Creative Cake Ideas For Your Diy Wedding

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but making your own wedding cake can be a fun and rewarding experience. It is important to plan ahead, do some research, and practice before the big day. Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful and delicious wedding cake.

- Consider the number of guests and the size of the cake. Determine the number of tiers and the size of each tier to ensure there are enough servings for everyone.

- Pick an attainable cake design that you feel confident making. A simple design with fresh flowers is elegant and easy to execute.

- Choose your favourite flavour and stick to it. Making the entire cake in one flavour can make your life easier.

- Use a frosting you are comfortable with. American buttercream is a popular choice as it is easy to make and decorate with.

- Make the cake layers and frosting in advance. Cake layers can be frozen, and frosting can be made weeks ahead, giving you more time to focus on decoration.

- Practice assembling and decorating the cake. Building a tiered cake is not as scary as it seems, but it requires careful planning and preparation.

- Transport the cake safely to the venue. It is a good idea to have someone help you transport the cake and provide moral support.

Cake flavours: vanilla, carrot, red velvet, lemon, marble or chocolate chip

There are many ways to make a wedding cake yourself, and the flavour is a key part of the process. Here are some ideas for a DIY wedding cake with the flavours vanilla, carrot, red velvet, lemon, marble or chocolate chip.

Vanilla

Vanilla is a classic choice to please a variety of wedding guests. You can have fun with frostings, fillings and flavourings. For example, you could add extracts to the frosting such as almond, lemon, orange or coconut. You could also mix a few tablespoons of raspberry jam into the vanilla buttercream for the filling or use raspberry cake filling.

Carrot

Carrot cake is a popular choice for a DIY wedding cake. You can use a carrot cake recipe for the bottom tier and make a half batch of the batter for the top tier. You can also include raisins, pineapple or nuts in the recipe. Cream cheese frosting is the perfect pairing with this treat.

Red Velvet

Red velvet is another good option for a DIY wedding cake. Use a red velvet cake recipe for the bottom tier and divide the batter between three 9-inch cake pans. Then use a red velvet cupcake batter for the top tier.

Lemon

Lemon cake is a great choice for a summer wedding. You can use a lemon cake recipe for the bottom tier and a lemon cupcake batter for the top tier. You could also add lemon curd between the layers for added flavour.

Marble

A marble cake is a unique and tasty option for a DIY wedding cake. Use a zebra cake recipe for the bottom tier and a smaller zebra cake recipe for the top tier.

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate chip cake is a fun and indulgent option. After adding the milk to the batter, fold 1 and 1/2 cups of mini chocolate chips into the 9-inch vanilla cake batter and 1 cup into the 6-inch cake batter. Regular-size chocolate chips would also work fine.

Cake decorations: fresh flowers, berries, sprinkles, drips, or a naked cake

Flowers, berries, sprinkles, and drips are all great ways to decorate a DIY wedding cake. Here are some ideas for each:

Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers are a beautiful way to decorate a wedding cake and can be matched to your wedding colours or the theme of your reception venue. You can go as simple or as extravagant as you like with floral decorations. For a simple look, try placing a few blooms on top of the cake or scattering some petals around the base. If you want something more extravagant, try draping flowers over the cake in a cascading pattern or creating a floral arrangement on top of the cake. Just be sure to add the flowers right before the event to ensure they look their best and use water tubes for flowers like orchids, gardenias, and hydrangeas, which need a water source to stay fresh.

Berries

Berries can add a pop of colour and a lovely texture variation to your wedding cake. Try placing fresh raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries between the cake layers or on top of the cake as a garnish. If you're feeling creative, you can even use berries to create a pattern or design on the cake. Just be aware that berries will start to leak juice after a day or so, so it's best to add them at the last minute if you're making the cake in advance.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles are a fun and easy way to decorate a wedding cake. They come in a variety of colours and shapes, so you can find the perfect ones to match your wedding theme. You can sprinkle them on top of the cake, on the sides, or even use them to create a pattern or design. They're also a great way to add a bit of texture and crunch to your cake.

Drips

Drip cakes are a popular and versatile trend that can be customised to fit any wedding theme. Here are some ideas for drip decorations:

• Caramel glaze: Pair with a simple all-white design or a more unique base like a naked or semi-naked cake.
• Chocolate ganache: Drizzle over a sleek and chic wedding cake or a more adventurous design.
• Fruit puree glaze: Use instead of a classic chocolate or caramel drizzle for a pop of colour and a unique flavour.
• Metallic drizzle: Go for a classic gold, silver, or rose gold, or mix it up with a shimmery coloured icing.
• Coloured icing: Brighten up your cake with yellow drips for a spring or summer wedding, or go for a subtle off-white baby pink.

