The wedding cake is often considered the focal point of the reception and a final remembrance of a couple?s wedding day. It may be ordered from a caterer, a bakery or a patisserie that specializes in wedding cakes. Hotels that cater weddings sometimes provide a cake made by their own chefs as part of their service. The top tier of the cake is traditionally saved and frozen for the bride and groom to serve when they return from their honeymoon, or on their first anniversary.
Before ordering the cake, you will need to choose from a variety of shapes, sizes, flavors, color schemes and decorations. It can be as big or small as you like: a five-tiered beauty complete with handmade sugar flowers and bows, or a simple one-tiered cake topped with fresh flowers in season. If it\\\\\\\?s variety you like, consider a cake with different flavors in each tier - a sort of Neapolitan-style cake. Favorite cake flavors include lemon, chocolate, hazelnut, butter rum, almond, orange and spice. Another idea: how about a cheesecake for your wedding cake? It can be topped with a cream cheese frosting or decorated with fresh fruit or flowers.
Order early, especially if you?re planning a summer wedding. Three to four months before the wedding, reserve the cake, including the approximate number of guests. Then call back and confirm with actual numbers several weeks before. Prices are usually figured on a per-slice amount, so be sure to ask how big the slices will be.
Ask your baker to provide you with instructions for cutting and serving your cake. The bigger and more elegant the cake, the trickier this job becomes. Decide who will serve the cake, and supply the instructions to that person.
Personalized mints or candies can be coordinated with your colors and decorations. You may want to use these as accessories to place by the cake, drawing attention to your elegant cake and adding a special touch.
