The Ultimate Guide To Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes have been around since ancient Rome, and they've come a long way since then. Today, there are endless options to choose from, and selecting the perfect cake can be a daunting task. From flavour and fillings to design and decoration, there's a lot to consider.

The average cost of a wedding cake is $510, but prices vary depending on the size, details, and time it takes the baker to make and decorate. Most bakers charge per slice, so the bigger the cake, the bigger the budget. It's best to book your wedding cake vendor at least six months in advance, and it's helpful to have your wedding date, venue, and estimated number of guests finalised before making cake-tasting appointments.

During the tasting, you'll get to sample multiple cake and icing flavours and discuss design ideas with the baker. It's a good idea to bring images or describe your vision for the cake, including any desired colours or decorations, such as sugar flowers or fresh blooms.

Whether you're dreaming of a small one-tier treat or a towering showstopper, a traditional multi-tiered cake or a creative dessert display, knowing what to consider when choosing your wedding cake will help ensure your special day is extra sweet.

Wedding Cake Style: The cake should complement the wedding's theme, colour palette, seasonality and formality

Wedding cakes are a fun part of wedding planning, but selecting the right one can be a daunting task. The cake should complement the wedding's theme, colour palette, seasonality, and formality.

The cake is often a statement piece at the reception, reflecting the couple's style and accenting the decor. Here are some tips to help you choose a cake that aligns with your wedding:

• Theme and Colour Palette: Envision your dream cake before meeting with bakers. Consider if you want it adorned with similar flowers to your centrepieces or if you want the icing to match the bridesmaids' dresses.
• Seasonality: The cake's design can be tailored to the season. For example, a lemon cake with lemon accents would be perfect for a spring wedding, while a cake with cinnamon flavours would suit a winter wedding.
• Formality: The cake's design should also consider the degree of formality of your wedding. For instance, a laid-back beach wedding might call for a more casual cake design, while a glamorous winter wedding in a ballroom could inspire a more elegant and sophisticated cake.
• Personalisation: Your wedding cake is a chance to showcase your personality. Consider incorporating your wedding colours, adding custom cake toppers, or even hiding secret messages in the design.
• Fresh or Sugar Flowers: If you plan to use flowers on your cake, opt for fresh blooms that are in season for your wedding. Otherwise, sugar flowers can be a gorgeous alternative, looking just as real while adding a unique design element.
• Dietary Restrictions: Don't forget to discuss any dietary restrictions or food allergies with your baker. Ensure that hidden ingredients, such as almond extract, are not included if someone in your family has a severe nut allergy.

Remember, your wedding cake should be a reflection of your style and taste. Be creative, have fun with the process, and don't be afraid to think outside the box!

Budget: The average cost of a wedding cake is $510, but can vary depending on size, detail and time taken to make and decorate

Budgeting for a wedding cake can be a tricky task, with the average cost of a wedding cake being $510. However, this can vary depending on size, detail, and time taken to make and decorate. Most bakers charge per slice, so the bigger the cake, the bigger the budget. A good rule of thumb is to order a cake that allows for one slice per guest. This means that for a guest list of 100, you can expect to pay for 100 slices of cake.

The price per slice can vary depending on the complexity of the design and the type of cake and icing. For example, a simple frosted wedding cake may be priced at $5 per slice, while a cake with intricate details and fondant icing could be priced at $15 per slice or more. The number of tiers will also affect the price, as larger cakes require more time and ingredients to create.

To stay within your budget, consider ordering a smaller cake and supplementing it with a dessert table or a groom's cake. Alternatively, you can display a small cake and serve slices from a more affordable sheet cake. This option can help you create a stunning display while also keeping costs down.

When creating your budget, it is important to factor in additional costs such as delivery fees, cake-cutting fees charged by the venue or caterer, and the cost of a cake-cutting set if you plan to provide your own.

To get an accurate estimate, it is recommended to reach out to bakers and request quotes based on your specific requirements. Be sure to have your wedding date, venue, and estimated number of guests ready, as these details will impact the baker's availability and the size of the cake.

