Selecting a Wedding Cake

The wedding cake has played a focal point in wedding ceremonies for years. There are many varying customs and traditions associated with the cake itself. When selecting your cake of choice you may want to look at which traditions if any you want to include in your reception. You may also want to look at the family backgrounds, when you are choosing your cake. And of course, another big concern for many is the price of the cake.

Some Things You Might Want to Consider:

• Many brides wish to keep the top layer of their cake to be served on their first anniversary or for a special occasion. You may want to consider how long the cake will last in the freezer if you are planning to do this.
• Some couples choose to perform the traditional cutting of the cake as a symbol of the first thing they do as a couple. This can be awkward if you have a many layered cake.
• One tradition allows for the guests to take small pieces of the cake home with them to put under their pillows. Supposedly they will then dream of their future intended. This can be difficult to do if you have chosen a cheesecake.

Almost every country and culture has their own variation of what is served for dessert at weddings. This can range from the French’s Croquembouche, a cream filled pastry ball which is stacked into a cone shape to the Korean custom of a steamed rice cake. In the Ukraine they do not serve cake at all but rather have a traditional bread called Korovai. If you are set on having a big tiered cake you might consider having a groom’s cake made to reflect the heritage of the family.

The cost of a big cake can run well into the hundreds and sometime thousands of dollars. If this is not in your budget you might want to consider some more modern variations of the wedding ‘cake‘. Almost any dessert can be tiered or layered to resemble a cake. Cupcakes which can be arranged on trays are very popular. Another unconventional idea is serving a mousse or pudding which is served in champagne glasses. The glasses are arranged in tiers. Pies are another choice which is becoming more common.

You should keep in mind that today’s weddings cakes can be as unique as the couple. Any flavor may be used or a different flavor for each tier. Colors are being used more and more as the trends shift away from white. You may choose not to have a cake at all but to have smaller special desserts for each guest. Whatever you choose remember to consider carefully what part of the reception the cake is to play.