The wedding cake is a serious financial consideration when planning your budget. The temptation is sometimes to skip on the quality opting instead for a cheaper alternative which may not be satisfactory for your needs or suit the image you worked so hard to create.
It is important to understand your cake purchase, as your wedding cake is the centrepiece for your reception and as much a reflection of you as your wedding theme, clothing and selected colours.
The actual cake can be from an assortment of many flavours which you can choose to suit your taste. While the diameter and depth does have an effect on the cost, it is really the finish were the intricate work is involved. However don't underestimate the cake itself; a beautiful cake is only halfway there if the taste is not pleasing. It also needs to be well baked and firm, as it is the foundation for the excellent skills of the decorator.
You need to aim for a complete package to maximize your cake purchase. Tasting is important, then talk with your baker/decorator to ensure that the outward appearance is a true reflection of what you envisage.
Choosing your cake can be an enjoyable experience; enlist the help of your family or other members of your wedding party. Be adventurous, experiment and at least consider the use of new flavours if they please you.
Cake decorating is a very intricate process ... Here is a brief understanding of a hand decorated cake.
1. It is essential that the work is clean, precise and of high quality, is neatly covered with almond paste or other suitable base and finished with the use of fondant or other technique.
Special occasion cakes need to be of high quality, including mastering the technique of making flowers, figures and various other decorations. These form an important part of the colour balance and floral arrangements.
Fondant is prepared, rolled and left to rest before use.
Each flower is meticulously created for maximum beauty. This does not mean that the leaves are overlooked as each leaf is often twisted slightly before drying to give a natural appearance.
2. Flowers are handcrafted individually to create the perfect reproduction using modelling paste to a thickness of about 1mm, petals and floral bases are cut to suit.
More colours can be applied for added accents, if the design permits. Sometimes a flower can be created from as much as three tints of the same colour to reflect the desired effect. As a result, decorators often prepare more than they might need to ensure a unform finish, as it is virtually impossible to repeat shades precisely.
3. After florals are crafted into the desired shape they are then left to dry, Some petals are slightly thicker and narrower to create a realistic appearance but must be meticulously crafted to be the same height.
It is the attention to detail which makes all the difference to a realistic reproduction of a sugar crafted bloom.
4. It is essential that the fondant which covers the cake itself is suitably dry and set, then the decorator will be in a position to confidently proceed to affix the features in a satisfactory design position.
5. When it comes to celebration cakes, a well covered presentation is the proof of a good decorator. Small hairline creases in the fondant,which were not noticed under artificial illumination, will be observed as obvious imperfections in the light of day.
It is essential to consult a professional for such an important task, particularly in tropical weather conditions where the fondant will be softer and so needs to be handled differently. In very humid conditions the decorator can only work at certain times of the day and the consistency has to be altered to a specific level to ensure desired results.
Positioning is also a highly technical issue for decorators when preparing tiered cakes, the sides must be precise, particularly when dividers are used
6. Your decorator may further enhance your presentation with borders which are a very distinctive style of decorating, generally used to finish the base of the cake. Piped lace pieces can be considered for use to decorate in desired areas or as borders.
A great amount of passion and skill goes into the baking and decoration of this special centrepiece.
Your wedding cake should be a sight which brings delight and is always appreciated by your guests for the effort you have put into it. As an essential part of your general presentation it needs to do you credit.
Contact us for more information and any help you may need finding a cake designer to give you a complete package.
