Planning a wedding is no easy feat. From selecting the perfect venue to finding a dress/suit, there are so many little details that need to be taken care of. One of the most important elements for many couples is the cake - it's the centrepiece of a wedding and can tie in the styles and themes that run through the entire day. Together with my help, you can easily order a wedding cake that will truly make your special day even more memorable. With these few hints, you can create an amazing custom cake that will be sure to wow your guests and make your wedding day extra special.
Here are some important factors to keep in mind:
1. Wedding Style and Design:
The style of a bespoke wedding cake will vary depending on the cake designer and the couple themselves. Some couples like to consider the overall theme of their wedding and use this as the basis to design their cake around. It might be that you start with a colour scheme or mood board which informs the initial design of your cake. Often the seasons can play a big part in the aesthetics of a wedding too, using seasonal colour pallets and blooms for the bouquet as well as to decorate the cake and tables.
Items such as your wedding stationary & invites, wedding flowers, dresses / suits and table styling can be used for cake design inspiration too.
When you order a bespoke cake, it can be completely unique to you and your partner and made to compliment the aesthetics and atmosphere of the whole event. Whether you prefer a classic, modern, rustic, or whimsical style, we can work together to bring your vision to life.
2. Cake Size and Serving Portions:
One of the first things you will be asked when you contact a cake maker is to estimate the number of guests you'll have at your wedding or how many portions of cake you would like in total? This will help determine the size of the cake, the number of tiers required and inform the initial guide quote. Things to think about are; do you want to serve the cake to all guests attending? Or do you want to just serve the cake to your day guests or perhaps close friends and family? Do you want to have some cake slices or even a whole tier put to one side for you and your partner to enjoy the next day? There is no right or wrong answer but this information is a good starting point when beginning to think about your wedding cake size and budget.
Cake Flavour and Filling:
One of the very best parts about planning a wedding is getting to try the cake samples! This is such a lovely thing to share with your partner on the run up to the wedding and will help you decide which flavours to choose for your cake. When you order your wedding cake from my Manchester based business you will be sent a complimentary cake tasting box by post. Or if you prefer to try before you buy you can opt to order a tasting box before you secure the date. My wedding cakes come in a variety of flavours and fillings which can be mixed and matched according to your tastes. If you are having multiple tiers, the good news is you don’t have to choose just one flavour! Each tier can be a different flavour. Some classic and popular options are Victoria sponge, decadent chocolate, lemon drizzle, red velvet, and salted caramel.
Wedding Cake Budget:
When budgeting for your wedding day, make sure you set aside a portion of the budget for your wedding cake.
If you are ordering from a reputable wedding cake business there is no such thing as a “cheap bespoke cake”. Bespoke wedding cakes take hours of planning and designing often spread out over a year or so and then many days or weeks of work on the run up to and including the wedding day. The expertise of a wedding cake designer and the high-quality fresh ingredients they use are reflected in the price and while many people may suggest that wedding cakes are “so overpriced” their price, in fact, is usually very true to the time and skill level it takes to create them.
If you have a larger budget for your wedding cake you can really go to town in terms of design and sizing. There are lots of really beautiful techniques that can be used to decorate a cake and these can be used to design a one off master piece made specially for you. You may also want to use “dummy tiers” to add to the size and height of your cake to really wow your guests.
If you have a smaller budget there are things you can adjust to help you stay within your financial goals while still having a bespoke wedding cake. For instance, you may choose not to serve cake to all guests attending, or you might opt for a more simplistic design for instance a smooth white cake with a fresh flower bouquet, while this design style is more minimal it exudes elegance.
As you can see, prices can vary a lot depending on factors like size, design complexity and ingredients but knowing your budget from the start will help you make choices that align with your financial plans.
Food Allergies & Dietary Restrictions:
Make sure to take into account any dietary restrictions or allergies your guests may have. This will help you to decide what cake you order and from which business. Many independent cake designers will work form a small studio and their products will be made in an environment that handles all the main food allergies. With this in mind if you are looking to cater for guests with allergies a wedding cake designer may not be able to guarantee that their product will be 100% “free-from”. Many of my couples will order their main wedding cake from me and then source products for guests with allergies from certified “free-from” businesses.
Wedding Cake Delivery and Setup From Manchester:
Wedding cakes are extremely fragile and transporting them can be very nerve wracking and difficult. It is usually best to have your cake maker deliver and set up the cake at the venue the morning of your wedding. I, like many cake designers, am experienced at transporting and assembling wedding cakes safely. I will usually deliver up to around 2 hours from Manchester. I am also able to provide a table styling service should you require it to really make your cake look wonderful. Once your cake designer knows the venue’s address they will be able to give you a quote for delivery and liaise with the venue coordinator regarding the wedding cake set up.
Booking in Advance:
First thing to do as soon as you have your date and venue confirmed is contact your ideal wedding cake maker. Wedding cakes require a lot of time and speciality ingredients to create, so it's advisable to book well in advance. Popular dates may have limited availability, particularly during the peak wedding season, so make your reservations early. You can secure your wedding date with me with a small deposit way in advance of your wedding then, closer to the time, we will go through the finer details of your order.
If you have any other questions, you would like answers to, you can pop them in the comments below, or visit my contacts page and I'll be more than happy to help.
Best,
