What You Need to Know About the Wedding Cake Box
This might sound like such a simple thing, but the Wedding Cake Box is more complex than you could ever imagine. Wedding cakes come in so many different shapes and sizes that the cake box becomes more important than anybody would think. The cake has to be stored, transported, presented, and even cut before it is distributed. There are even cake slice favor boxes that you can use to give your wedding party a personalized favor. If you intend to freeze some of the cake for your memories then you will be considering a keepsake wedding cake box so that you will still have a great fresh taste for your first anniversary snack. This is why the wedding cake box is such a serious issue.
Different type Of cake Boxes
If you want to add special touches for all your wedding guests and for the wedding party as well, then you need the right cake boxes. Picking the perfect cake is step one, but don’t forget about picking the perfect cake box as well. Before you go out and make a decision on a box you need to know what is available.
Traditional decorative cake boxes – This type of box is the perfect box for storage and transportation of your cake. The last thing you want to happen is to find out that on the day of your wedding something horrible has happened to your cake. These boxes are made specifically for the cake that you choose and will protect the cake while it is stored and while it is transported from one place to another.
Memories box – This is also known as a top freeze storage box and it is perfect for the preservation of your first anniversary cake. These are specially made boxes that are used to preserve the freshness and taste of your wedding cake while it is frozen. You will not have to worry about freezer burn with these boxes.
Personalized cake boxes – If you are looking for a great way to say thank you to your guests and your wedding party, then you need these personalized boxes. These are boxes that are used for your guests and wedding party to take a slice of cake with them and you can have it personalized for each guest or member of your wedding party.
So now you know that choosing a wedding cake box is very important and there are different types of boxes for different reasons. You need to make sure you are getting what you want and that you get the correct boxes for all the different reasons that you might need wedding cake boxes for.
How To Choose the Perfect Wedding Cake
With that in mind there is enormous pressure on the couple to have the perfect cake. No one will remember anything about the food served at the reception after five years, but chances are if the cake was not picture perfect or it did not taste fantastic, it will still be talked about at your twenty fifth wedding celebration!
Factors to Consider
Taste
The taste of your wedding cake is to a certain extent a matter of personal choice, in the sense you may take into account the groom loves chocolate and the bride is allergic to strawberries. It is not rocket science to come to the conclusion that a strawberry topped cake is not the best choice. However other practicalities must enter the equation.
Weather and time is an important factor. How long before the wedding will be the cake be completed, strawberries go soft and mushy looking very quickly, they will look pretty bedraggled after about three hours depending on the weather and the humidity. Humidity affects the choice of icing, glaze or frosting. Whipped cream does not hold up well in hot weather it goes rancid very quickly.
The European wedding cake made with fruit is typically decorated with Royal Icing, but the more typical American wedding cake will use a type of butter-cream. Fortunately as prevailing weather conditions are different there are many types of butter cream icing. If you are planning to marry in the height of Summer a recipe using all butter is not a good choice, the properties of all butter, butter cream icing is no different from that of butter, it melts when it is warm. However if you have your heart set on butter cream icing then make sure that you have a recipe where the sugar is cooked to the soft ball stage.
Italian butter cream is someti8mes referred to as meringue butter cream, as it is more stable in hot conditions. Egg whites are whipped to peaks and then combined with hot sugar syrup; once this has cooled butter is added withy any desired flavourings. This example of a type of butter cream is softer and lighter than the regular butter cream and is used in Europe for genoise sponges.
Design
Choosing a wedding cake should be fun; it is a perfect opportunity to make a statement, it is your party and you can have what you want. However there are once again practical constraints. In Europe a layer of the wedding cake is traditionally held back for the christening. If you like this idea then you have to choose at least one layer of your cake to be a fruitcake, as it preserves well, drenched in brandy.
Theme
If you have a theme, talk to a baker, there are many props that can change the basic design of a cake. Use your imagination flavourings can add color as well as flavor, avocado icing or filling is a wonderful delicate color. A well-designed cake will enhance your theme and bring the whole concept of the design together as the celebrations culminate with the cake.
