{"id":7978,"date":"2015-10-20T18:44:22","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T22:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weddingsforaliving.com\/?p=7978"},"modified":"2016-09-12T11:16:06","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T15:16:06","slug":"wedding-cake-crash-course-wfal393","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weddingsforaliving.com\/wedding-cake-crash-course-wfal393","title":{"rendered":"Wedding Cake ‘Crash Course’ – WFAL393"},"content":{"rendered":"

This episode is an information-packed audio class primarily for the new (but could certainly help even the more experienced) professional, wedding planner and it’s all about wedding cakes. Yum!<\/p>\n

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LISTEN TO THE EPISODE – #393<\/h3>\n
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Podcast: Play in new window<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n

What could be more symbolic of a wedding than a wedding cake?\u00a0 So special that it gets its very own, spot-lit table, a wedding cake will be photographed, cut, and oftentimes kept as a special keepsake for what is a very special day.<\/p>\n

For centuries weddings have been celebrated with a special cake.\u00a0 And they have evolved drastically!<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans would finalize their wedding ceremonies by breaking loaves of wheat bread over the heads of the newlyweds to bring luck and prosperity.<\/p>\n

In medieval Europe [5th century – 15th century AD], the bride and groom would attempt to kiss over a super-tall stack of spiced buns.\u00a0 If they were successful, a prosperous future was almost certainly guaranteed!<\/p>\n

Between the 17th and 19th century in England, Bride\u2019s pie was an important wedding dish which eventually evolved into bride cake\u2014the forerunner of the modern-day wedding cake.<\/p>\n

The multi-tiered wedding cake, as we know it today, has it origins in a creation for the wedding of Queen Victoria\u2019s daughter Vicky, in 1858 (although only the bottom tier was actual cake).\u00a0 The first tiered wedding cake made entirely of cake was made for Prince Leopold\u2019s wedding in 1882.<\/p>\n

Because most Victorian bakers lacked the skill to stop the top layer of a wedding cake from becoming the bottom layer it took 20 more years before columns were used to separate the cake layers.<\/p>\n

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Wedding Cakes Today<\/h2>\n

Today, the wedding cake takes center stage at the wedding reception and will be forever immortalized in photos.\u00a0 It can be one tier or seven!\u00a0 Cakes can be sleek and modern if that\u2019s your client\u2019s preference.\u00a0 Or maybe a lavishly ornamented cake more closely resembles the style they have in mind.<\/p>\n

In some instances, the wedding cake doesn\u2019t even look like a cake at all!<\/p>\n

Tiered Wedding Cakes<\/h4>\n

Visit any wedding planning website or blog and you\u2019ll see picture after picture of multi-tiered wedding cakes.\u00a0 A multi-layered cake has to be carefully constructed and reinforced internally to prevent the top layers from collapsing on to the bottom layers. (Which is why it\u2019s so important to entrust this task to an experienced professional!).\u00a0 For support, dowels are inserted into each layer of cake in addition to foam or cardboard inserted underneath each layer.<\/p>\n

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For adventurous couples who want to inject a sense of fun into their wedding, a topsy-turvy cake is a whimsical favorite.\u00a0 Wedding guests always get a kick out of a crooked cake.\u00a0 And just so you know, the cake isn\u2019t really crooked, it\u2019s just constructed to look that way.<\/p>\n

Other Types of Wedding Cakes<\/h4>\n
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Wedding cupcakes are still popular!<\/p><\/div>\n

Cupcakes are another trend at weddings.\u00a0 This stylish alternative is a personal favorite; however, don\u2019t assume that these individual morsels will cost less than a traditional tiered wedding cake.\u00a0\u00a0 Creating cupcakes is a labor-intensive process.<\/p>\n

In the UK, the traditional British wedding cake is a fruitcake covered with marzipan. Inside, the cake is made with fruits, prunes and raisins soaked in brandy or whiskey. The top tier is saved as the ‘christening cake’ for the couple’s first baby.<\/p>\n

