Having your Cake and
Eating it too!
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Having your Cake and
Eating it too!
by
Jeanette Hawkinson
The one thing that is
universally served at all
weddings everywhere is
wedding cake, and you will
be happy to know that the
traditional, sometimes dry,
white wedding cake is no
longer expected. The
creative confections
provided by bakers and
caterers today are a feast
for both the eyes and the
taste.
Many couples still choose a
traditional-looking wedding
cake, although what it
tastes like may come as a
surprise: carrot cake with
cream cheese, pound cake
with lemon filling,
chocolate cake with mocha
mousse, classic genoise with
white chocolate icing, even
cheesecake or ice cream. In
addition, while most wedding
confections are still
predominantly white,
fanciful designs and
colorful accents can turn
them into a visual and
edible masterpiece.
A wedding cake large enough
to serve 200 guests could
cost anywhere from two
hundred to several thousand
dollars, depending on who
designs it, who bakes it,
and how elaborate it
becomes. You can also have
whatever kind of cake you
want, as long as you can
find someone to create it
and as long as you are
willing to pay for it.
Tiered cakes could even have
different flavors for each
tier. It is all up to you,
the baker, or the caterer’s
creativity and desires.
Go to the baker prepared
with specifics about the
size and type of wedding you
are having, as well as
particulars about the
reception location. Room
décor, ceiling height,
temperature, lighting,
linens, and wedding colors
all will influence your
choice of cake. You should
also bring the names and
numbers of your caterer,
florist, wedding planner,
and anyone else the baker
may wish to contact in order
to consult to coordinate
details and delivery.
Start shopping for the
wedding cake three to four
months before the date, even
earlier if your requests are
highly unusual, if the
bakery you have chosen is
very popular, or if you are
being married in a peak
season. Make sure that you
are familiar with the style
and quality of the chef’s
work before you buy.
When you place your order
and make your deposit
(usually 50%), get a written
agreement or contract that
specifies the kind of cake,
filling, and frosting, the
number of people it will
serve, the design details
you have agreed upon, and
the delivery date, time, and
procedure. Also, put in
writing any additional fees
or rental charges, and ask
how the final payment is to
be made (cash, check, credit
card).
Finally, if your cake
promises to be the eighth
wonder of the world, be sure
you establish in advance the
style in which it will be
cut and served. Special
creations call for special
assurance that they will be
expertly handled. You will
also want to inform the
caterer if any part of your
wedding cake, usually the
top six-inch layer, is to be
set aside and frozen for you
to enjoy on your first
anniversary. Some couples
prefer to have their baker
recreate a fresh miniature
version of their wedding
cake for their first-year
anniversary