Don’t be Boring
The typical American sponge is not your only option, before making a final choice; think out of the box, if only to dream! Consider cupcakes building them to a pyramid, or the traditional French wedding cake the croquembouche, an iconic creation of choux pastry bound by carmellized spun sugar, and violets. Make the cake worrk for you, if you have a lot of children coming to the wedding it may be worth having two cakes as adult and children’s tastes are markedly different. The tradional Italian wedding cake, celebrates all tastes as ti is layers of biscuits or cookies inerwoven together.
Freezing Your Wedding Cake
If you need to freeze a wedding cake it is an excellent idea to make a dummy layer, before hand, it should be decorated exactly as your wedding cake will be. If it freezes successfully then you have no problems, but if it does not then you can make design adjustments. It is not necessary to have baked and iced more than one layer, because what happens to one layer will happen to the rest.
Wedding Cake Flavors For Every Taste
A great deal of thought goes into deciding how a wedding cake should look. Brides agonize over the shape, color, and even height of their wedding cakes. However, many brides almost overlook one of the most memorable parts of the wedding cake: its flavor. Wedding cakes come in almost as many flavors as there are designs, so, before defaulting to a plain white cake, brides should check out the many different varieties that are available.
Brides who prefer the look of white cakes needn’t settle for an average taste. There are several white cakes with a very special flavor. Almond-flavored or French vanilla-flavored cakes carry just a hint of almond; white chocolate cakes include small chunks of chocolate flavoring. White doesn’t have to be bland.
Some brides forego the white cakes altogether and decide to add a little more color to their wedding cakes. Popular, but light-colored, flavors are very plentiful. Strawberry and lemon flavors are fun wedding cake options. However, some brides get fruity with orange or banana flavors. Brides who opt for fun-flavored cakes must make special efforts, though, to ensure that their cake choice doesn’t clash with their cake’s icing.
Rich, deep flavors are also popular choices for wedding cakes. Traditional chocolate cake is one of the most prevalent, non-white, flavor for wedding cakes. However, there are many other dark-colored choices available. Red velvet cake, Kahlua, and even Mexican chocolate would each be a memorable flavor in a wedding cake.
There is always room for more than one flavor in a wedding cake. Some brides have opted to include multiple flavors in their cakes to ensure that every guest will be able to find something they will enjoy. While one layer of cake may be strawberry-flavored, another flavor might be vanilla-flavored. Or, for a mixture of flavor in each bite, brides can order a marbled-style cake. Two or more flavors are swirled together to create a unique experience in each bite.
Changing the type of cake isn’t the only way to add flavor to a wedding cake. Some wedding cake professionals add fillings to their wedding cakes. Fruit-flavored fillings, rich cream fillings, and even liqueur-based fillings all add another level of flavor to many wedding cakes.
For a truly unique take on wedding cakes, some brides are turning to non-traditional cake options like fruitcakes or carrot cakes. Covered in a thick layer of icing, these distinctive cakes have all of the style of a traditional wedding cake; however, their flavor is truly decadent. Tiramisu, a rich Italian dessert, is also a luxurious choice for wedding cake. Even cheesecakes are also growing in popularity as wedding cakes.
The important thing for brides to keep in mind when ordering their wedding cakes is to spend a little time deliberating over the flavor of their cakes. While guests will appreciate a cake that looks lovely, they will always prefer a cake that tastes nicely, as well. Then, brides can rest assured that their cake will remain stunning, not only in photos, but also in their guests’ memories.
Top 10 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs & Ideas
Your wedding reception is almost over, and the fun and lightheartedness of the day has finally kicked in – it’s time for the cake! One of the least stressful moments of your wedding has begun and to celebrate it, cut your cake with a light, fun song! Traditionally, many brides have used “The Bride Cuts the Cake” (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell), but many modern brides are selecting more contemporary cake cutting songs.
Whether you choose something traditional such as “Happy Together” by the Turtles or something a bit edgier with a rock sound such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard, the song you select for your cake cutting ceremony should be reflective of both of your personalities. This is the one moment of your wedding where you do not have to be very traditional, you can be as funky and different as you want to be. When you are cutting the cake you certainly want people to remember the moment for as long as you will and playing the right music will definitely help to make that happen.
Since most songs are several minutes in length, the cake cutting ceremony may be shorter than the song itself. You will want to consult with your band or DJ and let them know exactly how to play the song. Most songs can be cut in length or have only a chorus or two played.
