It may seem strange to most people, but some brides just don’t like cake, and choose not to have one at their wedding reception. Other brides enjoy cake, but wish to serve something more unique. Some common reasons that a bride might pass on traditional wedding cake include:
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Planning your wedding will be one of your most treasured memories in years to come, but, whilst in the actual process of planning, it’s definitely not always a piece of cake! There are so many important decisions to be made that sometimes choosing the right baker to create your wedding cake can take a back seat to dress fittings and other matters that need your attention. By following a few helpful tips, you can reduce your level of stress a bit, and be sure to get the cake of your dreams.
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Fresh flowers can be used to gorgeous effect as decoration for wedding cakes. Once you’ve selected your baker, work with them so that you can choose only flowers that work well with food. This is important because there are flowers that shouldn’t touch food due to issues of toxicity, as well as flowers that are perfectly safe to use with food, but still not considered edible.
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All artisans have their own language, and bakers are no exception.

A bit of knowledge can help immensely when planning the cake of your dreams for your perfect day. For example – the baker you’re meeting with begins to describe an “orange mousseline and white genoise, topped with alabaster fondant and miniature lillies”. Does this evoke an image in your mind, or leave you with even more questions?

Here, we’ll quickly cover a list of terms that once you’re acquainted with, will be of great help when working with your baker.
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Monograms have been used for centuries to adorn cherished items that are handed down through generations, but, they’re not historically associated with wedding cakes.
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Before you start looking for the right person to entrust with the creation of your wedding cake, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the more common terms used for wedding cakes and pastries. Here is a quick list of some of the words you should know:
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The recent trend of cupcake wedding cakes is great for those who are seeking ways to get more for their money, and also appeals to those with more elaborate ideas and larger budgets.

Over the years, the wedding cake has become more than the plain piece of bread broken over the brides head by the groom. Today, wedding cakes are elaborately decorated and offer the bride and groom an opportunity to express a bit of their personality. It is the custom to cut the wedding cake at the reception following the ceremony, but, some couples may opt for an arrangement of wedding cupcakes instead of the traditional cake. The cakes are displayed as a centrepiece during the reception, and often arranged on tiers to create a similar effect as that of a traditional wedding cake.
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Fresh fruit adds bright colour and a refreshing touch to your wedding cake. Also, when done properly, the beauty of a cake decorated with fruit is quite remarkable. Once you have applied icing, your own creativity is the only limit in deciding which fruits to use and what kind of design to make. Concentric circles of different coloured fruits like kiwi, pineapple, oranges and peach slices can be lovely, or, you may want an artful assortment of gorgeous sugared fruits.
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1. The first thing you’ll want to decide when planning your wedding cake is how much you want to spend. Your budget will determine if your cake comes with a magically lit lagoon of stretched sugar at the base, or a cardboard doily. Just remember, this is one day of your life (granted, one day that will produce long-lasting photos), so don’t break the bank. You still have a whole life ahead of you and you don’t want to start it in debt because you just had to have the one you saw on Ace of Cakes.

Wedding Cake by basykes

2. Choosing the style of your cake is important because it determines every other decision you make. You must first decide if you want to go traditional or contemporary. This is the debate that plagues all brides, old or young, whether you’re entering wedded bliss for the first time or doing it like Elizabeth Taylor (the slot machine of marriage…put in another coin and maybe you’ll win this time!). In any case, if you decide to go traditional, it will limit your options, but you will most likely end up with a cake that is timeless and lovely. On the other hand, it could be pretty boring for a modern bride. If you go contemporary, the options are literally limitless, from dramatic (the gothic wedding you’ve always wanted with a red and black argyle cake) to trendy (baby-pink with chocolate-brown polka dots) to themed (Barbie dream cake!).
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When choosing your wedding cake, the sky is the limit. From fondant and flowers to layers of lattice, if you saw it in the pages of Modern Bride or on Ace of Cakes, it can be yours… but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it. The truth is, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the cake of your dreams. If this is your first time taking a walk down the aisle, there are a lot of options to consider when it comes to the cake, so the first thing you want to do is set a budget and search for a baker.

Sock Monkey Wedding Cake Topper Top Hat by SpiritMama

Before you even begin to think about what the cake will look like (I know, that’s where we all want to start) you should figure out what you want on the inside. Start by visiting several bakeries and sampling their wares. You will probably have to pay for whatever you want to try, unless you assure the bakery that you’ll be using their services. However, you do get to eat a bunch of cake, so consider it the cost of research. If you already have a cake flavor in mind, simply shop around until you find a bakery that can produce it. Some merchants will even use your own recipe if you want something out of the way, but don’t count on it. Start calling around early on if you have your heart set on Aunt Linda’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Death Cake (but be prepared to pay a little more for something that’s not on the menu). Also be aware that the interior you choose may determine the size, shape, and arrangement of your cake. For example, you probably don’t want to layer a spongy angel food cake (unless you want it to look like Atlantis sinking into the ocean). And tortes tend to be much lower profile than traditional wedding cake, so you may end up with more of a mound that a temple if you decide to go that route.

Once you’ve selected the flavor of the cake, the next step is to choose the number and arrangement of layers. The size of the cake depends entirely upon the number of guests, so have that information in mind when you order. As for the arrangement, wedding cakes are traditionally tiered, but modern cake construction can pretty much go as far as your imagination, as long as the baker agrees to the level of difficulty (again, keep the price in mind when you ask for anything customized or out of the ordinary). One modern take on traditional tiers is to make the cakes square instead of round. This is a relatively simple twist on the old style. Another alternative that has come into vogue is personal cakes for each of the guests, but this can be expensive and complicated (between the time spent on decorating, the difficulty of packing and transportation, etc.), so you may want to stick to a larger cake.

Wedding Cake, After by Afroswede

Finally, you’re ready to decorate. This can be as simple or complex as you choose, again depending on your budget and your baker’s willingness (or ability) to accommodate. In terms of frosting, you can go with butter cream (which tends to stay soft and creamy) or fondant (a pliable icing that is draped and molded to the cake). Each offers it’s own pros and cons, just keep in mind that if you live in a hot and/or humid climate, certain types of frosting and decorations are susceptible to melting, so you may want to make sure your reception hall is air conditioned. Traditionally, wedding cakes are frosted in white to symbolize purity and correspond with the bride’s dress. However, it is perfectly acceptable to embellish with your wedding colors, generally in the form of flowers (either real or edible), bows, and a variety of icing techniques (latticework, piping, etc).

For the bride who seeks to buck tradition, you can really do whatever your heart desires. Just remember that you’ll be stuck with the wedding photos, so make sure it’s something that suits your personal style and can stand the test of time. If you’re overwhelmed by options and unsure of what to choose, keep in mind that simple and elegant tend to be timeless.