I see many blogs with advice on how to save money on a wedding cake.  While some of them are great tips, most of them are horrible.  Here are some of the most popular money saving tips that won't save you money:

1. Have a fake cake in the front and sheet cakes in the back - this is really bad advice because now you are buying two cakes.  A fake cake is a styrofoam piece that has been iced and decorated as per your style.  The cost of the icing and the amount of decorating time will be the same whether the canvas is a real cake or fake cake.  The cost of styrofoam is practically the same cost of the the ingredients to bake a cake.  So, your fake vs. real costs are identical.  But then, you still have to purchase the real cake to serve in the back.  So, not only will selecting a fake cake not save you any money, but it will actually cost you more money.
2. Choose a cake on pillars - the easiest way to see which cakes are more or less expensive without talking to a professional is to see which one has more stuff.  The more stuff you put on a cake, the more money it will be.  So, if you add pillars to the cake (rather than stacking one tier directly on another), you have to pay for them.  Pillars aren't expensive, but they aren't cheap either.  While it won't be a large additional expense, it's going to cost you more money and not less.
3. Have  friend make the cake - please please please do not do this.  I understand weddings are expensive.  But if you are having a nice formal event, just make room in the budget for a professional baker.  This is just bad on so many levels, but let's talk about the main concerns.  Making a wedding cake is very different then making a birthday cake.  I'm so glad your friend has made everyone's birthday cakes for the past 12 years, but this is a much bigger undertaking.  If your friend stacks the cake wrong and it falls...what will that do to your relationship.  And how horrified will your friend be?  Or, and this happens very frequently, the friend realizes a few weeks prior to your wedding this is a much bigger job and tells you they can't do it anymore.  Or maybe their kid got sick and they need to tend to their child.  Now you are without a cake.  When I get these calls from frantic brides I really try to help them out, but it's not very often I can because I their date was booked up 3 months prior. And the last one...proper food handling concerns.  Again, making a small cake is one thing.  Making a large cake is another.  Does your friend know how to properly store that cake?  What if they don't and the fresh strawberry filling goes sour?  Or maybe that cream cheese icing was left out too long?  Now half your guests are sick in the restroom rather than enjoying your day.  It's just not worth the risk.

So, now that we're all bummed from the busted bubble, here are some proper ways to save money on your cake:

1. Choose Buttercream - Buttercream icing is much less expensive than fondant.  True, you can't do all the bells and whistles, but you can get an elegant gorgeous cake in buttercream.  Plus you can still add little fondant touches here and there if you wish.  Not to mention, the taste of buttercream is divine!
2. Choose Basic Flavors - We all love those exotic flavors like a yummy Pink Champagne or Rosewater cake.  But, again, the more that goes into a cake the more the price increase too.  Stick with the tried and true favorites...vanilla, chocolate, yellow.  No they aren't as fancy, but your guest will be able to still enjoy a fantastic cake without you going into cake debt.
3. Fresh In-Season Flowers - Sugar flowers are made by hand.  Let me translate that.  Sugar flowers are expensive!  Order a few extra flowers from your florist to place on your cake.  I personally prefer this look anyway.  They are so natural and provide a soft elegant look to your tiered dessert.  Not to mention, the smell of fresh flowers is heavenly!

Austin is well known for their rustic venues and brides swoon over different ideas to capture that rustic feel into their cake.  I am so excited about this cake we made for a precious couple at Twisted Ranch this past weekend.  Design and floral by Pink Parasol tied everything together in a pretty little bow to make the entire wedding flow perfectly.  

The bride and groom wanted a grand elegant wedding cake that tied to their theme of rustic chic.  So we got to work designing!  The 4 tiers gave the cake a grand appearance while the hand painted brush strokes gave the design a tree-like resemblance.  To make the cake even more rustic, buttercream barbwire cascaded down most of the tiers.  The third tier encompassed a hand painted heart with their initials to give the cake a cute, personalized factor.  And the fondant belt buckle completed the rustic look.  However, you can't have a rustic chic wedding cake without the chic.  Enter the beautiful spider mums and a touch of bling.  Adorning each spider mum is a small cluster of rhinestones, just for a little pop of bling.  And incorporated in the belt buckle are some small silver dragees, giving the buckle a little pop of pizzaz!  

And what is the point of a cake if it doesn't melt in your mouth?  This adorable rustic chic cake was a French Vanilla Cake with a Strawberry Filling and Buttercream Icing.  How's that for yumm!! 

Would you like an opportunity to sample any flavor combination of your choice?  Would you like to mix and match different flavors and fillings to see what flavor combination will be perfect for your wedding day?  If so, you don't want to miss our Custom Tasting!

So what is our custom tasting?  Our custom tasting is one evening every few months where we open up our kitchen and allow you to choose your samples to taste.  We will bake them fresh specifically for you!

How does this work?

1. Check out all our flavors and fillings on our flavor list and choose 3 flavors and 3 fillings you would like to sample.
2. Email me your choices by June 25th so we have time to bake up your samples and make your fillings.
3. Come on out to Chateau on the Creek on June 27th anytime between 5:30 and 6:30 pm and savor your flavors of choice!

It's that time again!  Time for the Austin Bridal Extravaganza!  In case you missed the details....it'll be held this Sunday, June 11th from noon to 5:00 pm at the Palmer Event Center!

Now that we got the fine print out to the way, let's talk about the show! There is so much I don't even know where to begin.  I don't want to overwhelm you, so I'll just touch on one of the most important "do not do prior to the show" things that almost every bride does.  

Do Not Eat Prior To The Bridal Extravaganza!!!

The show starts at noon and your mom and best gal pals are with you.  It's only natural to want to grab a light lunch to enjoy the company and fill up before a long day of wedding shopping.  But, don't do it!

The Bridal Extravaganza is filled with cakes, catering, and other delicious treats.  And of course, they will be offering samples of some of their tastiest and most mouth watering treats and appetizers.  This is a great opportunity for you to sample for you to sample some of the best caterer's and cake bakers in Austin side by side.  In fact, it's the only place that you can!  You don't want to be so full from lunch that you miss this opportunity.  Come hungry.  Sample the catering.  Enjoy the cakes and treats.  You will definitely be full by the time you leave, but you will have either found the perfect caterer or baker or will be well on your way!

​See you all at the show on Sunday!!