Wedding Cake Toppers

Avoid buying one of those cheap plastic bride and grooms that you can find in discount department stores, and some bakeries. Your topper should be as special as your cake, and reflect your dreams and taste, not those of the baker.

Use your imagination, there are some really humorous cake toppers available, that you might enjoy. However you may want to think about whether or not it might offend some of the guests on both sides of the family, like grandparents and other older relatives.

There are military, and police cake toppers as well as cartoon characters, teddy bears, animals, sports themed toppers to name just a few, as well as the traditional bride and groom.

Maybe you would like a wedding cake topper to reflect interests that you and the groom share. Do you both love music, dancing, hockey or bowling? You can likely find a topper to recognize that. Did you know, that there are Harley Davidson cake toppers available?

Of course you can get doves, bells, gazebos and hearts to adorn your wedding cake.

Any of these paired with the bride and groom figurine would look wonderful.

Fresh, silk, marzipan or frosting flowers can make a spectacular wedding cake topper, that will have everyone talking about the beautiful cake.

Maybe your Mom and Dad still have their wedding cake topper or perhaps your mother-in-law has her mother’ topper. What a special significance either of these toppers would have, if used on your wedding cake.

It is possible to have a cake topper designed to your specific wishes. Marzipan artists can make figurines to resemble the bride and groom, or even a favorite pet. Churches, temples, your home or the car you just bought together, can all be created as a cake topper for your wedding cake. Swarovski Crystal will be offering some truly different but exquisite crystal cake toppers. I can't wait to see those.

If your wedding will have an overtly religious theme, then please choose your cake topper design, with that theme in mind.

Guide to Wedding Cake Frosting

Next to the bridal gown, the wedding cake is perhaps the most detail intensive element of planning your event. It will take days if not weeks before the future bride can choose the exact design and color of her cake. On top of this, it may take her forever to decide the cake frosting to be used by her baker.

This is the reason why you need to get a reputable baker so they can make intelligent suggestions as to which frosting would be best for the chosen cake design. You may know a thing or two about cakes but only those who have experienced in decorating them can tell you the pros and cons of using a specific frosting. Here are some of the types of cake frosting commonly used today.

Butter cream

Butter cream is a very versatile ingredient because it can be used both as a filling and a frosting. Bakers prefer this frosting because it is easy to color depending on the motif of the wedding. It is also easy to come up with various designs using this frosting. The only problem is that it can easily melt especially if the temperature is not controlled so watch out for butter cream if you are holding an outdoor reception.

Fondant

If you have seen satin smooth cakes that look perfect even if shaped like a gift, flower or anything at all then most probably it has been designed using fondant. Fondant icing is picture perfect and no one can argue with that. However, it does not taste as delicious as the other icing and some would even say it tastes bad. Some bakers however have a trick of using butter cream beneath the fondant to give it a really nice flavor.

Marzipan

This is a favorite among bakers as it tastes good and can be made to look like fondant icing. Marzipan contains sugar, eggs and crushed almonds making it a very tasty topping. However, using marzipan can be very expensive so be prepared for your wallet to take a hit.

Royal icing

This is perhaps the cheapest frosting anyone can use for a wedding cake. It can also produce picture perfect cakes with very intricate designs. Royal icing is actually a very hard frosting so there is seldom need to refrigerate it. You can have your baker create miniature cakes for you using some of the frosting you are interested in and then you can taste them and decide which one will look and taste the best.

Summer Wedding Ideas

Summer weddings are always more preferred because of the versatility in wedding themes and ideas during this time of the year. With the abundance of nature blooming in the surrounding area, a pleasant summer wedding is easier to put together. Not to mention, the beautiful warm outdoor weather is always conducive to a celebration and outdoor ceremonies.

The most popular theme for a summer wedding is a beach themed wedding. For a beach themed wedding choose a public or private beach for your wedding. Set the beach wedding theme from the very beginning. Let the beach wedding theme reflect on your invitations and stationary by adding sea side elements and decorations to them. You will save on the wedding decorations for a beach themed wedding as the beach itself will set the scene. Add subtle touches to your tables and centerpieces with seashells.