If you are stuck for ideas for songs for your cake cutting ceremony, here is a Top 10 List of Cake Cutting music compiled by DJ Robert Fayder, Owner of Party Perfect NYC.
- Wanna Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
- When I’m 64 – The Beatles
- Ice Cream – Sarah McGlocklain
- Sugar Sugar – The Archies
- Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra
- Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
- Going To The Chapel – The Shirells
- How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
- How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
- You Make Me So Very Happy – Blood Sweat and Tears
Wedding Table Centerpieces
Having beautiful decorated wedding table centerpieces increases the glamour of your wedding. In some of the weddings, cost of wedding table centerpieces becomes more than the bride’s bouquet. It happens when the brides want to outshine their friends in this aspect by creating costly beautiful items. Florists love to use these opportunities to display their design talents and show use of latest accessories and flowers and submit a fat bill at the end of the reception.
So before deciding on the idea of wedding table centerpieces, you will have to consider a few things. You must first decide on your budget and theme of your wedding. A few more important things that need to be considered are what kind of atmosphere you are going to create and secondly, the size of the tables you are going to use. Size of the table is very important because you cannot place a big centerpiece on a small table. You must have place for plates and glasses.
If you find decoration with flowers expensive, then you can go for colorful leaves or imitation flowers found in different colors in departmental stores. Fresh herbs can also be an alternative to expensive flowers as they look good and some of them smell more beautiful than flowers. You can collect herbs of different colors and leaves and mix them and place it in a glass or a vase. You can also make simple decorations with flowers. You can buy colored sand or foam from floral stores and keep them in a glass or a vase and place a cheap single flower like hydrangea in it and keep the entire thing at the center of the table.
Use of candles is another attractive option as they are found in different colors and can go with any wedding budget, if properly decorated. Candle centerpieces can make the wedding atmosphere very romantic, if it is an evening wedding and the wedding hall is large and can be decorated with little greenery. You can also go for colorful lanterns that have a simple tea light inside. You can place one such lantern on each table. If the wedding reception hall is dimly lit, you can create a wonderful romantic atmosphere using those lanterns.
You can have cheap but beautiful containers from discount stores. It can be cheap pottery to bright colored bags to simple glasses that will hold the main display item. Color of the container must go along with the main display item and the theme of the wedding. You can get some mini pails and they can be used as table numbers.
If you are planning a beach wedding, you must go for a bright centerpiece. You can choose sunflower as it has got a bright and vibrant look. Alternatively, you can put stick shells inside ceramic pots and place them on each table. It is better to serve guests in long glasses and offer them a shell as a gift. They will carry it home and remember your wedding
Look at Maui Wedding Cakes
Since Maui and Hawaii in general have been blessed with the most wonderful fruits and flowers, the best cakes on the island tend to take advantage of them. There are companies on the islands that have been creating designs and recipes for wedding cakes for over 50 years. Many have received worldwide acclaim. Several, in fact, have created wedding cakes for the rich and famous for weddings not even held in Hawaii.
The cakes are produced to order and then flown to their final destination to be enjoyed at the wedding reception as if it were happening right on Maui. In addition to the fabulous fruits and flowers available, there is an abundance of dairy products from some of the happiest, healthiest herds of cattle anywhere in the world. These natural items, unequaled in quality anywhere else in the world, combined with the talents of Hawaiian cake makers, are responsible for some of the best Maui wedding cakes ever.
There are creations available from Maui wedding-cake producers that simply can’t be reproduced anywhere else. Sweet pineapple butter cream fillings, decorated with some of the most beautiful flowers are a mainstay of the better cake makers. Frostings made from freshly picked sugar cane, grown a few miles from the bakery, can’t be duplicated using packaged products from your local supermarket – even if they originated from Hawaii.
For the adventurous, there are flavors and fillings available made from eclectic combinations of fruits and flowers that are as unique and wonderful as any found on the planet. No matter what you desire for your Maui Wedding Cakes, you can rest assured that it will be of the highest quality, made from ingredients that were still growing a few hours before they reached the oven and that there is no other place on earth that such a wonderful creation could have been produced.
