By Georgina Clatworthy

Time was when the wedding cake was a fruit based confection covered with marzipan and regal icing and decorated to match the bride’s dress.  For the modern wedding however, wedding cake ideas abound from traditional to themed, cupcakes to novelty.  It really seems that these days anything goes when it comes to choosing your wedding cake.  Here are some of the options you can choose from:

Traditional Wedding Cake:

The traditional wedding cake would be square or round and would have multiple tiers.  It would be a rich, heavy fruit cake primarily because this was the only type of cake that could take the weight of the icing and because it is traditional to keep the top tier for the first wedding anniversary or christening of the first child.  Often iced in white or ivory regal icing the design of the cake would mimic the bride’s wedding dress, perhaps incorporating shapes and motifs from embroidery or lace.

Fresh flowers were often used to add extra decoration and the topper would be a traditional figurine of a bride or groom to represent the happy couple.  Fruit cake is less popular these days, although many couples still choose it for the top tier to please some of their more mature guests!  Modern, traditional style wedding cake ideas are more simple and usually have plain white or ivory icing, accented with flowers to match the bride’s bouquet.  You can also choose different types of icing to suit the type of cake and incorporate decorations and designs that fit with a traditional wedding style.

Modern Wedding Cake:

The modern wedding cake will use different types of cake to the traditional fruit.  The most popular is a simple sponge which could be flavored or sandwiched with flavored fillings.  Icings include fondants, buttercream, chocolate and more traditional regal icing (if the cake can take the weight).  Decorations have become more adventurous and include handpainted motifs, edible gold and crystals, intricate sugarcraft creations and fondant models.

Novelty Wedding Cake:

These are truly works of art and are often designed to represent something the couple have a shared interest in or to match a particular wedding theme.  Novelty cake ideas have included computer games consoles, Cinderella’s carriage or slipper, castle’s and games.  Creating novelty wedding cakes can take specialist skills and not very budget friendly!

Cupcakes and Individual Wedding Cake:

These have been ultra popular for some years now and are a great choice for couple’s on a tight budget as they can double up as favors too.  You will need a special stand to display your cakes on and you can also include a small cake on the top for the cake cutting ceremony.  Mini cakes as they are also known are not cheap and can cost more per cake than a slice of traditional wedding cake.

Alternative Wedding Cake:

Cake is not everyone’s cup of tea and couple’s who want a not-so-traditional wedding style have opted to dispense with the wedding cake proper in favor of more unusual wedding cake ideas.  Cakes made of cheese, profiteroles (croquembouche), chocolate fondue fountains and traditional desserts or confectionary from the couples cultural background are just a few of the wedding cake alternatives you may want to consider.

By Georgina Clatworthy

A wedding without some kind of wedding cake would be inconceivable.  After all the tradition of wedding cakes goes way back and they have therefore become an integral part of any wedding.  But when it comes to wedding cake prices, knowing how the cost of a cake is calculated can help you to choose the right design for your budget.

Typically, wedding cakes are priced on a per slice basis, based on the number of guests who will be attending the wedding reception.  Naturally this figure is rounded up to ensure complete cakes! You wouldn’t just purchase enough slices for one per person although it is an option.

This is not the end of it though.  The shape of your cake will also impact on the cost.  Square cakes and unusual shapes will require special tins and extra skill by the baker to make sure the cakes are level when it comes applying the icing and decorations.  Square wedding cakes for instance often require the sides to be built up slightly so that they are level with the middle of the cake or else the icing will look crooked or uneven.

Then there is a question of flavorings.  Simple vanilla sponge is likely to be the cheapest option, with chocolate, lemon or Madeira coming in a close second.  When you start asking for more exotic types of cake and flavorings then the prices will increase.  Baked cheesecakes are popular, along with traditional fruit cake and other types of sponge.  Having your cake sandwiched with a special filling will also add to the cost and then there is the cost of the icing and decorations.