By considering these factors and planning ahead, you can ensure that you stay within your budget and still have a beautiful and delicious wedding cake.

Cake Tasting: Book a tasting at least six months in advance. Be prepared with questions for the baker and ideas about flavours and styles

Cake tasting is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. However, it requires some preparation. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your cake tasting experience:

Book a Tasting at Least Six Months in Advance

It is recommended to book your wedding cake vendor at least six months before your wedding. This will ensure that you have a variety of options to choose from, as popular bakers can get booked up quickly. The initial consultation may not include a cake tasting, so be prepared to ask some important questions first.

Questions for the Baker

Before your cake tasting, prepare a list of questions for the baker. Here are some suggestions:

• Do you have my wedding date available?
• What is the pricing for your wedding cakes?
• Do you have a portfolio of past designs or references that I can see?
• How and when do you deliver the cake to the venue?
• Can you design a custom cake based on my wedding's theme and colour palette?
• What flavours and fillings do you offer?
• Is the tasting included in the fee?
• How big should the cake be to feed my guests?
• How do you price your cakes?
• How many cakes do you deliver on the same day?

Ideas About Flavours and Styles

It is helpful to have some ideas about the flavours and styles you prefer before the tasting. If you have a favourite cake flavour, such as chocolate or red velvet, let the bakery know so they can prepare samples for you. Consider the type of frosting you prefer, such as buttercream or cream cheese frosting. If you know you dislike a particular flavour or type of frosting, be sure to tell your baker. It is also helpful to have some inspiration for the desired look of your cake. Do you want sugar flowers, real blooms, or an elaborate design? Bring some images or describe your vision to the baker.

Cake Presentation: Decide where the cake will be displayed and when it will be cut

The cutting of the cake is a traditional part of the wedding reception, so it's important to decide where the cake will be displayed and when it will be cut.

Traditionally, the cake-cutting would signal the end of the reception and that guests were free to leave. However, nowadays, cake-cutting usually happens earlier in the evening, though some couples may still opt for the traditional end-of-party cake-cutting.

There are several options for when to cut the cake:

• Grand Entrance: As the newlyweds are introduced for the first time, they head straight to the cake table to cut the cake, then move on to their first dance.
• First Dance: The couple shares their first dance as newlyweds, then cut the cake.
• After Toasts: Cake-cutting follows the Maid of Honour and Best Man's speeches, usually as dinner is ending and just before the dancefloor opens.
• Party Pause: The couple gets the party started, then has the DJ announce that cake-cutting is about to take place.
• Confidential Cutting: The couple and photographer sneak away for a private cake-cutting moment without the guests present.
• The End: Honouring tradition, the couple cuts the cake at the end of the reception.

There are a few advantages to cutting the cake earlier in the evening. It guarantees that the photographer captures the moment without a crowd of people swarming around. It also gives the catering team extra time for slicing and serving, and ensures the photographer doesn't miss the moment if they are only booked for a limited number of hours.

When deciding on the cake presentation, it's important to consider the following:

• Where will the cake be displayed during the reception?
• When will the couple cut the cake?
• Will the baker or caterer provide a cake-cutting set, or should the couple provide their own?
• Will there be champagne glasses at the table so the couple can toast with their guests?

Cake Alternatives: From cupcakes to macarons, there are many alternatives to a traditional wedding cake

There are many alternatives to a traditional wedding cake. Couples may opt for cupcakes, macarons, or even a cake-shaped piñata! If you're looking for something savoury, you could try a tiered pork pie or cheese wedding cake. For those who want to preserve the tiered cake aesthetic, there are doughnut towers or brownie pyramids.

If you're looking for something more unusual, you could try a tiffin tower, a stack of pancakes, or a tower of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. For a French-themed wedding, a croquembouche—a tower of choux pastry balls bound with threads of caramel or chocolate—is a striking choice.

For couples who want to offer their guests a range of treats, a dessert table could be the way to go. This could include cookies, pies, doughnuts, or even a gelato cart!

Frequently asked questions