You’re getting married and along with all of the other items
on your to-do list is ordering a wedding cake.
A tiered wedding cake is the traditional dessert centerpiece at most
weddings, but there are other options to explore as well.
Here are some of those options along with positives and
negatives of each.
·
Tiered
Wedding Cake- While tradition alone
makes this option a favorite, it affords the bride and groom many options, from
traditional white cake with white frosting and decorations to more colorful and
contemporary designs with gold and silver décor, dramatic sugar flowers and
even themed to the couple’s favorite hobby, movie or other inspiration. The size and height of your cake is usually
determined by the number of guests you plan to serve and sometimes the top tier
is saved, frozen and enjoyed by the happy couple on their first anniversary.
Your tiered cake is priced on a per serving basis with price ranges anywhere
from $3.00 per serving in some areas of the country to highs of $10 and up in
expensive regions.
·
Cupcakes-
Who doesn’t love a cupcake? A tower of cupcakes or lovely trays arrayed with
these little cakes has become a popular and cost effective alternative to a
large tiered cake. Often times a tower of cupcakes is topped with a small cake
for the cake cutting ceremony. Cupcakes
offer a way to present many cake and frosting flavors when you and your partner
have too many “favorites” or can’t agree. You can also have your guests serve themselves,
which may avoid the costly cake cutting fees that some venues charge. The
towers for presenting your cupcakes can be purchased or rented if your cake
baker doesn’t have one to lend out.
·
Fake Cake-
A fake cake is a way to add height to a smaller real wedding cake to make it
seem larger. Some couples see it as a way to save money by having the only real
cake tier the tier to be cut by the bride and groom. All the rest of the cake
servings will come from “sheet” cakes kept in the kitchen. Keep in mind that it
costs just as much to decorate a Styrofoam dummy as it does to decorate a real
cake.
·
Sheet
cakes- A sheet cake is a large flat cake usually comprised of one layer of
cake covered in frosting. Sometimes a bride and groom will order a smaller
tiered cake and supplement the number of servings needed with pieces of sheet
cake. Some of your guests will be served a lovely slice of wedding cake made up
of several layers of cake, filling and frosting, and other guests will be
served a square of cake with frosting on top. If you decide to go this route
you should consider ordering what I call a kitchen
cake which is a large flat cake comprised of two layers of cake, a layer of
filling and of frosting. This plan will likely not save you money.
·
Dessert
Table- Some couples opt instead for a dessert table, with or without a
small cake for cutting. Your dessert table can include any and all of the
things you love: cupcakes, pie, macaroons, whoopie pies, cookies. The cost will
vary but it is worth looking into if you want something other than cake.
There are no hard and fast rules dictating your wedding
dessert. You can be as traditional or contemporary as you like and your budget
will allow. Just make sure to do what makes you happy, because you’ll be taking
home any leftovers!
