Oftentimes I hear brides confused about a cake delivery. We have all seen Buddy and his crew waltz in with a grand 5 tier cake at the beginning of a reception and the guests cheer, ooh and aah over the big entrance. Unfortunately, that's tv. While that's grand and quite the display, it's not reality. So, what is reality. Well, that varies based on your baker. But let's talk about what we have found to work best with cake deliveries.
First things first. We do not deliver our cakes pre-stacked. That's just a disaster waiting to happen. What we do is deliver each tier in a separate, padded box. The padding in the box helps the cake not to slide during travel. It also helps absorb the shock from the road, which makes sure your icing is still firmly in place and your design is not disturbed. We like to arrive 1.5 to 2 hours prior to your ceremony to begin the cake stacking process. We allow an hour to assemble the cake, however usually it only takes 30 to 45 minutes. During this time we stack the cake, pipe a lovely border around each tier to cover the board, and place any adornments on the cake such as flowers or cake toppers. We also allow a small buffer in case we are a few minutes late, Austin traffic can be a little unpredictable, or if the cake table isn't skirted or the venue isn't quite ready. It's important to allow a few extra minutes for minor setbacks...better to finish a few minutes early then to arrive late and have someone rushing to stack a cake. That's how mistakes get made. So, now we are finished! Your cake is stacked and standing beautifully with all adornments ready to be devoured! But, there is still a little time before your ceremony. Yes...and there is a reason for that. Your photographer will need some time prior to the ceremony to get some nice detail shots of your cake. Once the ceremony starts there is little for those kinds of photos. Additionally, some people have other decorations they wish to place on the cake table. This needs to be done post cake set-up to allow the room needed to work with your cake.
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We've all seen gender reveal cakes, right? The ones that are decorated modestly on the outside while holding a special surprise on the inside! Guests gather around the cake to find out the big secret: pink or blue!
Well, who says that cakes can only be colorful when you are expecting? This weekend I had the pleasure of making a cake a for a very sweet couple. Their colors were red and turquoise, a very unique and pretty combination. The cake was draped with a turquoise satin ribbon border and deep red flowers cascaded down the side. However, guests were in for another surprise when they cut into their 3 tier dessert only to find that the bold colors continued! The French Vanilla cake had been dyed to match the turquoise color scheme and the Raspberry filling tied in the red! While this is a great idea for some, it won't work for everybody. Dyes change in heat. So, if your colors are not standard colors (ie: salmon vs. orange) then it's best to avoid a mis-shaded cake. Also, if your colors are elegant (ie: black or gold) then keep the cake elegant as well...not to mention, who wants to eat a black cake! But for the fun, casual wedding with bold beautiful colors this a great idea to add something a little different to your wedding! The tradition of a wedding cake can be dated back to the Roman times, when a loaf was broken over the bride's head. It signified the beginning of a new life as husband and wife. It still does. Therefore, it becomes rather important to choose the right cake for your wedding. Brides usually spend a lot of time on it and then get easily stressed out. So, dear men why not take this burden off her shoulders and impress your wife with an amazing wedding cake? We promise, you will not regret it. The Barn Wedding No matter what part of the country you live in, the rustic themed wedding tops the list of all themed weddings. The old world charm of the barns and the green pastures capture every single heart. Therefore, it needs an elegant yet rough wedding cake to complement the theme. You can always choose a cake decorated with elegant flowers, flowing down to the base. But, let's take the risk of finding something even better. A three tier cake roughly frosted with a layer of strawberry buttercream along with the bittersweet chocolate decorated with fresh olive branches and a big beautiful golden succulent offset on the middle tier will look stunning. Not just only your wife, but also the guests won't be able to resist it. If you want to go for a classic looking cake, then go for the timeless naked rustic cake. Choose a dark one, let the buttercream naturally seep out of it, to give it an unfinished and rustic look. Later on, garnish it with your favorite berries and other fruits. This one may be called a classic, but it is something so unique and so beyond one's approach that your wife will be left mesmerized by it. The Beach Wedding A beach wedding is so dreamy and truly romantic whether it's on the beautiful sea shores of Texas or the exotic seaside wedding locations of Long Island. They are all just perfect in each and every way imaginable. If you have planned out your wedding for a beach, you're so damn lucky! In that case, you and especially your wife absolutely deserve a dreamlike wedding cake. Most of the couples usually go for a blue or a white wedding cake. It's not like something is wrong with it. They are one of the most relatable and trending options to go with. Such as, a two tire vanilla cake layered with raspberry flavored Swiss