Wedding Cakes

Once the tears have been shed  and the newly married couple has danced, it's time for the wedding cake . Yum! What was once a simplistic layered cake has evolved into an extravagant display of towering tiers , intricate designs, an explosion of flavors, bold colors , and frosting to die for. Conjuring up fantasies of cutting the cake  can have a bride's mind in a flurry over what type of cake to choose. After all, the sky is the limit, especially if you've hired a wedding cake designer. However, in the world of wedding cakes, tastes and visions will drastically vary.

Cake Categories

First, consider the style of your wedding. Is it traditional, modern, glamorous, simple, or casual? Maybe you chose a theme? Here are some of the typical directions to take when choosing a cake style. Or, have a little fun and find the cake that best suits your style with this fun quiz from The Knot.

Traditional Perhaps your ceremony is set in a white chapel, your dress is classic and feminine? A traditionally styled cake will be round and either white or pale in color – possibly accented with a hint of hue and details . These might be little flowers (fresh or sugar) or a pretty weave in the icing. The final touch is as classic as can be – a bride and groom cake topper. Fancier, but still classic cakes, might have ribbons, flower garlands, and fruits as adornments as well.	Extravagant You want your wedding to be perfect and you are ready to go the extra mile . That means getting a cake that is as elegant, glamorous, and stylish as you. It will more than likely have several tiers, which may be square or round, covered in intricate details, such as icing pearls, spun sugar decorations, scrolls, floral details or latticework. Instead of white, it can be slightly opalescent, champagne colored, or of another shade that coordinates with the rest of the wedding's color theme.	Contemporary The same old white, fluffy, princess wedding gown is simply too passé for your taste. Your style is more minimalist than romantic, so the cake to match may be anything but traditional. Think square, hexagonal, triangular, or even off-kilter. It will sport a bright or metallic hue, never a matte white shade. Embellishments and decorations will be simple, but modern .	Casual You like to keep things uncomplicated and laid-back, but it's no excuse for having a cake that doesn't look great. Casual cakes should have clean lines, few embellishments, and feature romantic or whimsical touches, such as leaves  or seashells. The shape may be round, square, or scalloped (petaled) and the colors to use will blend naturally with the other wedding decorations. Neutrals, earth tones, and soft shades of blue, pink, or green are good bets.	Unique You never want to blend in with the crowd, but you still want a touch of tradition and romance  infused into your wedding. Instead of a white cake, you'll take advantage of the many colors of icing and the new trends in cake shapes, from off-kilter to multi-shaped (molds can be made to look like everything from footballs to hearts). Accents will be whimsical, bohemian, or funky, and will have a great deal of color to them. Simply put, go cake crazy!

Other types of cakes and desserts that you might consider are not necessarily traditional in any sense of the word. However, they offer unique alternatives to the standard wedding cake, and are particularly suitable for casual, semi-formal, and quirky weddings. Cupcake cakes  are becoming extremely popular while petit fours, mini cheesecakes, croquembouche, tiers of donuts, truffles, and crème brûlée are also great options.

It's What's on the Inside That Counts

Sure you want a cake to speak worlds about you and your personality, but you also want the cake to taste good. Remember, you will eventually eat it. A cake's icing must work in combination with the filling. When choosing flavors, always sample! Although certain combinations might sound delicious on paper, your palate may disagree.

• Buttercream icing and filling is sweet, creamy, and mild. To give it a kick, liquor or fruit flavoring  can be added. However, buttercream  consists of butter, sugar, and eggs, so it's not the best choice for warm weather outdoor weddings. You wouldn't want it to melt as temperatures rise.
• Fondant gives a smooth look that is similar to porcelain. Since it's made from sugar that is spread or rolled  over the cake, it won't go bad. Almost identical to fondant is Choco-pan , which according to some bakers has a better texture and taste. And, as the name suggests, tastes like chocolate.
• Ganache is another chocolate icing that gives a silky look to cakes, but it doesn't hold up in heat very well.
• Royal icing is a thick, all-weather frosting used mostly to create decorative cakes that feature weaves, lattice, and lace.
• Whipped cream frosting is light and perfect for summer as long as it is kept cool.
• Mousse is light and fluffy topping made from whipped egg and cream. Flavors such as chocolate, fruit, and even chicken liver can be added. Though, you might want to hold off on the meaty twists.

