The Cake For You 588 views

Whether money’s no object or you’re struggling to afford your big day, there’s a beautiful cake to suit you. Sarah Richardson outlines some of the options.

One of the first decisions to make as regards your cake is whether you very definitely want a tiered, wedding-style cake. If you don’t have strong feelings on the matter, and you just want a good-looking, delicious cake, you could save yourself money by ordering from a good patisserie and not even mentioning the ‘w’ word. For example, I loved the look and taste of the ‘house cakes’ from Choccywoccydoodah, and an arrangement of three of them made the perfect wedding cake for us, at a fraction of the cost of a bespoke design.

If the classic look is what appeals to you, you’ll want a tiered fruit cake covered in marzipan and royal icing. Whether you realise it or not, this choice is a lot more practical than many other options because, unlike sponge, fruit cake can be made well in advance. It’s also rich enough for a little to go a long way, and can keep for months after your wedding if stored correctly. To make it more practical still, choose a square shape, which can be cut into equal portions more easily than a round style. And if you really are sticking to tradition, don’t forget to save the top tier of the cake for the christening of your first child!

Of course, a wedding cake is about much more than practicality. If you’re not a fan of fruit cake, follow the example of many of today’s couples and go for sponge. Chocolate, vanilla, lemon and Baileys are among the flavours offered as standard by many professional cake makers – and it’s quite usual to choose a different flavour for each tier. The fact that sponge cakes must be made, at the earliest, a couple of days before the wedding, means you’re probably better off not attempting this one yourself.

Other options include a cascade of individual cupcakes – one per guest – arranged on a tiered stand, or pre-sliced pieces of cake beautifully wrapped in individual packages. Alternatively, for a truly personalised option, go for a cake printed with your choice of photo, drawing or text. It’s all done in food colouring, so it’s totally edible, and the effect can be fantastic. For more details, log on to Jane Asher Party Cakes.

Traditionally, a wedding cake is decorated with what’s called a topper. This might be a small model of you and your partner, something that’s significant to you, or anything else that takes your fancy, whether antique or modern and joky. Fresh flowers are another popular choice for decorating wedding cakes, and are a great way to personalise a simple design and tie it in with the rest of your scheme. Make sure you talk to your florist about which flowers and foliage to use, however – those that are poisonous are obviously not a suitable choice. Other possibilities include edible decorations such as sweets, sugar flowers or chocolate – but steer clear of anything that could melt if you’re getting married in a hot climate, or a venue that might get very warm.

If you’re reluctant to spend hundreds, consider making your own fruit cake, and perhaps paying to have it professionally iced for a smooth finish. Alternatively, most supermarkets sell different sizes of wedding cake, plus the pillars to stack them with, at good-value prices. These often taste great, and it can be fun personalising them with your own touches. It’s worth noting, however, that they’re often much ‘flatter’ than professionally made or home-made cakes.

If you’re having a large wedding and are struggling to afford that huge, ornate cake you’ve set your heart on, order a small version of it as the centrepiece for your cutting ceremony, while keeping a non-decorated cake behind the scenes for cutting up and distributing to your guests. No one will be any the wiser!

Another good way to save money, if your venue will allow it, is to serve the cake as the dessert course of your wedding breakfast. In summer, a lemon Madeira cake serves this purpose well – especially if accompanied by a jug of fruit coulis for guests to help themselves to.

Once you’ve chosen your cake and decoration, the only thing remaining is to decide how and where in your venue to display it. If you’re planning to have the cake-cutting as a ritual part of your reception, make sure you choose a stand or table that’s high enough for your guests to see from a distance – no one will want to miss this key event in the day’s proceedings. Finally, make sure you get to savour some of the cake – mad though it sounds, it’s surprising how many couples miss out on it in all the excitement of the day.

Photos by kind permission of Jonathan Day.

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