How do I begin designing my wedding cake?

     Choosing the right wedding cake can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to begin.  There are so many options to decide on, such as the style, shape, and flavor of the cake.  We want your consultation to be fun.  Here are some helpful tips to get you started.  And, when you come for your consultation I can help you through the entire process.

The Reception Venue and Event Time:

     Imagine the style and décor of your wedding. Is the reception venue formal with marble or dark wood floors? Are the walls and ceilings adorned with beautifully detailed crown molding. Are there chandeliers or other formal decorations? Or is the space open and airy with large windows, tall ceilings and brightly lit rooms? Whether the reception is a formal evening or an elegant afternoon event, the “attitude” or style of the venue itself will usually guide the style of your reception as well as your cake.

The Wedding Dress:

     I always ask my brides about their wedding dress. By simply hearing a description or seeing a picture of the dress, I can usually visualize what the bride has in mind for her reception. Does your dress have embroidery or a pattern that can be translated into a cake design? Is your dress white, ivory, or another color? What you loved about your dress, you will love about your cake. It’s a very similar process.

Tier Shapes:

     Think of your wedding cake tiers in their simplest forms: Round, Square, Hexagon, Octagon, or Oval. The traditional round tiers are romantic, soft and feminine, while being contemporary at the same time. Square tiers are sleek and modern, and offer an elegance all their own. Square tiers can be aligned straight or offset from each other.

     A wedding cake with a combination of round and square tiers makes a unique statement as well. My personal feeling about combining round and square tiers is it creates a less formal and more playful cake. If your reception falls into this category, this might be a good choice for your cake. There is also a heart-shaped tier. I feel this shape is ineffective because cakes are viewed from the side not from the top. The heart shape easily gets lost.

Cake Design:

     Choosing the cake design is the most difficult process for most brides. Look at the cakes on my web site before you come to the consultation. Look through wedding magazines and other wedding cake web sites to find more examples. Again, think of your dress, your invitations, or even your napkins for inspiration. The perfect design will come together faster than you think. You can create a formal style by choosing one design for the entire cake or a unique look with a different design for each tier.

Incorporating Color Into Your Cake Design:

     After choosing your favorite cake design, think about the color of icing you would like on your cake: white, ivory or a combination of the two? Is there a specific color you would like your icing to be tinted, such as the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses?  You can use colored ribbon around the base of each tier to create a “pop” of color.

     Currently, fresh flowers are the most popular decoration for wedding cakes. Your florist will be able to help you choose your cake flowers. If you are using a flower that is poisonous, your florist will know. However, most flowers are perfectly clean and safe when in contact with food.

About Cake Columns (Pillars):

     There is a way to use columns between cake tiers without creating an out-dated wedding cake. By simply shortening the height of the columns, you can use them between the tiers and fill the empty space with fresh flowers. This creates height while concealing the columns entirely thus making the best use of your flowers.

Fake Tiers:

     A styrofoam tier iced and decorated to look like a real cake tier is a great and inexpensive way to add height to your cake. In order to save money, some brides have asked us to make the entire wedding cake with false tiers and prepare sheet cakes to serve to the guests. This is not a “cost-saving” idea. By the time you pay for the sheet cakes and false wedding cake, the price will equal a real wedding cake. 

The Groom’s Cake:

     This tradition is typically Southern. In fact, most non-Southerners are generally unaware of this cake. A groom’s cake can be a great accent to a wedding reception. They can be elegant and bold, or fun and unique. From his college alma mater to a favorite hobby, a groom's cake is an excellent opportunity for your fiancé to express himself.  

Sizing the Cakes:

     The wedding cake should typically feed every guest in attendance. The groom’s cake should feed approximately 50 percent to 65 percent of your guests. Although many guests may eat a slice of each cake, others may not. Think “a slice and a half of cake for everyone at the reception.”  

Choosing Your Cake Flavor:

     This is definitely the most fun part! When you come to the consultation, you will taste 10 different cake flavors to pick for your wedding and groom’s cake. 

     Some brides choose a different cake flavor for each tier. This is a unique idea, however the end result does not pay off. For instance, wedding guests usually take the piece of cake they are given. And if word gets out that the cake has different flavors it could create too much confusion for the cake cutters. You also risk the chance of running out of cake too soon. Keep it simple. Choose one flavor. Don’t give a room full of people a choice.

Outdoor Weddings:

     I strongly suggest having a back-up plan for an outdoor wedding in Texas, regardless of the time of year. Although I feel extremely uneasy about accepting a cake order for an outdoor reception, if this is your wish, we will be happy to discuss the details with you.