Typical icings include buttercream, which may or may not be flavored, fondant icing, regal or royal icing and chocolate coverings.  Here much will depend on the time it will take the cake designer to cover the cake with your choice of icing.  It is worth bearing in mind that some types of cake will not be appropriate for certain types of icing.  Fruit cake for instance is best covered with marzipan and royal icing, whilst a light sponge could not take the weight of this type of icing and is best covered with buttercream or fondant.

Decorating your cake can mean many options including piped designs in buttercream, sugarcraft flowers or decorations, decorations cut from fondant, hand-painted designs with edible inks and non-edible decorations such as fresh or silk flowers, crystals, ribbons and other non-edible items. 

In short, when it comes to wedding cake prices the more work you give your cake maker, the more it will cost.  This can also apply to cupcakes or mini cakes which can be more expensive per cake than a single of wedding cake because there is more time and work involved in making them.  If you are on a tight budget then you could have your cake made and simply iced with buttercream, then cut into slices and placed in individual cake boxes which can then be arranged to look like the whole cake.  This method will allow you to purchase only the number of slices of you need and your guests can take them home.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding cake will be a major portion of your budget and the showpiece of your reception so do it justice by choosing from a range of equally fabulous wedding cake toppers to provide the crowning glory!

Traditional wedding cake toppers where small scale models of the bride and groom, sometimes designed to mimic the characteristics of the couple and the brides wedding dress.  Today though there is a world of choice for wedding cake toppers and you can find a topper to suit any wedding style or theme.

Have a custom made topper made from clay which will add a fun and whimsical touch to your wedding cake.  You can have them made to mimic a favorite pastime you may both share or you could be modeled doing your jobs, particularly good if you are in the armed forces or police force for instance.  You can also have them made to replicate your wedding oufits by sending a photograph of your wedding dress and suit to the model maker.

Fresh flowers are a traditional alternative to a model topper and you can ask your florist to make these for you as part of your wedding flowers.  You can also have faux flowers made from silk, fabric or paper or have them made from fondant icing or sugar craft.  A good cake decorator can make flowers from icing which will look just like the real thing!

Beaded crowns are a modern version of wedding cake toppers but they look fantastic and very glamorous.  Some online stores will stock ready made versions, but in general you may have to have them made to order.  This is good for you as you can then have them made to fit with your wedding colors and sized according to the size of your top tier.

A nice touch for your wedding cake topper is to use the one you parents used on their wedding cake.  Problems could arise however, should both sets of parents still have their toppers!  Check out websites like Etsy for some wonderful vintage cake toppers from many different eras.  You could also have one custom made in a vintage style if you wished.

Finally, there is a range of modern versions of traditional cake toppers.  Some of this are a little risqué and others are great fun.  Consider a bride ‘reeling’ her groom in on a fishing line or the bride standing patiently on the top tier whilst the groom climbs his way up the cake to her!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding cake will be an expensive purchase, particularly if you choose a cake of different flavors, unique shapes and covered with lots of intricate decoration.  That said, a wedding cake does form the centerpiece of your wedding reception and a work of art to be admired by all.

Seems a shame then really to have to cut into it, but I guess the real enjoyment comes with the eating!  Decoding how cake prices are calculated can be a little tricky, and of course prices will vary greatly depending on the cake maker and your requirements.

As a general guide your initial cake price will be worked out on a slice per head basis, that is one slice per guests plus what ever is extra.  However, prices will begin to soar when you begin adding in:

• Exotic flavors and fillings
• Icing and sugar craft decorations
• Lots of tiers
• Unusual shapes
• Shapes which involve more work when icing such as square cakes.

You maybe are wondering why it is more expensive to have a square or hexagonal cake as opposed to a round one.  Basically a square cake will need to be filled at the edges to ensure the icing is level all the way around.  Cakes naturally tend to rise in the middle so your icing could appear to slope downwards from the middle.  What you need to remember is that the more work you give your cake maker, the more expensive it will be!

As with everything wedding related your wedding cake needs to coordinate with your wedding style, wedding colors and theme if you are having one.  That said, many couples do choose to have a cake that is a personal reflection of their own tastes and loves.  You will see many so called novelty cakes, perhaps based around a book or computer game for instance!

