the wedding cake

The modern wedding cake evolved from a tradition dating back to medieval times where guests invited to a wedding were supposed to take with them to the reception a small cake each.  These cakes were then stacked close to each other.

Any tradition lasting so long is a justification of how important it is to people.  Furthermore, cutting the cake is said to represent the first shared task of married life.  Being one of the focal points at any wedding reception therefore, it is essential to choose the wedding cake well.  There are a number of issues one should consider.

venue

It is best for your wedding cake to complement your reception location and the rest of the décor.  Thus it is ideal to choose the wedding venue before making any commitments with the cake.  You may want a very different cake for a traditional wedding in a palazzo, than for a more informal union in a garden of some private residence.

It is also vital to find the best spot for placing the cake.  It is often placed close to the entrance for guests to see on entering.  Since cakes can get lost in such large spaces, wherever it is placed, it should be given a certain presence with interesting structures, artwork, plants and so on.  Although the cake table would already be decorated with petit fours, adornment could be enhanced by adding flower petals, candles lights and any old mementos on the table.  

guest list

The size of your wedding cake is usually determined by how many guests are invited. Your caterer will suggest how many tiers are needed and you could choose a style suiting the number of tiers necessary. 

flavour

Although in many countries wedding cakes can be of any kind from a simple carrot cake to a multi-layered white cake with vanilla butter cream icing, here in Malta wedding cakes are mostly almond or fruit, with the almond cake being preferred between the two.  Because of our weather, it is especially important to achieve a strong dense cake that can support the decorations without being in danger of melting in the heat.  Fruit or almond cakes therefore are most suitable, although the bacio cake is becoming increasingly popular.

style and theme

The wedding cake must mesh with the overall style and theme of a wedding.  Think about what cake will be best fitting with, amongst other things, the setting, fabrics and colours.  Although caterers usually offer a collection of wedding cake photos, bridal magazines have the best pictures and examples.  It is useful to take your time and browse for inspiration.  Many caterers are nowadays adapting to the new ideas brought forward by their clients.  Why not try something new anyway?

One must first consider which of the two styles is preferred between stacked or tiered.  Stacked wedding cakes are becoming increasingly popular with brides, however one still finds the traditional tiered look mostly with fresh flowers in between each tier.

Secondly, couples should choose between the various wedding shapes, which include, the very popular round or “antique” wedding cake, the square wedding cake, the hexagonal, oval, or diamond-shaped wedding cake, or the sculptured cakes which include heart-shapes and so on.

Next, one must adapt to the wedding theme.  Amongst the varying themes, one finds the traditional, white, simple and elegant, or the modern, different and colourful weddings.  It is entirely up to your tastes and the style you want your wedding to be.  Having said this, one should be careful not to overdo it.  Simplicity, enhanced by a simple ribbon to emphasize colour together with a bunch of flowers highlighting the cake, more often than not, seems to be the classic choice!

Cakes can be decorated using fresh or sugar flowers.  In the case of the latter, it is usually very helpful to provide your caterer with the sample fabric for the colour to be matched as closely as possible to the ribbon and the flowers themselves.  Another alternative is to use fresh flowers.  A wide variety can be used as long as they are pesticide free.  The price difference between in-season and out-of-season flowers is negligible, however you’ll get more beautiful results if you select flowers that are in season.

The final touch.  Traditionally a cake topper was placed on every wedding cake and was normally a representation of the bride and groom in formal wedding attire.  Today, however, it is usually less formal and typically indicates shared hobbies or other passions.  The cake topper is sometimes omitted altogether, having the cake decoration flow from top to bottom instead. 

budget

It goes without saying that cakes vary in budget depending mainly on the cost of the materials in question and the amount of work involved.  It is important to opt for a cake that is within one’s budget.  It is far more effective to have a simpler cake done properly rather than a fussier style which has been compromised.