The Icing on the Wedding Cake
An impressive dessert creation is the icing on the wedding cake. I’ve seen and photographed countless wedding cakes and they all have been first-class examples of the mix between artistry and confection. However, you don’t have to hire a master creator from Cake Boss to present and serve a stunning and scrumptious wedding cake to your guests. With a little research and planning (and what could be a better job than researching dessert?) your wedding cake can be the delicious addition to your memorable day.
Begin by thinking about your service and any themes or styles you are hoping to convey. If you are striving for a widely used wedding ceremony, you might want a more classic cake plan. Themed weddings can make for some pretty unique and creative cakes, such as underwater themes, cowboy hat shapes, or towers of donuts. Collect any pictures you find in magazines or online that represent your description preferences.
The next part might be the most enjoyable part – meeting with pastry chefs to see their portfolios and taste test some wedding cake flavor possibilities. Bring along those photos that show the styles you prefer, and ask to see photos of the chef’s previous work. Classic cake flavors such as marble and white often serve most taste preferences of guests, but if you prefer an unrivaled flavor such as red velvet, consider having two choices for guests. Some chefs specialize in other cake flavors such as cheesecake, fantastic for a Philly style wedding, or all organic cake recipes.
When you find a pastry chef you expect will be able to provide you with a wedding cake that will melt your mouth, but not your budget, consider the fine details. Some couples choose a smaller designed cake which is cut but serve their guests from a sheet cake. Your cake design doesn’t have to fall prey to the plastic bridal group figurines of years past. You can add flair to your cake with real flowers, lavish tiers, and pastry paint designs that look like they belong in a museum. Don’t forget about the setting of your wedding function – you don’t want to order a delicate chilled cake that will end up sitting in the sun on a patio for 3 hours. Make sure you also find out from your chef or bakery the deadlines for placing your initial order and your final orders after the RSVPs have been counted.
The time has come to have your cake and eat it too. Remember to have the official cake cutting announced at the reception so that guests know where and when you will be making the common first cut together. You can choose to cut the cake right away, or wait until after your meal, but remember to allow for time for the serving staff to finish cutting and serving the dessert. If you’re a couple who loves tradition, save the top tier of your wedding cake and have it frozen to share on your first wedding anniversary. And watch out for that groom who might “encourage” you to have a big first bite of cake!