Historically, wedding cakes would be designed with the brides dress in mind, hence the traditional images of a large cake iced in pure white royal icing.  The top tier was also kept for the christening of the first child or the first wedding anniversary.  This was possible because wedding cakes were traditionally heavy fruit cakes, but today anything goes when it comes choosing the flavor of your wedding cake.

A nice idea can be to incorporate different flavors on each tier.  Fruit cake is not to everyone’s taste although you may like to have your smallest tier (the top one) made from fruit to please the older guests.  Vanilla or plain sponge is always a safe choice as is chocolate cake, but you can choose more exotic mixes such as cheesecake, orange, lemon or even marbled cakes.

Icings include frosting, buttercream, fondant and heavy royal icing which usually needs a layer of marzipan underneath to support it.  Frosting and buttercream do not really allow for any other iced decoration to be added, except for something which will sit on top of the cake, although decorative piped effects can be achieved with buttercream.  Fondant icing is the most popular as it allows for decoration to be added in the form of iced designs, flowers, and even hand painted designs in edible inks.

You will need to find a reputable cake maker to design and make your cake for you and you should aim to order your cake around six months before the wedding day.  Let your cake maker guide you as to the best choices for your wedding, including flavors, designs, sizes, shapes and decorations.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding cake can comprise a significant portion of your budget, particularly if you are having a large wedding.  Wedding cake prices are worked out on a per slice basis, with additional costs for fancy flavors and intricate icing and decorations.

With the average wedding cake costing around $500 it is little wonder that many couples will look for cheaper alternatives for their wedding day.  But there is also a rising trend to stray away from the traditional multi-tiered cake and instead go for something a little different.

If you are looking to reduce the cost of your wedding cake then there are a few options open to you.  Firstly you could have a single cake made and iced according to your requirements, this will be the cake you will cut at the wedding reception.  Behind the scenes in the kitchen will be trays of cutting cake, plain iced and ready to be cut up and served to the guests.  The cutting cakes will cost significantly less then a large fully decorated cake and your guests will never know they are not eating the same cake you cut into just moments earlier!

Other options revolve around baking the cake yourselves and have a professional ice it for you.  This can work well but it does rely you on being able to bake a fairly level cake in the first place!  Supermarkets are being to get in on the wedding act and some offer wedding cake services.  If your local supermarket doesn’t do specific wedding cakes then have a look for un-iced cakes in various sizes which would tier-up together and which are ready to be iced.

If budget isn’t a problem but you would like something different for your wedding cake then the most popular alternative is to have cupcakes instead of large cakes.  However, don’t be fooled into thinking that cupcakes would be cheaper, despite their size these little cakes take more work to produce than a larger cake and typically cost upwards of $8 each.

Aside from cupcakes, mini cakes which are squares cut from a larger cake and covered in icing are a stylish option.  Both cupcakes and mini cakes make good wedding favors meaning you could double them up for both roles, saving money in the process.

If you have cupcakes or mini cakes then you will need an appropriately big stand to display them on.  Many couples also still want the cake cutting ceremony which means they must also order a small cake to sit on top of the stand which they will cut into.

As an alternative to a wedding cake these smaller cakes are more expensive but they do make a fabulous display and wonderful focal point in your reception.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding cake toppers provide the final finishing touch to wedding cakes and for many brides their choice of topper is a personal one.  You will find many choices available when it comes to toppers and your wedding cake designer should be able to guide you to the best choice in terms of the style and decoration of your wedding cake and the style of your wedding.

Here are just a few of the choices available to your for your cake topper:

Flowers are possibly the most popular choice and the cheapest.  It is often the case that your florist will throw in small wired flowers for your wedding cake for free when you purchase all your other floral requirements from them.

Sugar flowers are another popular alternative to fresh ones, however, these can be very expensive and you could need a lot to decorate your cake, as you would often include flowers on the other tiers as well as on the top.

