how do i choose a wedding cake design?
You’ve secured the wedding venue, decided on what you’ll be wearing and have an idea of the style of wedding you would like. However, when it comes to choosing a wedding cake design you might be at a loss. There are so many ideas to choose from, just how do you whittle it down to a design that you really like and that’s good enough to take centre stage at the wedding.
Here are 9 things to consider that will help you choose a wedding cake design.
1. Wedding theme and colours
One of the best places to start is to look for designs that incorporate the wedding theme or colours. Your cake should compliment your overall style and theme and stand out for all the right reasons. Rather than being a burdensome after thought, your wedding cake should be a beautiful extension of the style you are looking for. Remember, after your guests have finished swooning over you both, another highlight of the day is the cake cutting. Your cake will be photographed almost as much as you so it needs to be special. Many of the cakes I make are decorated with the couples wedding flowers which is a very simple way to ensure the cake ties in with the decor.
2. Personal style and taste
Much of what you decide will come down to this point – your personal style and taste. If you have a Pinterest board or are keeping a notebook, is there a common thread between the designs you like? Do you like a more classic and elegant style, more traditional or simple? Is it a rustic style that mostly draws your attention? Or do you want something more elaborate, bold or fun? This is where you can let your personalities shine through and really make your wedding cake design unique to you.
3. Look for inspiration
Inspiration can come from anywhere! There is so much scope for it in your wedding plans and especially when choosing a wedding cake design. For example, does your wedding venue have any interesting features about it? Perhaps it has gilded wall designs, domed ceilings, intricate wood panelling or marbled flooring? If it has a grand ballroom you might want a taller, more elaborate cake to match the scale of the space. For intimate venues, a smaller, simpler cake might be more appropriate.
Are there any embellishments, pearls or embroidery on your dress? Have you chosen a unique selection of wedding flowers? Do you like the idea of a cake shape other than round? Look at magazines, and online and make a note of what you are drawn to the most as this is a good indicator as to the style of cake you want.
4. Think about size
If you are serving your wedding cake as dessert, you will want to have enough portions for each guest. However, if you are serving the wedding cake later in the evening, not everyone may want a slice. If this is true, you can afford to choose a cake with less servings than the number of guests. You could also serve finger slices instead of dessert slices. Finger slices are half the size of a dessert slice. A three tier cake cut like this would go much further than if it were to be cut into dessert slices. Do you want to reserve the top tier for yourselves, or share it with the guests who could not attend?
To get an idea of how much cake you will need, you can check my portion guide. You can also discuss this at your cake consultation. Click here to book yours today so that you can make an informed decision about the size of your cake.
5. Seasonal elements
Buttercream cake decorated with fresh seasonal fruits, rosemary and thistles for an autumn wedding
This is another great idea to help you choose a wedding cake design. You can incorporate seasonal elements into your design to add a unique touch to your wedding. For a spring wedding, fresh flowers in light pastel colours would look amazing, or autumnal colours and seasonal fruit/berries for an autumn wedding vibe. Choosing cake flavours with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg that scream autumn would be a lovely compliment to your theme. Also, adding texture to your cake tiers such as edible glitter, snowflakes or stencilling can also enhance a winter wedding theme.
6. Culture
Do you or your partner have cultural traditions that you can incorporate into the design? For example any particular colours or patterns typical of your culture that can be used for the ribbon, cake tiers, flowers or other decoration? This can be discussed during the cake consultation to achieve an elegant design that reflects your heritage and adds a meaningful touch to your celebration.
7. Talk to your cake designer
Your cake designer is there to help you achieve the wedding cake design you are thinking of. An idea may sound good in our head, but always check whether or not it can be achieved and what alternatives can be offered to arrive at a similar result if not.
Look at your cake designer’s portfolio beforehand to see if they have done a style of cake that you like. If you are working to a budget, it would also be a good opportunity to see what type of cake your money can buy.
“Bianca was lovely to work with and answered all of our questions quickly and easily. She created the cake exactly as I’d imagined and it tasted great too!”
8. Budget
Tall cakes, fondant iced cakes, elaborate designs and sugar flowers all look beautiful, but it does increase the cost. You may want to consider fresh flowers instead of sugar flowers, or dummy (fake) tiers instead of a design made solely of cake. Dummy tiers are an excellent way to add height and grandeur to your design without the addition of more cake. Keep in mind that it will only help to reduce costs slightly as dummy tiers still have to be decorated in harmony with the rest of your cake design. To find out more about whether dummy cakes will be the right choice for you, be sure to read my article ‘Are Dummy Cakes Cheaper Than Real Cakes?’
There are many factors that can increase the cost of a cake, so do attend your cake consultation with an open mind, and welcome any other suggestions to help you arrive at the cake design you want.
9. Trending or timeless?
There are countless trendy wedding cake designs to choose from that are visually appealing. Would you like your cake design to reflect the current trends or stand the test of time? Choosing a timeless design will ensure that your cake will remain classic and elegant for many years to come.
I am confident that these 9 points will get you off to a good start in helping to choose a wedding cake design. Think about your own personal taste, the venue’s outstanding features, your culture, the size of cake you may need and seasonal elements. These will undoubtedly aid you in your quest for the perfect cake design.
If you wish to review these points with me at a cake consultation, you can get in touch.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bianca x.