Cake shops seem to be popping up at every street corner these days. They give plenty of options to people looking to buy wedding cakes, but before you can make a choice on a cake, you need to check on several things as follows:
1. Taste –Buying a cake without tasting it is not a good idea When you book an appointment with a baker, you should ask to taste the cakes that he or she is offering. Some clients are able to offer you a tasting immediately, but others have specific tastings scheduled during which you and others can go in to get a bite and find out which flavors you like.
2. Choose a style – You may need to wait on this until you have settled things such as the reception and wedding décor, the dress you will be wearing and how your bridal party will be dressed. This is because these elements will all be used to inform on the style of the wedding cake. You want to have a cake that suites the season, the venue, the menu, flower arrangements, your gown and more. If you are having a colorful wedding, you could choose to add sugar flowers and other embellishments as well. Your cake needs to feel like it is part of the wedding and should be the reception show stopper.
3. The size – You could order one of the best wedding cakes ever seen but if it is not enough for your guests, there will be some disappointed people in the crowd. You want to know how many guests you will be having and then get a cake that will feed all of them. Additionally, you want to look at the reception venue in order to decide how the cake will be arranged. If you are in a banquet hall with very high ceilings, it may be a good idea to increase the height of the cake.
4. Consider your budget – The cake you order needs to match the budget that you have set aside for cake. The type of icing you choose will also matter since butter cream is not very expensive, while fondant can cost you. How complicated the cake is will also make a difference in cost. If you are looking for sugar flowers, artistry or moving parts, then it will take longer to do and that can increase the designer’s labor charges.
To save on the cost of the cake, you will need to keep the cake simple yet elegant. Molded shapes and sugar flowers could increase the cost quite a bit. One option is to also offer a desert along with the cake, which then allows you to offer smaller cake portions.
5. Think of the weather – If yours is set to be an outdoor wedding in the heat of summer, then you will need to stay away from frosting that melts. This will include butter cream, whipped cream and meringue. One of the friendlier options is fondant, but of course you should speak to your baker and find out what they recommend.
Photo courtesy of Publix.
