Once upon a time, traditional wedding cakes had only two famous choices –the white and the chocolate. Today, although you still have these options, the styles and flavors of wedding cakes are truly astonishing. Bakers have gone the extra mile for wedding cakes, developing quite a competitive market packed with fantastic designs and flavors that at one point in time were just figments of imagination.

Surely, you would want to offer the guests with a special wedding cake as one way of saying “thank you” for their participation on your most memorable day. Whether you’ll be serving the guests with a “lemon cake” layered with nuts and crushed berries, or a “tropical cake” with fresh strawberries and butter-cream frosting, selecting a wedding cake will be among the most exciting parts of a wedding preparation.

On the other hand, choosing a wedding cake without knowing how to and what to look for, can become a difficult decision; but it does not need to be! Always choose what you want and go with your style and “taste”. Additionally, know some of the basics on how to choose a wedding cake.

When to start

At the minimum, four to six months prior to your wedding will be a good time to start searching for your perfect wedding cake. Pick out a final design that you have in mind, and keep the services of a professional baker.

Who to order from

You’ll have several options for this. You may choose to order your wedding cake from the caterer or hotel responsible for your wedding reception. You may also hire the expertise of a specialty-cake designer, or employ the assistance of a skilled amateur baker.

Whatever you opt for, make sure to find out about the style of the cake designer through looking at photos of their previous works. It is also important to have a tasting sample of the cakes they’ve suggested –remember, a cake must be as luscious as how it looks.

Cost

A wedding cake’s price is computed for every number of servings. It will also depend on the design –the more elaborate a wedding cake is, the pricier it becomes. A great way to lessen the cost of the cake is to get a smaller cake for display, then serve most of the guests from “sheet cakes”. This may be done discreetly; after the cutting-of-the-cake, have it whisked away for slicing where it’s out of sight from the guests.

Cake design

The cake’s flavor and design must reflect the wedding’s style, as well as the personal taste of the bride and groom. A heavy and tall cake is imposing and stately, while floating tiers and thin cakes appear light and airy. The dome or cube is a simple design that has a strong but soft presence.

Cake frosting

Buttercream is a very popular option for wedding cakes, as it is delicious and light. Sadly, it also requires refrigeration and doesn’t hold-up in hot ambiance. If your wedding reception is set to be done outdoors during the summer, don’t consider this frosting.

Marzipan or Fondant is ideal frostings for preserving the freshness of bigger cakes when they’re too large for refrigeration. Royal icing fries had and so it’s great for creating long-lasting decorations. There are so many other options to choose from, just go with your taste.

Cake decorations

The decoration of the cake may be inspired by details from the wedding gown or theme of the wedding. Bows, fabric coils, ribbon, lace, pearl buttons, etc –these can all be re-created through icing, meringue, marzipan, or gum paste. Just keep in mind that your cake doesn’t need to be overly decorated, choosing a few yet well-picked details will be ample to make a big impression.

Flavor

No matter how tradition a “snow-white” cake is, it will still depend on the bridal couple’s taste to pick out the right flavor for them and foe their guests.

A wedding cake is one of the highlights during the reception. Always choose the “right” wedding cake not for its cost or its elaborateness, but for how satisfying it is to you –both inside and out.