Planning a wedding involves countless details, and one of the sweetest is undoubtedly the wedding cake. It's more than just a dessert; it's a centerpiece that reflects your style and adds a touch of flavour to your special day. Whether you envision a classic tiered cake, a modern masterpiece, or something uniquely personal, ordering the perfect wedding cake requires careful consideration. In this guide, I'll walk you through the essential steps to ensure your cake is as delightful as your celebration. From flavours and designs to budget, let's explore how to make your wedding cake dreams a reality.
Check the wedding cake maker's availability for the date
Once you have a date set and the venue is booked, get in touch with the cake maker to check their availability. You should also communicate your needs for delivery or collection at this point. It is possible on busy weekends that they can make your cake but only for collection or delivering it the day before the wedding (at Hajni's Homemade Cakes two tier cakes are avaialbe for collection but I prefer to deliver 3 tiers and above myself). This might also restrict some designs because eg. fresh flowers cannot be placed on the cake so much in advance. Hence I recomend getting in touch well in advance to make sure that that certain cake maker can give you all their attention.
Check if they cater for allergies
It's important to check at the begining if the place caters for dietery requirements if you're planning to order an allergen friendly cake. It's also crutial to talk through their processes as these can be a deciding factor. For instance, at Hajni's Homemade Cakes we can make cakes that don't contain ingredients like dairy, gluten, eggs or nuts but because we handle all of these allergens and others at our premises we cannot guarantee that a cake is 100% free of traces of any allergens. However we do take all precautions (cleaning, sanitizing, baking and storing sponges, buttercreams separate), we use the same mixers, fridges, oven, cake tins, cake leveller and utensils to make these cakes. Threre are places that don't handle these allergens at all so if you would like to cater for a serious allergy I would recomend ordering from a specialist place. However if you are happy with my processes please do get in touch to discuss your celebration cake.
Discussing wedding cake designs, sizes and portions
Now comes the exciting bit, discussion about the design of your wedding cake. These days, in most cases inspiration comes from online platforms or other elements you're planning to have on your big day eg. table decoration, flowers, colour scheme. Once you have a few pics, maybe a mood board it's wise to share those with your cake designer as they will be able to advise you on how your cake will look like that also serves the number of portions you require.
If you already have a rough idea about how many servings you need you can find a guide with different sizes and portions on the following link and this will also give you an idea on how the cake will look like in proportion. After you've gone through this you will have a rough idea how you're doing budget-wise too.
The finfish on your wedding cake
So next thing to decide on is whether you prefer a semi-naked, buttercream, or fondant finish. Should you have a preference that clashes with the design you picked, have a chat with the wedding cake maker whether it would be possible to take some elements and achieve a simialr look with the medium you prefer.
Things to consider at this point:
- fondant - most expensive, very sweet, some designs cannot be achieved without it, a lot of extra packaging
-buttercream: -may only work with smaller tiers and may not be flawless but ganache is an alternative and there are a lot of interesting designs to choose from
-semi-naked - most eco and budget friendly, minimalistic designs, no fuss, works with any edible additions eg fresh fruit and macarons.
Selecting the flavours
I have compiled a list and descriptions of the flavors on my pricing page as accurately as possible. While this might seem straightforward, there are several factors to consider when choosing wedding cake flavours:
-Personal Preferences: It's your special day, so choose something that reflects your tastes. Whilst considering the flavors that you and your partner enjoy think about your guests' tastes too and try to include a variety of flavors to accommodate different preferences.
-Dietary Restrictions: Consider any dietary restrictions or allergies among your guests and offer alternatives if necessary, such as gluten-free or vegan options (cupcakes can be great for these).
-Cake sampling Attend cake tastings or get sample boxes to try different flavours and find the ones you love. This can also help you discover new combinations.
Cake sample boxes from Hajnis homemade cakes are availbe from January and you can choose 6 flavours to go in a box. The cost of the box is £20 or you can get two for £35. Please note these are only available for collection. If you're interested please email hajnishomemadecakes@gmail.com with your details.
Flower decorations
When choosing wedding cake decorations, there are several options available, each with its own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Here's a comparison of sugar flowers, wafer paper flowers, dried flowers, fresh flowers, and artificial flowers:
Sugar Flowers
Appearance: Made from sugar paste or gum paste, these flowers can be crafted to look very realistic and detailed.