meringue buttercream. To resemble the waves, imagine the first tier beautifully ruffled up in different shades of blue. And, the top tier with a finish of sand along with a starfish on the border line. Tempting, isn’t it? But, what looks unusual for a beach wedding cake are the different shades of brown. With intricate details such as corals, seahorses, seashells, pearls and the waves on the bottom tier all work together to make this cake super stunning. It is a bold and a brave move that will definitely pay you off, making your wife not want to cut it. The Big Ballroom Wedding A big ballroom wedding is all what a woman has dreamt of, all her life. Apart from the beach, what else will be more dreamier than starting a new life together in a grand ballroom. Living all those fairytale moments on the biggest day of your life is far amazing than anything else in the world. You being her dream prince and she, the most beautiful princess ever. This truly deserves a grand wedding cake. However, going for a fairytale wedding cake sounds quite interesting. Like a beautiful robin's blue egg colored, 5 tier cake. Decorated with two whimsical flying birds, different flowers added around the base along with trees spreading to the top with pretty little flowers and leaves springing out. But, what looks even better is a vintage cake inspired by The Great Gatsby. The long island weddings location inspired by it still depicts the same glitz and glamor as described by the author. To add all that lavishness to your wedding cake, it turns out to be one of the most awed options. Go for a three to four tier lavish silver leaf finish cake, embossed with lace and a single string of pearls on the non silver leaf tiers. Top this long island wedding inspired cake with big off-white flowers. If the extra glamor makes you and your wife uncomfortable, don't worry. The other options inspired by the locations of Long Island wedding cake are endless. However, opt for the classic lace cake with small intricate details with little pastel flowers to make it timeless. She won't be disappointed! And, you'll be a happy husband. So, dear men do not be afraid to take the step forward to surprise your wife with the cake of her dreams. We hope you'll return to this post for future reference. And, if you've got better ideas we'll love to know all about it. Happy you, makes us happy! Author Bio:
Suzan Hall is a content writer and a professional blogger and possesses a good knowledge of the Long Island wedding venues. Her other interests include Wedding, Event planning and Design, Decoration, Party ideas, Cuisine, etc. The summer heat is in full force and the cakes are certainly feeling it! So what are some things that can be done to protect your cake against the elements?
First, before you even get your cake we are making changes to protect the cake from the heat and humidity. During warmer months we make sure to make the icing a little bit thicker. This will give the cake a harder coat, which would take a little longer to get droopy in warmer climates. Second, we make sure the car is as cold as possible during transport. This helps keep the cake from getting soft. But what about after set up? For one, keep the cake inside. I know that is somewhat of a given, but outside cakes (especially this time of year) are just not going to work. At all. The cake will melt. Choose a location for the cake table clear of windows. Windows will produce heat and if the cake is in direct sunlight of that heat it could cause the cake to become droopy. Kick up the AC. Most venues will want to have the AC cranked up anyway to prepare for a large crowd, but just in case, make sure it's nice and cool inside the venue. This will make sure your cake stays crisp and firm and beautiful for photos. Most couples will have a sentimental attachment to their wedding cake toppers and will opt to keep it after their wedding ceremony. Now, if you're looking to preserve your wedding cake topper, it's important to choose a monogram or a figurine that's made of a durable material. On the other hand, if you would like to eat your topper as opposed to storing it, choose one made of marzipan or sugar. In any case, it's important that if someone else is cutting your wedding cake that you let them know what you would like to do with your cake topper. Wedding cake toppers can be as intricate and personal as you would like them to be, and if you've decided to keep yours, what are some clever uses for it? After all, it marks a special event in your life worth remembering! Create Unique Wall Art Your cake topper can easily be mounted inside of a shadow box for safe keeping and displayed in a prominent spot in your home. In fact, a shadowbox allows you to create a custom background for your topper, so perhaps you may wish to print your wedding vows and use them as a background to set the mood. Other couples may opt to include other mementos of their wedding ceremony along with the wedding topper to create the perfect nostalgic shadowbox. Monogram Your Home Not all couples choose a wedding cake topper that features a figure, but rather, they may opt for a monogram instead. Monograms can look fantastic and modern in any home when displayed on a console table with a fresh bouquet. Depending on the size of the monogram topper, you may also be able to display it on your mantel or mount it on the wall of your bedroom. Lastly, monograms are great centerpieces for important holidays when you may be the one serving food at your dining room table. Pass It On As An Heirloom As per tradition, a bride needs something old, so passing your old cake topper