Your wedding cake is an important part of the wedding celebration. You will want it not only to look wonderful, but taste fabulous. There are three primary types of wedding cake bakers:
Commercial Bakeries. Commercial bakeries are the most commonly used source for
wedding cakes. These bakeries produce a large quantity of cakes, and generally have a variety of cake styles and designs to choose from. One disadvantage with this type of bakery is that they may not be able to deviate from their set designs, in the event you wanted something unique.
Caterer or Reception Site. Many times your caterer or reception location will provide the wedding cake. Since
wedding cakes may not be their expertise, ask to see pictures and taste a cake you are considering. They may be limited in design ability, but then again, they may be great. By having your caterer or reception site provide the cake, the fee for cutting the cake is usually included in the price. It will probably be an extra charge if you choose to purchase a cake from another source.
Non-commercial Wedding Cake Bakers. This is a baker who usually works out of his or her home (or rents a small kitchen somewhere) and specializes in unique, creative wedding cakes. Each cake is individually designed to your specifications. Many of these bakers are true artists, and their love is to create spectacular cakes. The trend to use this type of baker has grown over the past few years, and prices vary widely. Finding this type of baker may also not be as easy as finding a commercial baker.
Today, a variety of flavors and fillings are used. If you prefer something out of the ordinary, make sure your baker can handle it. Popular flavors are carrot, German chocolate, chocolate mousse or chocolate cake with mocha filling. These may be frosted with a butter cream or freshly whipped cream. You may want a vanilla cake filled with lemon, raspberry, or vanilla custard. The choices are endless. Try to select something most people will like.
The traditional frosting and decorations may be done on any cake and topped with a bride and groom. Many today are choosing to decorate their
cakes with fresh or silk flowers. There are also a number of crystal or porcelain cake tops you may want to consider. They vary in price and style, so look around before deciding.
Start looking early, and to find a great bakery, consider the following:
- Get recommendations from friends whose wedding cakes you have enjoyed.
- Ask your reception site coordinator which good bakeries they have worked with before.
- Your florist and photographer are also good sources because they usually see, and often taste, cakes at various weddings.
- Bridal fairs or shows are great places to see local bakeries' photographs and taste their cakes, since most will pass out small sample pieces.
Check a number of bakers, discuss the various styles available and the prices. Many have pictures or actual cakes you can see, which will give you some good ideas. Ask if they can give you tasting samples. You will be able to determine the quality of the cake, and tasting will help you choose a flavor you like.
Other things to keep in mind to find a great bakery and ensure that your wedding cake is everything you want it to be:
- Start interviewing wedding cake bakers about three to four months in advance.
- Look through the bridal magazines for pictures of cakes you like; take these with you when interviewing bakers.
- Ask to see photographs of wedding cakes they have created for other weddings.
- Ask if you can have a sample taste. Some bakers set aside a specific time, or day of the week, when samples of all their flavors are available for brides to taste.
- If you're planning a garden wedding, especially during the hottest part of summer, let your baker know. Some types of cakes and frostings hold up better than others in the heat.
- Discuss final details such as size, flavor of the frosting, decoration and set up.
- If fresh flowers are to be used on the cake, have your baker coordinate the details with your florist.
- Get a contract specifying the delivery date, time and place, the size, shape, flavor, any extras, total cost and the amount of your deposit.
Order your cake once you have selected your baker, determined the style, the flavor of the cake, the icing and filling, and the size, according to the number of guests it must serve. This should be done at least six to eight weeks before the wedding. Prepare to leave a deposit at this time. Be sure to get a receipt or contract listing all the particulars of your order including the date, the time, the location of the delivery, the total price with extras, if any, less the deposit, and the amount of the balance due.