Wedding Cakes | Wedding Cakes

Wedding Cakes and Cake Toppers

wedding-cake-topper-rs.jpgWedding cakes have a rich history as they have endured through many changes along the way to reach us as they are today. Ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians would crumble a handful of wedding cake over the bride or over the bride and her groom signifying fertility as well as prosperity. The first cakes were of a salty nature, and then there came the wedding cakes made with sugar and no icing. Somewhere along the way, it is believed that a baker of the wedding cakes decided to put a layer of a mixture of water and sugar between the wedding cakes so they would stay together while in route to the wedding, and thus began the iced wedding cakes. Also at one time, there were individual wedding cakes that ranged in size comparable to cupcakes these were called bride cakes.

One tradition of the past was to string a piece of wedding cake through the wedding ring a number of times, the ninth time being threaded through being the luckiest. Eventually there became a custom to box the cut pieces for a groomsman and bridesmaid to take with them. Sleeping with a piece of wedding cake is supposed to insure dreams of the coming marriage partner of the one who slept with the wedding cake.

It is also traditional for the bride and groom to share the cutting of the first piece of wedding cake, with the groom’s right hand atop the bride’s right hand, then the bride covers his hand with her left hand, this ritual signifies their future to be shared. This first piece of wedding cake is then taken in turn of feeding one another to insure their family should never go hungry. In addition, the wedded couple shall keep the top tier of their wedding cake, preserving it by freezing, to be eaten by them one their first anniversary or to celebrate the christening of their first-born child.

Once the wedding cake has been chosen, the topper for the cake can be chosen. There is a vast assortment of wedding cake toppers from which to choose. Depending on personal tastes and the wedding theme, the cake topper should be a piece of cake to pick out. A good number of brides still chose the traditional cake topper of a bride and groom upon their wedding cake, but they can also choose cake toppers, which are monogrammed to fit the occasion. There is many a musical cake topper as well as toppers of ethnic and multinational themes of choice. Some brides even choose wedding cake toppers with the artistic flair of using glass or porcelain toppers.

Choosing a wedding cake topper is fun, which will add that special decoration needed for the wedding cake that should not be overly stressed over. Some brides have made the choice of using special themes for cake toppers by the use of novelty or a special figurine, some wedding cakes are humorous as well as romantic, the choice is really a personal determination of the bride and her groom.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different wedding accessories and wedding gifts such as guest books, unity candles, ring pillows, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and many many more.

Let Them Eat Cake! Wedding Cake Do’s and Don’ts

wedding-cake-1-rs.jpgYou’ve gotten through most of the wedding plans; except for the wedding cake. So, what’s the big deal? It’s just a cake! Or is it?

Choosing a wedding cake usually is fun, unless you and your budget are on opposite ends of the earth. So, first and foremost, you have to decide what you’re looking for in a cake. Is it going to be the only desert that you are offering? Then you want it to taste good, not just be a gorgeous topper for a table.

It’s easiest to begin just like you did when searching for your wedding gown; look through bridal magazines and start compiling pictures that you can bring to a bakery that specializes in wedding cakes. As the date gets closer, begin calling some wedding cake vendors in your area. Ask if they have a website. If not, make a date to go in and look at the photos of their work. Remember, the best way to find a good vendor, is through word of mouth.

If you’ve found cakes that you love, bring those photos with you. A baker worth their salt will be able to duplicate what you’ve found. At the very least, do not walk out of their place of business without prices and colors that you want the cake to be.

The wedding cake vendor will ask you a few important questions which you should be thinking about:

1. How many tiers of cake do you want? Usually, this will depend on the amount of guests you are inviting. But, today, many couples choose to have a “mock” cake (as many layers as they wish) just to look at, and another sheet cake for eating. A recent wedding I consulted on did this and you would never have known that it wasn’t a real cake. And it saved them hundreds of dollars.

2. Are you going to buy your own cake topper? If you are having a theme wedding, many times you’ll want to buy one that ties in with that. Also, remember that the top tier of the cake, traditionally are frozen and eaten on the couple’s one year anniversary. The cake topper is one that you can cherish forever.