For your menu, definitely seafood in your menu and there are some fabulous wedding cake designs with a beach theme. Select a cake topper that reflects seaside elements to tie it all together. To top it all off make sure to give out wedding favors with a beach theme such as a sea shell gel candle. The most fun part of a beach wedding affair is picking out wedding favors. There is an abundance of beach wedding favors to select from. For a formal beach wedding give sand and seashell tea lights and use personalized Adirondack chair tea light and place card holders to guide your guests to their table at your beach wedding reception.

If you are having a casual affair, give out seashell bottle openers or seashell gel candle favors. Another great part about beach weddings is that you can incorporate the beach theme into the bridal shower or bachelor party as a precursor to the beach wedding. Fun beach bridal shower favors are perfect pair flip flop candles or for a more elegant favor give French lavender bath salts in a seashell. For the guys, tropical shirt candle favors are great. One of the best beach wedding favor is for the bride and groom to take on their honeymoon, Just Married Sandals. Just Married Sandals are also great for the guests at a casual wedding on the beach. Most popular beach wedding favors can found at Chic Wedding Favors.com.

A beach wedding or a nautical wedding theme can be a lot of fun. It's easy to be whimsical and more relaxed with a beach wedding. However, if you want to go all out, a formal beach themed wedding can be a gorgeous affair. Beach wedding ideas are available in abundance. Whether you are getting married during winter or summer, you can incorporate the beach theme into your wedding to create a beautiful wedding affair. Make your beach wedding fun or elegant with creativity.

If you are not crazy about the beach or the ocean is just too far away, a mid-summer wedding theme is beautiful. A mid-summer wedding theme should be magical. For this theme combining nature and old-world charm, choose an outdoor venue and have the ceremony under a flower-covered altar. Choose mid-summer motifs such as butterflies, vines or even fairies for your stationery. Use the brightest summer blooms for flowers, decorations and bouquets. Brides can use fresh flowers in their hair instead of other accessories. A Summer Wedding Cake using fresh flowers or fruits, a light menu with lots of fresh fruits and cool drinks or ice-cream will complement the theme perfectly.

In a beautiful garden in the summer afternoon, the most elegant wedding favor idea is intricately carved sandalwood fans. More recently, the sandalwood fan wedding favor has become very popular for Spring Weddings, Garden Weddings, Summer Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Beach Weddings, and other weddings with themes. The Sandalwood Fan Wedding Favor is a great idea for large weddings, as it is a fairly inexpensive wedding favor. If the favor can not be handed to all your guests, then your bride's maids would look beautiful holding them also. The Sandalwood Fan also makes a nice bridal shower favor and is appreciated by the ladies at a bridal shower any time of the year. Sandalwood Fan Wedding Favors have become increasingly popular with both large and small weddings. Its beauty enhances the most formal and elegant weddings as well as simple lighthearted wedding affairs. The Sandalwood Fan Wedding Favors are easy to turn into your special and personalized wedding favors.

Whether your style is formal or stylish and informal, a summer wedding can accommodate an abundance of ideas and themes. Wedding favor and accessories markets make it easy to find ideas and embellishments for your special occasion. Designers and wedding planners like Event Trendsetter can help put it all together for you. The summer is a great time to plan a wedding. Let your imagination run wild with the summer breeze!

Tips for Beautiful but Cheap Wedding Cakes

A multi-tiered wedding cake beautifully decorated is an important part of any bride’s dream wedding, but the price tag can give you nightmares. Use these tips to take a bite out of the bill. Your cheap wedding cake will still look and taste fabulous.

If your heart is set on a three tiered cake that feeds 100, order it with plain white frosting, no decorations, and then decorate at the reception with fresh flowers. Or you can wrap a length of lace around each layer, like you would a ribbon. Of course remove the lace before cutting. Your wedding cake will be cheap but gorgeous.

Stick with basic flavors and fillings, exotic flavorings add to the cost of the cake.

Rather than one huge multi-tiered cake, use a modest tiered cake and then several (as many as you need for your guests) sheet cakes. Serving will go faster this way as well. No one will know your wedding cake was cheap.

