Covering Wedding Cakes For Outdoor Nuptials

Planning an outdoor wedding comes with its own set of challenges, and one of the biggest concerns is often the wedding cake. How do you protect the cake from bugs, dirt, and leaves without compromising its appearance? From placing the cake under a dome or tent to using creative DIY solutions like a canopy with netting, there are several ways to safeguard your confectionery masterpiece. The type of icing used, such as buttercream or fondant, also plays a crucial role in determining its resilience against the outdoor elements. With some careful planning and consideration, you can ensure your wedding cake remains pristine and elegant, even in an al fresco setting.

Using a hoop bed canopy

Purchasing the Hoop Bed Canopy:

Firstly, source an inexpensive round hoop bed canopy. These are readily available in various colours, so you can choose one that complements your wedding theme. Opting for a light and airy netting canopy will ensure it blends seamlessly into the outdoor setting.

Customizing the Canopy:

To add a whimsical touch, consider sewing a few dozen tiny bows or butterflies onto the canopy in random places. This extra detail will make your cake display even more enchanting.

Setting Up the Canopy:

Purchase a very tall shepherd's hook that can be placed next to the cake table. Ensure the hook is sturdy enough to support the weight of the canopy. Hang the canopy from the hook, allowing the netting to drape gently around the cake. Adjust the netting so that it fully encloses the cake, protecting it from any unwanted elements.

Convenience and Functionality:

The beauty of this setup is its simplicity. Your cake will be perfectly shielded from bugs, leaves, and curious fingers, while still being fully visible for your guests to admire. When it's time to serve the cake, simply move the canopy to the side, and you're ready to enjoy a bug-free and leaf-free treat!

Additional Tips:

If you're concerned about the stability of the canopy in windy conditions, consider attaching small weights to the bottom of the netting or securing it with discreet pins or clips. Additionally, be mindful of the temperature and choose frostings that are more suitable for warmer weather, such as decorator's frosting with shortening, to prevent melting.

Pros and cons of buttercream vs fondant

If you're planning an outdoor wedding, you'll want to consider the pros and cons of buttercream versus fondant for covering your wedding cake. Here are some key points to help you decide:

Fondant

Fondant is a thin, clay-like icing made from confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, and water. It can be easily rolled out to cover a cake and creates a flawless, smooth, and solid finish. It's ideal for sculpting decorations and can be coloured. However, fondant is sensitive to temperature—it softens in heat, stiffens in the cold, and becomes sticky in humidity. It's also more expensive and has a very sweet flavour.

Pros:

• Flawless texture: Fondant can be smoothed out to create a seamless, airbrushed effect with no wrinkles or cracks.
• Colour options: Fondant comes in a variety of colours, including bright white, and can be crafted into different hues.
• Sculpting and decorations: Fondant is excellent for creating intricate designs, sugar flowers, basket weave patterns, bows, cutouts, and toppers.
• Seals in moisture: Fondant helps keep the cake moist and flavorful.

Cons:

• Temperature sensitivity: Fondant softens in heat, stiffens in cold, and becomes sticky in humidity, making it less suitable for outdoor receptions or humid climates.
• Expensive and time-consuming: Fondant is more expensive due to its delicate nature; any tears or wrinkles require redoing the entire fondant covering.
• Sweet flavour: Fondant has an intense sweetness that may be overpowering when paired with the buttercream or ganache underneath.
• Difficult to cut: Fondant's hard, candy-like texture can be challenging to cut through with a fork.

Buttercream

Buttercream is a soft, rich, thick icing made from confectioner's sugar, butter or shortening, flavouring, and sometimes egg whites. It is a guest favourite due to its creamy texture and flavour. It is more cost-effective, easier to work with, and can be used for both cake topping and filling. However, buttercream melts faster in heat and is more limited in terms of colour options.

