Wedding Cake Selection – What to think about when cake shopping

Who wants wedding cake? Everyone! With all the planning that goes into a wedding day, if I had to choose one of the more fun elements to plan, cake selection would be top of the list (besides the wedding dress selection, of course!). If you have a sweet tooth, then this will definitely be a highlight for you. As with all aspects of the wedding planning process, there’s a lot to consider when you’re looking for that special sweet treat that everyone eagerly awaits on the big day:

• Traditional cake or cupcakes? Cakes are delicious and so are cupcakes! Many couples choose cupcakes at their wedding in place of a wedding cake. Or, they add cupcakes as a supplement to the traditional wedding cake and reduce the tier on the cake, especially if the wedding is a large one. This helps to reduce cake costs. Cupcakes have become a great option for weddings because they allow for different flavours at the wedding.
  
  
• Size of the cake: How many tiers would you prefer? A traditional wedding cake has 3 tiers, but you may opt for more or less, depending on the size of your wedding and the aesthetic you prefer. You could go for a taller, thinner cake or a shorter, wider cake. You also could consider dummy tiers. These tiers are made of a polystyrene base and decorated to match the rest of your wedding cake. Dummy tiers are used to make a cake look taller and serves to reduce costs slightly. Above all, you want to make sure you have enough cake for everyone but not too much so that you are wasting it!
  
  
• What’s the style of cake you’re looking for? This will depend partly on your theme, the venue, the wedding dress and the reception decorations. Your wedding cake should fit nicely with the theme or look/feel you have chosen. There’s several styles you can choose from – tall cakes, floral cakes, naked cakes, painted cakes, chalkboard, metallic, lace, themed and novelty cakes (like cupcakes, macaroons or donuts) are just a few different styles to think about. Just remember, the more designs you have one a cake, the more costly it becomes (i.e. hand made flowers, hand-painted designs, icing ribbon etc.).
  
  
• Flavours of Cake: So many options to choose from - salted caramel, cookies and cream, southern hazelnut praline, chocolate cappuccino, strawberries and cream, vanilla bean, tiramisu, raspberry cheesecake, pink velvet. The options are endless.
  
  
• Location of your wedding: You would think that the location of your wedding wouldn’t have a bearing on what you choose for your cake, but it does matter. Frosting like buttercream, whipped cream or meringue will melt easily if you’re having a beach wedding in the hot sun. You will want to opt for safer option such as fondant for frosting if your destination wedding is on the beach.
  
  
• Top Cake Tier: The top tier of the cake is just for you and your husband. It’s for you to enjoy at home after the wedding and meant to symbolize your union.
  
  
• Tasting: Make sure you book a tasting. You will want to taste the wedding cake first to make sure you like the flavours. This is definitely the best part of the selection process.
  
  
• Budget: A wedding cake can cost anywhere from $300 to $1000+. Make sure you add this to your wedding budget. Also, remember that most venues will charge a cutting fee for the wedding cake, which could range from $6 to $15/slice. Make sure you factor this in!

Have some fun with your taste buds. It’s the best part of the planning process! What cake flavours do you like best?