Showing posts with label Beach Wedding Cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beach Wedding Cake. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers

You've done it! You're married and it's time to let your hair down and for you, your family and friends to really enjoy your special moment at the reception. As your guests come into the reception room one of the first things that they will see will be your fabulous wedding cake and what better way can there be to kick things off than to have one of the numerous funny wedding cake toppers available to raise a laugh and get your guests talking.

For many years the traditional wedding cake has been a round three tiered white cake decorated with white or pastel colored flowers and often topped with a model representing the bride and groom, or perhaps with a pair of doves or horseshoes. But things are changing.

Nowadays it's perfectly acceptable to depart from the customary wedding cake and to choose just about anything you like, so let your imagination go and create the cake that you want – after all it is your special day.

If you fancy a chocolate cake then why not have a chocolate cake? Similarly if your real passion is a pecan cake then that's fine too. The only thing you really have to remember is that you will be serving your cake to your guests and so you will need to be keep it to something that everybody is going to like and need to aware of some of the more common dietary problems that we see today. A pecan cake, for example, might not be quite such a good idea bearing in mind the number of people who suffer from nut allergies these days!

How about a triangular cake, a square cake or even an octagonal cake? Wedding cakes nowadays do not have to be round and they don't have to have three tiers either so you can pick any shape that takes your fancy. You should remember though that the cake will be a focal point of the reception and you will almost certainly want to retain the tradition of cutting the cake in front of your guests, so giving the cake some height so that it can be seen easily from all corners of the reception room is a good idea.

And what about color? Here again you can let your imagination run riot and choose just about any color under the rainbow. Granted a black cake is probably not going to look too attractive, but stunning effects can be produced in a wide range of colors. I've even seen one magnificent cake in purple which is a color that I would never have thought of for a cake!

Whatever you choose by way of flavor, color and shape for your cake one central feature of the cake will be its decoration and, in particular, the decoration on the top of the cake on which all eyes will focus.

Nowadays a whole industry has grown up producing nothing but wedding cake toppers and they come in all shapes and sizes and range from cheap plastic models to quite exquisite works of art often created in crystal or using semi-precious and precious stones. Toppers can also be purchased, or made, to fit with any theme you can imagine and one great idea is to look at your own personality and lifestyle and then to depict yourselves in a hilarious pose. Funny wedding cake toppers will certainly get your guests talking and can easily be chosen to make your cake not simply a work of art but a very personal statement.

Wedding Cakes - Traditional or Trendy

You probably know that choosing your wedding cake is a pretty important decision. After all you want to make sure that it both tastes great and that it looks great sitting on your wedding reception table as well. While some brides may want a traditional style wedding cake, other brides tend to go with a cake that is trendy or even zany, depending on their personality. Today there are a great deal more wedding cake choices for you to choose from, so whether you are a trendy bride or one that loves tradition, you are sure to find a cake that will suite your needs and your personality.

Traditional Wedding Cakes

If you are a lover of tradition and you want a wedding cake that looks traditional, there are a variety of options. You can choose a traditional looking cake that has new flavors that will spice up the traditional cake. New flavors in cakes include carrot cake, amaretto, orange, and even spice cake. A cake can look traditional for your wedding reception, but you can give it a great twist with your choice of cake flavor and your icing choice as well. Combine cake flavors, fillings, and icings to have a cake that tastes wonderful while complimenting your traditional wedding ceremony.

Trendy Wedding Cakes

For the trendy bride who enjoys doing things a bit different than everyone else, there are a variety of great new trends in wedding cakes. If you are having a more informal wedding and you want a cake that will be more informal as well, you may want to consider having cupcakes that are stacked in tiers like a wedding cake. These are easy to serve and easy to eat and are becoming a new trend with many brides and grooms.

Choosing other types of cake rather than traditional cakes is very popular as well. Some brides are going with cakes covered in fruit, cheesecakes, or even ice cream cakes. This allows you to personalize your wedding cake to fit your specific personality and wedding. No doubt your trendy cake will get many compliments and raves from your guests as well.