Naked Cake

A naked cake is a cake with minimal to no frosting on the outside, exposing the cake layers and filling. This style is perfect for those who want a more rustic or chic look for their wedding cake. You can decorate a naked cake with fresh flowers, berries, or other garnishes, or simply enjoy the beauty of the cake layers themselves. To make a naked cake, simply omit the frosting on the outside of the cake or use a very thin layer of frosting to create a semi-naked or "half-dressed" cake.

Cake tiers: 2-tier, 3-tier or 4-tier

There are several factors to consider when deciding on the number of tiers for your wedding cake. The main consideration is the number of guests you will be serving. A 2-tier cake is typically suitable for smaller weddings, ranging from 30 to 50 guests. This option is not only impressive but also easier to handle and less expensive than a larger cake.

If you're planning a medium-sized wedding with 50 to 100 guests, a 3-tier cake is a great choice. A 3-tier cake allows for more customization and can be designed to fit various themes and personalities. It also provides ample space for decorations and personal touches.

For larger weddings with 100 to 150 guests, a 4-tier cake is ideal. This option ensures that there is enough cake to serve all your guests and creates a stunning visual impact. A 4-tier cake is a true statement piece and can be designed to impress.

It's important to note that the number of servings per tier can vary depending on the size of each tier and the thickness of the cake layers. Additionally, the desired height of the cake will also influence the number of tiers required. Taller cakes will generally need more support, such as drinking straws or wooden dowels, to ensure stability.

When deciding on the number of tiers, it's recommended to consult with a professional baker or a friend with baking experience to ensure that you have an accurate estimate of the cake size needed for your guest list.

Cake fillings: lemon curd, jam, buttercream or chocolate chips

Lemon curd, jam, buttercream, and chocolate chips are all popular fillings for wedding cakes. Here are some ideas for each:

Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is a great filling option for lemon lovers. It has a rich, sweet and tangy flavour, and a smooth and silky texture. You can make your own lemon curd or use store-bought. When making a lemon cake with lemon curd filling, it is best to trim the tops of the cakes if they are domed, so that the layers are of equal height. Pipe a border of buttercream around the edge of the first cake layer to create a dam, which will prevent the lemon curd from oozing out. Fill the centre with lemon curd, ensuring that the height of the curd is equal to the height of the border, so that the cake doesn't sag in the middle. Place the second cake layer on top, smooth side up, and decorate as desired.

Jam

Jam is a sweet and fruity filling that can add extra flavour to a wedding cake. You can use cooked fruit jam, such as raspberry or pineapple, or fresh fruit jam made by mixing pureed fruit with buttercream. If using cooked fruit jam, heat it up in a pot until it is runny, then spread it over the cake layers. If using fresh fruit jam, spread a thin layer of buttercream on the cake layer first, then add an icing dam, and fill with the fruit mixture.

Buttercream

Buttercream is a versatile and popular filling option. You can use the same buttercream for the filling and the outer frosting, or change it up and use a different type of buttercream for each. There are several types of buttercream, but the most popular are American buttercream and Swiss meringue buttercream. American buttercream is sweeter, while Swiss meringue buttercream is less sweet and has a lighter texture. You can flavour buttercream with extracts such as almond, lemon, orange, or coconut, or mix in a few tablespoons of raspberry jam for a fruity twist.

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate chips can be added to the cake batter to create a chocolate chip cake. Fold 1 and 1/2 cups of mini chocolate chips into the batter for a 9-inch cake, and 1 cup of mini chocolate chips into the batter for a 6-inch cake. Regular-sized chocolate chips can also be used, but mini chocolate chips mean more chocolate in every bite!

Cake frostings: vanilla, almond, lemon, coconut, raspberry or cream cheese

Vanilla is a classic choice for wedding cakes, and it's easy to see why. It's a flavour that will please a variety of guests and can be paired with a wide range of fillings and flavourings. If you're making a vanilla wedding cake, you can have fun with the frostings, fillings and flavourings. Here are some ideas for cake frostings:

• Vanilla buttercream: For a simple look, stick with vanilla buttercream, fresh berries, and mint sprigs. You can also decorate with chocolate buttercream, rainbow sprinkles, or even beautiful buttercream flowers.
• Almond: You can add extracts to the frosting such as almond, lemon, orange, or coconut. (Start with 1 teaspoon, taste, then add more to taste.)
• Lemon: Lemon cream cheese buttercream is infinitely CREAMY and BUTTERY. You can also try a vanilla cream cheese buttercream by replacing the lemon juice with milk or heavy cream in the frosting.
• Coconut: Coconut cream cheese buttercream is also an option. It has that delicious cream cheese tang but is sturdy like classic American buttercream.
• Raspberry: You can even mix a few Tablespoons of raspberry jam into the vanilla buttercream for the filling or use raspberry cake filling.
• Cream Cheese: Cream cheese frosting is traditional with red velvet, but buttercream is more sturdy and will hold up better for piping and decorating.

Frequently asked questions