Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Deciding On Your Wedding Cake

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.

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