Finally, whether you are having a traditional wedding ceremony and reception or trendy nuptials, there are great new wedding cakes that you can choose from. There is something for every bride and groom, from the traditional to the zany, and they all are beautiful and tasty.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Choose A Delicious Autumn Wedding Cake

While there are many important things to consider when planning a wedding, finding the perfect Autumn Wedding Cake is one of the most important parts of any wedding.

The wedding cake is of course the centerpiece of the wedding reception, and it is important that the cake you choose look as good as it tastes.

Review Photos Of The Baker Past Work

It is important, therefore, to use plenty of care and caution before deciding which baker you will hire to produce the perfect autumn wedding cake.

It is important, of course, that the baker produce a high quality cake, but it is just as important that the decoration of the cake be of the highest quality.

It is important therefore to look at several different examples of the person’s work, and to review a number of photographs of the autumn wedding cakes they have produced in the past.

Check The References

That part should be easy, since any quality producer of wedding cakes should be proud to show you examples of the wedding cakes they have produced for other weddings.

Those successful wedding photographers should also be happy to provide references from past customers. It is a good idea to follow up with those references to ensure that the baker you are considering is capable of producing the fine quality autumn wedding cake you expect.

Order Early To Ensure That Everything Is Complete In A Time Manner

After you have found the highest quality wedding cake maker in town it is important to review the various choices of flavors, fillings and decorations and to order that cake as early as possible.

Ordering early will help to ensure that the cake of your dreams will be ready in time for the big event, and it will also help ensure that you have your choice of flavors and fillings.

These days there are many choices when it comes to wedding cakes, including various flavors of icing, unique fillings and unusual flavors. It is important of course to carefully taste test each of these choices, but that should be the fun part of planning that great wedding.

Monday, October 5, 2009

How to Make Your Own Wedding Cake

Making your own wedding cake can be a great way to cut down on the overall budget of a wedding. It will take time and effort, but a well-intentioned aunt or cousin might love to take on the challenge for you.

Choosing the cake

Just like when you have a professional make your cake for you, enlisting some relative help also needs a plan. You can go to many books of weddings cakes for more intricate guidelines or just look at pictures in magazines. Try to find something simple, but also something that you think would be perfect for your wedding’s theme.

When you think that you’re found what you like, try to determine how many tiers it has and what decorations you want to add. With these things in mind, you can begin to plan out the building of your wedding cake.

Making plans

Looking at the picture of the cake that you’d like, try to break it down in your mind. Figure out the number of tiers it has (perhaps you need more or less) so that you can determine how many baking pans you will need. After that, you will want to see how many tubes of icing or jars of frosting you will need to complete the decorations. A lot of the time, you may find that ordering a traditional cake is the same expense.

If you’re determined to make your cake, the best suggestion is to make a trial one. Even if it’s just one layer, you want to try out your plan to see if the one that you have chosen can be recreated.

Bake a layer of the cake (any old cake mix will do, but you may want to go with the name brands for your wedding) and set it aside to cool. You want to make sure that the cake is completely cooled before putting any icing on it because warm cake will cause the icing to melt.

Apply the icing with a pastry spatula like you might apply spackle on a wall. Take your time to smooth out all the areas. Pretend like this is the real cake and see what it looks like. If you’re impressed (and of course, after you’re tasted it), then go ahead and get the ingredients to make an entire cake.

Your wedding cake will be best if you make it the day before so that everything has time to settle and no one has to rush around to bake on the day of. Set aside a special room or area so that it will remained untouched and out of the way. You may even want someone to transport it to its final location first thing in the morning to avoid any rushing about.

Fall Wedding Cake Recipe and Decoration Ideas

The grand decoration, the scrumptious wedding feast, designer bridal gown, gold printed invitation letters - you have planned for them all.

But aren’t you forgetting something crucial?

Yes! The wedding cake-the most delicious aspect of any wedding planning - adds extra zing to your wedding celebration and gives the invitees the sweet luxury to indulge in.

Here are a few ideas to make your fall wedding cake a hit with the guests with its unique fall feel and special fall taste.

When you are having a fall wedding, your wedding cake should also be based on a seasonal theme and rightly reflect the essence of the season both in taste and in its appearance.

