THE BEST WEDDING CAKE

Your dream dress has been found, the invitations are being printed, and the florist has been instructed to order up the perfect blooms. Now your attention has turned towards the ultimate confection - your wedding cake! The wedding cake is a big and absolute favorite part of a wedding, and it is something everyone remembers. Over time, many things have changed with weddings, but one thing that has stayed the same is the beautiful cake.

Many couples see the wedding cake as one highlight of the festivities that can be as fun and whimsical or as upscale and traditional as they might desire. Deciding on the ideal cake should be a team effort that is fun. So, when you finally settle on which cake is right for your perfect day, there are many factors to take into consideration.

How many guests are you going to have? What is your budget for a cake? How many tiers or what design would you like? What colors and decorations should be included? What will you be using as a cake top? Will the cake be the main dessert or will it be part of a sweet table? Once you've got the answers to all these questions, then you can go further. So let's consider the most important decisions to be made:

1. Pick a bakery: If you haven't picked a bakery yet, then do so. Once you decide on a bakery, it's easy to get them to give you samples of cakes they excel in making. They might even have a specialty or two you haven't considered yet. And most bakeries even offer samples to help a couple decide. If a friend or relative is making the cake to save a little money, find out what their specialties happen to be if you don't already know.

2. Size of the cake: Firstly, it is important to know how many the cake will serve. Anyone making the cake – whether a professional baker or a friend who is a whiz at whipping up classy creations – will need to know how many people will be eating this cake. Secondly, wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes. Traditional cakes that have several tiers are normally a great choice, and one your guests will remember.

3. Date and location of the wedding: The date and location of your wedding is crucial when choosing the cake. For example, if you plan on having your wedding in the summer at a hot location, things like mousse, or even an ice cream cake might be out of the question. In such cases, ask your baker what types of cake are in 'season'.

4. Settle on a Budget: Is there a price limit to your dream cake? Wedding cakes can be a lot more expensive than some people might think. With some cakes costing as much as $6 or more a serving, setting a budget is a smart thing to do.

5. Flavor and appearance: If the two of you have different favorite flavors, consider a tiered cake that has different flavors on each pillar. This provides a taste of something everyone will enjoy. And if you're having trouble deciding on the appearance – you want a traditional tiered cake with satin white frosting, but your fiancé wants something a little more fun, you can always compromise!