Have your Cake and Eat It!
The wedding cake is a traditional symbol, integral to most for their big day. However, things have changed now and instead of the classic fruit cake, we are exploring the likes of butterscotch, red velvet, lemon drizzle and double chocolate with half and half twists and all kinds of designs – this is making us so hungry writing this! The cake is a pretty big deal and the great thing is, it’s one of the many elements of your big day that you can truly personalise with your chosen Designer Wedding Cake Supplier. We asked Corinne’s Cake Creations and Natasha Cakes for some handy hints and tips as to what you should be thinking about when choosing your cake supplier and thinking about the design and flavours!
Budget
This is the thing that always comes up first. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a bottomless bank account, and it’s very easy to get carried away and blow your budget on the cake of your dreams. From eclectic to classic, fun to wacky, most couples have a firm idea of their design before their consultation with their chosen cake designer. Whether it be an elaborate four tier creation festooned with sugar flowers, or a fun personalised cake with football/superhero themes, every cake comes with a budget to be mindful of. Opting for a classic three tier cake, with two or three large statement sugar flowers, maybe with a textured tier of ruffles or embossing, can make just as big an impact as four tiers covered head to toe with sugar flowers, but may be more budget friendly.
Choosing and changing your mind on your design
It’s best to leave the designing of your cake until the later stages of your planning. Once you have chosen the dress, flowers, colour scheme, centrepieces etc as these may play a part in your cake! When booking so far in advance, trends, colour schemes, dresses etc will likely change as you will be finding new inspiration everywhere you go! Try and send your supplier as many ideas/pictures together as possible, before your consultation. This gives them a good idea of the overall look, feel and theme of the wedding, before they get to meet the couples themselves. Pinterest, Google & Instagram are all good sources of information and more often than not, the couple will choose certain elements from different cakes that we can pull together to make a truly bespoke design. Remember, Google and Pinterest are great, but try to keep an open mind on design and be individual….your cake should represent you and a designer likes nothing more than creating that personal touch rather than replicating something they have done before. Don’t forget to consider how your cake is displayed….a fabulous cake stand or dressed table can create the ultimate feature your cake needs.
Choosing your supplier
Try to arrange a meet and greet with your potential cake maker early on and possibly before booking, even a phone call and a chat with them would be helpful. There is a whole lot of passion and personality that goes into making a wedding cake so it’s best to make sure you connect with and get the right feel from your supplier.
Choosing your flavours
Whether you opt for three tiers of the same classic flavour, or different complimenting flavours for each tier, remember it’s your Wedding, Your cake, Your choice. Trying to please Great Aunty Edna, because she says ‘you must have a fruit cake, as it’s traditional’ will just cause you headaches. Set up your own traditions, with three tiers of chocolate decadence, alcohol fuelled cakes, or opt for lighter flavours that suit your tastes.
Trends
Trends can be as individual as the Couples themselves. There is still a lot of ‘Half & Half’ cakes that are popular, and metallics are still riding high. Silver/grey is still the most popular for cake themes this year, with Gold hot on their heels. Marbling is still on the up, and geometric shapes are also making an appearance. 2019 years cakes are very varied. There have been a lot of bespoke designs, with Bride and Grooms opting for little personalised touches to their cakes that they have designed themselves which is a nice touch. Mix those with some ‘Half & Half’ cakes, cakes with ruffles, swags and bling, sugar flowers and bows….squares, rounds and a mixture of the two, it’s a very busy year for us here 🙂
Thank you to Corinne’s Cake Creations and Natasha Cakes for your helpful and handy tips! Check them out here;