Durability: They are edible and long-lasting if stored properly, but can be fragile.
Customization: Highly customizable in terms of color, size, and design.
Cost: Can be expensive due to the time and skill required to create them, Although I have some moulds that result in a similar look and they are quicker to make so less expensive.
Considerations: Suitable for indoor settings; humidity can affect their structure. A lot of them have styrofoam inside to ease off the weight of sugar. They are made of edible material but not recomanded to eat as they have wires inside. Can be made in advance
Wafer Paper Flowers
Appearance: Made from edible paper, they offer a delicate and lightweight look. A modern alternative to sugar flowers.
Durability: Somewhat less fragile than sugar flowers but still edible.
Customization: Can be colored and shaped to a variety of designs.
Cost: Generally less expensive than sugar flowers.
Considerations: Suitable for indoor settings; humidity can affect their structure. They are made of edible material but not recomanded to eat them as they have wires inside. Can be made in advance
My preference to sugar flowers as they come with less packaging and no need for polystyrene for the buds.
Dried Flowers
Appearance: Offer a rustic and natural look with muted colors.
Durability: Long-lasting and do not wilt like fresh flowers.
Customization: Limited to the colors and shapes available in nature.
Cost: Typically less expensive than fresh flowers.
Considerations: Ensure they are food-safe and free from pesticides. They can shred and contaminate the cake.
These can be dropped off to me in advance so I can put them on the cake before delivery.
Fresh Flowers
Appearance: Provide a vibrant and natural look with a wide variety of colors and types.
Durability: Can wilt quickly, especially in warm conditions.
Customization: Offers a wide selection but limited by seasonal availability.
Cost: Can be expensive, particularly for out-of-season varieties.
Considerations: Must be non-toxic and safe for use on cakes; may require special preparation.
I usually wrap the stems to create a barrier wetween the cake and the stalks before inserting them into the cake. These need to be placed on the cake the mornig or the night before the wedding
Artificial Flowers
Appearance: Made from materials like silk or plastic, they can look realistic but vary in quality.
Durability: Extremely durable and reusable.
Customization: Available in a wide range of colors and styles.
Cost: Cost-effective in the long run, as they can be reused.
Considerations: Not edible. Lot of bits cut off and going to the bin. Some of these have polisirene inside. Are you really going to reuse them ? Even with the stems wrapped it's difficult to place them in a way that they do not contact the cake directly.
Each type of flower offers distinct benefits and should be chosen based on the overall theme of the wedding, budget, and personal preference. I do not source artificial flowers any more and urge all couples to be considerate of the planet when choosing their wedding cake decoration.
There are some exapmles of sugar and wafer paper flowers I made before on the link below altogether with their prices. Hopefully this will give you some help making your selection for the magical look you're after in your wedding cake.
Getting a quote
Now you've decided on the flavour, number of tiers and portions, the finish on your cake and you know where the cake needs to be delivered. Most probably you have a clearer idea of the decoration so it's time to email me with your choices so I can get you an accurate quote. If you're still umming and arring on certain things do let me know your questions and concerns so I can help you out with those.
Oficially booking the date.
Once we finalised the details for your wedding cake and you were provided with a quote that you are happy with, an invoice will be sent to you with the booking fee. This non-refundable booking fee is around 30% of the price. Once that's paid the date is offciallty reserved for your wedding cake.
Booking form
The final balance is due a month before the wedding. Some time before this amount is due you will receive the booking form in your inbox. This is basically a pic of a printout filled in by me with all the important details from the delivery date and venue to the last bit of pearl that goes on your cake. Â Please check that all the details I have on the form are correct. It is very important to check this carefully as this is what I follow when I make your wedding cake.
Final balance
You must be very excited at this point. When the final balance is due there are only about four weeks to go till your big day. On the morning or the day before the wedding (depending on the chosen design) you will receive a picture of the decorated wedding cake and all is left for you to do is enjoy your wedding celebrations.
In conclusion, ordering a wedding cake is an exciting and essential part of your wedding planning journey. By starting early, setting a budget, and researching, you can find the perfect cake that reflects your style and taste. Remember to save those inspiration pics, discuss design details, and confirm all arrangements well in advance. With these steps, you’ll ensure that your wedding cake is a delightful centerpiece that adds to the joy of your special day. Click here to enquire
Happy planning!
Hajni
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