There is no wedding complete without a cake. The wedding cake is a vital part of your ceremony, and you need to take enough time to choose and order it. Ordinarily, you need to plan for your cake 4 to 6 months before the wedding. This will not only allow you to browse bakers, designs, and costs, but also save you money as an earlier order is easier to make and cheaper than a rush one.
Your cake’s design should be determined after you’ve determined the bigger aspects of your wedding. Don’t begin designing and ordering your cake before you’ve determined and planned parts of your wedding such as the dress, the venue, the flowers, the catering menu, the location, and the guest list. This way the baker can give you design options from all the possible information they can use, instead of winging ideas out.
Wedding cakes are almost always priced by the slice, and the first thing the baker will ask you is how many people will you have attending. The baker will usually provide samples of different cakes, icing, fillings, baking methods, etc. to help you make an informed decision, but as always, don’t let yourself be upsold. Extra options will always cost extra, stick firm to your budget so you don’t go overboard when being wowed by the plethora of different cake options.
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The larger your venue is, the larger (taller) your cake should be. A taller cake will be more expensive, but these costs can be mitigated with options such as using Styrofoam layers and pillars/columns to add height. Ask your baker for input on these options and the pricing for more information.
Inform your baker of your venue’s conditions so they are able to make the appropriate recommendations. This way you won’t end up with a buttercream or whipped cream iced cake for your outdoor summer wedding. If you didn’t know, buttercream and whipped cream are extremely susceptible to heat, which means they will melt. Buttercream melts at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and whipped cream will begin melting at temperatures past 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A fondant-covered cake is usually the go-to for an outdoor wedding, but your baker will know best.
Having the cake delivered is an arduous task, so ensure it is appropriately planned for. Many cakes require refrigeration, and if your baker is out of the way from your venue, a refrigerated vehicle is necessary. Larger, complex cakes will not always be fully assembled on delivery, so ensure the venue has an area in which your baker can work on final assembly and that they are provided with appropriate chilled storage if necessary.
It’s hard to order a cake with just words and pictures alone, as it is meant to be eaten after all. Schedule a tasting with your baker, and inform them beforehand about your budget, dietary restrictions, specific flavors or options, and dietary restrictions you may have. There are many different types of frostings, fillings, cakes, and edible decorations, but always keep the fact that more exotic or unique options will usually cost more.