I think all wedding guests look forward to one thing the most….the wedding cake! Yummy!!! I am finding that it isn’t as simple as it was when I chose my wedding cake years ago. It was 1 flavor, Italian Cream. Now the couples are choosing a different flavor combination for each tier. In this blog, I will give you tips on coming up with creative cakes as well as budgeting for them.
One of my favorite appointments I go to with my couples is the cake tasting. The bakery will offer you a few flavors of cakes and then several options for the filling. The flavor combinations are endless! Just this past week I went to Betty Jane’s Bakeshoppe with one of my couples and they chose a different flavor for each of their 5 tiers plus another flavor for the groom’s cake. Lets see if I can remember some of them…chocolate with raspberry, vanilla with strawberry and pudding, red velvet with pina colada, german chocolate and chocolate with chocolate mouse.
The other part to the appointment is choosing what you want your cake to look like. Most bakeries will have pictures of previous cakes they have designed. If you don’t come in with an idea then looking at these pictures will normally help. Also, think about the theme, colors and small touches you are incorporating into your wedding. You can incorporate those into the cake. For example, if your wedding dress is very lacey maybe use a lace look to one of the tiers. I have a couple where sunflowers are the main flower for the wedding and she will have sunflowers cascading down the side of her cake. One my couples had a Gatsby Inspired themed wedding and the design used on the cake defined that era perfectly! Just keep in mind that the more detailed the cake is, the more it will cost to make.
The cake above matched the bottom part of this bride’s dress
A few tips to save some money would be to choose a very simple cake and smaller than what you need. Then use a sheet cake and cut it in the back and bring out. This is what I did for my wedding and it worked great. Another would be to create the bigger cake but have a couple of the tiers be Styrofoam and then use the sheet cake again. Fondant can be pricier so stick with buttercream. Just be careful that it is placed in a cool place and not delivered too early in the day. It needs to be refrigerated as long as possible so it doesn’t fall apart. I recently coordinated a wedding and just before the cake cutting I noticed that several of the roses the baker placed on the cake had fallen off. Luckily, I caught that before the couple saw it so it looked great for the cake cutting. Some bakers charge extra for certain flavors so stick with the traditional chocolate, vanilla or red velvet. Ask them at the cake tasting which flavors would be extra. Definitely shop around. Some of the newer bakeries might be a little less than the popular, well established ones. Be sure to get a cake tasting and see pictures to ensure your cake will look just what you are expecting. If you are wanting a very basic cake and then add fresh flowers to it, a grocery store might be an economical way of getting that. If you decide not to save the top tier then you can save money there as well. I saved my top tier and I must say that it wasn’t very tasty a year later. I don’t recommend it.
Questions to ask
Do you charge extra for colored cakes?
What are you standard flavors and fillings?
Do you charge extra for different flavors for each tier?
How early do you normally deliver the day of the wedding?
What do you charge for delivery?
Do you have a cake stand? Is there a charge for it?
What is your deposit? When is final payment due?
When do I have to tell you the final count to determine the size of the cake?
Do you offer a cake tasting?
Do you supply a box for the left over cake?
How do you charge? By the slice?
Will you place the fresh flowers from the florist on the cake?
If I want cupcakes can you do that?
Will you put the cake topper on the cake?
Alternative Ideas
As far as the groom’s cake goes my couples lately have been on both sides of the spectrum. I have a couple that are creating detailed groom’s cake with items that are special to him. For example, one of my groom’s cake will be a replica of his combat boots with his dog tags and the American Flag. One of my previous couples had the UT Tower. Expect to pay more for this kind of cake.
Other ideas from other couples is forgoing the groom’s cake all together and doing something else. Examples are chocolate covered strawberries, an ice cream bar from Amy’s Ice Cream (yummy!!) and a collection of different pies. Have fun with it!
Lastly, is the cake topper. This is a way for you two to have something that is special to the both of you. It could be your new monogram, a memento of a trip you took together, an item from a family member, or something the two of you like to do together. Pinterest is a great place to find ideas of what others have done.
If you need help with the planning of your wedding please contact me. I would love to hear your story and what your dreams consist of. Trudy Scott, Royalty Events Planning, 210-595-9263, Trudy@royaltyeventsplanning.com. http://WWW.RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com
