WEDD INGS
P iece of ca k e ALISON WRIGHT, OWNER OF FITZBILLIES, GIVES HER TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING A CAKE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOUR BIG DAY CELEBRATIONS 1 NUMBER OF GUESTS How many people does the cake need to serve? This sets the size of the cake and number of tiers. Of course,
you can always have an extra cutting cake for a larger wedding. If you’d like a tiered cake for a smaller event, you can always send some cake home with the guests or freeze it for later. The cakes we make most frequently are three tiers to serve around 75 guests. A four-tier cake will serve around 130. For a larger wedding, a five-tier cake will serve up to 200 and then you can add cutting cake. For a smaller wedding, a one- or two- tier cake, beautifully decorated, will make a great centrepiece. Unlike birthday cakes, wedding cakes are usually cut into squares or rectangles across the cake, rather than segments. Your cake maker can advise on a cutting guide, but most venues will be very familiar with how to cut cakes. 2 WHERE & WHEN What is the role of the wedding cake in the day? Where and for how long will it be displayed? When will it be cut? When will it be served? Is it going to be the dessert? Will it be served at the end of a large meal, mid-afternoon before an evening event, or perhaps later in the evening to help revive the flagging guests and keep them dancing? All these factors influence the style of cake and decoration. It would probably not be wise, for example, to display a buttercream cake with fresh flowers in a hot marquee in August. 3 CAKE FLAVOURS With the technical questions settled, we can get down to the enjoyable business of flavours – and taste some cake! What are the bride and groom’s favourites? What do they feel will suit the majority of their guests, and when and where the cake is to be eaten? It should not be too similar to whatever dessert they plan to serve. A sharp, zesty lemon cake is a great summer flavour, a crowd-pleaser and can make a good dessert served with extra berries – but if
“What is the role of the wedding cake in the day?”
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