In France the magnificent ‘croquembouche’ [kroh-kuhm-BOOSH] is a truly unique wedding cake. A cone-shaped tower (sometimes more than 5-feet high) of profiteroles (cream or custard-filled cream puffs) are stuck together with caramel and covered with spun sugar.\u00a0 The croquembouche evolved during the time of King Charles II and was quite the status symbol since sugar, at the time, was a rare commodity.<\/p>\n

Wedding Cake Frosting & Fillings<\/h2>\n

Wedding Cake Frosting or Icing<\/h3>\n

Your clients have several options for the type of icing for their wedding cake.\u00a0 In the US fondant and buttercream are most frequently-seen.<\/p>\n

Fondant<\/strong>
\nFondant is the “secret sauce” of picture-perfect cakes. Made of sugar, corn syrup and gelatin, fondant has the consistency of play dough and is rolled out like a pie crust and draped over the cake giving it a porcelain-like, smooth finish. Perfect for hot, humid weather it won’t melt and actually keeps the wedding cake fresh for a couple of days at room temperature.<\/p>\n

A downside that you should share with your bridal clients, who have their hearts set on a fondant-decorated cake, is that the taste is just so-so and not very pleasing to everyone’s palate. Using butter cream (which we’ll talk about in just a moment) underneath the fondant is a baker’s trick sometimes used to improve the taste.\u00a0 Fondant cannot be refrigerated.\u00a0 If it is, water spots are formed from condensation.<\/p>\n

Butter Cream or Buttercream<\/strong>
\nButtercream, as the name suggests, consists of butter and sugar. Not only does this fluffy icing have a pleasant, buttery-sweet flavor, it’s easy to color, easy to flavor, and is less labor-intensive to make than fondant. As a result it’s a less-expensive option for a wedding cake (keep this in mind when working with budget-conscious clients).
\nButtercream is used for frosting or icing the outside of the cake and for the cake fillings, inside. Because of its high butter content, butter cream won’t last long in very warm environments, so if your clients are planning an outdoor wedding during the height of summer, butter cream icing is not the way to go.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more wedding cake icing terms you should familiarize yourself with:<\/p>\n

Royal Icing<\/strong>
\nAlthough not as popular in the US as fondant or buttercream, royal icing is made of confectioner’s sugar and egg whites. This meringue-like, sweet icing is pure white and dries very hard very quickly and doesn’t need refrigeration. Royal icing is piped using a pastry bag and is a favorite for creating delicate flowers and intricate wedding cake designs.<\/p>\n

Marzipan<\/strong>
\nUsed by pastry chefs for centuries, marzipan is an edible modeling clay with a sweet, almondy taste that’s popular in Europe. Made from sugar, eggs and crushed almonds, marzipan has a light golden color and is rolled into thin sheets (like fondant) and placed over a cake before it is iced. Marzipan is also hand-shaped into fruits and other edible sculptures.<\/p>\n

Whipped Cream<\/strong>
\nWhipped cream is an inexpensive icing and\/or filing for a wedding cake. Not as sweet as butter cream, whipped cream must be refrigerated until the last possible moment and is the perfect complement (and a personal favorite) for wedding cakes that have sweet, fruit fillings.<\/p>\n

Drag\u00e9es<\/strong>\u00a0 (pronounced \u2018dra-ZHAY’)
\nDragees are small, edible, candied beads or balls coated with metallic gold or silver used to decorate cakes.<\/p>\n

Chocolate Ganache<\/strong> (pronounced \u2018guh-NAWSH’)
\nGanache is a smooth mixture of chocolate melted with heavy cream. This chocolate lover’s dream is poured over cakes to create a beautiful, glossy finish.\u00a0 Chilled ganache is used to make chocolate truffles.<\/p>\n

Gum Paste or Pastillage<\/strong>\u00a0 (pronounced \u2018PAHS-tee-AHJ’)
\nGum paste is a sugar-based dough that dries to a very hard and rigid texture and is molded to make edible decorations, especially botanically correct flowers.<\/p>\n

Wedding Cake Fillings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most professional bakers offer wedding cake in a variety of flavors with delicious fillings.\u00a0 Many of your clients will chose either yellow or white cake. But, there’s also a good chance that the meeting with the cake maker will introduce your clients to a long, long list of other wedding cake flavor options to consider.<\/p>\n

