CAKE!!!

Oh the mighty wedding cake.

I like cake just as much as the next person. I also love cupcakes, cake pops, candy tables...basically if you just take a bag of sugar and pour it down my mouth, I'll be happy. 

Now- there are many people who do not participate in the traditional cutting of a cake for their wedding, and to each their own. However, if a bride and groom are going to spend a good chunk of change on a cake, I like to make sure that it can be showcased before the caterers take the cake back to get it ready for dessert service. What I have found is that there seems to be a trend of lace on cakes for this year. I am just in awe as I look at these highly decorated and extraordinary cake! Lace detail can NOT be easy- but it looks so elegant.  

www.weddingelation.com

Another trend that I have been seeing is to have more than one cake. I guess, if one is good, three must be great! A lot of times a bride and groom will have a sheet cake in the back for the caterers to cut to help with cost. This would eliminate that and the guest would be able to see exactly what is going to be cut and put in front of them. It also gives a really nice presentation. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Cupcakes have made a comeback too- but these little hand held pieces of goodness will be saved for another post. I need to go get some good old fashion butter cream frosting after looking at all these delicious cakes. 

The Fake Cake

I’m not sure what way I am going to go with this blog…basically because, let’s be honest…I really like cake (okay, being even more honest…I really like all food). So, when a bride came to me last year and explained to me that she was having a “fake cake” at her wedding, I had feelings of concern, confusion, interest and curiosity. After further investigation, these fake cakes are actually quite intricate and amazing. They have a little “trap door” on the side of them that you an insert a Twinkie or a small piece of cake in there to use in the cake cutting ceremony. The point then is to have sheet cake in the back for the caterers to serve.

 So…why a fake cake, what are the pros and cons:

Pros:

• BUDGET! If you are on a budget and want a luxurious and elaborate cake for a quarter of the price…this would be a good option
• The cake doesn’t melt….Fake Cakes are used with fondant on Styrofoam which gives it very good support, this way it will stay intact in all elements of the weather.
• You can rent it…yup…just put a deposit down and they will ship it to you..it’s that easy.
• There are many different styles to choose from and if you don’t find one that you like you can always have one made.
• No wasted money on left over cake that will not be eaten.

Cons:

• You can’t eat it.  
• You can rent it…someone else had a cake just like yours.
• You may have to book well in advance to get the fake cake you want particularly if it is a popular wedding cake design
• You have to pay for any damage to the cake for repairs, or if beyond repair pay for the full cost to replace the cake.

 

There are a lot more pros and cons out there, but, for the budget conscience bride, this is definitely an option to look into!

 

Check out these pictures below…they are all fake cakes!

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Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!

Let there be cake. I love cake. I especially love buttercream frosting on my cake and there is nothing like a good wedding cake. Here at the War Memorial one of my favorite things to do when setting up a wedding is to check out the cake.

There have been all types, sizes, and shapes of cakes here. From a cake shaped like a football helmet to a rubber ducky themed cake, to a wedding cake with the characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas on it. It is always entertaining to see the various cakes that come through.
Something that I have been sporadically seeing is the substitution of cupcakes for the traditional wedding cake. This is sometimes a little easier for your guests to get to and they can be a lot of fun.

I did a little research on the story of the cake and found out that in the 17th century it was popular to have a “bride’s pie” at a wedding ceremony. This pie was usually filled with sweetbreads or mutton or mince pie (which I think is goat or lamb…ewww!!!) However, the other “main ingredient” was a glass ring. The story goes that whoever found the glass ring would marry next (their form of a bouquet toss?). This tradition quickly disappeared by the 19th century, and this is when the tiered cakes started to take trend. Cakes started out back then as a simply white (to symbolize purity) cake and through the years have changed to represent the style of the couple being married.
So from minced pie to buttercream…I think I can speak (or write) for most people when saying that this is one tradition that has definitely improved over the years!