Just make sure that the flowers you use on your cake match those used in the rest of your floral decorations and your bouquets.  A cake covered in exotic orchids will look odd if the rest of your flowers are roses and stocks.

Monogram cake toppers are the newest kids on the block and are fast becoming a popular choice.  They are available in brushed metal and clear plastic versions and can include embellishments such as crystals.  For a wedding cake it is customary to use three letters – the brides initial, the grooms initial and your surname initial in the center.  An alternative option is to use two letters representing your intials, some couples also choose to add the ‘&’ symbol as well in the center.

Traditional cake toppers are figurines of the bride and groom standing proud on the top of the cake.  In recent years there has been many whimsical variations on this which include figurines of the bride dragging the groom; the groom carrying the bride and versions which have the groom climbing up the cake tiers.

For many the traditional topper is still king and some even use their parents cake topper on their wedding cake which makes a lovely gesture and can count towards the bride’s ’something borrowed’ or ’something old’.

Whimsical cake toppers are modelled from clay and are designed using a photograph of the bride and groom to create life like replicas of them.  Some are very artistic and formal, whilst others are more whimsical and show them in a comical light.  Often if one or both of the couple wear a uniform in their job, such as police work or the armed forces, then that is included on the model.  The advantage with this type of topper is that they make wonderful keepsakes and can be on display in the home permanently.

Modern wedding cake toppers include elaborate beaded crowns, crests of feathers and crystals, heart shaped glass frames with a picture of the couple and simple brushed metal shapes.

Whatever your choice of wedding cake topper, make sure it will coordinate with your wedding cake and your wedding style.  If you are having a wedding theme make sure you choose a topper that matches that also.  If you cannot find a topper that is perfectly suited then you can either have something custom made or simply opt for flowers which will coordinate with any wedding style and theme.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

A wedding with a seasonal theme will obviously use Mother Nature as it’s inspiration for every detail right down to the smallest finishing touches.  As with any wedding cake, a fall wedding cake will and should become the centerpiece for reception.

Your wedding cake will be a sizeable chunk of your wedding budget, although there are some tricks to keeping the cost down.  If you are having a lot of guests but cannot afford a multi-tiered cake to feed everyone, then opt for a single tier with decoration and keep some plain cutting cakes in the kitchen.  After doing the cake cutting ceremony, your guests can then be served slices of cake from the cutting cakes – they will never know the difference and you will save money!

If you your wedding is in the fall and you plan to theme it accordingly, then your wedding cake can be a good place to start.  As this will form one of the main focus’s of your reception (alongside yourself of course) you can coordinate all the other elements such as decorations, table centers and wedding favors with it.  

Here are a few ideas for a fall inspired cake: 

An obvious element of fall is leaves! Take your colors from them as well, such as golds, reds, oranges, browns and yellows.  Do some research on different leaf shapes and choose one you like or several different ones if you prefer.  A good place to start would be with trees that are local to you or the perhaps grow near to you.

Your wedding cake could be covered with plain white fondant and then decorated with cut out leaves or feature a garland of fondant leaves draping down the tiers from top to bottom.  If your budget won’t stretch that far then ask for leaf shapes to be embossed onto the plain fondant and have a fondant topper made with different colored leaves.

You can then use the shape of those leaves as a motif throughout the rest of your wedding details such as your stationery and favors.

If you prefer something much simpler then look at having a chocolate cake with fondant bands in fall colors.  Or have the cake embossed with chocolate leaves.

Decorate your cake with fall fruits such as blackberries which could be served up alongside each portion.

For more inspiration take a look at the gallery of fall inspired wedding cakes below:

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

I have to admit that one of the best reasons for getting married & one of the highlights of the wedding planning, was the cake tasting!  Wedding cakes are available in a wide variety of flavors & just about any shape & design you can think of.  So with such a wide choice available how do you find the one that is right for your wedding? 

