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it is fruit filled, sponge, carrot or chocolate, there is a great deal of choice, with many great flavoured fillings. Decorating a cake will enhance its appearance. Consider finishing touches such as edible flowers, chocolate curls, marzipan or fresh fruit.
The price of the cake differs a great deal depending on where it is made. Whether it is made by family or friends, shop bought or made by a specialist will make a huge difference to your overall budget.
Wedding cakes are a predominantly Western tradition in marriage ceremonies. It is the tradition that a newly married couple stand together, hand on hand, and cut the cake together. This is because cutting the cake is a symbol of unity and togetherness. Cutting the wedding cake together is also another essential marker of the couple's commitment to one another on their special day. This is basically the reason why wedding cakes are still so popular in modern culture.
So… what sort of cake should we go for?
Wedding cakes come in a huge variety of different sizes, shapes and colors. It is entirely up to the couple which flavor they choose to decide upon for their special day. Most popular flavors include fruit cake, chocolate cake, sponge cake and even cream cakes. There are no hard and fast rules and it is entirely the couples' decision which they would like to select.
What color should we go for?
The color of the wedding cake should usually tie in with the chosen wedding colors in general. For example, you could link in the color of the brides dress, the grooms ties, the flowers, the wedding favors etc. You should speak to your chosen wedding cake provider for more in depth and more specific advice.
What size should I go for?
Usually they are very large as there must be enough of the wedding cake to give to all of your guests. It has become fashionable over the years for the cakes to be multi leveled or tiered. A multileveled, or tiered cake simple means that there are several different sections to the same cake piles up in layers - usually in decreasing size as the tower grows higher. This not only makes the entire cake balance but also helps to make it aesthetically pleasing to your valued wedding guest.
Who should I hire?
There are many different companies that cater to the special couples' needs. The range of products on offer can differ dramatically in areas such as aesthetics, recipe, taste, number of tiers, icing color etc etc.
It is usual for companies to have one to one meetings with the intended couple and to work together as a team to decide upon the perfect cake for the perfect wedding day. This can be established through a numerous amount of methods. Depending upon the company they may take their pick from taste testing to looking at photographic samples, color swatch matching and other inspirational ideas. Remember that they have been through the process many times before.
Delivery service
Often your chosen wedding cake provider will offer to deliver your wedding cake to your chosen venue free of charge. This will not only help to ease the various pressures of planning and organizing your special day, it will also give you peace of mind. Having your wedding cake delivered removes any worries reference picking it up and potential problems with transportation. Remember, there are very valuable and costly goods at the end of the day.
Most bakeries want to meet with you three to six months before your big day, but not until you've chosen a reception site, nailed down the time of day you'll be celebrating, chosen your dress and your attendants' attire, and coordinated with the florist and caterer.
2. If you have your heart set on a specific bakery, get your name on its calendar a year ahead, just to save the date. Some bakeries, however (like Classic Cakes, Creative Cakes by Donna, Stockbridge Gourmet Cheesecakes and Delectables and Queen Of Hearts), are happy to accommodate at the last minute for brides who are pulling weddings together quickly or whose first choice of a bakery has fallen through.
3. Here are the basic things you'll need to tell your bakery at the first consultation: the date, time and location of your reception; how much you've budgeted for the cake and delivery; how you plan to serve the cake (buffet-style or at guests' tables); and the approximate number of guests you expect. If you want your cake to coordinate with your dress or with the flowers, bring photos. Expect to leave a deposit, either a flat fee or a percentage of the total cost.
4. Insist on tasting both cake and frosting; to ensure that you'll get to taste the varieties you're considering, plan ahead and give the bakery a chance to prepare the right kinds before your visit.
5. Depending on the kind of cake you choose and the complexity of its design and decoration, expect to pay anywhere from $2.40 (for the simplest buttercream) to $20 (for the fanciest of fancy) per serving. Carol Murdock of Classic Cakes LLC in West Hartford, however, reminds brides that "there's no point in going into massive debt for a cake. It's going to be here, then it's gone."
6. Take advantage of the bakery's delivery service; it's trickier than it might seem to carry a cake in the car, and many require on-site assembly and last-minute decorative touches. If your bakery and reception site are far apart, expect a delivery charge, which generally covers the driver's time on the road both to and from the reception site. Ask about this up front to avoid surprises.
7. Judy Bauer of Griswold's J. Bauer Sculptured Wedding Cakes reminds brides to ask for - and check - references, be sure that the bakery you're looking at is licensed by both the town and the state and that it carries liability insurance. Many reception facilities won't let unlicensed or uninsured companies in the door, she says.
8. No matter how glorious the cake looks, its presentation can make all the difference. Donna Everett suggests that her clients invest in a yard or two of organza, which she'll "scrunch up" on the cake table and strew with rose petals to add texture and soften the look of the cake. And Susan Stone always takes a good look at the cake table's surroundings before plunking the cake down. "Whatever's in the background is going to be in your pictures," she cautions.
9. Take advantage of the Internet, not only for scouting styles but also for shopping for a bakery. Many Connecticut cake-makers maintain sites with photos of their work and pricing information.
CAKE
You do not have to stick to the traditional plain, white-iced, three-tiered spice cake, there are also plenty of more modern options.
Cakes can vary by shape, tiers, styles and colour. Cake toppers and other decorations can also personalise your choice.
However good the cake looks, it is taste that is ultimately most important. Whether
