1 Month to Plan a Wedding- Cakes

Pour some sugar on me... That's true with your wedding cake, sugar, sugar, sugar! Cake tastings are another fun to-do when wedding planning, getting to try the frosting's, the fillings, and the flavors of cake. Many couples follow the tradition of a wedding cake and a ceremonial cake cutting, however, some couples are choosing to change up the look of a "traditional" cake with cupcakes or doing desserts. Or some couples with opt to serve wedding cake and desserts, or candy, or ice cream sundaes. Ice cream service has become popular as well in lieu of other desserts if it is a favorite of your's or your fiance'. Here are some tips for choosing the right cake designer for you:

• Interview several different options and taste what they have to offer. There are many cake designers in our area, but that doesn't mean they all taste the same. Some offer many varieties of flavors or fillings, some have very moist cake, others are known for their butter creme or fondant frosting's, or maybe their design abilities and the sky is the limit.
• A big question to ask your cake designer when interviewing is what is their cake baking method. Do they freeze? I have to tell you, we had a cake from a well known cake baker in town at a high end hotel here, and in the midst of cutting the cake the catering manager informed me that the cake was frozen. I came to see and in fact the cake was frozen solid in the middle of each layer, so we were limited in the size of the slice the guests got because we didn't want guests to have frozen cake. Ask them the process and be aware of whether they have more modern techniques or still follow "tradition".
• Cakes are priced mainly by the slice, but some cake designers price more on the design of the cake as well. Cake can be expensive. As Steve Martin says on Father of the Bride a cake is flour and water, but that flour and water is expensive. When you're looking at a cake with 150, 200, even 300 slices, you're looking at an expensive item that your guests are eating. Some people have also considered cupcakes as a less expensive option, but that just isn't true. In some cases that can be more expensive individually because of the detail that it may ensue.

• Let your cake designer know if you want to save the top tier for your anniversary, or if you choose to cut it. This will also change the number of slices your cake is capable of, but only slightly. If you choose to keep it, layers of aluminum foil and Saran wrap should keep your anniversary cake in tact and still pretty tasty a year later. Most caterers will not do this for you, so here and here are some suggestions as to how to wrap.
• Don't feel like you have to order cake for the total number of your guests, especially if you're serving alcohol. Many times guests who are partaking of the bar won't necessarily pick up a slice of cake. Your cake designer should guide in this, but usually a 5-10% difference between your guest number and your slices should be sufficient and not leave you with tons of leftover cake.

• Don't forget your groom, if he decides he would like a cake. Discuss the options with your cake designer and talk to him about what design he would like, whether a traditional chocolate cake or a concoction that is a reflection of something that is a part of his life or hobby. 
• In talking design with your cake designer, bring in pictures of cakes you like, swatches of color or your dress, so that your design can be brought to life. Also, consider if you would like to use flowers, whether sugar or real. Real flowers will be provided by your florist, making sure that they aren't treated with pesticides, as that is a poison and you don't want you guests eating it. Also, there are more and more sites available with creative cake toppers and cake jewelry.

~ Mary Alice, Nashville Wedding Planner
A Delightful Day