How to Choose Your Wedding Cake

Submitted by Margorie Chambers; Cake Art 

Most people who come to me have never ordered a wedding cake before.  Each new client faces the same dilemma; where do I start? 

The popularity of cake decorating shows on television have brought new dimension to the art of cake baking.  The choices are unlimited.  Since most brides bring their mothers with them to consultations, I witness a definite generation gap when it comes to ordering a wedding cake.  Back in the day, a cake was generally selected by the color of the piped roses on the cake.  This certainly isn’t the case today.  There are many choices of shapes, flavors, designs, and more.

The starting point for selecting a wedding cake is determining what type of bride you are.  Are you romantic, glamorous, earthy, modern, or traditional?  There are definite design elements to consider for each of these styles.  A modern bride might choose lime green with watermelon polka dots on her cake, whereas the glamorous bride might prefer black ribbon and rhinestone brooches around each tier.

What kinds of things do you like?  If you love bows and lace, or Victorian style nick- knacks, you are a romantic.  Sugar paste drapes, or bows and lace would suit you well.

A farm or outdoor wedding could lend itself to a cake with hand-crafted gerbera daisies, or branches and birds, made with sugar paste; a beach wedding, a cake with seashells.

If you are a trend setter, you will want the latest trends in cakes.  In our area, black and white has been popular for the past few seasons.  In order to make the right choice, the cake should reflect the style of the bride. 

What does your dress look like?  You and your groom will be having pictures made with the wedding cake.  The cake and the dress need to compliment each other.  An ivory dress can look dingy next to a pure white cake.  A lacy dress needs a lacy cake.  Sometimes the dress itself is the inspiration for the cake.  I can duplicate patterns or parts of the dress on the cake.

The flowers must match as well.  I go to great lengths to match colors.  Providing swatches and scraps of ribbon to your cake baker will assure that the colors are right. 

The size of the cake is determined by the guest list.  Asking your cake baker “how much is a three-tiered cake” is too vague a question.  It all depends on the size of the tiers, the flavors of the cake and icing, and  the intricacy of the design.  A 16″, 14″, and 12″ cake can serve 200, while a 10″, 8″, and 6″ cake will serve approximately 50.  The size of the tiers determines the amount of the servings and the design is adjusted to fit that.  The cake should be chosen for the design and not the number of tiers.

Planning a wedding cake is very involved.  Many brides I talk to look in a magazine or catalog and pick out a design.  I prefer to custom design for the bride.  I consider my cakes to be commissioned works of art; something personal and special for a specific person.

A wedding cake makes an important statement at the reception.  The first thing guests will do, when they arrive at the venue, is to look for the cake.  It is the centerpiece for the celebration.  The planning and execution of a wedding cake takes hours of skilled work.  It’s an honor for me to be included in this part of creating family history.  I take it seriously.  This is why I ask lots of questions.  I want the cake to be the perfect complement to the bride and the reception.

Personalization and custom work, this is what I offer at Cake Art.  Call me today for your consultation.  423-542-3950 or e-mail at cakeart@charter.net.

Thank you Margi for an enlightening post on how to choose a wedding cake.  Your cakes are gorgeous! ~ Pam