There are many things for you to keep in mind as you search the market for your perfect wedding cake.  Consider these questions to be your guide in the “wedding cake decision-making process.”

How much cake do I really need?

The most important questions to ask concern the correct size and the favorite design of the cake.

There are several things to consider when choosing the number of servings for your bride’s and groom’s cakes.  After you’ve made your guest list, you’ll be able to predict the number of people that you expect to actually attend your  wedding.

With that count in mind, you should take into account the types of foods that you  plan to serve at the reception.  Will you be serving your guests just wedding cake in addition to heavy hors d’oeuvre, a buffet, or a sit-down dinner?

If you’re not serving food, then the number of servings needs to be as accurate as possible.  If you’re serving hors d’ouerves or a buffet, then the number of cake servings in the bride’s cake can be reduced to about 95% of the total number of guests.  If you’re having a sit-down dinner, bride’s cake servings must equal the exact number of dinners being served by the caterer.  In that case, each seated dinner guest will be served a piece of wedding cake.

The groom’s cake, traditionally, should not rival the bride’s cake in size.  The bride’s cake is the focus…the groom’s cake is the accent.

By adding a bottom Styrofoam “cake” tier, you can create a larger cake without extra servings.  This can be done at a fraction of the cost of a real cake tier.  I have had a few inquires about making an entire fake wedding cake for decoration with the intention of serving from sheet cakes.  This will not cut down on the cost of your cake order.   By adding this expense to the cost of the decorative “fake cake” with the sheet cakes will not be a cost savings for you.

About Outdoor Weddings

I caution you about planning an outdoor wedding in Texas.  The weather is too unpredictable all-year round and it forces you to be stressed out over something you can’t control, which is “Mother Nature.”

So many things can happen…Your cake can slide and tip over from the heat, your center pieces and other flowers can wilt, and the “comfort factor” for your guests will be in question.

If your heart is set on having an outdoor wedding, you should definitely have an alternative plan in case of bad weather.  Also, you can plan for the wedding to be outside and the reception to be inside.

If you choose to have a reception outdoors during hot weather, I will place extra “braces” in the cake tiers but will not be responsible if the icing starts to “melt” and the cake tiers droop.

The design of the cakes:

When brides are having trouble choosing a wedding cake design, I always ask them to consider what they liked about the wedding dress they chose.  Is the dress simple, elegant, decorative, elaborate….is it white, ivory, or does it have color?

You’ll choose a dress that you feel comfortable in and that will reflect your personal style.  The same decisions that you made to choose your dress should also apply to your cake.  And, I’ll help to guide you through this process.

Don’t hesitate to bring me your ideas, whether it’s a picture of a wedding cake from a magazine or a sketch that you’ve made of your dream cake.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to finalize your design, flavor, or cake size until two weeks before the wedding/reception.