Wedding Cake Checklist
Your wedding cake can be ordered from a baker, a caterer, or even your reception location. When ordering your wedding cake some things you should consider are: the price, the workmanship, the quality (of both flavor and design) and the taste. Some reception locations will charge you a fee if you order your cake from an outside baker. This fee is known as a cake-cutting fee. However, ordering from a baker who specializes in wedding cakes will ensure you are getting exactly what you want for your wedding cake.
You will also have to decide on other options such as: size, shape, color, decorations, flavor, filling and frosting. An experienced baker who specializes in wedding cakes will advise you how much cake you will need, what flavors are popular, and which frostings will hold up over the course of your reception. Frostings are very delicate – some do not perform well when exposed to air or heat for long periods of time (whipped cream is an example of this). Ask for photographs of wedding cakes from each baker you are considering, and also ask if you can taste samples of their cakes.
Once you narrow down your choices for a baker here are some questions to ask before making a final decision:
Name and Address of Bakery:
Contact Person and Phone Number:
- How many years have you been designing and making wedding cakes?
- What are your specialties?
- What is your most popular flavor?
- What is your most popular filling?
- What frosting would you recommend for our event?
- Do you have photographs of some recent cakes you have made?
- Can we sample your wedding cakes?
- Do you freeze your wedding cakes?
- How far in advance should I order my cake?
- (If applicable) Can I order a groom’s cake?
- How much is my desired cake?
- How much per piece does my desired cake cost?
- What is your cake pillar fee?
- What is your cake plate rental fee?
- Are these fees refundable upon the return of these items?
- When must these items be returned?
- Do you offer a specialty box in which we can freeze the top tier?
- If so, How much does this box cost?
- When will you deliver the cake?
- What is your delivery fee?
- What is your set up fee?
- What is your payment policy?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Do you offer a money back guarantee if something should happen to the cake?
- Do you have liability insurance?
Essential Wedding Cake Checklist
Print it out and sit down with your fiance. Check off the boxes that meet your priorities. Give it to your baker about 3-6 months before the big day. Not only will the list get you excited and inspired, but it will provide your baker with the “ingredients” for perfection.
THE STYLE OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE
When you think of the perfect wedding cake, what descriptive words come to mind? Choose the word(s) that best describe the wedding cake you’d most like to create:
[ ] Contemporary
[ ] Dramatic
[ ] Elaborate
[ ] Ceremonial
[ ] Round
[ ] Simple
[ ] Square
[ ] Traditional
[ ] Unique
THE SHAPE AND STRUCTURE OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE
Given your cake’s style, which shape will represent it best? (Your cake designer can help you decide.)
[ ] Circular
[ ] Hexagonal
[ ] Octagonal
[ ] Rectangular
[ ] Sheet cake
[ ] Square
[ ] Tiered
[ ] Stacked
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY USE OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE
The use? To eat! But of course. That’s the main objective. But your cake designer can assist you in putting your finances to use in the most efficient way. How flashy do you want your cake to be? How can you cut costs? Answer your own question, by ‘checking off’ your priority:
[ ] For show
[ ] A delicious dessert
[ ] Both
FLAVORS AND FILLINGS OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE
It’s YOUR Wedding. Don’t hold back, indulge!
[ ] Angel food
[ ] Berries and whipped cream
[ ] Carrot (spice)
[ ] Chocolate
[ ] Golden
[ ] Lemon
[ ] Liqueurs
[ ] Mocha
[ ] Mousse
[ ] Orange
[ ] Raspberry
[ ] Truffle
[ ] White chocolate
THE COLOR OF YOUR WEDDING CAKE
Are you a traditional wedding couple? If so, you may opt to stick with colors that accent your decorative color scheme, wedding attire, and bouquet.
[ ] Pale Blue
[ ] Green (pale)
[ ] Lavender
[ ] Peach
[ ] Pink
[ ] White
[ ] Yellow
[ ] Chocolate Brown
[ ] Beige
THE WEDDING CAKE DECOR
What do you wish to add to your cake’s appearance? Dress your cake as pretty as you can.
[ ] Chocolate shavings
[ ] Fresh flowers
[ ] Strawberries (Make sure none of your guests are allergic)
[ ] Gold or silver leaf
[ ] Pearls
[ ] Sugar blooms
[ ] Toppers
Wedding Cake Toppers
Avoid buying one of those cheap plastic bride and grooms that you can find in discount department stores, and some bakeries. Your topper should be as special as your cake, and reflect your dreams and taste, not those of the baker.
