11.1 Introduction
The wedding cake is one of the most iconic parts of the wedding.Whether it is a 6 foot tall tier cake or a simple, traditional cake, both the couple and the guests expect a lot from the wedding cake.
Even though it is just a cake, a lot of time, energy and money goes into creating it. It is not enough for it to look good; the best cakes taste as delicious as they look.
As an important wedding tradition, you do not want to leave this part of the planning process to chance. In fact, you will want to start planning the wedding cake as early in advance as possible.
In this module, you will learn about all of the steps that go into creating the perfect wedding cake. From finding a baker to delivering it to the venue, this module will help you figure out how to make the perfect cake for the couple to feed each other during their reception.
11.2 Meeting Bakers
Before you get started, you need to find a local or regional baker who specialises in wedding cakes.You may know of a few bakers off the top of your head, but they may not be able to create the kind of wedding cake you want. Because of this, it is important to have a few bakers that you can trust to take couples to.
In the internet age, it is no longer essential that your wedding cake comes from down the street. In fact, it is now easier than ever to get an artisanal cake from a custom baker hundreds of miles away. The lengths that some couples are willing to go to get the perfect cake are astounding. Some couples have even bought their cake a seat on a flight to bring it home with them. Anything is possible if you’re willing to pay the price.
But, in most cases, your bakers will come from the local area. This will make it easier to taste the cake and have it delivered to the reception venue. Remember, if you order your cake from a Parisian patisserie, somebody has to go to Paris and collect it.
11.3 Choosing the Cake
Choosing the cake and designing the cake can be switched around depending on the preferences of the couple.If the couple knows that they want a specific flavour or type of cake, they will then need to create the design around it.
Similarly, if the couple knows they want a certain design, they will need to choose the flavour and type around the design.
This is because not all designs and cakes go hand in hand. Some designs require a more stable cake in order to remain upright
When you choose the cake, the couple will often be required to choose the flavour of the cake, the flavour of the frosting and the type of frosting. Most designers recommend that you choose two distinct flavours to include in the cake. This makes it easier to serve to guests and ensures that there is an option for everyone.
Depending on the baker, the sky is the limit on the type of cake you can create. When you choose a baker, the couple will be able to go in and sample the best that the baker has to offer. This will usually help them create the right flavour combination.
This is also the point where you will need to talk to the baker about any modifications to the cake. If the couple have any allergies or dietary requirements, you can talk to the baker about these when you are discussing the cake type and flavours. If the couple want a gluten-free, dairy-free, flour-free or sugar-free cake, the baker needs to know well in advance. These requirements may also impact the size of the cake and the design available for the cake.
Make sure you also take into consideration the type of weather that will be happening outside. The weather in Suffolk is certainly not like Ibiza, but certain types of icing will melt if they get too warm. Whipped cream, butter cream and meringue frosting all do poorly during warm weather so consider this in the event that an unlikely heat wave hits the UK.
11.4 Designing the Cake
You can style the cake to fit within the theme of the wedding.This can be a fun way to customise the traditional wedding cake and make it into your own.
To begin, you will need to help the couple decide on the size and shape of the cake. You will need to decide if you need a square, rectangular or circle shaped cake. You may even want to forgo the traditional cake shapes and go for something more unconventional like a triangle or heart.
You will then need to determine the size of the cake. This is usually done by determining the number of slices that you want from the cake. The more slices you want, the bigger the cake will be. The bigger the cake is, the more expensive it is.
The shape and size will determine the kind of style you can choose for the cake. Wedding cake styles will all be wildly different. The internet is a great place to find inspiration for cake styles.
Remember to tell couples to be wary of the designs they see online and in magazines. In many cases, these designs are made of foam, not cake. When combined with the perfect photographer and Photoshop, these cakes can look unworldly. These expectations cannot be met but by few of the world’s most prestigious bakers. If a couple has unrealistic expectations, you will need to help manage them on behalf of the baker.
11.5 Organising the Cake
Once you have decided on a cake type and style, you will need to place an order with the baker.If the wedding is happening at a popular time of year, you may need to book well in advance. Bakers book up early because a lot of labour goes into creating a wedding cake.
Usually, you will need to book the wedding cake and pay a deposit for the cake. You will then need to pick up the cake either the day before the wedding or on the morning of. This will depend on the baker and on where the reception is happening.
The delivery of the cake will often be done by the cake designer or baker themselves. They are more experienced at handling the cake. Many will have experienced delivery teams and specially designed equipment to make sure all goes well. There will often be an extra fee for the delivery. However, this is a small price to pay to make sure that it arrives in one piece.
11.6 Displaying the Cake
Part of the reception organisation will require displaying the cake.
You will need to determine on the location and the setting of the cake when you bring the cake to the venue.
You have a few options for displaying the cake. Some couples choose to give the cake a place of honour in the room. You can set it up on a well-sized table so that everyone can admire it from a safe distance. If you want to display it publically, make sure you do so in a place that is slightly out of the way of the rest of the room. This will prevent eager guests and accidents from happening. You can also choose to style the table to add to the beauty of the cake.
You can also choose to keep the cake off stage until it’s time to cut it. This is a fun way to reveal a big, fancy wedding cake. This can also be necessary if the cake needs to be refrigerated. It is also a safe way to keep the cake away from prying eyes and greedy hands. If you choose to do this, either you or a designated helper will need to be on hand to bring in the cake when it is time to cut it.
11.7 Cutting the Cake
The wedding cake can be a big part of the reception for some couples.The cutting of the cake is traditional for many people. The guests also love it because it can be transformed into a big spectacle.
You will usually have to move the cake into a more central area when it is time to cut it. Alternatively, you can leave it where it is and bring the couple over to cut the cake where it sits. This can be the safer option if the cake is delicate and risks damage.
You will want to schedule a time for cutting the cake and have the couple stick to it.
When it is time, you can be on hand to hand over the knife and utensils needed for cake cutting. After this, the wedding cake or alternative cake will need to be taken away and fully cut up so that it can be served to the guests.
11.8 Cake Alternatives
A couple should never feel that they have to have a big traditional wedding cake to have a wedding.The couple can offer a variety of cake alternatives. Cupcakes have become very popular at weddings. They work perfectly for serving a large number of guests. Alternatively, you can offer a dessert bar filled with different treats so that guests can help themselves to whatever strikes their fancy. You can even offer pie instead of cake if that is what the couple loves!
A cake alternative can be made from cookies to baklava! As long as you have a baker on your side, you can help the couple do whatever they want to replace the cake.
FACT
21% of couples now choose to have cupcakes instead of a traditional cake
Source: Hitched W.I.F.E.11.9 Saving Money on the Cake
A great way to save some money on the cake is to encourage the couple to order a beautiful cake on a smaller scale.Rather than trying to feed the whole party with their designer cake, they can still enjoy a beautifully designed cake, but all to themselves. They can then order another, simpler cake suitable for mass consumption. Sometimes it is nice to see a beautiful, smaller cake than a plain large one.
Module Summary
As you can see, organising the wedding cake is not a simple process. There are a lot of things to consider when the flavour, shape and design are being chosen.
Do encourage your client to choose the cake that they want – not the one they think their guests want. The cake is a traditional part of the ceremony and no one wants to be fed Jaffa cake by their new spouse if they hate Jaffa cake.[Tweet “I just completed Module 11 of the Wedding Planning Course”]