to the next generation can become a family tradition. Fewer and fewer families think about the importance of family heirlooms, so perhaps you can start up a new tradition by preserving your cake topper for the next couple in line. Reuse It For Special Occasions If you have a special cake topper made just for you, why not enjoy it some more during special occasions? You can mount it on your next birthday cake or bring it out for an anniversary celebration. In fact, you don't need to think of it as a cake topper, but a figurine you can use for those family gatherings or holidays you wish to remember fondly. Your wedding day marks an important milestone in your life, therefore, your day should be all about preserving memories. A wedding cake topper is a memento that you will want to keep for a lifetime and perhaps even pass on to your children when they're grown! Written by Mark Wilcox creator of weddingintro.com. He is your wedding search engine guru and always looking out for the latest and best information for you - from interviews with wedding vendors, DIY decoration tips, my favorite wedding dresses and more. Visit Marks website for more great information and blogs for everything you need to know about wedding planning!
I just had to share with you one of my wedding cakes from this past weekend! Traditionally a grooms cake, one of my couples this weekend turned this chocolate dessert into their wedding cake. And talk about a crowd pleaser!
I often hear so many brides say that they love chocolate or they love a chocolate drizzle cake, but a wedding is "supposed to be white." Well, this couple broke tradition and went all out with their cake! This French Vanilla cake with Strawberry filling was moist and yummy on the inside. But, the outside left guests drooling! A simple smooth design with chocolate drizzle pouring over the sides of the cake. Rather than adding flowers or cake toppers, they dressed up the cake with a combination of white and dark chocolate strawberries! So the guests can eat the adornments too. Talk about a 100% edible...and super yummy idea for your wedding cake! First of all, I want to apologize for not having photos in today's blog. I always like to have photos. But we are experiencing minor technical difficulties and my blog will not let me upload any photos. Darn that technology!
Ordering a custom cake is quite different then ordering a cake from a grocery store or large box bakery. I wanted to share several points to remember when ordering a custom cake. It takes time so plan ahead. If you want to order a custom cake for your event make sure to book early...like real early. I recommend a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks, maybe longer depending on the type of cake. I cannot tell you how many calls I get from stressed parents the week before their child's birthday or graduation. They want to do something a little more special then the grocery store sheet cake, but that does require a little more planning. First, because of all the detail and planning that goes into custom cakes we need that time to prepare for your cake, and sometimes order specific ingredient, tool, or mold that take a few weeks to arrive. Second, the amount of time that we put into the cake is longer and therefore we have a limit on how many cakes we can take. You know what they say, the early bird gets the worm. Make room in the budget. Custom cakes will cost more then the generic store cakes. Why? Well, several reasons. One is the time and labor that goes into planning and creating the cake is a lot longer then generic cakes. Also, there more there is on the cake, the more the ingredients will cost and the more you will have to pay. If you are working with a budget let your baker know that and we can work with you (reasonably) to get a beautiful cake without breaking the bank. However, if the vision you have is over your budget, be open to the changes the baker suggests. Remember, we do this every day and trust our ideas and suggestions. We want you to love your cake even more than you do! Listen to the advice from the baker. Ordering a custom cake is a lot more involved then a 2 minute phone conversation telling us what flavor and "Happy Birthday Sue" on the cake. There are usually several phone and email conversations to get the right vision for your cake. Sometimes clients come in with a vision that is not realistic. Whether it's for the time of year (remember, our ingredients are fresh and sometimes seasonal), budget, or size/type of cake. I get many calls from people wanting a 3 tier cake that serves 20 guests. Sorry, the cakes serve X number of people and I cannot change that. Communication is key. Tell the baker your ideas and be open to the suggestions. If you want a 3 tier cake for 20 people then the choices are: bake the cake and have lots of leftovers, bake one tier and have 2 tiers mock (won't save you any money though) or choose a smaller cake. Please don't think we are trying to swindle you or anything like that. But we know the reality of cakes and will do our best to help you. However, we need you to be open to whatever changes or suggestions we may have. I could go on and on, but that could get lengthy....and probably boring. If you have an idea for a custom cake send us your vision and we can discuss your ideas and let's get planning! The Bridal Extravaganza is over and now it's time to reflect over piles and piles of brochures! Rather than doing that, come join us for our Grand Tasting and let your taste buds do the choosing! Regardless if you attended the Extravaganza or not, you do not want to miss this!
