Types of Wedding Cakes
The classic wedding cake is a three-tiered round white cake with buttercream or fondant frosting, decorated in subtle pastels and often topped with a decoration such as a miniature bride and groom or real flowers. A thousand variations on this classic are possible; popular cake flavors include lemon, carrot, chocolate, red velvet and vanilla, and cakes often include fillings in many flavors, sometimes with fresh fruit.Your cake's decorations can reflect your wedding's theme, the season or you and your partner's interests. Your cake might be decorated with real daffodils for a spring wedding, shells and waves for a beach wedding, or swirls for the artistic-minded couple.
Alternatives to the Traditional Wedding Cake
If you're not the traditional type, consider some of these delicious alternatives to a conventional cake:- Cupcakes: These can be displayed beautifully in a cupcake tree and make it possible to offer several different flavors and for each guest to have his or her own personal cake.
- Mini Cakes: Another option is to place a small cake of a different flavor on each table.
- Dessert Bar: A cake is not absolutely required; instead, you could offer guests a scrumptious buffet of you and your partner's favorite desserts.
Wedding Cake Suppliers
You have several options when looking for a wedding cake supplier; depending on where you are holding your ceremony and reception, some sites provide an in-house pastry chef. You can also hire a dedicated cake caterer or find a bakery that offers wedding cakes among its confectionery.Before settling on a cake, you'll want to taste both the cake and the icing to make sure your cake will taste as good as it looks. Keep these tips in mind when preparing for the cake search:
- Make your cake appointment 4-6 months before your wedding date.
- Some wedding site establishments will charge you a fee if you use an outside cake designer, so be prepared.
- If you have your own cake topper, make sure to talk to the baker about it; heavy toppers can damage cakes that aren't designed to hold them.
- If you want to coordinate your cake with your dress or wedding colors, make sure to bring photos or samples to the bakery.
- If you are planning an outdoor reception, keep in mind that certain kinds of frosting melt very quickly in the heat; be sure to discuss this with your cake designer.
- Are there any vegans or people who are lactose intolerant in your immediate wedding party for whom you want to provide alternatives?
Some North Carolina Bakeries to Try:
Edible Art Bakery: Raleigh-based bakery & dessert café. The largest and most renowned source of wedding cakes in the Southeast.Maxie B's Bakery & Dessert Café: Locally-owned bakery & dessert café in Greensboro, NC.
Icing On the Cake: Asheville bakery offering hand-crafted cakes.
Karen's Just Desserts: Based in Jacksonville, serving all of coastal North Carolina. They will even mail you samples.
The Tradition of the Groom's Cake
Originating in the South and enjoying much popularity today, the groom's cake was often sliced, boxed up and presented to guests as a favor, especially unmarried female guests. If the young women put the slice under their pillows, as the tradition told, they would marry the man they dreamed about.Today, groom's cakes are designed to reflect the groom's interests and hobbies; the cakes, usually less formal than the bride's cake, can be shaped like anything from a football stadium to a beer can.
Wedding Cakes for Budget-Conscious Couples
Your cake doesn't have to break the bank to be beautiful and delicious. Try the following tips for saving some money on your cake.- If your wedding site offers one, staff pastry chefs often charge less than a cake designer.
- If you have your heart set on an expensive cake, get a small version made and then have the baker make a sheet cake of the same recipe for people to eat as well.
- Several smaller, less lavish cakes (or cupcakes) offer more variety and are often less expensive than one traditional tiered cake.