Fanciful Flavors and Fillings

Casual summer weddings go hand in hand with fruity confections, while a winter wedding cakes tend to often have richer flavors and heavier fillings. Here are some fun flavor ideas that you might want to consider.

• Fruity Fresh for Spring and Summer
• Angel food with whipped cream frosting and fresh berries
• Mocha cake with Grand Marnier buttercream filling
• Orange-chiffon cake with grenache filling
• Lemon-chiffon with lemon mousse filling
• Vanilla cake with whipped-cream and strawberry filling
• Vanilla cake with fresh peaches and a peach mousse filling
• Vanilla cake with coconut mousse and lime curd
• Savory Sweetness for Fall and Winter
• Pistachio cake with pistachio praline and whipped cream filling
• Carrot cake with cream cheese filling
• Sponge cake with walnuts and chocolate chips with chocolate mousse filling
• Hazelnut with raspberry and grenache filling
• Genoise cake soaked in Bailey's Irish Cream  filled with white chocolate truffle icing
• Tiramisu
• For Chocolate Lovers
• Chocolate cake with peanut butter truffle filling
• Chocolate cake with mint-flavored ganache
• Espresso soaked chocolate cake with a layer of Bavarian cream covered in ganache

Don't forget that you can mix and match the filling between layers and you can get different cake flavors in each tier.

Other Details

• A wedding cake's size and number of tiers depends on whether or not the cake is purely ornamental or dessert. Larger cakes will feature edible bottom layers with decorative upper layers.
• Chat with your florist and your cake designer to coordinate the inclusion of flowers or other designs and objects on the cake .
• Take your wedding date into consideration. Cakes are often made a few days before the bid day, but the consultation and tastings must be done in advance.
• When designing your cake, be sure to discuss any ornaments, cake jewelry , fresh flowers, or other embellishments  you would like to include, and whether or not it will pose any issues . Very heavy items will additional need support.

Quick Picks

Roses Cake Decorations	Shimmer Ribbons - Strips	Incredible Edible Sugar Diamonds	Lucks Dec-Ons Wedding Assortment

Saving Money on the Cake

• Opt for cupcakes instead. They only cost about two or three dollars a piece versus a four-dollar piece of wedding cake. By doing this, you will be able focus on other wedding items .
• Order an optional dessert and cut the size of the cake in half. You will be able to order sheet cakes with the same decor, filling, and icing to serve guests.
• When it comes to eating the cake , serve either the top or bottom tiers. Some couples may or may not want to save the top tier .
• Get a plain cake and dress it up with crystals and cake jewelry for an elegant look that costs less than sugar flowers and hard-to-make molds.
• Instead of a round cake, try a square or rectangular-shaped cake. They're unique and you will be able to get more slices out of the cake.
• Skip the groom's cake.
• Do it yourself!

Rent a Cake

With more and more people trying to save money, not everyone will be able to afford a cake that costs over $1,000, or even a few hundred dollars for some. So what's a bride and groom to do? Believe it or not, wedding cake rental is a rising trend. Companies such as Cake Rental and Rent the Cake of Your Dreams give financially-strapped couples the chance to have an elegant, but fake wedding cake displayed during the reception . A three-tier cake  from Cake Rental only costs $150. When it's time to cut the cake , the newly married couple will feed each other a pre-sliced piece. The rental cake is then taken into the kitchen where sheet cake is cut and served to guests. This means no one will ever know about your delicious secret. 

How It Works

• Once you've chosen a rental company, you will select a pre-designed cake. Don't worry if nothing appeals to you. Most cake rental places will accept personal designs.
• The design is set, but you must now decide on the sheet cake's flavor, filling, icing, and the number of guests expected to attend. 
• A deposit ranging between $100 and $200 is required, in addition to the price of the cake's rental and sheet cake. The amount will vary by company.
• Rental companies will deliver and set up the cake on your wedding day. However, cakes must be returned within a certain number of days. Once this happens, your deposit will be reimbursed.

Related Guides

Wedding Flowers	Hiring a Cake Designer	Reception Decorations	Invitations	Hiring a Caterer