Diy Wedding Cakes: A Sweet Trend?

Many people opt to make their own wedding cakes, whether to save money, have creative control, or simply because they enjoy baking. However, it can be a stressful and time-consuming endeavour, especially for those with little experience in baking or decorating cakes. It is therefore recommended that those who choose to make their own wedding cakes have a solid plan in place, including a transportation strategy, and that they practice making the cake beforehand.

Practice making the cake beforehand

Practice is key to perfecting your wedding cake. Even if you are an avid baker, wedding cakes are a different beast to traditional layer cakes. They are denser and need to be able to withstand being stacked and moved around. Practising will help you to perfect your cake's structure and stability, as well as its design.

If you are making a tiered cake, you will need to learn how to pin a wedding cake together to prevent collapse and slippage. You will also need to consider how to transport your cake to the venue, and how to keep it stable during the journey. Practising assembling and decorating your cake will help you to feel more confident on the big day.

If you are making a complicated cake, it is a good idea to make a smaller practice cake beforehand. This will allow you to test out your chosen flavours and frosting, and ensure that your design is achievable. It will also give you peace of mind and help you to feel more relaxed on your wedding day.

Practising your cake decorations is especially important if you are planning to use intricate sugar paste flowers or buttercream flowers. These can be very challenging to pipe and take a lot of practice to master. Fresh flowers are a beautiful and easy way to decorate your cake, without the need for advanced cake-decorating skills.

If you are making a traditional white cake, you can start freezing your egg whites in advance. Egg whites freeze beautifully, so you can save time by storing them until you need them.

It is also a good idea to practice icing and decoration. If you are making a cake with a casual swirl finish, you can practice blending the colours and swirl texture on cakes that you bake in the months leading up to your wedding.

If you are making a large cake, you will need to build each tier on a cardboard cake round. It is a good idea to buy the next size up from your cake, to allow for easier movement in and out of the fridge. You can then trim the excess with kitchen shears and cover the raw edge with simple piping, a ribbon, or flowers.

Practising your cake in advance will also help you to identify any potential issues with your design and give you time to make changes. It will also allow you to put all your creative energy into the decoration, so that you can be proud of your homemade wedding cake.

Consider the cost of making vs. buying a cake

Making your own wedding cake can be a great way to save money, but it's important to consider the costs involved in both making and buying a cake.

The Cost of Making a Wedding Cake

Making a wedding cake requires a significant investment in time and money. Here are some of the costs to consider:

• Ingredients: The cost of ingredients for a wedding cake can add up quickly, especially if you're using expensive or specialty items.
• Equipment: To make a wedding cake, you'll need various equipment such as cake pans, mixing bowls, spatulas, and decorating tools. If you don't already have these items, you'll need to factor in the cost of purchasing them.
• Practice: It's recommended to practice making your wedding cake at least once to ensure that you're confident in your abilities and to refine your design. The cost of ingredients and your time for these practice cakes should be taken into account.
• Transportation: Transporting a wedding cake can be a delicate operation, requiring a sturdy cake box and a careful trip to the venue. Depending on your mode of transportation, there may be additional costs involved.

The Cost of Buying a Wedding Cake

On the other hand, buying a wedding cake from a professional baker also comes with its own set of costs:

• Price per serving: Wedding cakes are typically priced by the serving, and the cost can range from $2 to $6 per serving or more, depending on the complexity of the design and the ingredients used.
• Delivery and setup: Some bakers may charge additional fees for delivering and setting up the cake at your venue, especially if it requires assembly on-site.
• Customisation: If you have specific design or flavour requests that deviate from the baker's standard offerings, there may be additional charges for customisation.

Factors to Consider

When deciding whether to make or buy your wedding cake, it's important to weigh the following factors:

• Skill level: Assess your baking and decorating skills honestly. If you're confident in your abilities and have experience making tiered cakes, making your own cake could be a rewarding experience.
• Time and stress: Both making and buying a wedding cake can be time-consuming and stressful. Consider your schedule and how much time you're willing to dedicate to this project in the weeks leading up to your wedding.
• Venue restrictions: Check with your venue to see if there are any restrictions on bringing in outside food. Some venues may charge a cutting fee for outside cakes.
• Guest count: The number of guests you plan to serve will impact the size and complexity of the cake. A larger guest list may favour buying a cake to ensure there are enough servings.