Our Grand Tasting is just as it sounds...a buffet table filled with some of our most popular flavors and fillings. Hop in line and fill your plate with an assortment of cakes! Snag and seat and dive in! Once you've eaten (or before, there are no rules) walk around the venue and get ideas on how to decorate your cake with our inspiration tables. We will also be walking around answering questions, so come with photos and ideas. Many brides like to use our Grand Tasting as an opportunity to have a mini consultation with us, design their cake, and book their date! So come prepared in case you decide to reserve your date too! So, what are the details? Our Grand Tasting will be held at Chateau on the Creek in Round Rock between 5:30 and 7:30 pm on June 7th. It's a come and go event, so come whenever you like and stay as long as you want. Please RSVP on the front page of our website. We don't want to run out of cake! And the flavors? Ahhh! The best part! This tasting we will be serving:
In just a few short days the greatest (in my humble opinion) wedding show will be here! This is a perfect one stop shop for all your wedding needs! But, it's a lot to take in. Many brides get overwhelmed. So, let me help you. Here are a few tips to stay organized and get the most out of the show!
Let's be honest. We all want our cake to look amazing, right! But, we also want our cake to taste amazing too! Guests will remember the design of your cake...somewhat. They will remember it looked really beautiful, but can't quite give you details after your wedding day has passed. But the flavor...now that's something they will talk about for years to come! No pressure right! So how do you select a cake flavor that everyone will love? It's not as hard as you think.
First things first. Think about your meal. For larger/heavier meals choose lighter desserts, like a French Vanilla or Peach. You don't want your already full guests to have an even heavier dessert. Rather than dancing the night away, you may find them slumped over in their chair ready to curl up in a warm blanket. If you are having a lighter meal, then by all means...go for that Black Forest or Italian Cream! Second, think about your season. There are some desserts that are seasonal. If you are getting married in the fall, add that extra little touch to your wedding by choosing a yummy spice cake! Or maybe a Strawberry cake in the spring! Lastly, think about your guests. If you are having a larger wedding or a wedding with lots of guests who you really don't know too well, consider something more basic, like a vanilla or butter cake. Those not only appeal to the masses, but you have less to worry about when it comes to allergies. You don't want to order a super tasty Italian Cream cake when 1/3 of your guests don't eat coconut and another 1/4 are allergic to nuts. If you are having a smaller affair or if you know your guests through and through, then think about what the majority will like. Are they choc-holics? Then maybe a German Chocolate cake might be a great choice? Or a chocolate cake with a Bailey's chocolate mousse filling...a favorite among my house! But don't spend too much time stressing over this. Unless you are going to be on "4 Weddings", your guests won't be picking apart your wedding and critiquing every little thing you do. They will be there enjoying and celebrating with you and whichever dessert you choose, they will love!! |
AuthorKayla grew up in the wedding industry and has grown to love all things wedding. Please enjoy reading her thoughts and experiences as she continues to walk in family tradition. Archives
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