Pros:

• Guest favourite: Buttercream is generally preferred by guests for its consistency and flavour.
• Cost-effective: Buttercream is easier to prepare and less expensive than fondant.
• Flavour versatility: Buttercream can take on various flavours, from light citrus to tangy cream cheese, complementing the cake rather than just covering it.
• Easier to work with: Flaws in buttercream can be easily fixed by adding more icing or smoothing out uneven layers.
• Lightweight: Buttercream can be spread thickly without compromising the cake's texture, making it a good choice for layering and stacking.

Cons:

• Melts in heat: Buttercream melts faster than fondant in high temperatures and humidity, making it less stable in warm climates or during hot weather.
• Smooth finish challenges: Achieving a perfectly smooth finish with buttercream is more challenging and requires practice.
• Limited colour options: While buttercream can be dyed, it is more difficult to achieve super-rich pigments or vibrant colours compared to fondant.

Ultimately, the decision between buttercream and fondant depends on your desired texture, flavours, and the complexity of the design you envision for your outdoor wedding cake.

Preventing bugs

• Set up the cake in a bug-free environment: Choose a location that is away from florals and water, as these can attract insects. Ensure the area is clean and free of standing water, as mosquitoes are drawn to it.
• Use a cake cover or net: Consider using a hanging bug net, a food cover, or a canopy net to protect the cake from bugs. You can decorate the net with beads or sparkles to match the wedding theme.
• Use insect-repelling decorations: Incorporate natural bug repellents such as mint, petunias, lavender, and chrysanthemums into your centerpieces and bouquets near the cake table.
• Keep the cake covered until serving: If possible, keep the cake covered and in a cool, designated safe place until it is time to serve. This will help prevent bugs and also keep the cake fresh.
• Use fans: Setting up fans to circulate the air can help keep bugs away from the cake and the surrounding area.
• Use bug spray: Offer bug spray or wipes to guests upon their arrival, and consider using bug spray yourself before getting dressed for the ceremony.
• Choose fondant over buttercream: Fondant is less likely to melt in warm temperatures and bugs cannot stick to it.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your wedding cake remains bug-free and enjoyable for you and your guests.

Preventing seagulls

If your wedding venue is near the ocean or a river, you may encounter seagulls looking to snack on your wedding cake. Here are some ways to prevent this:

Firstly, consider asking a friend or a member of the catering staff to be on 'seagull patrol'. Their task will be to keep an eye on the cake and shoo away any seagulls that come too close.

You could also place the cake under a dome, pavilion or tent, which will act as a physical barrier between the cake and any hungry seagulls. If you're concerned about the aesthetic impact of this, a more decorative option is to place the cake under a canopy with netting. You can buy or make a canopy with netting and hang it above the cake from a hook or ceiling beam. Alternatively, you could construct a frame from PVC pipe and drape it with netting or tulle. This will create a pretty 'tent' around the cake, protecting it from seagulls while still allowing guests to see it.

Another option is to use a cake stand with a tall shepherd's hook and hang a round hoop bed canopy from it, draping the netting around the cake. This will protect the cake from seagulls and other elements while still being visible to your guests.

Table placement

When it comes to table placement, it's important to consider the elements that might affect your wedding cake. Here are some tips to ensure your cake remains in perfect condition:

Firstly, if possible, place your cake table in a shaded area. Direct sunlight can cause buttercream frosting to "sweat" and melt, so keeping the cake in the shade will help prevent this. If shade is not available, consider opting for a fondant-covered cake, as fondant does better in warmer temperatures.

Secondly, ensure the tablecloth doesn't touch the ground. This will help keep ants and other insects from crawling onto the table and onto your cake. A clever trick is to set the table legs in water-filled cups, creating a barrier that insects cannot cross.

Additionally, if your wedding is near a body of water, be aware of hungry seagulls or other birds that may be attracted to your cake. Assign someone to keep an eye on the cake and shoo away any feathered intruders.

Another important consideration is the stability of the cake table. Wedding cakes can be heavy, so choose a sturdy table that can withstand the weight and won't wobble or collapse.

Finally, while you may want your cake to be a focal point, avoid placing it in an area with heavy foot traffic. This will reduce the risk of accidental bumps or knocks, keeping your cake safe and sound.

Frequently asked questions