A good place to start is by looking at your wedding venue & the theme you have chosen for your wedding.  If your wedding is taking place in an historical country house, a contemporary styled cake may look out of place; neither would a simple traditional cake look right within a polka dot themed wedding.  If you have trouble finding the right design for your wedding then you may need to talk to your cake designer about a custom design.  But be aware that you may have to pay extra for this service.

When it comes to knowing how big a cake you will need to order, the general rule of thumb is that a 10″ square fruit will feed 80 people, whilst an 8″ one will feed 50 people.  Traditionally the top tier of the wedding cake was saved for the christening of the first born child or for your first wedding anniversary, but this only works for fruit cakes.

These days fruit cakes are less popular & flavored sponges are now more the norm, with chocolate, lemon & vanilla being the favorites.  As these cakes are not as rich as a fruit cake they tend to be served in larger slices. Work on a fruit cake being sliced into 1″ pieces, whilst a sponge is usually served in either 2×1″ pieces or 2″ pieces.

Chocolate sponges are a must for every chocoholic!  They can be as rich & indulgent as you like & make an ideal dessert following a light meal or a buffet.  Just be careful when you cut it & eat it as it could stain your dress!  Vanilla is the classic, crowd pleased flavor & perfect for any type of wedding.  It’s light & airy texture is perfect for spring & summer weddings & ideal to follow a heavy meal.  Lemon sponge is the contemporary flavor of the lot & makes a zingy alternative to vanilla.  Perfect for summer & bijoux weddings.

Cutting the cake is a traditional & vital part of your wedding ceremony, just as important as the first dance or the speeches, so don’t miss it out!  If you are having a formal sit down meal you should cut the cake after the main meal.  If you are having an informal reception perhaps with a cocktail party or buffet you can cut the cake after the speeches.

Wedding etiquette has it that the knife should be held in the bride’s right hand & the groom’s hand placed on top.  Just remember to pause for a moment so that that all important photograph can be taken!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Stuck as to what to top your wedding cake with?  Here are a few suggestions to inspire you:

The Cake Table

Your wedding cake will likely cost a fortune so you will want to show it off for the work of art it is.  Make sure you allocate a space in the reception room for it & set up a table to display it on.  Some couples like to put it center of attention whilst others opt for a quiet corner where there is less risk of it being knocked over!

Brooches & Bows

Whilst sugarcraft roses & flowers are the traditional toppers, jeweled brooches & bows are the newest trend.  A sparkly crystal brooch pinned onto a cascading fondant bow is a stylish, elegant & glamorous touch.  Adding in cake jewelry also means less work for your cake designer & an inexpensive option for decorating your cake.

Classic Toppers

The traditional bride & groom topper is making something of a comeback.  You can get classically styled models or whimsical versions in polymer clay or salt dough. 

Unique Cake Toppers

For something different have a personalized topper made in your own images.  Send the model maker a photograph of the two of you & maybe one of your wedding dress if you want your model to be wearing a replica of your dress.  They can then produce a model that’s as individual & unique as you are.  This style of topper also makes a wonderful souvenir of your wedding.

Fresh Flowers

Possibly the most inexpensive option.  A simple white cake can be enhanced by a few flowers which match your bouquet & other arrangements.  Ask your florist to provide you with a few extra for your cake.  As an alternative you can ask them to make up some simple sprays to decorate around the tiers or to make a more elaborate topper for you.  If you want to keep the topper get one made in silk or paper flowers instead.

The Cake Knife

Your venue can probably supply you with a knife to cut the cake, but many couples like to buy a knife & server set which they can then keep as a memento.  You can get engraved sets & this could make a nice gift for someone to give to you both.  

Cake Stands

Cake stands come in all shapes & sizes & a range of materials too.  The style of stand will depend on the design of your cake, the number of tiers & how you want to display it.  Formal tiered cakes are often displayed on a large ornate stand with the tiers supported by pillars & boards.  Modern stands come in chrome or Perspex & will consist of sections on which to place each tier of your cake.  You can get stands which will display you cake tiers at right angles, in a stepped formation or a cascade style.  If you are having cupcakes with a larger cake on top you will need to look for a special stand which will accommodate all of these.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Are you baffled by the price of wedding cakes?  Curious as to why something created with eggs, flour & butter can cost more than the price of gold?  If you are worried that you are being fleeced for a bit of sponge cake, here is the low down on wedding cake prices.

