull together a wedding reception and what everyone remembers (unless you end up with the police at your wedding or something) is what the cake looked and tasted like.

It's important. Very important. But don't think it's so important you have to go insane. I always like wedding cakes that look like wedding cakes, but I know the trend is for these fondant covered creations that look like Fido or your beloved Porsche. And there is nothing wrong with that. All I'm saying is that it should taste good, people willl notice, and if your cake is a month old...people will notice that too.

When discussing wedding cake options, go to a couple of bakeries or the lady down the street- just be sure to get recommendations first. And take advantage of the cake tasting. Now is not the time to risk a blind test of a baker's ability. Know the price BEFORE you order the cake in order to figure out how many slices you need. Also find out what other services are included- boxes for leftover cake? cake slicing and serving (in the South that's a moot point since someone is chosen for that honor). I know of a baker who will even bake you the same wedding cake (smaller version, of course) for your first anniversary if you call to remind her!

Remember that slices should be decently sized but do not have to be huge. One should also not be able to see the china pattern through the cake. Trust me, I've been in both positions.

Flavoring....there are so many options. It used to be wedding cake was white and that was it. Now you can get anything from pumpkin chocolate chip to creme brulee. Some people are opting for the multiple tiers- one of carrot, one of yellow, one of chocolate- and multiple fillings. You could do a raspberry cream or a lemon filling. All of these are great, but remember to be consistent! I always think it's better if there is just one flavor. If not everyone wants cake, its really not a big deal. You don't want to overwhelm with too many different options.

Best cake: Small family and friends wedding done by a local baker who literally only does one cake, writes it in her calendar, and hasn't missed a date yet. It was simple white with coconut filling and it was, in a word, AMAZING. people were literally collecting crumbs from the cake stand.

Worst cake: Larger wedding I attended in which the cake was some kind of frosting that was topped with fondant. Very pretty to look at, not so pretty to eat.

There have been plenty of mediocre cakes in the middle. what I suggest you watch out for are cakes that have too much stuff on them to be done recently. Everything is hand carved, and yo ushould have seen at least one reality show detailing how these cakes are actually made and served (come on, Cake Boss).


Another way to SAVE MONEY on a cake is this- use real flowers instead of sugar. They look beautiful, and while you can't say your hydrangeas are done entirely out of sugar, you will save enough money to buy sugar flowers for everyone. It also takes hte pressure off the baker, since if you change your mind about the flower topping 48 hours before it's not an issue.

Please do not save money by cutting a cake and not serving it to your guests. Someone told me about a wedding in which the bride and groom cut a very small tiered cake, then served cupcakes to their guests. I don't have a problem with cupcakes instead of cake, but you need to be careful about cutting one thing and then serving your guests another. Pick an option and stick with it. This will also cement the values you want to express.

TIMELINE: Very important. Book your cake early on, get it in writing, and re-confirm a few weeks out. I knew a couple who called the bakery a few days before the wedding and everyone realized that the cake had been completely forgotten. It was craziness. And yes, the bakery did come through, but it was one of those horrific "Are you kidding me?" moments that no one has ever forgotten.


THE CUTTING OF THE CAKE: Super important. PHotographers love this, but don't let them go overboard photographing the moment. You want to live in hte moment too. go ahead and cut that baby. I'm not personally a fan of smashing the cake in each other's face. I also think that the most sanitary route is forks, but obviously that's a personal thing.

CAKE TOPPERS: I can't believe I'm even going to touch on this one, but cake toppers seem to be getting out of control. I love the traditional cake topper- bride meets groom, I love flowers on top, I love lovebirds or something relevant (like ice skates if you two are ice skaters). I do not love any cake topper in which either party is straddling the other party, in which the bride is dragging or forcing the groom, in which the bride is obviously pregnant, and for some reason, I never really liked the letters on top. I just think monogrammed cake toppers are kind of weird. That's more of a personal feature. I also do not believe you need water features, electronics, or anything else not edible going on within or on top of your wedding cake. It is meant to be a part of your reception, not the entertainment at your reception.

I guess that's all.