3. Do you want colors that match your bridal party, or all white with gold and/or silver?

4. Do you want frosting flowers or real flowers to adorn the top of the cake layers?

If you’re trying to save money, many wedding venues will include the wedding cake with the price. But beware. They will offer you a plain cake, but show you a book of upgrades. These usually are much higher than at your neighborhood bakery. So compare prices before you agree. If they are giving you the wedding cake, but not decorated, one option is that you can decorate it yourself with fresh flowers. I did that for my daughter’s wedding, and it was gorgeous!

Just remember when choosing a cake; not many people remember it. So, if you have a limited budget, get the ‘mock’ cake only a couple of tiers high and have them cut the sheet cake in the kitchen. No one will be the wiser. And you’ll smile knowing how much money you saved!

Delora O’Brien is an expert in the area of wedding designs and products. She is the resident consultant at Designs to Remember. Designs to Remember is a unique online store that carries designer wedding favors, bridal gifts and accessories. Delora also oversees the extensive line of unique wedding favors, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding invitations. Many of the wedding gifts she has purchased for Designs to Remember, have been featured in well known bridal magazines.

Wedding Cake Decorating Tips

decorating-wedding-cake-rs.jpgCongratulations on making the brave decision to decorate your own wedding cake! By choosing this option, you can save a considerable amount of money and, better yet, cut your cake with pride on your wedding day. Cake decorating can be a specialist art, but with a few expert tips, you too can create the perfect wedding cake.

First up, don’t take on more than you can chew! Weddings can be a stressful experience, so if you’re not confident that you can do the decorating, swallow your pride and fork out the extra cash so that you can walk down the aisle with a smile on your face. Elaborately-decorated cakes may look great in bridal magazines, but won’t taste any better and will certainly by harder to make if you have just a little decorating experience. Choosing a simply decorated cake will add an elegant touch to your wedding and give you an achievable project to work with.

A good way to compromise is to buy a pre-made cake and decorate it yourself, rather than attempting to do both. Odd-shaped, multi-tiered cakes can require more assembly than your average inner city apartment block and this can be prohibitive for first time decorators. If you choose a rectangular, square or round cakes with only a single layer, or minimal assembly, you will have less room for error.

Whether you are buying a pre-made cake, or baking your own, good quality ingredients for your frosting and cake toppers will mean that your decorating job is easier. These ingredients will blend better (and oftentimes have more flavor) than cheaper ingredients. Likewise, it’s important to ensure that you have the right sort of decorating tools – non-stick piping bags with a variety of tips, long and short, as well as angled spatulas, and a turn table to make rotating the cake easy.

One of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of cake decorating is creating sugar flowers to decorate the cake top. A wonderful alternative is to have your florist prepare you a fresh flower arrangement to sit on top of the cake. The flowers can match those used in your ceremony and reception and can also be kept as a souvenir. If choosing fresh flowers, ensure you let your florist know what you plan to use them for – some flowers are treated with pesticides and some flowers, such as Lily of the Valley, are toxic.

Finally, it’s important to allow yourself enough time to decorate the cake – if you try to do it when you are behind schedule and stressed, you are almost guaranteed to end up with a disaster. Plan ahead and have a trial decorating run. Although you want your day to be perfect, you can be confident that only you will know that the fondant icing is a little better applied on the left hand side of your cake – no one else will notice, especially when they get to tasting just how good it is!

Are you tired of traditional and expensive wedding cakes? Do you want a unique, delectable, and creative wedding cake that doesn’t break your budget, mesmerizes your guests, and creates lasting memories? Then, you should visit http://www.wedding-cake-idea.com your number one resource for creative and unique wedding cakes for special budget conscious couples like you!

Beautiful Wedding Cakes on A Budget: Yes You Can!

There is nothing shameful about being a bride on a budget – saving money on your wedding day means that you don’t spend the first few years of wedded bliss worrying about the money you blew on a single day. Budgeting doesn’t necessarily mean not getting what you want, especially when it comes to wedding cakes. Saving money on your wedding cake is easy if you know how.

