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Last Updated on March 2, 2023
Most people dread the thought of planning a wedding, and it is often one of the most expensive aspects. With so many things to think about, such as location, dress, food, cake, and other details, it can be hard to know where to start. But before you even get into thinking about all these details for your big day, you should first take a step back and think things through. This will help you when it comes time to work through the process of ordering the perfect wedding cake.
Five things separate a successful wedding cake plan from one that is lacking. Here they are:
1. Overall feel of your wedding
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What do you want your wedding to represent? This will help you to determine the overall feel and tone of your wedding, which in turn will help you make decisions about all the other details.
In today’s world, weddings are as unique as the couples they represent. That wasn’t always the case, however. What used to be considered the bride’s cake turned into what represents the traditional wedding cake in the early 19th century as sugar became more prevalent. At that time the white wedding cake, made of refined sugar, was only available to the wealthiest individuals that could afford it.
Nowadays, sugar is much more affordable, but the white cake is still the symbol of elegance and class when it comes to weddings.
Not all weddings need to be white. If you want your wedding to be a fun and festive celebration, then you might want to choose a brightly colored cake that is decorated with lots of sugar flowers and butterflies.
On the other hand, if you do want your wedding to be more elegant and traditional, then you might want to choose a classic white cake with minimal decorations. Simple cakes are a new trend these days. Classic, sleek, elegant, and minimalist are all attributes many people are looking for when picking the decoration for their wedding cakes.
You may also like: Best Ways to Decorate a Cake for Your Wedding Day
2. The wedding location
The location of the wedding will play into the style of the cake as well. If it’s going to be in an old, elegant church then the traditional route may be the way to go.
Destination weddings on the beach, however, may lend themselves to a different style of cake altogether. If everyone is wearing Hawaiian shirts, it only makes sense to make the cake colorful as well!
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to beautiful wedding cakes. They are as much a work of art as they are delicious morsels to be enjoyed by all.
Apart from the style considerations, logistical considerations need to be made. You may want a six-tier wedding cake that is as ornate as the Sistine Chapel, but can you fit it where your wedding is going to be?
Are you willing to risk it around your guests, and their kids, until you’re ready to eat it? Do they deliver or do you have a semi to haul it? Will the venue allow it to be set up several hours before the event?
While these are generally not as difficult or relevant, logistical questions need to be though through as well.
3. The size of the cake
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Choosing the right size of wedding cake is important for several reasons. Firstly, you don’t want a cake that’s too small or too large – it should be just the right size to fit your needs.
A good rule of thumb is to have enough cake for about 80% of your guests. Not everyone will eat cake so planning for 100% of your party may be overkill. If you plan to have 200 people, get enough cake for around 160 or 170 just to be safe.
A word on budget: you also need to think about how much cake you can afford. A large, elaborate wedding cake can be quite expensive, so make sure you budget accordingly. Cakes can be expensive.
You may also like: 5 Unique Dessert Ideas for Weddings
4. The shape of the cake
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Once the size and decoration of the cake are figured out, it can be fun to play around with the shape of the cake. Round is traditional, but lately, a square cake is becoming more popular.
Another fun option is to combine the shapes. A cake can have a large, square base and second-tier with the top being a small round cake. This gives it a unique look with some depth and perspective that other cakes may be lacking.
Whatever is decided on design, size, and structure, it’s also very important to make sure the cake is delicious! Not only will everyone see it, but most will taste it. This brings us to our last point.
5. Pick the perfect flavor, filling, and frosting!
There is no limit to the number of options that are available when it comes to the tastes of the wedding cake. The cost, size, and structure of the cake are largely unaffected by the flavors, so go wild. Pick something you like and – just as importantly – something you think your guests will like.
Weddings are big events with a lot of people and it’s nice to consider everyone when planning the cake. The bride’s favorite maybe pumpkin and peanut butter, but that may not be the biggest hit for the rest of the group.
Conclusion
A wedding is expensive, and the cake represents a large investment in that expense. They can also be as unpredictable as they are unique to each individual couple. Things won’t always go smoothly when choosing a cake but thinking through these few things in advance will help tremendously in setting you up for success when the time comes.
We spoke about the design, structure, size, and flavor – all of which are important. It’s also important that the bride and groom are happy.
For more wedding cake tips and tricks, check out Happy Cakes Bakery. If you’re in the Denver, CO area feel free to stop by!
You may also like: 5 Wedding trip ideas to visit in the Maldives
