The Wedding Cake Breakdown..Layer By Layer Part III

It is time to wrap up The Wedding Cake Breakdown...Layer by Layer "mini series." By now you should have a lovely decorated cake with some seriously yummy stuff baked inside! Whether you are serving a Red Velvet with Chocolate Ganche Filling and Cream Cheese Icing cake or a Vanilla Bean Pound Cake with Lemon Curd Filling and iced with Swiss Buttercream...your creation is surely worthy of any feast! Although you are pretty much a wedding cake oracle at this point, there are a few important points I would like to leave you with:


How much cake to order?
You should order enough cake for about 75-80% of your guests that will be ATTENDING. Although I think they are crazy, there are people out there who actually WON'T eat any cake (crazy, I know!). Even accounting for roughly only 75% of your guests  (for cake) will still leave you with extra - but it is better to be on the safe side!


How many tiers?
This is really going to depend on how many slices (per person) you wish for your cake to provide, see the previous question. Typically the more guests, the more tiers; however, any average wedding cake has anywhere between 3 to 5 tiers.


What should I do for a cake topper?
This one is totally up to you...and allows you the opportunity to be creative. An easy and classy cake topper is florals - your chosen florist can provide a cake topper of fresh florals that coordinate wit the rest of your wedding. Other ideas?! Head on over to Etsy and search 'cake toppers' under the wedding category - these vendors creativity will blow your mind! I won't ruin any of the surprises over in Etsy world!


Cake Platter...where do I get one?
Most of the time, your venue will provide you a silver plated cake platter - these are traditional, but very beautiful in their own right! If the venue does not provide one, your baker may have one available for rent. Either way, make sure you ask your baker what size the platter needs to be..and make sure to have a display table accordingly. If you do not want to go the silver route, these days you can find a diverse offering of cake platters -- anything from a slice of tree stump, to vintage suitcases, to modern acrylic boxes..can host your cake! Like everything, do some research and check over at Etsy!


I am having an outdoor wedding, what precautions should I take?
Find a cool or shaded place for your dessert masterpiece!!! Humidity and heat are a cake's worst friend...they easily cause fondant to slide and buttercream to soften - most bakers will not "insure" the life of their cake if it will be placed outdoors. That being said, do not fear if your heart has a calling to the outdoors (they are some of the most beautiful weddings!) - like I said, find a cool spot for the cake that has heavy shade..furthermore, see if the venue staff can keep the cake indoors as long as possible until it is needed for the reception.

How can I mix things up and make my cake interesting?
Do exactly that - Mix it Up! Do you have two favorite flavors? - alternate the flavors in each tier. Don't want just a round tiered cake? - alternate each tier's shape, go round, then square, then round, then square (or any other combination). Another tip, add accents of colored icing to bring in some hints of your wedding color pallet or alternate the decorations on each tier (see the random embellishment cake on yesterday's inspiration board). Bottomline: don't feel stuck doing the same thing all the way through, a mix-up is refreshing!


What is average charge per a slice?
In most metropolitan areas, the average cost per a slice is $4.50. Fondant, gourmet additions, or extravagant designs may add to the base price. At $4.50, cake can easily become a big expense, so do some research! I got my cake (and it was delicious!) for under $3.00 a slice - so it CAN happen!

Jen Fariello Photography

That about wraps it up -- I am not going to lie, I have been eying all the cakes at the grocery store over the past days..these posts are going to be the end of me! To give my sweet tooth a break the blog will be featuring a "Picture This!" and "Fresh Idea Friday" the next two days! Nevertheless, I hope you have become well educated over the past three days..and are looking forward to creating your very own edible art piece for your BIG DAY! I will leave you with my biggest tip: do your research, and find pictures on the web - take these pictures to the baker - this will ensure they know exactly what you want :)


Leave a comment at the bottom if you have some more questions concerning The Wedding Cake Breakdown! Enjoy!