It’s A Piece of (Wedding) Cake!

By: Chelsey Hennemuth

When it comes to the artistic elements of a wedding, the cake is right there at the top– next to the white dress, of course! In recent years, wedding cakes have become more extravagant and designed to match the theme and colors of the ceremony and reception. And with the plethora of television programs showcasing special occasion cakes, it’s easy to see that nothing is impossible anymore.

There are so many choices to make when designing your wedding cake. You must choose the cake shape, size, the number of tiers, the flavor of the cake, the flavor of the filling, and the type of icing. Really, the list goes on.

So how do you know what’s right for your big day? First, it’s important to know all of the options that bakeries offer. The traditional white wedding cake isn’t a necessity anymore because there are so many new trends in the cake business. But don’t worry, this shouldn’t make for a more stressful experience, just more fun!

Choosing the type of cake may be the most difficult issue because of every woman’s inherent desire to please all guests with the most delectable, eye-catching dessert ever. But even for brides with special dietary needs, the options are endless. Today, two of the most well known diets are a vegan and gluten-free, and, whereas, 10 years ago, finding a bakery to accommodate such dietary needs was largely unheard of, finding one today has become fairly easy.

Vegan wedding cakes are now a familiar option to many bakeries, especially since many clients are also lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies. Strictly vegan bakeries may be difficult to find, but inquiring at an organic or health food store like Whole Foods can be your best option to start. Many natural food stores can make special order cakes or point you in the direction of another bakery that can. For a list of bakeries across the country that accommodate vegan diets, check out www.vegan-nutritionista.com.

Gluten-free diets are easily accommodated these days with more and more people being diagnosed with Celiac’s disease. Similar to vegan bakeries, strictly gluten-free bakeries are sometimes hard to find, but they are rapidly popping up across the country. If you aren’t able to find a gluten-free bakery, inquiring at a regular bakery would the best place to start. The internet site, about.com also has started a state by state listing of bakeries that gluten free brides and grooms will enjoy. For the full listing, check out Gluten-Free Wedding Cakes – Wedding Cakes for Gluten-Free Bride and Groom.

For those brides interested in saving some money, there a couple of wedding cake trends that allow for just that. The most popular is the cupcake wedding cake. These cakes typically feature a small cake on the top tier for the bride and groom, with dozens and dozens of cupcakes on the bottom tiers. These cupcakes can be different flavors and individually decorated to match your wedding theme. Cupcakes also eliminate the “cake cutting” fee, which can blow your cake budget out of the water.

A second budget-friendly idea is a cake buffet. Cake buffets feature a variety of cakes and desserts for guests to sample during the reception. Though buying individual cakes seems pricy, ultimately, it will save you more money than a multi-tiered, traditional cake. A buffet lends itself to be a convenient party-favor for guests by including packaged treats and cake recipes.

And for those brides interested in a very unique cake, have no fear. The perfect cake is out there for every bride! Consider one of non-traditional cakes: a tiered cheesecake, a sculpted cake, a tiered strawberry shortcake, fruit-shaped sorbet, a tiered cake made from ladyfingers and fruit, or individual desserts passed to each guest. To see some of these unique creations, visit renowned wedding expert, Martha Stewart’s site, www.marthastewartweddings.com.

The wedding cake is the perfect way to showcase your personality and creativity on your wedding day. With so many options for wedding cakes, it should be easy to create the perfect cake for you and your guests. Don’t be afraid to explore non-traditional cake options and work with bakeries to design a cake that is uniquely you.

Chelsey Hennemuth is a graduate student in the Journalism and Multimedia Arts Department at Duquesne University. She received her B.A. in Graphic Design from St. Vincent College.