Posted on 1 Comment

All About Wedding Cakes: What to Ask your Baker

Weddings won’t be complete without wedding dresses and wedding favours. In the same way, this very important day in your life won’t mean that much without wedding cakes. The wedding decorations – Toronto or elsewhere – will also add to the festivity of the moment.

Wedding cakes are an important part of the wedding ceremony. The slicing of the cake is very symbolic – representing the very first thing that the couple does together. As such, this tradition talks about commitment and unity.

wedding cake

Be that as it may, it becomes important then that you properly choose your wedding cake. Aside from being a tradition, wedding cakes also serve as the centrepiece in your wedding decor. Properly choosing your wedding cakes means having a heart-to-heart talk with your baker. This way, you can communicate your expectations, and he/she can confirm if they can deliver.

So before you sign any contract, ask your baker the following points first:

1. Their portfolio

The portfolio will act as the resume of your baker. This will be a collection of the different designs and styles of wedding cakes that your baker has made. By simply looking at them, you will have an idea as to the creativity and “craftsmanship” of your baker. The portfolio will also make you see if that particular baker has what it takes to be your supplier. After all, you will be putting in his hands one of the most important aspects of your wedding day.

By looking at their portfolio, you also get to check if your baker has prior experience in customizing wedding cakes. Most brides would prefer to have a cake that is made and designed especially for them.

2. Will there be free tasting?

Another important thing to do is to ask your confectioner if there will be a tasting. Most suppliers of wedding cakes will agree to this – so confirm if the vendor that you are eyeing for will be able to grant you this request.

With free tasting, of course, you’ll have an idea as to how each kind of frosting tastes. This shall give you peace of mind during your actual wedding day. After all, it is always best that you know how the food – including wedding cakes – in your reception will taste like. The last comment that you want to hear is how awful your wedding cake tastes like.

3. When will it be prepared?

Another important thing to ask your baker is the time/date at which your wedding cake will be baked. Make sure that your wedding cake will not be baked more than 10 days before your wedding. To ensure freshness, make sure that the icing will be made not more than 2 days before the wedding date.

wedding cake

4. Set up and Delivery Arrangements

You must also check if your supplier would deliver the cake and even set it up for you. Some wedding cakes are so huge that they need expert hands – something that your baker has solid experience on.

These are but few of the things that you need to ask your prospective baker. Once you get an affirmative answer to each of the questions, then you’re good to go. So, order away!

For wedding decorations – Toronto or elsewhere – wedding cakes and wedding favours, check out BestForBride.com.

Posted on 1 Comment

Not Just Icing on Wedding Cakes

You usually hear, or say: it is just icing on the cake. You say that to mean that such a thing is not that important, as what matters more is what’s inside, the essence of a particular thing. In wedding cakes, however, you cannot say the same thing. You cannot say: it is just icing on the wedding cake. The truth is, the icing on the said wedding cake is equally important as the dough itself.

There are many kinds of icings on wedding cakes. Therefore, the task is not only limited to deciding on the design and the number of layers of the cake, it extends to knowing which type of icing should top the wonderful layers as well. Deciding on the type of icing is as complicated as looking for cheap wedding dresses.

wedding cake

Deciding the type of icing on your wedding cake need not be complicated, however, if you know what you are looking for. You simply have to understand what each type is, and what it is for.

Here are some of the most common types of wedding cakes icings:

Fondant This is perhaps the most common type of icing used on wedding cakes because, first and foremost, this does not need refrigeration. Therefore, you can make your precious wedding cake as the centrepiece of your reception without worrying if the icing will melt and the cake will deform.

This type of icing looks stiff and is sometimes regarded as having an appearance like that of a helmet. This smooth cream confection is made of corn syrup and gelatin.

Butter Cream Unlike fondant, butter cream is sensitive to extreme heat. Therefore, this type is not a wise choice for outdoor weddings.

In its simplest form, butter cream is made from powdered sugar and butter. If you want to add a little color, you can always add cocoa powder or vanilla extract. Although this is a popular topping for cupcakes, this is also widely accepted as a creamy and rich icing for sponge cakes.

Ganache Wedding cakes experts would only recommend this type of icing if the venue of your reception has a stable condition: no heat, no humid weather. Why?

This icing is made from chocolate and cream, usually 2 parts chocolate, one part cream. As such, this is a “heavy” type of icing that will give your cake a glass-like chocolate finish. Without the desired room temperature, you run the risk of having the icing slide right off your cake.

Royal Icing This type of icing is made from egg whites, powdered sugar, milk, and sometimes, lemon juice. It is a hard white icing. Usually, glycerine is added in order to prevent the icing from becoming too hard.

wedding cakes

Royal icing is not only popular among wedding cakes; it is also widely used on Christmas cakes and gingerbread houses because it can create many decorative effects. Its properties allow it to be the perfect icing used in forming flowers, dots and other figures.

The type of icing that you’ll use largely determines the beauty and extravagance of your wedding cake. Therefore, you must choose it well, just as how you would choose bridal shops in Mississauga or how you would select wedding favors.

Wedding cakes are an important part of the wedding ceremony; it’s but proper that they be given enough attention from color, to number of layers, design, and even type of icing!

Whether your aim is to find bridal shops in Mississauga, buy cheap wedding dresses or get hold of delectable wedding cakes, you will find all these in one stop.

