5 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Cake
Aside from picking a dress, deciding on the perfect cake may be the most important choice you make for your wedding day. Why? Because a cake is one of the most recognisable features of any wedding, big or small. Unfortunately, many couples find the process quite stressful. There are so many options to consider including design, flavour, portion size and budget. In my role as head pastry chef at the Terminal City Club in downtown Vancouver, I have made hundreds of wedding cakes over the past 14 years. And based on my experiences, I would like to suggest five tips for choosing the right cake for your wedding celebration.
1. Budget
Price is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding on a cake for your big day. The more elaborate a wedding cake is (think piping decorations and handmade sugar flowers) the more expensive it will be. I would recommend that you decide on a budget early on in the decision making process.
2 . Design
Once your budget has been finalized, it’s time to choose a design for your wedding cake. When meeting with your cake decorator for the first time, try to bring as much information with you as possible. These details should include the wedding theme, dress colours, room inspiration and flower choice. Having this information available will make the selection process much easier. I would also suggest bringing in samples from magazines and websites, so that we can start designing your wedding cake together.
3. Faux or Real Cake
For some brides, it may seem strange to consider a faux (meaning fake in French) cake instead of a real one. Surprisingly, however, the majority of our clients at the Terminal City Club choose “faux” wedding cakes. There are numerous reasons for this. During a plated dinner, service is made smoother when pieces of cake are pre-portioned. (these precut slices are decorated beautifully, and look identical to the Faux cake). Faux cakes can also be left on display during the reception as part of your wedding showcase. And not to worry: for the symbolic cake cutting ceremony, we insert one piece of real cake into the Faux version.
4. Flavour of the Cake
An easy one – simply choose your favorite variety of cake. And it doesn’t have to be a traditional fruit or sponge cake either. Be inspired! Opt for chocolate, red velvet or even carrot cake, and don’t be afraid to mix the layers. For your wedding cake filling, I often suggest choosing a “seasonal” option. Here in British Columbia we have access to many beautiful fruits from local farmers, especially during the summer months. Why not incorporate one of these into your choice? If you have decided on a Faux cake, you will have a wide variety of flavour options as well, including chocolate mousse, fruits mousse, tiramisu, chocolate fondant cake, baked alaska and many others. Deciding on a real cake will limit your options to varieties that can stay in the room for hours, like traditional fruit or sponge cake.
5. Delivery and set up of the wedding cake
If you choose to hold your wedding at the Terminal City Club or another high-end venue, cake delivery and set up will be taken care of for you. But if you decide to order from a baker/cake decorator, I would recommend that you confirm who will deliver your cake, and at what time of day. It is also important to have a professional set your cake up onsite. This may seem like a simple process, but even a small mistake could leave you scrambling for a last minute alternative.
I hope these 5 tips for choosing a cake will prove helpful when planning your wedding day!
Fumiko Moreton Pastry Chef at the Terminal City Club.
Cakes displayed in post were created and designed by Fumiko herself!