While serving any type of cake in the fall wedding is at least grammatically correct-to keep with the true spirit of the season, serve your guests a delicious alternative to a traditional cake -a spiced cake or a spiced chocolate cake.

Here is the recipe for a spiced cake that you can get custom made by a renowned baker or someone reputed for baking skills.

In a spiced cake, the magic is done by your choice of spices - use 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for 2 cups all-purpose flour. Also use 1 cup of molasses.

Then there are the routine ingredients of traditional cakes such as sugar (1 cup), butter (I cup and softened), eggs (3), baking powder (2 tea spoons), and salt (1/2 tea spoon).

Follow the usual steps of cake making:

  • Mix butter with sugar and beat them with electric mixer until they form a light and fluffy mixture.
  • Add eggs, one by one into the mixture and keep on beating.
  • Now blend in the molasses.
  • Take a separate bowl and mix flour, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in it.
  • Add this mixture to creamed batter, beating at low speed all the while.
  • Don’t forget to add baking soda to the batter.
  • Now grease a baking pan and pour the batter into it; bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

If you want to come out with an even more stunning fall wedding cake, try a spiced chocolate cake.

You can use the same ingredients and follow the same steps as the spiced cake; only you will need some additional ingredients such as 1 and ½ cups of sour milk and at least an ounce of semi sweet chocolate.

Before adding the baking soda in the batter, dissolve it into sour milk and grate the chocolates before adding them to the batter.

Bring the fall feel with right cake accessories

  • Not the taste alone-the look and feel is also important to bring the seasonal touch. For that, use the decorating accessories only in the vibrant fall colors like flaming orange, golden, copper brown or burgundy.
  • Create the replicated fall leaves and pinecones out of sugar.
  • At the base of the cake, scatter pumpkin and squash pieces. Also sprinkle marzipan fruits and macadamia nuts for a more obvious fall flavor.

So now you have your spiced up, specially decorated fall wedding cake - share it with your friends and loved ones and take your share of the bites while hoping for a long, sweet, and spicy married life.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Unique Wedding Cake Toppers For A Unique Wedding Cake

While many couples today will choose a traditional wedding, often following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, a growing number of couples are electing to depart from tradition and frequently adopting less formal and more "fun" weddings.

Whichever route you choose however one thing that you are sure to want is at least something in your wedding that sets it apart and that will make it truly memorable for your guests. In many cases you'll find that this is not an easy thing to accomplish in terms of the civil or religious ceremony itself, but your wedding reception and, in particular your wedding cake, will provide the perfect vehicle.

Many couples are already moving away from the traditional white wedding cake and opting for cakes of various flavors, colors and shapes although, in most cases, cakes continue to be tiered to provide the height that is really essential if the cake is to command the centre of attention as far as the reception decorations are concerned. But why have just one cake?

How about individual miniature cakes which will not only impress your guests in terms of the imagination and work that went into making them, but will also make them feel that extra bit special at the thought that you had a cake specially made for them. This option has the added virtue of allowing you to offer a range of different flavors if you wish to provide for the variety of tastes amongst your guests and miniature cakes can still be arranged on stands into a tier to emulate the classical tiered wedding cake.

If you're feeling really bold, how about dispensing with cake altogether. We're all familiar with the elaborate displays that we see in the stores, especially around the holidays, with towers of chocolate chips cookies or gingerbread men and, while gingerbread men might not be quite appropriate, with a little imagination it's not too hard to think of a variety of sweet treats that would make a stunning display at your wedding.

And why stop there? Once you've created your spire of eye catching desserts why not mix in other sweets or even fruit and provide your guests with a variety of dipping bowls alongside the display so that they can coat their chosen sweet of piece of fruit in bitter dark, smooth milk or even white chocolate for that perfect after dinner treat.

These ideas in themselves can provide you with a memorable and quite unique "wedding cake" but, for that final touch how about a unique wedding cake topper?