Posted on 1 Comment

Don’ts of Wedding Cakes

You spend hours upon hours poring over wedding cakes to find the perfect one. You probably spend hundreds of dollars on your wedding cake because you want the best that your money can buy. In other words, you must protect your wedding cakes because you poured so much effort, time, thought and money on it! Here then are the don’ts of wedding cakes to help you protect it from disaster.

wedding cake

Don’t Order it Hurriedly

Wedding cakes are not made overnight especially when these are custom-made to fit your wedding motif. You have to order at least 3 months in advance to allow the baker to assemble it. Well, if you want a very simple cake that comes off the bakery shelf, well then, go ahead. It’s your cake, anyway, and you have to eat it, too.

Don’t Let it Stay in the Sun

Too long or too short – it does not matter. Your wedding cake is not designed to withstand heat especially when it is made of butter cream icing. Always place it in the shade preferably in the coolest area of the reception venue since you want it to hold its shape.

Don’t Expose it to the Wind

If you have a beach wedding, it is best to provide protective netting around your wedding cake. This way, bugs, insects, seagulls, birds, windblown debris and even the wind cannot take a shot at it before you and guests have enjoyed its sumptuousness.

wedding cakes

Don’t Let It Tip

This one is a no-brainer. Most wedding cakes are designed to be placed on a flat and level surface. You have to ensure that whatever platform your wedding cake is on, it must be level; otherwise, you can say goodbye to edible cake and hello to critters.

Don’t Let It Alone

This does not mean that you have to watch it like a hawk, hence, preventing you from enjoying your wedding day. However, you can assign a catering staff to watch it like a hawk for you. This is especially true when there are invited children in the reception, not to mention the young members of the wedding entourage. Wedding cakes, after all, present an irresistible challenge for children much like how they can’t resist dipping their hands in a birthday cake.

Don’t Place It in the Center of the Room

Sure, wedding cakes are meant to be displayed prominently. After all, these are the highlight of the menus! However, this can be the disastrous beginning of the end of your wedding cake’s beautiful existence. Think of the many people who can tip it over with a single accidental bump, not to mention the children boisterously running around. Instead, place it a location where there is lesser traffic but can still be seen my most of the guests.

Don’t Shove It in Each Other’s Face

Sure, it looks cute but it is messy, this shoving-of-the-cake-in-each-other’s-face stuff. You will end up with stains on your wedding dress, a ruined makeup, a food fight and not-so-funny memories especially when you are fighting. Besides, there’s a proper place for a food fight and it’s called the high school cafeteria.

Just remember these don’ts of your wedding cake and you can have your cake and eat it, too!

BestforBride.com is one of the best bridal shops in Mississauga that offers cheap wedding dresses and wedding cakes that will fit your every wish.

Posted on 1 Comment

Wedding Cakes: Tracing Their Rich History

The history of wedding cakes and the tradition attached to them are rich. Before wedding cakes came to be what they are now, they’ve passed a lot of stages, all of which are equally interesting and intriguing.

Wedding cake

During the Roman times, the concept of elaborate wedding cake decorations and icings was not yet a reality. For instance, the groom is supposed to eat part of the wedding loaf. He would then break the remaining portion and it must be broken over the bride’s head. This symbolizes the groom’s dominance over the bride. This tradition, however, has long been eradicated possibly because of its chauvinistic implications.

Also, in the olden times, small cakes (more like today’s cupcakes) are stacked to form the wedding cakes. The notion of a white wedding cake is also very popular and was connected to affluence. Because ingredients used to make up the white icing are hard to come by, only those who can afford to travel to other places just to get hold of these cake “materials” can come up with white wedding cakes.

Wedding cake

Interestingly, in the 17th century, the idea of sleeping on a piece of cake became very popular. They say that if you put a piece of the wedding cake underneath your pillow, you will dream about your future spouse. In the 18th century, this tradition on wedding cakes evolved into the brides passing tiny cake crumbs through their wedding rings. These crumbs are then placed underneath the pillows.

Later on, the traditional wedding cake slicing that we see today came about. The bride, with the help of the groom, creates two slices, and together, they eat that part of the cake. As this is the first task that that the couple does together, this act symbolizes their never-ending promise of supporting each other for the rest of their married life.

Then came the multi-layered and elaborately designed cakes of many colors that we see today. Wedding cakes are not only white in color; today, the couple can experiment with different colors, usually making it consistent with the theme and the motif of the wedding.

Still, another interesting fact about this tradition is that the couple tries to save the topmost tier of their wedding cakes. They preserve and freeze it for use during their first anniversary. But you don’t get to see this anymore today as the elaborate decorations make the cake more vulnerable.

What proved to be a traditional and simple creation of cakes — or loaves of bread as in the olden times — now became a design extravaganza. Numerous cake and pastry houses specialize on the design of wedding cakes. The internet even has a wide selection of wedding cakes.

In conclusion, just like the wedding ceremony itself, the history and tradition of wedding cakes have come a long way. Some practices have long been eradicated while others survived the test of time and modernity.

If you prefer a traditional wedding, then you’d surely insert some of the practices that survived in the ceremony and at the reception. Otherwise, you can skip these and just go directly to the sole purpose of the occasion. The most important thing however, is that you’ve respected the solemnity of the event and the importance of this sacrament.

BestForBride.com is all about weddings – from wedding favours to designer wedding dresses and wedding cakes. Visit us today.