Kathleen's Bridal and Formal Wear: A Piece of Cake

With all your other wedding preparations and deadlines, you may think the cake is no big

deal. Think again. Choosing a cake is one of the most creative, fun—and delicious—parts of the planning process. It’s the “icing on the cake,” so to speak, of your decorating and refreshment plans, the final touch that says you’ve got it all together.

When choosing a cake, there are many things to consider, from size and shape, to flavor, color, size and topper. A wedding cake should reflect the personality of the married couple and match the theme, color and mood of the wedding. It may be a good idea to choose the cake once the other decorations are decided to ensure the cake fits in well and compliments your plans.

If you plan to have a professional bakery make your cake, try to set up an appointment about three months before the wedding. Be prepared with ideas including pictures, color samples, and more. Also, be open to suggestions and ideas from the baker; after all, he is a professional and will have much experience in wedding cakes.

Althoug

h many brides still choose to follow tradition and display a round, white cake, keep in mind you are not limited to do the same. Cakes today can be made of cheesecake, pound cake, or you can even decide on a cupcake tree. Another option is to have a simple groom’s cake. Whatever you choose, be sure to budget $600-$1,000 for this step. If your budget will not allow you to spend that much, there are ways to cut costs. One idea is to buy a smaller cake for artistic display, using sheet cakes to accompany it. You can also have most of the cake be frosted molds, rather than real cake, which makes it less expensive. If you want to add sentimental value to your cake and you are creative, you may want to make it yourself. That way, you can design it any way you want. Just be sure to practice first—you wouldn’t want your first cooking experience as a married woman to be a disaster!