For as long as I can remember, weddings have been a source of excitement and joy for families and friends of the bride and groom. For some, weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, while for others, they represent the culmination of a long and arduous journey to find the person they want to share their life with.
Whether you’re spending your wedding night in a luxury hotel or camping out with your closest family and friends, there is one thing you’ll need to budget for – the wedding cake. Different tiers of cake represent various relationships, from parent-child to newlyweds, and friends and relatives are usually tasked with helping friends and family members to navigate this tricky terrain.
While there is no set price for a wedding cake, depending on the number of tiers you want, the size of each tier, and the flavor of each layer, you’re likely to spend somewhere in the vicinity of £400 – £500.
Is That a Bribe?
Nowadays, getting hitched doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality of life to save money. Thanks to innovative startups like FusionCake and ElleCake, weddings have become much more accessible to those on a tight budget. Companies like these offer low-cost, high-quality wedding cakes that you can have delivered straight to your home or venue.
FusionCake’s slogan is ‘Create Your Own Wedding Cake’ and the company offers a variety of one- to five-tier cakes with a range of flavors that can be customized to perfection. All you need to do is upload a photo of the cake you want and the rest is handled by the experts. If you’re looking for a real-life example, consider the grand wedding cake that was ordered by King George IV in 1821 – it required 76 circles, each weighing 30 lbs and decorated with 70 lbs of sugar flowers.
Which Flavour Do You Want?
When it comes to wedding cakes, there is no denying that vanilla is what you usually get. But why? There are so many unique flavors out there that you could have for your wedding and each one has its perks. If you want a taste of Thailand, for example, you could go for the green curry chicken cake or the red velvet cake topped with candied ginger.
If you decide to have a non-traditional wedding, you could opt for an Indian-style wedding cake where you replace the vanilla with cardamom or even add a pinch of saffron to make it more like a traditional Spanish paella.
On the other hand, you could go for the full English breakfast if you want a traditional British wedding. You might want to start by having some British classics like Scotch eggs, mini pork pies, and mini beef burgers served with pickles alongside some more traditional fare such as chicken tikka samosas and lamb korma.
How Many Layers?
It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. Even the most basic of ceremonies can set you back hundreds – if not thousands – of pounds. So how many layers of cake do you need? It depends on how many tiers you want and how much you want to spend. Usually, a three-tier cake with a vanilla cake in the middle and two tiers of chocolate on the sides is sufficient for a wedding of about 120 guests. If yours is a more substantial affair with closer family and friends, go for a five-tier cake with a two-tier chocolate cake in the middle and a four-tier candy corn cake in the background.
What Size?
A standard wedding cake size is usually 24-inches by 14-inches. When it comes to tiers, go for three to five tiers, depending on how many guests you have. If you have a very small wedding party, go for three tiers and put a simple design on the top. For a larger wedding, consider going for five tiers and decorate the top two tiers with a more intricate design. Remember that the cake will be on display for the guests for around 10 to 15 minutes, so make sure to choose a design that doesn’t need too much upkeep.
What Do You Want On The Cake?
The most important thing when designing your wedding cake is what you want on it. You’ll need to decide whether you want fruit, flowers, or both on the cake. If you want fruit, go for blueberries, raspberries, or even strawberries. Pineapple is always a popular choice among grooms and it goes very well with chocolate. If you opt to put flowers on your cake, there are so many options, from carnations to sunflowers, that can be easily found at any garden center.
One of the best things about weddings is the variety of cakes available. If you want to indulge yourself, you can opt for a chocolate fountain or an ice cream truck that rings up custom-made cones as your wedding guests bask in the glory of your culinary skills.
Regardless of what you choose, your guests will be able to enjoy a delectable cake while you celebrate the event. So don’t be afraid to indulge yourself and choose a cake that is a taste of your culinary delights.