Tips & Advice
Your cake is the centerpiece of your wedding reception. Choosing what kind of cake, what style of cake and how it will fit into your destination wedding theme are important decisions for you and your groom to make, so take the time to discuss what you both want before you decide on this signature piece of your destination wedding. Legends abound of wedding cakes, but one is that small cakes were brought to weddings to encourage the fertility of the couple, and then the couple would try to kiss over the pile of small cakes. If they succeeded without knocking the cakes over, their union would be blessed with wealth and prosperity.
For weddings today, your choice of baker can depend on many things, and you should begin shopping for a vendor as soon as you know where you’ll be getting married. You should have an idea of what you want for your cake, and a picture, if possible. Talk about fillings and frostings and what flavor cake you both like or will best reflect your wedding theme. For example, a Caribbean wedding might be a key lime, coconut and mango alternating layer cake or for a Mexico wedding, a honey or deep spiced chocolate cake can echo your theme.
What should your cake look like? Have you always wanted a fairytale wedding? A castle-shaped cake tells your story. Cakes can be made to look like just about anything, so have fun with it and choose something that’s uniquely you. Go traditional with a tiered round or square cake, or try something a little more off-center or using bright colors and unusual shapes. Mix and match a traditional white tiered cake with brilliant tropical flowers to reflect your Caribbean destination wedding or marzipan shells and sand dollars for your beautiful beach wedding.
You should order your cake at least two months in advance; four is even better. If you go on a scouting trip to your destination locale, which is preferable, visit and interview possible vendors and taste the goods, so you’ll know if they make the kind of cake you want at your wedding reception. If you can’t go to your location ahead of time, as with other vendors, ask for recommendations from family and friends, check references and make sure you get it in writing.
Other concerns might include how the weather will affect your cake at an outdoor reception, where to situate it at the reception to minimize damage from sun, weather or movement and how easy it will be to cut and serve (fondant can be more difficult to cut than butter cream frosting).
Some questions to ask your baker:
• How far in advance is the cake prepared?
• What is your delivery system and when will you deliver?
• Can I get a general idea of costs based on my choices?
• Are you familiar with the site/venue?
Be adventurous and have realistic expectations based on your theme and your destination wedding location, and you won’t have to worry about your cake. Just be ready to cut and serve it to each other. |