Plan transportation and assembly

Planning the transportation and assembly of your wedding cake is crucial to ensure it arrives safely and is displayed beautifully at your venue. Here are some detailed instructions to help you with this process:

Plan Transportation:

• Choose a suitable vehicle: Select a vehicle with enough space to accommodate your cake, preferably a large car like an SUV or a crossover.
• Prepare the cake box: Use a sturdy, large moving box from a hardware store, or a tall cardboard box with one side cut out to create a flap. Place a non-slip mat or damp kitchen towels inside the box to prevent the cake from sliding.
• Secure the cake: If assembling the cake before transportation, use wooden dowels or bubble tea straws as supports between each tier. Place the cake on a flat surface in the back or trunk of the vehicle.
• Transporting tips: Consider using ride-sharing services like Uber XL, where you can ride along and hold the cake in your lap. Alternatively, drive slowly and avoid sharp turns to minimise the risk of the cake tipping over.

Assembly:

• Venue considerations: Check with your venue if they allow outside cakes and if there are any associated fees. Confirm the time you can access the venue to set up the cake.
• Timing: Aim to assemble the cake one to three days before the event. If you're transporting the cake in separate tiers, you can assemble it at the venue a few hours before the wedding.
• Tools and equipment: Ensure you have all the necessary tools, such as a cake stand, extra buttercream, and a spinning cake stand to fill any gaps between the tiers.
• Stacking the tiers: Use supports in each tier, such as wooden dowels or bubble tea straws, to ensure the cake can bear its weight and maintain its shape. Insert a central wooden dowel through the cake to keep the tiers centred and stable.
• Decorations: If using fresh flowers, wrap the stems with floral tape and secure some stems into the cake with straws. You can also add cascading florals, fruits, or other adornments to dress up the cake.

Choose a simple design

Choosing a simple design for your wedding cake is a great way to ensure your cake looks and tastes great without adding unnecessary stress to your wedding planning. Here are some tips for choosing and creating a simple wedding cake:

• Pick an attainable and simple cake design: Opt for a design that you feel confident about making and executing well. If you don't have much experience with tiered cakes, consider making a smaller practice cake beforehand to test out your chosen design.
• Use real, fresh flowers to decorate: Fresh flowers are a striking and easy way to decorate your cake. They can be used to add a pop of colour or to match the flowers in your bouquet.
• Stick to one or two flavours: Making multiple flavours can be time-consuming and complicated. Instead, opt for one or two flavours that you and your partner love. This will make the process simpler and ensure the flavours are the best they can be.
• Use a frosting you feel comfortable making and decorating with: American buttercream is a popular choice as it is easy to make and decorate with. However, if you prefer less sweet frostings, Swiss meringue buttercream or Italian buttercream are good alternatives but require more practice to master.
• Make the cake in advance: Cake layers and buttercream can be made and frozen weeks ahead of time. This will reduce your workload and allow you to focus on decoration closer to the wedding day.
• Create a timeline: If you plan to make your cake the week of the wedding, create a timeline to ensure you stay on track. For example, you could bake the cakes three days in advance, make the frosting two days in advance, and assemble and decorate the cake the day before.

By following these tips and choosing a simple design, you can create a beautiful and delicious wedding cake without adding unnecessary stress to your wedding planning.

Pick a flavour you and your partner love

Picking a flavour for your wedding cake is a very personal decision that should be made by you and your partner. If you both love a particular flavour, make your life easier by making the whole cake that flavour. If you can't agree on a flavour, you can make one half your favourite and the other half your partner's.

However, it is recommended that you stick to a maximum of two flavours for your wedding cake. This is because making multiple flavours can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. For example, one baker shared that they once made four different flavours for a friend's wedding cake and it took them forever.

Additionally, consider the number of guests you are expecting. The first thing you need to think about when making a wedding cake is its size. Different-sized tiers can be combined in various ways, offering flexibility in the number of servings a tiered cake can provide. There are charts available online to help you figure out the appropriate cake size for your guest count.

If you are making a cake for a smaller crowd, consider baking a single-tier cake to avoid the tricky implementation of cake stacking. Alternatively, you can make mini-tiered cakes for each guest. Cake can be baked in large, rectangular pans and then cut out with round cookie cutters. Stack these mini cakes with frosting and decorate them simply.

If you are an experienced baker, you may even want to consider making multiple-tiered cakes with different flavours. As long as the cake is properly supported and the frosting is stable, you can make whatever flavour you want. Some popular wedding cake flavours include vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, pumpkin, and lemon olive oil.

Remember, the most important thing is to choose a flavour that you and your partner love. It is your special day, so make sure to indulge in a cake flavour that brings you both joy!

Frequently asked questions