Order from a grocery store rather than a bakery. Many grocers have onsite bakeries, just like they have onsite florist departments.

Don’t order a wedding cake at all. Order a sheet cake with white frosting to serve guests and a smaller two tiered cake to cut for photos.

Depending on how many servings you need, order a full sheet cake (100 servings), a half sheet cake (50 servings) and a quarter sheet cake (25 servings), all iced in white. Place the half sheet on the full sheet cake and then the quarter sheet on top. Use ready-to-use frosting that comes in a can with a nozzle to touch up any mistakes and fill in the gap between the layers. You don’t have to remove the cardboard between the layers, it will help steady the cake when it’s time to cut. Don’t go any higher than three layers, if you do you run the risk of the bottom layer being squashed by the weight of the upper layers.

Use cupcakes. Order as many as you need in white paper wrapping, and white frosting. Use a tiered serving dish to arrange the cupcakes. Or you can buy two or three inexpensive white plastic serving platters. Line the platters with white paper lace doilies. Place the first platter on the table. Place three inverted wine glasses at noon, 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock on the platter. Fill in around the glasses with cupcakes. Place the second platter on the overturned wine glasses. In the center of the second platter, place three more inverted wine glasses. Fill the second platter with cupcakes. Place the final platter on the overturned wine glasses and fill with cupcakes.

Use a two tiered cake for the bride and groom to cut at the reception. Order a sheet cake for however many guests will be attending. On a separate table offer guests various toppings for their slice of cake. You can offer fresh strawberries, chocolate syrup, raspberries, sprinkles and whipped cream. Consider offering several flavors of ice cream. It’s fun and festive.

Have a friend, or several friends bake the cake using various sizes of heart shaped pans. Each can be iced in shades of pale pink, pale lilac, cream, and white. The cakes are placed on a table covered with a lace cloth. Rose petals in pinks, cream, and lilac – or whatever colors suit your color scheme are scattered between the cakes.

None of your guests will realize how cheap your wedding cake is, they'll just be impressed by how beautiful it was.

Your Wedding Ceremony With Your Perfect Wedding Cake

Cutting your cake has always been understood as something that you do during the wedding reception. Over time, the meaning has disappeared, and cake cutting has become simply one more wedding activity on the "must accomplish" check-off list.

These days most brides and grooms are being circumspect and trading small bite size pieces of cake with one another. Hallelujah! The horrendous smear cake all over your beloved's face is a throw back to a time when women were chattel and this was seen as the last act she could take as a free woman. (women whose dowers had been paid, but the deal not yet consummated, so to speak, were considered women responsible for themselves.) So consider that before you consider wiping cake all over your partner's face. You might also consider how carefully your beloved dressed to look wonderful for you on this momentous occasion and decide whether you want to be that disrespectful to the person with whom you're embarking on a lifetime of relationship. What kind of start do you want to your marriage?

The notion behind the wedding cake is that the first food you feed one another at your wedding should be sweet. The food should be sweet so that the promises which come out of your mouths may be sweet. This ceremony should be reflected in your vows: Why not promise to share life's sweetness with one another?

• Do the ceremony before your vows and then promise to nurture one another with sweetness.
• You may not want to cut your wedding cake at the ceremony (particularly if the reception is at a different venue) but ask your baker to make a small cake (as small as a cupcake) for you to share at your wedding.
• Acknowledge that marriage and the individuals who are in the marriage need sustenance.
• Consider preceding the cake ceremony with bread and wine (or whatever the grain and drink of your culture is). Before we eat cake we must eat that which nourishes us.
• Nurture one another with just a little sweetness.
• Promise to do that throughout your life together.

Then do it throughout your life together. Take time to do small, sweet things for one another. Sweet kisses, sweet foods, sweet time together. Do this and your marriage will flourish. And you will thrive!

Wedding Cake Unique With Monogram Cake Toppers

Weddings are all about the couple. It's not just the bride's but the groom's special day as well. Months of preparation and seemingly frivolous shopping for fabrics, venues, accessories and decorations to use in a ceremony that lasts only a few hours at the most is intended to serve a greater purpose - to build a remarkable and wonderful set of memories for this happy occasion.

