Outdoor wedding
Often the center of attention in regards to the reception, everyone wants to go see what the cake looks like: Does it have clean, sharp lines? What flavor is it? What does it smell like? The entire reception meal is rounded out by the long-awaited and much-desired wedding cake. The natural lighting of the outdoors (providing it is a fairly sunny day) can give the cake an almost surreal effect, making the colors more vivid and appealing. Natural backdrops can be a beautiful accent with rich, dark green hedges, trees, or bushes, the beach with its blue waters and crashing waves, or the mountains in the distance, majestic and awe-inspiring; all of which can lend a “fairytale” accent to a wonderful celebration.
While making a stunning statement with the advantage of available natural lighting and amazing scenic backdrops, outdoor wedding cakes require a special set of guidelines. Indoors the temperatures are most often regulated and stability is more prevalent in regards to location of the cake and the structure is rests on. However, when the cake is placed outside, it is at the mercy of the elements, guests, and often pets and other animals, so special care must be taken to ensure its safety, durability, and quality.
In regards to the elements, an overhead structure may be the best option to protect the cake. Sunlight can reflect beautifully off the cake; however, it can also cause damage. Wedding cake frostings are, after all, made of sugar for the most part and therefore susceptible to heat. Too much heat and the frosting will start to degrade and “melt” off of the cake itself, making damage very apparent. While an overhead covering such as a tent-like structure of some kind, may cut back slightly on the natural lighting, it offers protection from sun, wind, and moisture while still letting in enough of the natural glow of the sunlight to be aesthetically pleasing.
The structure the cake is placed on is also an important consideration. The footing must be level and in a stable location. Table legs should be supported so as not to let the weight of the cake push them into the ground and possibly cause the table to tip and fall. The structure should also be large enough to support the cake with a wide enough edge to keep small hands, animals, and accidental bumps from damaging the cake.
All in all, only a few simple precautions need be taken to ensure a most beautiful presentation.
