Wedding Cake Size and Appearance
Like virtually everything in regards to wedding day choices, a bride today also has many choices for her wedding cake. Some of these choices are just in their look or presentation and some will be influenced by your budget. Either way, stop and explore some of these ideas before you make your own choice.
Size
There are still many of our weddings that opt for a full size (three tier or even more) traditional wedding cake. As with the cake shown above, some of these traditional cakes can be considered nothing short of a work of art. No wonder these still persist in a wedding world today when all traditional aspects are negotiable. This surely is a statement piece. Expect to pay premium for such a cake as this but no doubt, it will be unforgettable.
A three-tiered cake does not have to be so elaborate as the cake I showed you before. Either because the bride has a more earthy side to her or maybe because she doesn’t want to spend so much money on all of that “work of art.” Instead, you can go with a much simpler approach as in this “naked cake” that was embellished by her florist (High Point Farms, in this case). This approach is a common occurrence where you still want the three tiers but prefer real flowers over sugar-icing flowers. With this approach, the cake flowers can blend in coordination with the bride’s bouquet.
Ultimately, you could purchase a one-layer wedding cake. This could be embellished whichever way you preferred either by the cake maker or by the florist. This becomes sufficient in keeping with “cutting the cake”, but then you have sheet cake in the wings being cut by your caterer or you have alternative dessert options like cupcakes to offer. This approach has actually a two-fold purpose. First, obviously, this becomes a less expensive option. For each tier of cake, it becomes more difficult to build, stabilize, transport, and even to cut for your guests. Thus, the cost significantly rises for each level. Beyond price, though, some brides nowadays don’t want all of the hoopla around the cake and the cake cutting. Most people have no idea what all the fuss and protocol for couples to “cut the cake and feed the cake” it all about. So why are we doing it? Cutting the cake is either of two things: 1. Your first domestic duty that you are doing together. Heavens! If cutting the cake is really your first domestic duty together, maybe consider going to the laundry mat or scrubbing your bathroom might be more beneficial! 2. It can be a fertility exercise. This is just implying that after the marriage, children will come and as you cut the cake, it is encouraging many children. Learning this bit of info, many brides will tell me, “maybe it would be best if we held off of this traditional for just a bit.”
Presentation
Presentation always goes a long way. No matter what size or kind of cake you want to have, creating a beautiful photo op gives it that wow factor.
With a wedding that focuses on florals and greenery on the tables, down the aisle, and in the bouquets, then going hog-wild with floral accents on your cake table fits right in.
This bride opted to avoid a cake “stand” and instead added this cute vintage dresser. Florals and greenery spilled off of the cake and even out of the dresser drawers. What a Pinterest-styled photo. The embellishments behind the cake also make it a grandstand photo and moment. If you like unique, this should inspire you.
Alternative beside cake
It is quite common nowadays to see a variety of desserts being offered for the guests. Often time, there is no actual “cake to cut” but just desserts to be shared with guests.
And why not? If you like donuts over cake, have them. If everybody knows that the groom has a fetish with cheesecake, then have a slew of those. If you want to go hog wild, then have a dessert smorgasbord with a little bit of everything. Guests will go wild and ALWAYS talk about your desserts! A word of caution though, maybe two. 1. Again, presentation will go a long way; no aluminum pie tins or plastic platters. There are ways to go elegant, vintage, or even rustic in your presentation but make it a photo op beyond the taste. 2. Always plan on having a lot more of everything than normal. When guests eat a wedding cake slice, they will generally stick to the one piece that they were given. When you offer a smorgasbord, they often want to try a slice of that pie plus a donut, etc., and you want to let them indulge. Think of it as a way to blend the cake/dessert aspect with the favors aspect. It becomes the ultimate dessert idea.
Ultimately
So, whether you have a traditional cake, a smaller cake, cupcakes, desserts, sheet cakes, donuts, or whatever, make this choice to reflect you and the groom. If everybody knows he loves Krispy Kreme donuts, by George, consider offering that even if it is as a replacement to a Groom’s Cake. Many brides now-a-days don’t even cut the cake. They may still have cake but they don’t want to make a big deal about it or even take a photo op over it. Some are determined not to risk allowing the groom to stuff the cake down their throats. Just knowing that you have options should release you to do as you want. Ultimately, you could even bring in a truck vendor serving ice cream or gelato!
