Piece of Cake
Caroline Kinneberg
Even if you’ve planned a traditional wedding, your wedding cake can be the one area where you can try something modern or whimsical. “Most weddings feature a formal dinner and then dancing afterwards,” says wedding planner Jennifer Zabinski, of the Wedding Library. “But your cake can have a different look and feel from your dinner setting.” According to Zabinski, the cake’s the place to play with style because it’s a wedding detail that everyone loves. Plus, since the cake cutting usually signals that guests can cut out of the festivities soon after, a fabulous looking cake will instantly capture and hold their attention.Here are tips and advice on choosing a wedding cake that will make a sweet impression on your big day.
Elements of style
You now have a reason to buy those little trinkets, like glittery snowflakes, little birds, and glass bubbles. Cake designers know how to incorporate them so they’re charming, not tacky. “They really translate well,” says Zabinski. “If you’re having a fall theme wedding, you can use acorns and little leaves – either real or made out of sugar.” In the winter, tree ornaments provide bundles of ideas, but be sure they won’t taint your cake.
Elegantly scripted monograms can serve as cake toppers. If you’ve taken your husband’s name, this is one of the first times you can use your new initials. Using iced borders and textured frostings is also a simple and chic way to decorate your cake.
Keep in mind that your wedding cake doesn’t have to be white just because the rest of your wedding is. A lot of couples think that a traditional wedding cake can only be white. However, your cake is a great place to incorporate your wedding colors.
If your venue permits, go all out and hire a cake designer – who is more of an artist than a baker. World-renowned cake designer Ron Ben-Israel has created cake fantasies for his brides. One of his clients, whose wedding was planned by Zabinski, loved designer shoes so much that she incorporated her passion into her wedding. “Her wedding theme consisted of everything Ferragamo, Gucci and Prada,” says Ben-Israel. Literally thinking outside the box, Ben-Israel placed a sugar replica of the bride’s actual shoe on top of the wedding cake – which was shaped like a shoebox.
“With a cake designer, you can pretty much have the moon,” says Cheryl Kleinman, of Cheryl Kleinman Cakes. Many great local bakers can also craft the wedding cake of your dreams. “When you meet with your baker, take tear sheets from magazines or gather inspiration from his or her portfolios and cakes on display,” says Kleinman.
Regardless of whether you hire a cake designer, local baker, or use your catering hall’s pastry chef, you can and should personalize your cake and make it really stand out.
Batter basics
As beautiful as the design may be, don’t forget there’s more to your confection than appearance. An exotic filling can even give an angel food cake pizzazz. If you’re a peanut butter addict and everyone at the ceremony knows it, try a peanut butter filling. “It makes it that much more personal,” says Zabinski.
If both you and your fiancé are choosing a layer, make sure they complement each other. For example, dense chocolate and vanilla raspberry pair well, but key lime and carrot should never meet. White chocolate, marzipan, and other similar icings not only add flavor, but also look smooth and lock in moisture.
Spoil yourself with tastings at a variety of vendors before choosing one. This allows you to choose a baker you feel comfortable working with. Select one based on who is more experienced with creating the flavor combination you are looking for. Some bakers specialize in simple white or chocolate cake with cookies and cream or other unique fillings between. Other bakers specialize in mouthwatering batters, like chocolate with caramel or banana carrot.
Kleinman often steers her brides towards seasonal cakes. Something rich like a nut torte can be best enjoyed in the autumn or winter, whereas a cool and refreshing lemon cake is most satisfying in summer. If you’re having second desserts or a dessert bar, you might want to choose more classic flavors for your wedding cake. “If the cake is fairly simple, it’ll allow your guests to have some cake, as well as some of the other dessert,” says Kleinman. “The reverse is also true. If you’re serving sorbet as dessert, indulge in a luxurious buttery cake.” You want to balance out the flavors to please your guests’ palates. Combinations like chocolate soufflé with dense chocolate cake can cause a sugar overload.
Many couples having catering hall- or country club-receptions commonly have the misconception that they don’t have the flexibility of being creative with or choosing their cake’s design because their venues use their own pastry chefs. However, these days most catering halls have started making more contemporary cakes, as well as allow you to meet with the pastry chef and collaborate on what you want. Ask your caterer if they would work with your florist in adding fresh flowers to your cake for a beautiful effect.
Have fun choosing your confection. After all, the cake, just like the wedding is something to savor and enjoy.