Choosing The Perfect Wedding Cake: A Guide To Toppings

Wedding cakes have been a tradition since ancient Rome, when a groom would break a loaf of barley bread over his new wife's head! Nowadays, wedding cakes are a little more elegant, and there are endless options to choose from. From the flavour to the filling, the size to the style, and the decorations to the delivery, there's a lot to consider when it comes to choosing your wedding cake.

Cake toppers

• Classic Bride and Groom Statuette: This is a traditional option that depicts the couple in their wedding attire. It can be a simple and elegant way to top off your cake.
• Fresh Flowers: Adding a bouquet of fresh flowers to your cake can be a beautiful and natural choice. Just be sure to coordinate with your florist to provide flowers that match your wedding theme and colour palette.
• Family Heirloom: Using a family heirloom as a cake topper is a unique and meaningful option. It could be an antique figurine passed down through generations or a special memento that holds sentimental value.
• Customised Figurines: You can find cake toppers that resemble you and your partner, complete with personalised details such as hairstyles, outfits, and hobbies. These toppers can be a fun way to showcase your personalities.
• Favourite Characters: If you and your partner share a love for a particular movie, TV show, or comic book, consider incorporating your favourite characters into your cake topper. This can be a playful way to showcase your shared interests.
• Monograms, Names, or Wedding Logos: Adding a personalised touch to your cake with monograms, full names, or a custom wedding logo can be a stylish option. This could be a great choice if you want something elegant and sophisticated.
• Pets: Honour your furry friends by including them in your cake topper! You can find custom cake toppers that feature your pets, whether they're dogs, cats, or any other beloved animal companion.
• Quotes or Humorous Sayings: Adding a light-hearted touch to your cake with a funny quote or saying can showcase your sense of humour. It could be a favourite love quote or a playful saying that reflects your relationship.
• Sparklers: For a dramatic and memorable effect, consider using sparklers as part of your cake topper. Just be sure to coordinate with your venue to ensure this is allowed and take the necessary safety precautions.
• Hobbies and Interests: Showcase your shared hobbies and interests with a cake topper that represents them. Whether it's a shared love for music, sports, or travel, there are cake toppers that can incorporate these themes.

Remember, the cake topper is a fun way to express your creativity and add a unique touch to your wedding cake. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and choose something that truly represents you as a couple.

Timing

When to Order the Cake

It is recommended to order your wedding cake at least six months in advance, and up to 12 months if you're getting married during peak wedding season. This allows your baker enough time to work their magic and ensures they can give your cake the attention it deserves. Ordering early can also help with your overall wedding planning, giving you more time to spread out vendor deposits and avoid last-minute pressures.

When to Cut the Cake

Traditionally, the cake-cutting was the last moment of the reception, signalling to guests that they could start heading home. Nowadays, it usually takes place shortly after dinner and before the dancing begins. This timing serves as an unofficial sign that the main reception events are over, so some guests may start leaving if they don't plan to stay for the party. Cutting the cake early also ensures your photographer captures the moment and gives your catering staff more time for slicing and serving.

Cake Delivery Timing

Discuss all the details with your baker ahead of time to coordinate cake delivery. Complex cakes may require extra time for assembly, and your baker will need to account for travel and potential traffic. Ask your baker if you need to be on-site to approve the delivery or if you can designate someone else to handle it. Leaving enough time for delivery is crucial, as it allows the cake to come to room temperature and gives your baker a chance to do any final touch-ups.

When to Serve the Cake

The cake is typically served as dessert, either plated by the catering staff or offered to guests to take as they wish. If you want to avoid leftovers, instruct your planners and coordinators to have the cake cut early so it can be served as dessert. If you cut the cake after your first dance, your caterers can slice the rest during dinner and serve it once the meal is over.

Saving the Cake for Your Anniversary

If you plan to save the top tier of your wedding cake for your first anniversary, make sure to properly preserve and wrap it. Traditionally, couples would wrap the cake in multiple layers of plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container in the freezer. However, many couples now opt to have their baker create a fresh version of their wedding cake for their anniversary instead of eating year-old cake.