That's what makes monogram cake toppers such a hit in wedding receptions. A delicate piece of monogram signifying something significant to the couple adds a stylishly unique touch to the wedding banquet; it's also becoming a favorite collectible of couples from their wedding day. And no, it's not only for sentimental reasons. A monogram cake topper is a fantastic item to keep, along with your wedding gown.

Style Choices

There are three elements to a monogram cake topper a couple must decide on to ensure a fantastic, personalized and very unique cake.

1. Font Style. There are generally two styles of fonts favored by most couples for their monograms. Formal styles lean toward the calligraphic scripts that are generally used in wedding invitations. Often, these are the font style choices for couples who prefer traditional weddings and ceremonies. For the funkier, hip couples, contemporary styles lean toward more creative fonts. These can be straightforward arial or similar font sitting on a cursive base. The traditional style tends to be more formal and more feminine; Contemporary styles are more adventurous and are flexible enough to include a bit of masculinity in its overall look and feel.

2. Material and Finish. The basic elegant choice for the lettering is a metallic or silver look. However, there are more decorative choices. Many couples fancy Swarovski crystals on their cake's monograms. Swarovski crystals adds a very elegant touch to an otherwise simple cake. It sparkles like diamonds catching lights, each angle showing a prism of colors. Some use basic crystals of different colors and adorn the monogram further with edible flowers and other decorative.

3. Letter Combinations. This is often the challenging, yet the fun part of picking out the perfect monogram cake topper. The couple has to decide which letters should sit atop their wedding cake. There's no hard and fast rule as to this; couples are free to choose this intricate detail. Do you need some ideas for your wedding cake?

Creative Ideas for Letters on a Monogram Cake Topper

Initials. This is a common choice for most. Some do with the first letters of their first names; others may use the first letters of their last names as a symbol of the union. Others prefer the romanticism of putting together their initials with their new common last name. Everyone at the wedding party should be able to figure this out.

Significant Dates. Often, this would come out as an alphanumeric code of sorts. This is any date significant to the couple - the date they first met, their first date, first night together or their first holiday trip together. This is often fun as a monogram like N208 raises everyone's curiosity and would be an excellent opener to a conversation

Incorporate Your Swedish Heritage in Your Perfect Wedding

Many people are now having a breakfast/brunch party the day after their wedding. This allows you to open presents and to catch up with those people you might not have had a chance to talk to. It's often a good opportunity to catch up with your parents' friends and your relatives.

Sweden has a tradition that must come from the old days when the daughters would leave their families to become members of their husband's families. As a last part of the goodbye at the bride's parents' house, the bride's family would make a cake so that the last bit of food the bride had at her childhood home was sweet.

The times that I've encountered the cake it's been a Princess Torte, a beautiful green confection full of yellow cake, marzipan, whipped cream and either vanilla cream or raspberry jelly. The Swedes are great about their pastries because as rich as they are, they're not horribly sweet. (Yum!)

(Of course, this could also be a great way to finish up the wedding cake from the day before, especially if everyone's traveling. Since single women no longer seem to take cake home from the wedding to place under their pillow so that they can dream of the man they will marry, there's often a lot of cake left over! And you don't want to waste cake! Just wondering, what did they wrap the cake in before Tupperware? Who wants to get marzipan and whipped cream in your pillow?) You might not HAVE to make a new cake, but it's a nice tradition to start!

Even though today's couples are becoming part of one another's families, it's still a lovely thought that you leave on your honeymoon with sweetness in your mouth, remembering your past and anticipating the marriage ahead. Your relationship deserves sweetness and tenderness. Start your life off with cake. You can get serious about your vegetables when you get back from your honeymoon!

Wedding Cake Prices

The wedding cake is a big part of the reception, let alone the wedding itself. That said, it's always a good idea to know where you stand by finding out the average wedding cake prices and what you'll be expected to pay.

First and foremost, you should realize that most bakeries charge per "slice" rather than per "cake. This system will allow you to easily determine how much the whole cake is going to cost, not to mention how much money you can spare for custom designs and cake icing.

