A WEDDING CAKE is symbolic, very traditional, serves as a decoration and should make mouths water too!
Q Why do people make such a big deal about wedding cakes?
A Apart from being a great photo opportunity and one of the strongest wedding traditions that still exists, the cake is very symbolic (representing fertility apparently) and when you cut into it this will be your first job together as man and wife. It's also a natural centrepiece, a talking point and people's gaze will automatically gravitate towards it.
Q What are the latest trends in wedding cake design?
A There is a general trend towards simply designed and elegantly understated cakes, as well as towards modern alternatives to the traditional structure, such as the croquembouche (a pyramid shaped tower of profiteroles covered in caramel and coated with spun brown sugar). But wedding cakes are set to get more formal in structure, according to those in the know, and modern designs look set to remain popular too. Square cakes with neutral colours such as caremel, ivory and gold are very big news, as is anything that harks back to the Victorian era, thanks to the lasting popularity of the vintage look. If you don't fancy that, you can go the other way entirely with ultra-trendy polka dots or bold vibrant colours. Alternative tiers of carrot cake, lemon cake and chocolate cake are still going strong, though not quite overtaking our old favourite, fruitcake, just yet.
Q Where can I buy mine?
A You can have your cake made by your venue's chef, outside caterers, a bakery or a specialist cake designer. It's certainly worth shopping around as cake designers have different specialities, for example they may be experts in sugarcraft or in working with chocolate or pastries. Before you commit, ask to see examples of previous wedding cakes they have created and ask whether it's possible for a taste test too. There's no point ordering a beautiful cake that tastes terrible!
Q When should I order it?
A Do order your cake as soon as you possibly can, especially as multi-tiered cakes can take months to make (especially fruitcake) and popular cake designers are booked up well in advance.
Q I am looking for a pretty unusual design - will that cause me problems?
A No! There are lots of extremely talented and creatively-minded cake designers in Scotland who would be happy to make you a completely one-off or novelty cake, no matter how strange your concept is. Wedding cakes that are a little out of the ordinary, such as a stack of fairy cakes or something shaped according to your theme, are increasingly common. A good cake maker will be open to your ideas and then show you a variety of designs.
Q Where can I save cash?
A Ready made cakes are an increasingly popular option - some cake designers are happy to take a cake that's already been made and simply decorate it. But often when you actually start talking to a cake designer you find they can be flexible about working to your budget and if you keep the cake to one tier and go for a simple design you shouldn't have to spend a fortune. But if you want to make a big impact but can only afford to buy a small cake, ask your baker to ice and decorate additional polystyrene tiers just for show.
Q How big should it be?
A The person making your cake should be able to give you some guidance on this, but a useful rule is to allow a ten-inch square or 11-inch round fruitcake for every 100 people you are catering for. As fruitcake is particularly rich you will want to allow slightly more generous portions for chocolate or sponge cakes.
Q What fillings can I have instead of fruitcake?
A Although fruitcake is still popular, it's very rich and not everybody likes it, so consider chocolate, lemon, coffee, carrot or vanilla sponge cake instead. Lots of couples decide that a combination of fillings is the best option, so that guests can be offered a choice.
Q Once it has been made, how should my cake be decorated?
A You should discuss how you'd like your cake decorated with your designer or baker. People use fresh flowers such as rose petals, fruit and other creations made from coloured sugar. Ask for something that will match or complement your bouquets and any other floral arrangements. You could always go for the classic bride and groom characters sitting on top of course.
Q What type of icing is best?
A Wedding cakes generally used to be covered in royal icing, but now sugar paste and fondant icing are very common, which are much easier to stretch, cut and mould into different shapes. This means there are many more options when it comes to icing your cake. Icing is also available in many colours, so you can pick one that matches your dress, theme or overall colour scheme.
Q How do I separate my various tiers?
A You can either use the traditional pillars or have them stacked on top of each other, as is common in the US.
Q Will I have to set the cake up myself?
A Most cake makers deliver the goods to the reception venue unassembled and then put everything together there for you. With a stacked cake this won't work though, so ask them the best way to transport it. Sometimes the cake will arrive at the venue the day before the wedding - just make sure there is somewhere suitable to store it. It is always worth double-checking with the venue that there is a cake stand and knife on hand - if not ask your cake designer who will either lend or hire you the equipment you need.
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