For a multi-tiered cake your clients can stick with just one favorite flavor or mix things up and use a variety of cake flavors for each of the different tiers.<\/p>\n

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Wedding Cake Pricing<\/h2>\n

Most bakers and pastry chefs charge for wedding cakes by the slice.<\/p>\n

Depending on your location, prices may vary from $2.00 a slice (a standard cake made from a mix) to $20 (a custom design, baked from scratch) for each slice.<\/p>\n

So, for example if the price for a wedding cake is listed as $4.00 per slice, a cake for 150 wedding guests would cost $600 ($4 X 150 people).<\/p>\n

The final wedding cake cost is determined by the labor involved in creating the masterpiece.\u00a0 Most bakers will have a base price that consists of just cake and butter cream.\u00a0 From there, each upgrade adds to the price\u2014marzipan fruits, sugary flowers, etc.\u00a0 Of course, as a professional wedding planner, once you know what drives the cost of the wedding cake, you can help to keep your client\u2019s costs down.<\/p>\n

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Working with the Cake Maker<\/h2>\n

\"couple-with-baker_we\"<\/a>Secure the wedding cake maker four to six months before your client\u2019s wedding.\u00a0 As a professional wedding planner, complete your research before you recommend a cake maker to your clients.\u00a0 You need to:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Make sure s\/he meets local health requirements and operates out of a clean and sanitary location.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Find out if cakes are priced by the slice (most bakers price this way). If not ask how prices are established.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Determine if the baker will deliver the cake and set it up
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Make sure s\/he has wonderful references\u2014check \u2018em!\u00a0 Ask other vendors if they\u2019ve worked with this person and check out their list of clients
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ask if all flavors and fillings cost the same
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ask about back-up plans (in the event something happens)<\/p>\n

When you finally get to meet a professional cake maker, ask to see a portfolio of cakes.\u00a0 Also, try to find bakers who routinely use fresh ingredients\u2014real butter and cream, fresh fruit\u2026the cake should taste just as good as it looks.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that many local grocery stores can create beautiful wedding cakes that cost far less than a traditional wedding cake maker.\u00a0 Don\u2019t discredit places such as Costco, Sam\u2019s Club for wedding cakes.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve completed your homework, to ensure that your clients receive the undivided attention of this professional when they meet with him or her, make an appointment first.<\/p>\n

Be prepared to have some basic information ready for the cake maker:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Wedding date
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Reception location (address)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Number of guests expected
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Number of servings (get for 75%)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Wedding colors, design
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Any pictures or sketches of cakes<\/p>\n

Although I suggest hiring a professional cake maker months before the big day, when it comes to the actual design of the wedding cake, for a cohesive look, it makes sense to do this after<\/em> wedding colors, wedding gown, and the overall style of the wedding are selected.\u00a0\u00a0 After all, you don\u2019t want the cake to look like it was delivered to the wrong party! If the reception is in a clean, modern room, the cake should follow suit.\u00a0 If your clients are getting married on the beach, a cake with sugar seashells and colors that resemble sand and water might be the way to go.<\/p>\n

Some other information that you may not have thought of that I have found to be helpful during the cake design process include:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The size of the room where the cake will be displayed
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The ceiling height of the room where the cake will be displayed
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0What time of day the meal is being served
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0What the weather will be like \u2013 an outdoor reception on a warm humid evening is not the occasion for a multi-tiered butter cream confection
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0How formal the wedding is
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Whether or not the wedding cake will serve as the only dessert<\/p>\n

Just like any other wedding vendor that your client hires, the cake maker should have a contract in place\u2026\u2026
\nOnce your clients have selected their cake maker, the best way for them to make up their minds about the details of the wedding cake is with a cake tasting session.<\/p>\n

When your clients go for a tasting, suggest that they try all the filings and then write down the ones that they like.<\/p>\n

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Wedding Cake Delivery & Set-Up<\/h2>\n

Check the baker\u2019s delivery fee; some are standard others charge by mile. Check to see if the reception site is within the baker\u2019s radius.\u00a0 In my experience, delivery is usually included in the quoted cake price.<\/p>\n

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Moving a wedding cake is a job for professionals (in the cake business) only!<\/p>\n

