Let Them Eat a Creative Wedding Cake!
Wedding dessert has come along way from the white butter cream cake
with plastic bride and groom topper. Many brides and grooms still opt to share a piece of wedding cake as their
first sweet as husband and wife. Today, there are a variety of
new creative wedding cake decorating alternatives to compliment this time-honored
tradition.
As the last bite of the night, often the wedding cake decoration does not
receive the attention it deserves; it shouldn’t be an afterthought
in terms of planning. Once the budget, date and wedding theme are
set--it’s time to start thinking about cake.
Tips of the Wedding Cake Trade
Most restaurants and catering halls have an in house baker or can
refer a preferred pastry chef. Some locations have restrictions
regarding hiring outside professionals--check the contract first.
Make an appointment with the baker/pastry chef, to give them a sense
of expectations. Explain what type (indoor/outdoor) of wedding it will be. Let them
know preferences of color, textures, flowers and of course taste. If
the bride or groom is allergic to chocolate or has a special dietary
need (ie. low carbohydrate diet)—these are all issues that need to
be addressed. Skilled baking professionals are trained to customize colors and
create floral arrangements to deliver decorative wedding cake displays using
a few key ingredients.
Fondant (FAHN-duhnt) a creation of sugar, water and cream, offers a
twist on conventional frosting. This taffy-like substance is rolled
into supple layers, colored and molded into fantastically sweet
displays. Unlike typical frostings, fondant stiffens after its
molded onto the cake, creating a sturdy base for heavy toppers.
Skilled bakers and pastry chefs use this pliable confection to
sculpt elaborate castle toppers and other fairy tale dessert
ornamentation.
Another delicious wedding cake decorating staple is marzipan.
Marzipan is a confection made from crushed almonds or almond paste,
sugar and egg whites. This nutty sweet is often shaped like brightly
colored fruit found in local bakeries. Like fondant, marzipan is not
only tasty treat, but also a versatile wedding cake decoration. It can be shaped
and dyed into acorns, palm trees, hearts, butterflies, roses and
much more!
Wedding Cake Decorations
Think outside the box. Couples shouldn’t be afraid to incorporate
decor from their ceremony into their dessert. Outdoor weddings offer
a variety of decorative ideas. Seasonal wedding cake decoration
offers creative display possibilities. A few possibilities are
fresh edible flowers, sugar dusted fruit, autumn leaves, satin bows
and even Christmas decorations.
Consider a variety of shapes and colors in choosing your cake
design. Contrary to common belief, wedding cakes do not have to be
white, round and/or stacked. Bright wildflowers, lush vines,
multi-color balloons and even personal photos make eye-catching
tasteful wedding cake decorations. A beach wedding cake might include
seashells, glitter, palm trees and a hammock on an ocean blue
surfboard shaped cake!
Wedding Cake Alternatives
Wedding cupcakes and custom cookies are another creative affordable
dessert option. Everyone enjoyed this treat as kids, but no reason
for the fun to end there. Each individual wedding treat is another
unique decorating opportunity: candy toppings, daisies, cherries or
simply sprinkles. A plate petit fours is another (bite-sized)
alternative to possibly overindulgence.
The wedding cake is a major decorative piece and an opportunity to
showcase your personality — choose wedding cake decoration that will make it a delicious creative display that
everyone will remember.