Here is a Rundown of Wedding Cake Prices:

Simple Cake: A simply made cake with just a few decorations, cheap icing, and a basic design will cost about 1 to 2 dollars per slice. If it's a small wedding with only about 100 or so people, you can spend about $250 to $300 and get a elegant cake that'll please everyone.

Not-So-Simple Cake: A wedding cake that has multiple tiers, better icing, a nice design, and beautiful decorations will run about $4-7 per slice. If the guest list is long, the total cost will climb quite quickly: $5 per slice multiplied by 500 equals a massive $2500.

Complicated Cake: A 3 or 4 tier cake with the works -- tasty icing which won't bleed, elegant designs, fabulous decorations, etc. -- can cost anywhere from $8-12 PER slice. If you're on a budget, then this is pretty much out of the question. Then again, if it's a wedding of only about 50 people, you can spend $10 per slice ($500 total) and really dazzle your guests.

3 Easy Ways to Get Lower Wedding Cake Prices

1. Sacrifice some of the fancy-schmancy designs & decorations to get a lower cost per slice.

2. Choose a cheap, easy-to-manage icing like butter cream rather than fondant.

3. Use an online step-by-step guide to bake & design the cake yourself. Rather than paying dollars per slice with a private bakery, you'll pay just PENNIES!

Now you know exactly what to expect, as well as how to save, when it comes to wedding cakes & wedding cake prices.

Jazz Up Your Wedding Cake Presentation

Is there a centerpiece to a wedding celebration? Some say it is the centerpiece to a table where your guests sit and play games to try to win. Others say it is the wedding party table all decorated with bells and whistles that create the backdrop to a beautiful setting within the banquet hall for your wedding celebration. But what about the wedding cake? A wedding cake acts as a portrait-like creation that is one of many symbols of a wedding reception. A wedding cake as is a wedding invitation, banquet hall, etc... represents what it is that you want to set as a tone for your wedding party. So there is the freedom to let loose and have fun with.

We have given careful consideration to what would be an ideal wedding cake presentation and have come up with some ideas that may grab your attention and say "What" or simply get you to nod your head, either way, it is best that you know what you feel like presenting as your wedding cake. The key is to think about style and design as much to do about flavour and variety. What about wedding rings, or garter belts? Matching portraits of the bride and groom or a pair of stilettos! If you are a traditionalist, then our ideas might not be for you. Whatever the feeling or desire, you have to be able to be true to yourself and not create something you are not or do not want to have.

If you are planning on having your wedding celebration in Toronto, Ontario or within the southern Ontario region, then you are going to find your fair share of bakers capable of creating wedding cake masterpieces for your wedding party. The key however, is to have a determining factor to decide who you want to use when creating your wedding cake masterpiece. Is price a determining factor for you? If not, then is experience playing an important role in the decision of your baker(s) of choice? Whatever the case or whoever, it is best to be able to evaluate how you are going to sieve through the enormous group of bakers or specialty wedding cake makers located throughout the Toronto, Ontario and southern Ontario region.

In any event, a wedding cake is just as much fun for you and your guests to enjoy. It is best enjoyed eaten, however, presentation and look and feel for the cake is huge when deciding on how you want the cake to be at your wedding. Some say tradition merits the individual and it is best that a wedding cake be that, traditional. A three-tier cake, enriched with different flavours for the guests and family to enjoy. Then there are some who say conventional wisdom is best left alone and that you should shed you inner inhibitions and go for that Prada purse-cake look-a-like! You will definitely leave a mark with a cake like that, just make sure that it is yummy and that everyone enjoys it, in the end!

Wedding Cake Toppers

A skilled cake designer can come up with an endless spectrum of wedding cake toppers. They can come in any shape or form, the most common ones being the figurines of the bride and the groom, doves, daisies, roses, interlocking hearts, wedding rings, or flowers in a basket; the list is endless. The materials used for toppers can be anything, ranging from glass and porcelain to crystal or a wide range of other materials. Also, wedding cake toppers can be kept as a wedding day souvenir, and are at most times good enough pass off as a showpiece for your drawing room.

