Wedding Cakes

Gone are the days of the traditional wedding fruit cake layered in marzipan and coated in white icing. Today's brides and grooms are mixing it up with a huge range of wedding cakes to choose from. Anything from mud cakes to sponge cakes and even cupcake towers is possible. If you have a cake in mind, all good wedding cake specialists will be able to make your ideas a reality. Dazzling decorations coupled with fantastic flavour are crucial to your wedding cake's success and with modern day cake design the sky is the limit!

Deciding on a wedding cake specialist is a lot easier with so much information available online. Most companies post photographs of their work on their websites so you're able to check them out before going there in person. Alternatively, ask any recently married couples you know where they ordered their wedding cake from. It's best to do this sort of research at least six months before your wedding date.

It's best to get a full quote and shop around for the best deal before deciding on a wedding cake company. It's also worth checking out their ingredients and asking whether they freshly bake or freeze their cakes. A lot of the time you'll find that wedding cake bakers and designers also specialise in wedding flowers. Find out whether they offer a cheaper price or package deal if you use both of their services.

Before organising a wedding cake it's ideal to know how many guests you will be expecting in order to ensure that no one will miss out on a slice. From here your wedding cake specialist will be able to determine a size based on the figures. Some couples may already know what they want their cake to look and taste like, while others may need to discuss ideas with their specialist or arrange a cake tasting session. Quotes are usually based specifically on the individual cake and can vary depending on size, type of cake, decorations and delivery. Once a cake and price have been agreed on, you will usually be asked to pay a substantial deposit to hold your wedding date.

Undeniably the most enjoyable part of the wedding cake ordering process is deciding what it will look and taste like. Cake tasting sessions are generally offered by most wedding cake bakers. Some different types of cake include:

Fruit Cake: The traditional fruit cake is still a popular option, especially for durability purposes. Because it remains edible for years if stored correctly, a lot of couples like to save their cake for their one year wedding anniversary.

Sponge Cake: This option has become increasingly popular for younger couples and modern weddings. The only set back is that it is harder to stack if you want a cake with pillars and multiple levels.

Others: Cheesecakes, mud cakes and even cupcake stacks are other popular options. Some couples even opt for multiple tiered cakes with a different flavour for each.

Cake Tip: When you're choosing your cake and filling type consider the season of your wedding. Cakes with butter cream icing and/or moose or cream filling will not hold up well in the summer heat unless you keep it refrigerated until the cutting. Something sturdier such as fruit cake or mud cake is potentially a better option for hot weather.

Wedding cakes come in a huge range of shapes and sizes. Some are made to match the bride or bridesmaids' dresses and flowers, while others can be shaped into castles or hearts to match a specific theme. Cakes can consist of multiple layers separated and supported by pillars or multiple tiers stacked on top of each other. Common shapes are circles and squares as they are easily cut; however, anything goes in this industry and if you have a certain shape in mind it isn't a problem.

Wedding cake decorations are ultimately what separate your cake from the rest. Many couples choose to colour coordinate their cake with the wedding flowers or bridesmaid dresses. With floral decorations it's possible to implement either sugary edible flowers or fresh flowers. For this purpose it comes in handy if your wedding cake specialist also provides wedding flowers. Other possible decorations include lace from the bride's wedding dress and ornaments to place on top of the cake.