As the professional wedding planner, you need to let the cake maker know about any stairs at the reception site and also how close to the site the delivery vehicle can park.\u00a0 Ideally, the cake maker should deliver the cake to the exact spot where it will be displayed.\u00a0 This means having the cake table positioned and covered with any necessary linens before delivery.\u00a0 Inexperienced people trying to move a wedding cake spells disaster!<\/p>\n

Wedding Cake Table Set-Up<\/h3>\n

As you work through the creation of your client’s wedding day schedule, arrange to have the cake set up no more than two hours prior to reception.\u00a0 An unattended cake can be disastrous!<\/p>\n

Think through exactly where the cake table will be located.\u00a0 The banquet manager or staff will likely offer suggestions.\u00a0 Keep in mind:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Positioning the cake table in front of mirror is a photographer\u2019s nightmare
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Positioning the cake table in a corner makes it difficult for guests to see the bride and groom cutting the cake, especially for photos<\/p>\n

The table that displays the cake, usually a 30-inch round, should be decorated beautifully.\u00a0 Use the same or complementary linens as on the guest dining tables.\u00a0 The tablecloth should reach the floor as that looks the elegant.\u00a0 Patterned fabrics are tricky and have the potential to overpower the cake.\u00a0 Layering cloths and pinning up sections is a look that works wonderfully.\u00a0 Check with the caterer for other creative and brilliant linen and d\u00e9cor suggestions.<\/p>\n

Scatter real or silk petals over tablecloth and around the cake and like any focal point in the room make sure the cake table is well lit.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget to place a small plate, the cake-cutting knife and two forks on the table for the actual cake cutting ceremony\u2026speaking of which\u2026<\/p>\n

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“It’s Time to Cut the Cake!”<\/h2>\n

Usually the first task together as newlyweds is to cut the wedding cake.\u00a0 Many guests wouldn\u2019t dream of leaving the wedding reception until the cake is cut, so encourage your clients not to wait until the very end of the reception to do so.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to determine what musical selection should be playing for this much-anticipated portion of the wedding reception.\u00a0 Your DJ or band leader may have some suggestions for you. Otherwise, an encore of the couple\u2019s \u2018first dance\u2019 song is always a good choice.<\/p>\n

Traditionally the\u00a0 couple feed each other the very first pieces of their wedding cake.\u00a0 As the wedding planner, be prepared to give them a quick rundown of what the cake cutting actually involves:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 The bride picks up the knife
\n2. The groom places his right hand over hers
\n3. Together, using the point of the knife, they make two cuts in the back of the bottom layer of cake and then remove the slice onto a plate
\n4. The couple feed one another from the single slice of cake. Traditionally the groom feeds the bride first, and then the bride feeds the groom.
\n5. The couple then share a kiss.<\/p>\n

What could be easier?\u00a0 By the way, do what you can to discourage the couple from the God-awful ritual of smooshing wedding cake into each other\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n

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Groom\u2019s Cake<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re from the southern part of the United States, then you\u2019re probably familiar with the groom\u2019s cake. In the old days, groom\u2019s cake was actually referred to as wedding cake.\u00a0 What we now call wedding cake was known, then, as the bride\u2019s cake.<\/p>\n

Traditionally groom\u2019s cake was a dark fruitcake. Now, since very few people actually like fruitcake, have your clients or the groom pick a flavor that has more mass appeal.<\/p>\n

Because it\u2019s all about the groom, the design of the groom\u2019s cake typically reflects his interests with some cakes resembling real-life objects: hockey fan gets a hockey-stick shaped cake.<\/p>\n

So when is the best time to serve the Groom\u2019s cake?\u00a0 Either serve at the wedding reception alongside the wedding cake or why not suggest to your clients that they serve it at the rehearsal dinner?<\/p>\n

Legend has is that if a single woman sleeps with a piece of the groom\u2019s cake under her pillow, that night she will dream of the man she will marry.<\/p>\n

Brides sometimes keep the Groom\u2019s cake as a surprise for the groom, so be prepared to work in a covert manner if necessary.<\/p>\n

Wedding Cake Cost-Saving Tips<\/h2>\n

Here are some wedding cake tidbits to keep in mind for couples on a budget:<\/p>\n