Use your imagination, there are some really humorous cake toppers available, that you might enjoy. However you may want to think about whether or not it might offend some of the guests on both sides of the family, like grandparents and other older relatives.
There are military, and police cake toppers as well as cartoon characters, teddy bears, animals, sports themed toppers to name just a few, as well as the traditional bride and groom.
Maybe you would like a wedding cake topper to reflect interests that you and the groom share. Do you both love music, dancing, hockey or bowling? You can likely find a topper to recognize that. Did you know, that there are Harley Davidson cake toppers available?
Of course you can get doves, bells, gazebos and hearts to adorn your wedding cake.
Any of these paired with the bride and groom figurine would look wonderful.
Fresh, silk, marzipan or frosting flowers can make a spectacular wedding cake topper, that will have everyone talking about the beautiful cake.
Maybe your Mom and Dad still have their wedding cake topper or perhaps your mother-in-law has her mother’ topper. What a special significance either of these toppers would have, if used on your wedding cake.
It is possible to have a cake topper designed to your specific wishes. Marzipan artists can make figurines to resemble the bride and groom, or even a favorite pet. Churches, temples, your home or the car you just bought together, can all be created as a cake topper for your wedding cake. Swarovski Crystal will be offering some truly different but exquisite crystal cake toppers. I can’t wait to see those.
Tips for Beautiful but Cheap Wedding Cakes
A multi-tiered wedding cake beautifully decorated is an important part of any bride’s dream wedding, but the price tag can give you nightmares. Use these tips to take a bite out of the bill. Your cheap wedding cake will still look and taste fabulous.
If your heart is set on a three tiered cake that feeds 100, order it with plain white frosting, no decorations, and then decorate at the reception with fresh flowers. Or you can wrap a length of lace around each layer, like you would a ribbon. Of course remove the lace before cutting. Your wedding cake will be cheap but gorgeous.
Stick with basic flavors and fillings, exotic flavorings add to the cost of the cake.
Rather than one huge multi-tiered cake, use a modest tiered cake and then several (as many as you need for your guests) sheet cakes. Serving will go faster this way as well. No one will know your wedding cake was cheap.
Order from a grocery store rather than a bakery. Many grocers have onsite bakeries, just like they have onsite florist departments.
Don’t order a wedding cake at all. Order a sheet cake with white frosting to serve guests and a smaller two tiered cake to cut for photos.
Depending on how many servings you need, order a full sheet cake (100 servings), a half sheet cake (50 servings) and a quarter sheet cake (25 servings), all iced in white. Place the half sheet on the full sheet cake and then the quarter sheet on top. Use ready-to-use frosting that comes in a can with a nozzle to touch up any mistakes and fill in the gap between the layers. You don’t have to remove the cardboard between the layers, it will help steady the cake when it’s time to cut. Don’t go any higher than three layers, if you do you run the risk of the bottom layer being squashed by the weight of the upper layers.
Use cupcakes. Order as many as you need in white paper wrapping, and white frosting. Use a tiered serving dish to arrange the cupcakes. Or you can buy two or three inexpensive white plastic serving platters. Line the platters with white paper lace doilies. Place the first platter on the table. Place three inverted wine glasses at noon, 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock on the platter. Fill in around the glasses with cupcakes. Place the second platter on the overturned wine glasses. In the center of the second platter, place three more inverted wine glasses. Fill the second platter with cupcakes. Place the final platter on the overturned wine glasses and fill with cupcakes.
Use a two tiered cake for the bride and groom to cut at the reception. Order a sheet cake for however many guests will be attending. On a separate table offer guests various toppings for their slice of cake. You can offer fresh strawberries, chocolate syrup, raspberries, sprinkles and whipped cream. Consider offering several flavors of ice cream. It’s fun and festive.
Have a friend, or several friends bake the cake using various sizes of heart shaped pans. Each can be iced in shades of pale pink, pale lilac, cream, and white. The cakes are placed on a table covered with a lace cloth. Rose petals in pinks, cream, and lilac – or whatever colors suit your color scheme are scattered between the cakes.
