Dear Bride to-be,
There are many things for you to keep in mind as you search the market for your 'perfect' wedding cake. Consider these questions as your guide in the “wedding cake decision making process.”
How do I choose the right Cake Designer?
Quality is easily calculated when you visit the Designer. Browse through their website or professional portfolio of wedding cakes and taste the cake samples that are offered. Take the opportunity, seek out and listen to what other wedding vendors and clients have to say about a specific cake decorator. Ask for reference from other brides they have worked with.
Cake Size
Cakes come in all shapes and sizes. The most popular shapes are round and square tiers but there are also petal, hexagon, heart shape, octagon, oval, and rectangular shaped cake tins.
Keep in mind that square tiers serve more guests than round tiers. A round cake serving 100 guests will require more than a square cake with the same number of servings.
Cakes have 6”, 8”, 10” 12", 14" 18" and 20" in all the shapes.
A square cake with 6”, 8”, 12” tiers, serves 100 while a round cake of the same size only serves 78. Bear in mind that people cut cake differently. Please see theCake Cutting And Serving Guide Page
Cake size is calculated based on the number of guests. After you’ve made your guest list, you’ll be able to predict the number of people that you expect to actually attend your wedding, then choose your cake size.
bCake Icing
Buttercream and Royal Icing has been predominanly the icing used on cakes but more brides are choosing fondant as the icing for their cakes because it lends itself to much more elaborate designs, it looks much smoother and easier for us as decorators to work with. It is also a more expensive choice as it takes much more time to make and also cost more to buy.
Cake Topper
Many modern Brides have veered away from the traditional Bride and Groom cake toppers. They feel it's old School and they are designing their own, either by using fresh flowers from the Florist, silk flowers, bows and or flowers from gumpaste or fondant (a form of pliable Icing) Many brides are also using monogrammed Initials on the cake top. (see below) These can be made from crystal and other jewelery or beads. As usual it is your wedding and you choose what you want, these are just ideas to help you on your way
 
Grooms Cakes
These days more and more brides are having a cake made for her groom. Groom’s cake can take the shape of a sports he is involved with, such as Cricket Bat or a , Soccer Ball ect. If he likes to wear hats you could make him a cake in the shape of a hat, if he plays the Piano Organ or any musical instruments, you make one in that shape. The bride’s cake is the focus...the groom’s cake is the accent and is always set to the side during the reception but is should be visible and create interest.
Don’t be afraid to get a groom’s cake that is nothing short of original to reflect the groom’s personality. You should be bold and get a cake that will amaze your guests and create a long-lasting memory for your wedding. After all that's part of what it is all about.
Legend says if a young maiden sleeps with a slice under her pillow, she'll dream of the man she will marry :)
Sheet Cakes
What are sheet cakes? A Sheet Cake as we call it, is a seperate cake from the bridal cake that is made in a sheet pan, 2" high, is cut up in smalll pieces, put in a cake box ( with your, your grooms name and your wedding date on the cover) and given to guests at the reception. I have also seen it served with coffee as dessert during the reception. Traditionally, most West Indians want a little piece of cake to take when they are going home as a token of your wedding. Sometimes this bit of cake is shared with the rest of family when they get home.
So as to save money, some brides make no extra sheet cake at all, they make a big enough bridal cake, let the catering hall take it away after the Cake Cutting Ceremony and cut up for the guests. Of course it is your wedding and you will decide what you really want to do. This is just to give you ideas as to what is done sometimes.
Making The Decision For The Bridal Cake
When brides are having trouble choosing a wedding cake design, I always ask them to consider what they liked about the wedding dress they chose. Is the dress simple, elegant, decorative, elaborate….is it white, ivory, or does it have color?
Your cake should reflect the type of wedding you are having. The decisions that you made to choose your dress should also apply to your cake and, I am here I’ll help guide you through this process. If you bring a piece of or a picture of the design on your dress, sometimes I am able to create a design to match your dress.
Don’t hesitate to bring us your ideas, whether it’s a picture of a wedding cake from a magazine or a sketch that you’ve made of your dream cake, we can make the cake you want. We will also have a wide array of bridal cake pictures to show you and do a layout of your cake when you come for consultation.
You should finalize your design, flavor, and cake size and type at least two months before the wedding/reception.
Consultation
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We welcome brides and their moms to come and taste our cakes. Please call for consultation and cake tasting two weeks in advance. When you call please have the following information availabe: Cake size, (size is measured by the amount of guests) color, flavor and a picture or idea of the cake you want. You can also e mail us a picture of the cake beforehand. If you have no idea of the cake you want, we have many books and pictures you can browse through to choose from. We do rum fruit cakes predominantly but we are finding many brides are choosing to incorporate two or more types of cake. This is done especially when two people from different nationality are getting married and each party wants their family members at the wedding, to get the flavor cake they are used to having.
Pricing will be discussed at consultation and will be based on the size and design and difficulty of cake choosen. We only allow three people for consultation. Wedding Planners are welcome when we have a tasting date or they can call to set an appointment.
What We Provide.
We make/bake, decorate and deliver the cake. The bride provides the cake topper, serving utensils and any flowers or other adornments such as candles needed. These must be presented on the cake table on the day of the wedding or given to us beforehand. We deliver to some place in Long Island, or anyplace in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, for a fee.
We have delivery people who can also deliver to other states but this will have to be pre-arranged. Remember, there will be transportation fees involved and with gas prices these days, it is not cheap. We also allow you to arrange to have your cake picked up if we think it will be ok to do so.
Last of all, your wedding planning period is a time for a girl to kick up her heels and have some fun, both with the thought of getting married, the shopping, the planning, the shower and all the attention, so don't take it too seriously. Remember on your wedding day you are the queen for that day. Everyone will be at your beck and call that day and you will be getting all the attention, so enjoy it.. At the end of the day as long as you and the groom get married it's all good. Everything else is just secondary.
CAKE TASTINGS
You will be charged $25.00 for appointment for cake tasting. If you order the cake, the $25.00 will be decducted from the price.
Thanks for looking. Please e mail or call for an appointment Send an e mail with any questions to:
info@caribbeanweddingcake.com or call 718-810-7459
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