For those planning a theme wedding, wedding cake toppers can augment the atmosphere of the wedding reception. A skilled hand can replicate the wedding dress on top of the cake. For fairytale-themed weddings, a replica of the Cinderella glass slipper or a figurine of “Snow White” would be just about perfect; or, for that matter, a small figure of a dragon or a castle. Beach and marine themed weddings can give the wedding cake designer plenty of room to exercise his creativity. The wedding cake toppers can come in a plethora of forms then, like dolphins, seahorses, mermaids, lighthouses or more. For medieval-themed weddings, you can use a miniature knight and maiden as toppers.

A winter wedding also gives the cake designer plenty to work with. For example, crystal snowflakes or snow people can sit atop the cake. Though other materials can be used, glass seems perfect for this theme, as it can reflect the light like icicles. For those from military backgrounds, wedding toppers can be quite intricate. A naval wedding, for instance, can do with an anchor behind the figures of the groom and the bride. For the military wedding, two sabers crossed and placed behind the miniature figures of the couple would be ideal. For Western-themed weddings, cake toppers can range from horses and cows to the cowboy and cowgirl as the bride and groom.

Invaluable Wedding Cake Advice

While it may seem very unimportant, the wedding cake is arguably one of the most important pieces of the wedding jigsaw. Aside from the bride, the wedding cake is one of the most looked at things at the wedding. If you get it right then everyone will be praising and if you get it wrong people will be talking about how bad it was no matter how good the rest of the wedding is. Therefore, the wedding cake deserves a substantial amount of your time and attention.

As is the case with many of the traditional wedding practises, there are new modern ways to do your cakes. However, the most stylish option is the traditional 3 tier white iced cake. This way, you can easily add decorations and everyone will be in awe. There are a number of pitfalls that you need to avoid if you want to get your wedding cake right.

Firstly, make sure you choose a sensible design. While fancy designs may look good in pictures, in truth, the more complicated the design, the more that can go wrong with the wedding cake.

Secondly, make sure you consult with the person making the cake. While you may have a clear idea in mind, they have made thousands of cakes before that they should be well placed to offer you excellent advice on the cake that is right for you wedding.

Finally, you need to consider the guests. There are two things to consider in terms of the guests, firstly numbers of secondly tastes. You need to try and choose cake ingredients that you think everyone will like and you need to ensure that there is enough wedding cake for everyone. Again, it is important to consult with the chef because he/she will know how large the cake needs to be.

Wedding Cake Toppers

Wedding cake toppers didn't used to be as important for weddings as they are now. More and more they are becoming as important as the cake and are one of the fastest growing wedding gifts.

Once over, toppers just used to be in the form of a generic bride and groom couple. Now, though a wedding cake topper can be custom made to the bride and groom's specifications which means the cake is even more unique and unusual. Personalised toppers that are constructed from sugar paste or clay can be crafted to look like copies of the happy couple even including their wedding day outfits. Grooms can be styled wearing kilts, military uniforms or their favourite football team kit! Brides can be made wearing their wedding outfits, veils and tiaras and even down to hair styles and the type and colour of flowers used in their bouquet.

They can even be themed around the time of year that they are getting married such as Christmas or Valentine's Day or if it is a beach wedding in some far flung exotic location. Family members and beloved pets can be added for that extra special touch. Many of the more popular cake toppers seem to be funny and humourous to reflect the bride and groom's personalities.

Once the cake is eaten a topper can be kept as a wonderful keepsake and memento of one of the most special days two people will ever have. A new trend that is only just catching on in 2010 is for a monogrammed cake topper. This type of wedding decoration is believed to have started from the USA and very few British and European retailers seem to have them available yet although one of my favourite gift retailers is at the forefront for this again! They are usually crafted from acrylic or brushed steel and all of the letters of the alphabet and some numbers are available. Monogrammed toppers include the initials of the bride and groom i.e. M & P.

What makes them really special though is that they are hand decorated with Swarovski crystals in a choice of colours to match your wedding day theme. These crystal cake toppers really do create the wow factor sat on the top of your wedding cake to really add some bling!

There are wedding toppers to suit every taste and every budget!