Toppers come in all shapes and sized these days and are not only designed to crown your cake but also to give you the opportunity to make a very personal statement and to provide a talking point for your guests. There is a huge range of wedding cake toppers available today in just about every price range, from mass produced plastic toppers to exquisite and unique wedding cake toppers that can be hand crafted from a range of materials including crystal and semi-precious stones. What better way can there be to express your love for each other and to display that love to your assembled guests than by symbolizing that love in a unique wedding cake topper.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Cutting the Wedding Cake

Many traditions that take place at a Wedding usually have some history tied into them. The beliefs of their origin vary from one person to the other. The Wedding cake has a diverse history in itself. At one time a wheat cake used to be broken over the brides head as a symbol of fertility. The English later started to stack small cakes on top of one another to form a tower. The bride and groom would then try to kiss one another over the top of the cake tower. If they were successful in kissing one another without knocking over the tower, it was considered a good sign of future prosperity. It wasn't until the French bakers decided to turn the Wedding cake into a palace of white icing that the current tradition took off. One of the stories used today suggests that cutting the Wedding cake is supposed to represent the first feeding of the bride and groom to one another.

Although the Wedding cake has become a worldwide tradition, it can also destroy a Wedding in a heartbeat. There is a great deal of psychology involved with the wedding guests. Many people have been to so many boring Weddings that they are actually planning to leave right after cutting the Wedding cake. Within a short time just after the dinner the room has almost completely cleared out. So how do you prevent this? You have to know when the best time is to actually cut the Wedding cake. Simply holding it off till later in the Reception can be just as destructive and a majority of the Wedding cake will be left over.

When is the best time to cut the cake? This involves planning the right events to happen before cutting the cake, while the cake is being cut, and what to do immediately after it has. You will also need to understand the mindset of the guests in order to unknowingly manipulating them into staying and having fun. Timing of this portion of the Wedding Reception is crucial to the success of the event. Unfortunately not planning properly with all of the hired services can force you to do everything out of the correct order. You must know how to plan the entire Reception from the very beginning in order for the cake not to effect the outcome.

One of the best explanations on how to plan a Wedding Reception to become a huge success, is in the book, "Wedding Reception Nightmares, How to Avoid Them And Plan The Perfect Reception". The book goes into great detail about the Wedding cake. Explaining how to turn an event that normally kills a Wedding Reception into an event that actually builds the momentum. You must make sure that you plan the events in the right order and cut the Wedding cake at the right time or your guests will be lining up to leave.

Cheap Wedding Cakes

With the oh-so many different expenses that come with planning a wedding, the last thing you want to hear is that you have to spend a small fortune on cake. Luckily, you don't have to worry too much, as you can easily obtain a great wedding cake at a rock bottom price. How is this possible, you ask? 3 words; cheap wedding cakes.

When it comes to getting an inexpensive cake, you can NOT go straight to a private bakery and pick out a top of the line, expertly designed cake. The cost of doing this will make your head spin out of control. Instead, what you need to do is think of different ways to acquire cheap wedding cakes. Take a moment now and come up with 3 quick & "realistic" options for getting an inexpensive cake.

Did you come up with 3 ideas? If you did, read below and get 4 MORE ideas to help you find cheap wedding cakes. If you didn't come up with anything, well, at least you'll have these 4 ideas to fall back on.

- Hire someone that bakes specialty cakes from home. These individuals aren't all that difficult to find and they're pricing is about as low as it can get. Taste their work before committing and be sure to ask about any references.

- Check out the bakery department of local grocery stores. It may be an unlikely place to find a suitable cake for your wedding, but it is an option to consider nonetheless. These places make great tasting cakes and sell them at won't-break-the-budget prices.

- Haggle for Discounts. If you're dead set on a professionally made wedding cake from a private bakery, then haggle for a price you can afford. Don't try and kid yourself, they WANT your business and they'll work with you to ensure they get it.

- Make cheap wedding cakes yourself. It might seem difficult, but it's really not all that bad. With the right supplies and an easy-to-use online guide, you can quickly make a wedding cake that not only looks fantastic but tastes fantastic too. Think of it this way; a cake purchased from a bakery costs DOLLARS per slice, while a cake made by you costs PENNIES per slice!

