How to Design a Wedding Cake

One of the most prominent features of a wedding reception is the cake. Steeped in tradition, the wedding cake has special meaning to the bride and often incorporates her colors and choice of flower. Designing the cake requires attention not only to style. The cake decorator must also choose ingredients based upon durability. Read on to learn how to design a wedding cake.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 

   Interview the bride. This is the first step in designing her wedding cake. Some brides will have a sketched picture of a cake they like. Other brides may tear out a photo from a magazine. Many brides do not realize the cost for putting together a wedding cake and are stunned when you quote a price so offer a scaled-down version within their price range.

2. 

   Ask the bride what flavor of cake and filling she wants from the flavors you offer. Flavor is imperative to design of the cake because some fillings and icings will not withstand the heat of a summer wedding. Her choice of cake and icing flavors will determine the type of cake and the ability to torte and stack the layers.

3. 

   Determine the size of the cake. Before you can design the layers, you must know how many people will attend. For instance, a 12-inch round layer will serve 56 guests when you use a traditional cake-cutting chart. In addition, a traditional layer of cake has three torted cake layers with two filling layers. With icing, the finished cake layer should be between 4 and 5 inches high.

4. 

   Determine the embellishments for the cake. Many brides want hand-formed sugar flowers that will harden and make a lasting keepsake. Other brides want butter cream flowers and designs that are edible and delicious. Still others will choose fresh flowers.

5. 

   Design multiple layers with an eye for structural integrity. Despite the idea that a bite of cake is light and heavenly, each layer of a wedding cake is very heavy. You must plan to use support dowels between layers before stacking the cake. Dowels are also inserted into the cake layer itself.

6. 

   Add eye-catching details such as fountains between layers or fresh flowers. Many brides want a taller cake but paying for additional layers is cost prohibitive. A fountain can provide height without more work for the cake decorator. Most decorators have fountains that they retrieve after the wedding.

7. 

   Provide a small top layer for the bride and groom to eat on their first anniversary. This layer is very small but it holds the bride’s choice of topper and embellishments.

Tips & Warnings

• When designing the cake, choose only ingredients that will support the desired structure. Slippery fillings are out if you are torting numerous layers. Strive for a happy compromise between style, taste and structural integrity.