The Perfect Wedding Cakes
A Wedding Cake Checklist

Although the first wedding cakes were typically single-tiered plum cakes iced with white icing, the range of styles, shapes and flavors of wedding cakes available to modern brides is immense. Styles aside, the symbolism of the cake remains the same. Cutting the wedding cake is symbolically the first act perform jointly as husband and wife.

Wedding cakes have been a central part of marriage ceremonies since medieval times. Medieval Unique Wedding Cakes were made of wheat, which symbolized fertility and prosperity. In order to convey these blessings to the bride, the cake was thrown at the bride.

This rather messy tradition was abandoned in favor of making a pyramid of smaller breads and buns. If the bride and groom were able to kiss each other over the apex of the pyramid, their marriage would be blessed with prosperity. Over time, these stacks of component cakes were iced together into a single tall Wedding Cake. The tradition of wedding cakes grew from these humble beginnings.

Talented chefs can create a cake to suit you, so you can really go wild when considering the style and shape of your cake. Do you want a contemporary or a traditional cake? What about something unique that symbolizes an important aspect of your relationship, such as a shared holiday or nickname? Round, square, oval or anything in between, you can have your cake shaped to suit you. When choosing your cake shape, think about the overall vibe of your wedding. A classic, elegant wedding may call for a more traditionally-shaped cake, whereas a cocktail reception-style wedding may call for a funkier, more modern style of cake.

You can have a single-tiered cake, or one with multiple layers. Multi-layered cakes offer real flexibility – you can have a few types of cake and thereby satisfy the palate of more of your guests. You can also keep one of the smaller tiers and store it away safely to be eaten on your first anniversary.

Although the tradition of throwing pieces of cake has thankfully not resurfaced, the trend to construct your wedding cake from smaller cupcakes or dessert pieces has. Items such as profiteroles, éclairs, chocolates or even cheeses can be stacked to form a wedding cake. The items can be held together with a filler ingredient, such as chocolate or mousse. One of the benefits of such a cake is that your guests can serve themselves directly from the cake table, and select the part of the cake that they wish to.

It seems odd to think of a wedding cake as having a function, but it does! Will you use your wedding cake for simply ceremonial purposes, as a display piece that blends with your chosen wedding decor, or will it be served to your guests as their primary dessert? If it is the latter, you will need to consider the number of guests you have invited and need to feed. In many instances, it is more economical to have a smaller cake which you and your partner cut and keep, and a larger, slab cake of the same flavor which the kitchen staff serve to your guests. This option means that your guests can have sizable servings of your cake, and you can save yourself a little cash as well.

When deciding on what flavor you would like your wedding cake to be, there are a number of things to consider. If you are serving your cake as the main dessert, then choose a flavor that will complement the other items that have been on the entrée and main menus. Also consider your guests: if you have served a traditional, three-course meal to your guests, they may be quite full and may enjoy a lighter dessert, rather than a rich, heavy wedding cake. Sponge cakes, meringues or a cake with lots of fruit toppings or ingredients can be a good option after a heavy menu. It is often hard to go past a fruit cake for tradition’s sake, however many guests (especially younger ones) do not enjoy this type of cake. If you have your heart set on a fruit cake, a good compromise is to consider a multi-layered cake, with one fruit cake layer and another of your choice.

Once you have chosen your cake shape, structure and flavor, you’ll need to consider what you put on the cake. Many couples choose to place real flowers on their cake, which can match the flowers you have used throughout the remainder of your wedding. Chocolate shavings and gold or silver leaf are also very popular decorations for wedding cakes. Gold and silver leaf can be used to emboss the cake with a message or your new initials.

Who will you get to make your wedding cake? Unless you are exceptionally organized and confident, it can be stressful to attempt to bake a wedding cake yourself. Often it is easier to choose a professional baker or pastry chef who will have the supplies and expertise to make your cake a success. The person you choose to create your cake will depend on your budget and where you live. Checking the internet, your local telephone directory or a bridal magazine is a great place to start finding the perfect cake-maker.

A wedding cake provides a focal point of your wedding ceremony. Think carefully and creatively and you can very literally put the icing on your wedding day with a wonderful wedding cake.

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