Cheap wedding cakes don't have to be disgusting nor do they need to be ugly in order for you to save money. With the right ideas & techniques, your cake can be just as beautiful & delicious as those fancy-schmancy thousand dollar wedding cakes.

Wedding Cake Designs

The phrase wedding cake conjures up an image of a three-layered white cake with plastic figurines of the bride and groom perched on top. But that is now passé. Wedding cakes are going through a fashion makeover and new styles and designs are in vogue. With the help of a talented cake designer, there is no limit to how unique wedding cakes can be.

These days, flowers intertwined with a delicate icing are very popular. If you have a favorite flower, it can be used as the main focus of the cake’s design. You may want the flowers of your bridesmaids duplicated on the cake or the flowers in your bridal bouquet. Any talented cake designer should be able to create a beautiful cake with this design in mind. Just make sure you bring along samples of your flowers when you meet with the baker.

The color scheme of your wedding can also be incorporated into a wedding cake. You can even request that a designer try to emulate the design and style of your wedding gown into your cake. Depending on the season, your cake designer can whip up fabulous wedding cakes with snowflakes and icicles for winter, chrysanthemums, and autumn colored leaves for fall, daisies and raindrops for spring and tulips and roses for summer. Thinking in terms of fun and creativity will help achieve unique and wonderful results.

Whatever type of cake you desire, discuss your thoughts with several cake designers to ensure that what you want is what you get. If you’re not sure, let the designer give you ideas. Guaranteed they will have many wonderful suggestions.

Wedding Cake Toppers - Avoid These Common Mistakes

A wedding cake is one of the most important aspects of the entire day, and one that gets photographed quite a bit, so of course you'll want to make sure you avoid the usual mistakes made by brides-to-be when it comes to choosing a wedding cake topper.

Here are the three most common and how to avoid them:

1. Not Matching Styles

Your wedding cake's topper should complement or subtlety enhance the cake but not take away from its beauty. The cake topper should also be reflective of the wedding's theme, if any, as well as the overall formality of the event. An intimate gathering of a few loved ones will call for a smaller, simpler cake with a topper to match while a grander affair with hundreds of guests will naturally need a much larger cake

You definitely won't want a topper that's too small and dwarfed by the top of the cake, and alternately, you won't the topper to be so large that it dwarfs the cake itself, making it appear smaller or less glorious in some way. Also, keep in mind the actual weight of the topper before falling in love with one as those that are too heavy will sink into the cake or possibly topple it over.

Wedding cake toppers made of heavier materials such as porcelain and resin and some types of glass will need to be firmly and safely anchored down into the cake.

2. Forgetting the Budget

Many couples make the common mistake of forgetting to add all of those finishing touches into their budgets, like the ever important cake topper. If cost is a concern, be sure to take the time to find the best deal possible instead of wasting precious money, but also allow yourself to choose the cake topper that you'll love today and years from now while fondly looking at the photos.

Although keeping your budget in mind is important, you won't want to skimp too much on the cake topper as the cheaper varieties made from plastic inevitably make even the best and most gorgeous of wedding cakes somehow seem less so.

One option to consider is using one, or both, if available, parent's wedding cake toppers to save money as not only will this be a nice touch using a family heirloom and paying tribute to their marriage, but it will also fulfill the "something old" and "something new" tradition we all love.

3. Remember Your Creativity

Never feel you must follow tradition in every single aspect as you can certainly add other embellishments to the top of your cake, or cakes as many have more than one tier, to personalize this important part of your wedding day. If the usual doves, bells, hearts, or bride and groom figurines just aren't your style or simply aren't appealing to you, tap into your creativity and consider one of the numerous other options available.

Do you and your future spouse share a love for a certain hobby or special interest? Did the two of you meet in a certain city, a certain time of year, or perhaps under unusual circumstances? Because of the great number of cake toppers made today there's a great chance you'll find one that reflects the two of you and your union perfectly.

And, while tradition definitely has its place, it's your wedding and completely your decision, so don't worry about being different as the more unique touches your wedding reception has, the more memorable it will be for both you and your guests.

