Wedding Cakes

THE WEDDING CAKE

One of the important features of the wedding reception is the wedding cake. During the celebration, the wedding cake is displayed so it's beauty can be appreciated. When the bride and groom cut the cake and feed each other the first bite of cake, it symbolizes their first meal as a married couple and the beginning of their shared life together.

CHOOSING THE WEDDING CAKE

The traditional wedding cake is the white cake with the white filling with the white frosting - all to match the white wedding dress. Today's wedding cakes often reflect a more personalized taste - whether in design or flavor or decoration.

When choosing a cake, you will decide the design of the wedding cake (shape, stacked layers, tiered on columns, or flat), the decoration of the wedding cake (such as sugarpaste designs, fruit, or flowers), the filling that is spread between the layers of cake (such as cream, frosting, icing, chocolate, mousse, fruit, buttercream), the flavor of the cake (popular choices are lemon, vanilla, chocolate, yellow, spice and carrot), and the type of icing, which is the layer of frosting that covers the whole cake (buttercream - soft and creamy and best tasting, royal icing - dries hard and crunchy and best for intricate designs, or rolled fondant - sleek, malleable, and durable but often an acquired taste).

TASTE TIP: If you can't decide on just one flavor of cake, ask the cake designer if they can use different flavors for each layer of cake. Most will be willing to do this at no additional charge.

CUTTING THE WEDDING CAKE

Timing: The type of reception will affect the timing for the cutting of the cake. If the wedding reception is a cocktail event, the cake should be served after the guests have made their way through the receiving line. If lunch or dinner is being served at the wedding reception, the cake event should take place after the meal is finished.

Gather the Crowd: Announce the cutting of the cake to the guests so they can be a part of this event. The announcement can be made verbally and/or with a reprise of the couple's first dance song.

PHOTO TIP: Make sure the photographer and/or videographer are in place before you begin the cutting of the cake.

The Knife: To cut the cake, use a special silver cake knife. The cake knife may be one received from the bridal registry or perhaps one borrowed from one of the parent's wedding.

Bride and Groom: The first cut is made with the groom's right hand over the bride's. They slice through the bottom layer of the wedding cake together. They finish cutting a slice of cake and then feed each other from this slice. Traditionally, the groom feeds the bride first, then the bride feeds the groom.

Serving the Family: The bride and groom serves a slice of cake to the in-laws. The bride serves the groom's parents, then the groom serves the bride's parents.

Serving the Guests: The catering staff or predesignated friends will cut and serve the rest of the guests.

THE WEDDING CAKE BUDGET

The price of the wedding cake will vary based on the details of the cake and the number of guests. Most wedding cakes cost between $3 to $6 per slice. When ordering, most cake designers require between a 25% to 50% of the total price as a deposit. If you want the cake delivered, be sure to find out what the delivery charges are or if delivery is included in the price. Also find out if there are any additional charges for any accessories that may be needed to transport, display, or serve the cake.

BUDGET TIPS: Square cakes cost more because they are more difficult to build and frost - it takes time and patience to end up with all the edges even. To save money, choose a more traditional cake with round layers. Another way to save money is to order a smaller, tiered wedding cake and order sheet cakes to match for serving the guests - same great taste and less expensive than ordering a larger tiered cake.