Cake cutting techniques

Cake-Cutting Techniques

The cake-cutting ceremony is an important part of the wedding timeline, requiring near-master technique for flawless execution. Here are some tips for cutting the cake:

• The bride typically stands on the left, holding the knife in her dominant hand, with the groom's hand placed over hers. Together, they make the first cut, slicing a small, ceremonial piece from the front of the bottom tier.
• This first slice is often the only piece the couple cut themselves, with catering staff or wedding party members taking over to continue slicing the cake for guests.
• The couple may then feed each other a bite from the first slice, symbolising their commitment to providing for one another.
• For a two-tier cake, the couple should make the first cut on the bottom tier, as this is the portion served to guests. The top tier is usually saved for the couple to eat on their first anniversary.
• When cutting a cake with multiple tiers, cut away each rounded side of the bottom tier to create a square, then cut down the middle to create two equal halves.
• To cut a wedge-shaped piece, make two diagonal cuts into the cake.
• Use a gentle sawing motion when cutting, rather than pressing down too hard, to avoid crumbling the cake.
• Cut the cake from the back to the front to avoid crumbling the edges.
• Use a sharp, serrated knife to make clean, precise cuts.
• If the cake has been refrigerated, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting to make it easier to slice.
• To serve, slide a cake server under the piece of cake and gently place it on a plate.

Saving leftovers

Saving the top tier of your wedding cake is a long-time tradition. Here are some tips to ensure your leftover wedding cake stays fresh for as long as possible.

Storage

The USDA recommends eating leftover wedding cake within 3-5 days if stored in a refrigerator, or within 4-6 months if stored in a freezer. If you want to save the top tier of your wedding cake for your first anniversary, it's best to wrap it in multiple layers of plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container in the freezer.

Preparation

Before storing your wedding cake, remove any decorations such as sugar work, fondant, fresh flowers, or the cake topper. This will help the plastic wrap sit flush against the cake, reducing the chance of air and odours from the freezer seeping in. You can repurpose or cherish these decorations in other ways, such as drying the fresh flowers or displaying the cake topper in a shadow box.

Chilling the cake in the fridge or freezer for a couple of hours before wrapping it will also make it easier to handle and prevent smudging of the icing.

Other Tips

• Avoid moving the cake around in the freezer. Store it at the back, away from the door, to minimise the chance of thawing.
• When you're ready to eat your frozen cake, allow it to defrost thoroughly in the fridge before consuming. Avoid refreezing after thawing, as this will alter the consistency of the sponge.
• For short-term preservation, wrap the cake in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. This will keep the cake fresh for 3-5 days.
• To prevent staling, cover any exposed parts of the cake with extra frosting.
• If you don't want to store your cake in the fridge, you can use a cake dome to minimise exposure to air, dust, and odours. However, only leave the cake out on the countertop for a few days.
• If you don't want to eat the same cake for several days in a row, you can repurpose the leftover cake by making cake pops or dipping the sponge in custard to create a French toast treat.

Alternatives to cake

There are many alternatives to a traditional wedding cake. Here are some ideas:

Doughnuts

A popular choice, doughnuts can be stacked to create a cake-like tower or displayed on a wall. You could even have a variety of flavours and colours to match your wedding theme.

Macarons

Beautiful and delicate, macarons are another alternative that can be stacked or displayed on a custom stand. They can also be used to decorate a cake.

Pies

For a rustic wedding, mini pies are a great choice and can be offered in a variety of flavours. For a quirky twist, a cake-shaped piñata filled with customised M&Ms could be a fun option.

Ice Cream

Perfect for a summer wedding, ice cream can be served from a cart or in sandwiches.

Cheese

For those who prefer savoury to sweet, a cake made from wheels of cheese is a unique option. Alternatively, a cheesecake can be a good compromise.

Other Desserts

There are endless other dessert options to choose from, including cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cake pops, cream puffs, churros, rice crispy treats, pancakes, waffles, and cannolis.

Cultural Alternatives

If you want to nod to your heritage, you could consider a croquembouche for a French-inspired option, or millefoglie for an Italian wedding.

Frequently asked questions