Tips on Decorating Your Own Wedding Cake

Cakes can be very expensive, particularly if you pay somebody to make it for you. If you want to save some money, then one option is to make the cake yourself. Decorating your own wedding cake will save you quite a lot of money and also allow you to be much more creative. You can try pretty much whatever you want on your own cake, whereas it might be very difficult to explain to someone you don't know exactly what needs to be done. Wedding cake decorating is considered as a very difficult and specialist job which few people should attempt, however most people are more than capable of decorating their own wedding cake.

Don't get Carried Away!

You shouldn't try to attempt too much otherwise you might end up becoming unstuck. Think about what you are capable doing and stick with that. If you're not sure whether you could do everything then get a professional in to help you. The look of your wedding cake will not make it taste more sweet or different in anyway, it just changes the appearance. You could have a fairly simple cake, simple things are often very elegant.

Most people would be better off by buying a cake from their local cake shop and then doing the cake decorating by yourself. This means you don't have to worry about making a nice round cake, you just have to decorate it however you like. If you baked and decorated your cake you could end up with a strange shaped cake! You will find many different types of frosting are available these make it much easier for you to decorate cakes and make them elegant while using cheap items.

You can even get replicas of your engagement rings for decoration.

When you are deciding how to decorate your cake it is important to have all of the necessary tools for the job. You need piping bags in different sizes, angled spatulas, and turn tables. You must also make sure you have enough time available to decorate your cake. It's no good setting aside ten minutes to decorate your wedding cake, this is nowhere near long enough. Wedding cake design can be very time consuming.

It's essential that you have enough time in order to do your cake decoration otherwise you could end up rushing the job and ending up with something that looks like it's been run over! You don't want to be stressed when decorating your cake, you want to have fun and let the creativity flow naturally! If possible it's a good idea to have a trial decorating practice so that you know exactly what you are supposed to be doing, you don't want to waste expensive cakes for the actual day!

Trends in Wedding Cake Toppers

Wedding cakes are more and more important to brides these days. They not only want their cake to taste great, but they want the wedding cake to be the ultimate expression of their wedding theme. The design of your wedding cake is not complete until you have chosen the perfect cake topper.

The classic cake topper is a bride and groom figurine. They were often created in porcelain with a bride in a white dress and the groom in a tuxedo. If you like the look of vintage style, then seek out an original cake topper from the 1940s or 50s. More modern bride and groom cake toppers are seen in crystal, or in all-white porcelain. In addition, you can find figurines online to represent almost any ethnicity or pairing of genders.

A lot of couples forgo the traditional cake topper in favor of other designs. One easy way to dress us your cake is with fresh flowers. They are always beautiful, and if you are looking to keep expenses down, fresh flowers are a fraction of the cost of sugar flowers. A bouquet of roses in your wedding colors will look lovely atop a simple wedding cake.

More elaborate cakes call for more elaborate toppers. One of the hottest trends these days is monograms. You can have a custom monogram designed with the bride and groom's initials to stand atop your wedding cake. Brides love sparkle, and many of these cake toppers feature even more dazzle than the crystal bridal jewelry that they wear. A crystal or rhinestone monogram on your wedding cake is a great tie-in to your bridal jewelry and other design elements. It also just looks fabulous!

Another trend is to choose a cake topper that coordinates with the theme of your wedding. For instance, if you are having an Asian inspired event, then you can use the "double happiness" symbol as your cake topper. A fall harvest theme? Then how about a mini sugar paste cornucopia with nature's bounty spilling over the top of the wedding cake. In the hands of an expert cake designer, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Some couples like to pick a cake topper that expresses their silly side or shows one of their favorite things. If you love Disneyworld, then choose a cake topper with Mickey and Minnie Mouse or Cinderella and Prince Charming. One wedding I attended had a little figurine from The Simpson's where the bride and groom would normally stand on the cake. The cake topper is a fun way to inject your personality into the wedding.

Whatever you choose for your cake topper, don't forget that tradition says the newlyweds should save the top layer of their cake and freeze it to share on their first anniversary. If the idea of eating year old cake doesn't appeal to you, then save the original cake to look at, but order a tiny replica from your baker to eat on your anniversary. This can be the start of a very sweet tradition!