You may or may not be aware of how cake prices are calculated.  The usual method is on a per slice or per serving basis, that is you order a cake with enough portions to give one to each guest, you will probably order a little extra as well.  As a guide you can expect to pay an average of $1.50 – $8.00 per serving, so you would be wise to calculate your cake budget within this range, before falling in love with the world’s most expensive cake.

Here is a guide as to what exactly goes into the creation of your wedding cake & how that has an impact on the cost.

Why Size Does Matter

Simple economics states that the bigger the cake the bigger the price.  This doesn’t just apply to the diameter of your cake but also to the height.  You could pick a small 7″ cake but if you have six tiers, it is likely to cost as much as a 12″ cake with two tiers.  So think carefully about how wide & how tall you want your cake to be.

As a standard, choose a three tier cake.  The more work you create for the baker – baking, icing, decorating etc, the more it will cost.  If your budget is tight keep it simple & don’t ask for anything fancy, such as tilted tiers or intricate scrollwork or a fabulous cascade of hand crafted sugar flowers.

You will find that sheet cakes are the most inexpensive option.  However, if your budget is tight you can have the best of both worlds.  Order a lavish cake which you can put on display at the reception.  Then after you have done the cake cutting ceremony, you can serve up pieces of cutting cakes or sheet cakes to you guests.  These will have been stashed away in the kitchen & once cut your guests will never know it isn’t the same cake they were looking at a moment ago!

What’s In the Mix

The main part of your cake – is the cake!  But the choice of flavor or type of cake can make a world of difference to the price you are quoted.

The cheapest option is a basic sponge cake, either plain or flavored with vanilla.  Other flavor choices can include orange, lemon, chocolate or even carrot.  Personally I think you can’t go wrong with a sponge cake, as it will appeal to most people’s tastes.

At the other end of the scale is the cheesecake.  At luxurious cheesecake will indulge your guests but will cost you $8 or more per slice because they are more time intensive to make.

I could write an endless list of all the types of cake there are to choose from.  Traditionally the cake of choice was a fruit cake.  Probably because the top tier was always kept for the christening of the couple’s first born child.  Any other type of cake was unlikely to be still edible by the time this occasion came about.  But there are no hard & fast rules about the type of cake you should have & really it should come down to personal taste & preference.

Just remember, the more time it takes to make, the more expensive it will be & the more stuff that goes into it – fruit, nuts, alcohol etc. the more expensive it will be.

A Question of Topping

Love it or hate, it wouldn’t be a wedding cake without some form of icing & decoration. The choice you make should reflect your personal taste & your budget!

BUTTERCREAM. Remember this from childhood?  The archetypal cake topping.

Pro: Tastes delicious, is easy to use & is inexpensive.

Con: Difficult to get the perfectly smooth finish that is so popular these days & it won’t stand up well in heat.

CREAM CHEESE. The traditional topping for carrot cakes.

Pro: Cost wise it is the same as buttercream & tastes just as delicious.

Con: It isn’t possible to create intricate designs.

FONDANT. Like an edible playdough, findat is the trendiest topping on the block at the moment!

Pro: Good cake designers can do anything with fondant.  Pleats, folds, flowers, hearts, anything it possible.
Con: It is the most expensive choice & the least tasty.

It’s Hip to be Square

Square cakes are bang on trend at the moment, but they are also the most expensive.

To get a square looking even when you apply the frosting you need to build up the edges.  So, this means more work, which means more time, which means – yeas you’ve guessed it! More money.

So that’s it.  Everything you will need to know about the basics of wedding cakes & how there prices are calculated.  Whatever your choice, it should be a personal decision & one which reflects your tastes.  Armed with this information you can approach your cake designer knowing exactly how to get the perfect wedding cake for your money.