When it comes down to it, a wedding cake is really just a cake. Although there are plenty of bakers who specialize in wedding cakes, in reality, any baker is capable of making a superbly-flavored and well-presented cake. The only difference between a cake baked by a wedding specialist and a generalist baker is likely to be the size of the hole left in your hip pocket.

Another good way to save money is to engage a student chef or baker. Pastry chefs and bakers learn how to make cakes by practicing, and hiring a student baker to create your wedding cake is a clever way to save a sizable amount of cash. Speak to your local cake-making shop or culinary school about how they can help you create a gorgeous wedding cake.

For those brides who’d still prefer an expert make their cake, but within a reasonable budget, the biggest tip is to shop around. Also, remember that the more complicated and labor-intensive your cake, the more it will cost. It’s also the case that the most expensive fondant icings used by specialists are the least tasty (ask any of your guests!), so opting for less pricey toppings is not going to affect the overall taste of your cake.

Decorations can also cost a fortune, so minimizing the number you have on your cake will help keep your bank account out of the red. Likewise, large, multi-tiered cakes will challenge your budget. If you’re in love with the idea of a multi-tiered cake, consider including one or more fake tiers – no one will ever know the difference and you can still have a cake that looks (and costs) like you want it to.

If you are having a large wedding with lots of guests, it may be a good idea to consider a small ornamental cake that you cut for ceremonial purposes, and a larger sheet cake that you serve to guests as their dessert. By serving the cake as dessert, you cut down on your catering costs and by ordering a sheet cake, you save on the cost of your wedding cake – it’s a win-win situation. You could also consider the reverse option – cutting down on the number of guests will mean you won’t need a huge cake, and hence can save money.

By keeping your cake simple, with just a few elegant decorations, and by shopping around for the best price you can dramatically decrease the cost of your wedding cake without compromising on its appearance and flavor. The memory of a cake will fade, but the money you save will be unforgettable!

If you’re tired of traditional and expensive wedding cakes and want a unique, delectable, and creative wedding cake that doesn’t break your budget, then you should visit http://www.wedding-cake-idea.com We’re your number one resource for creative and unique wedding cakes for special and budget-conscious couples like you!

Wedding Cakes: Wedding Cake Choices and Designs

Wedding cakes are taking on so many new and different points of view to move with the trends. Wedding cakes are covered in butter cream, rolled fondant, fondant lace, or in white or dark chocolate to create the perfect canvas for the beauty of your wedding cake to unfold. Wedding cakes are the main focus but other celebration cakes are featured as well for special occasions such as engagements and anniversaries. Wedding cakes are not designed to be jostled when someone walks by, the surface on which the cake table is set must be firm and unyielding. Wedding cakes are as much a traditional part of weddings as the bride being late and the best man fluffing his speech. Wedding cakes are not only used to feed guests, but they are used for decoration purposes. Wedding cakes are garnished with nuts, fudge or even spice. Wedding cakes are often in the $3-$5 per slice ballpark, depending on how elaborate the decoration.

Cake flavor and filling can be customized to your liking. Cakes today are more elaborate than they have ever been and you need to follow if you would like people to talk about your cake for the years to come. Cakes are as delicious as they are beautiful, so really express yourself with your wedding cake. Cakes come in an assortment of shapes and frostings. Cakes are decorated with a white chocolate sash and ribbon around the side with white chocolate cones on top.

Chocolate wedding cakes are nothing like traditional wedding cakes. Chocolate wedding cakes began to gain in acceptance within the last couple of decades. Chocolate wedding cakes also offer several options for more variety — from chocolate cheesecake to chocolate-truffle-adorned white cakes. Chocolate wedding cakes are equally elegant and sophisticated, and can be made to custom orders by professional cake bakers suitable for every taste. Chocolate fountain wedding cakes are a novel and fun alternative to conventional cakes.

Wedding cakes are very personal, have a good idea of the general design and type of cake before contacting wedding cake suppliers.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different cheap wedding favors and wedding gifts such as place card frame favors, beach flip flops, personalized tote bags, personalized leather money clips and much more.