Choosing a Cake Decorator

When choosing a cake decorator and wedding cake design, there are a few essential things to keep in mind - price, quantity, style, and taste.

The price of a wedding cake is usually based on the number of people you will be serving. There may be other costs included depending on the style of cake you choose. Most brides make the mistake of ordering as much cake as the number of guests that they have invited to the wedding. This will usually leave a lot of cake to find a home for after the reception which also means wasted costs. A good way to determine how much cake to order is 2/3 of the guests invited (example: 600 guests invited = 400 servings of cake). Some guests will not show up and some will be too full from the meal to eat cake.

Once you have determined how many servings you will need to order, then you can pick a style. Decorators will be able to assist you in this area. Keep in mind that if you are only ordering a cake for 100 people, you may not be able to have a cake with a water fountain and a ton of bridges. Those designs require more cake in order to complete the look. Listen to your decorator. He/she has experience in compromise to create a look closest to what you want that will agree with how much cake you will need. If you are ordering water fountains or other extras, that may add extra cost to your final bill. Most cake decorators will also require a deposit when ordering the cake.

There are many flavors and fillings available. The traditional flavors are chocolate, white, and yellow. You will need to check with your decorator on the flavors that are available. It is always a good idea to request a sample of the cake for you to taste. A quality cake is not only pretty, but tastes good, too!

The groom's cake is another tradition at weddings. This is a rich fruit cake traditionally given out piece-by-piece, in boxes, to departing guests. The legend is that a single woman who takes the groom's cake home and sleeps with it beneath her pillow will dream of the man she will someday marry. A groom's cake is completely optional, but is becoming more regular at weddings in this area.

When ordering your cake, ask to have the order put in writing. Keep a copy for your records. Make sure the order specifies cost AND your selection with regards to flavor, topping, shape, size, decorations, and delivery time and place.