Extreme Wedding Cake Makeover Ideas

Are you tired of seeing the traditional three tier wedding cake with simple white frosting and the little bride and groom wedding cake topper. We all know the iconic wedding cake look and feel. If you are after a very formal or classic wedding then this is the exact cake you want. However, today many couples are opting for alternative wedding themes and a more relaxed feeling overall. With popular wedding themes like fairy tales, Dragonflies and other fun and light or even whimsical themes a traditional wedding cake no longer fits correctly in its place. It is nor time to take that old wedding cake out of the closet it and give it a whole new look. America seems to be in love with the idea of a makeover from the hit TV shows like Extreme Body Makeover, Extreme Home Makeover and the ever popular Pimp My Ride America seems to be in a love with makeovers. Well, wedding cakes are no different and today’s couples are going for more unusual, light and fun ideas for wedding cakes. So why not try some of these custom wedding cake ideas.

Creative and Custom Wedding Cake Toppers

There are a ton of different wedding cake toppers on the market today and you are no longer stuck with what your local bakery has. You can now easily shop online and find retailers selling a wide variety of wedding cake toppers. You can have anything from the traditional bride and groom to the whacky and wild. If you are willing to pay a little extra you can get a custom wedding cake topper sculpted out of special non toxic clay like material and created in the likeness of you and your husband. If you are really into a sport or want to show something unique about the two of you as a couple then a custom wedding cake topper is the way to go. The artists can easily make a couple doing just about anything. So if you are avid rock climbers then you can have a bride and groom fashioned in your likeness that are on the top of Yosemite Half Dome, or whatever sport or activity you like.

If you don’t want to be that adventurous then you might want to go for a custom initials wedding cake topper. These are beautiful wedding cake toppers created from your initials and then decorated with small crystals. Whatever you choose there is a wedding cake topper either already made or that can be custom made to fit your wedding theme.

Themed Wedding Cakes

If you just go to your local bakery or even a small wedding cake shop you are likely to just find the standard wedding cake offerings or the traditional cake. However, if you really want to do a wedding cake makeover ask if they can do themed wedding cakes. There are a wide variety of options for a custom wedding cake and some of the ways that you can customize are listed below.

Decorations

If you are not sure about all of this and want to stick somewhat to tradtion then why not go for the traditional cake but add some flare to it through the decorations and frosting. Most wedding cake bakers can add a wide variety of different ornaments and decorations to the wedding cake to really make it stand out. Sure you can go with the traditional shaped cakes like the three tiered circle or even a tiered square cake but that does not mean you can’t go a little crazy and get some interesting decorations put on it with unique frosting ideas. Try to pick up on the theme of the wedding as much as possible.

Sculpted Cakes

Now this is where a custom wedding cake baker really can show off their talents and the types of projects they often love to do. A baker who can do a sculpted cake might take a little work to find however once you find one you are only limited by your ideas. Do you want a big castle wedding cake? They can easily do this to make a fairy tale wedding cake. If you want a beach themed wedding cake why not get a picnic basket or a beautiful sand castle wedding cake. If you are contemplating getting a sculpted cake you can really have any three dimensional design that you can think of. Why not try a hamburger and fries for a fun and light hearted beach wedding cake. The sky is the limited once you get a sculpted cake.

Mini Cakes and Cup Cakes

Again if you don’t quite feel ready to make the commitment to such a grand cake like above and want to keep a little bit on the traditional side yet with a flair of fun why not try a mini wedding cake or even cupcakes. These are fun because they are small individual serving sized cakes that your guests will love. If you are planning on having a small wedding it can be a lot of fun to create personalized mini wedding cakes for the guests.

Whatever you choose always keep in mind that there are options out there to customize, tweak, alter and change just about every factor of your wedding cake. Let you mind wander and have fun a bit and go for something a little different. Always make sure to plan ahead and leave enough time for the baker to do the extra job well. Otherwise you are all set to go with a fun and unique wedding cake that is a definite extreme makeover from the traditional three or five tiered wedding cake.

Charming Valentine's Wedding Cakes

Valentine's Day is one of the most romantic days of the year, and it is a great time to get married. If you are one of the lucky Valentine's brides, then you will surely want to bring some of this romance into the design of your wedding. There are many ideas for creating a charming Valentine's wedding cake.

The traditional colors of Valentine's Day are red, pink, and white, and these are great colors to use on a cake design. You can choose to use just one or two, or go all out and design a cake using all three colors. You can use some of the classic Valentine's motifs, or you can choose a more modern design.

The most old-fashioned and sweet Valentine's motifs include hearts, cherubs and Cupid, and lace. Picture the vintage Valentine's Day cards that were lovingly handmade with pretty pink or red paper and lacy white paper doilies. This would be a fantastic inspiration for your wedding cake. Imagine a cake that is pale pink with red fondant cupids cavorting around the layers.

A very feminine look would be a pale pink cake with an intricate lace or doily design over it. To keep with the idea of old-fashioned femininity, each layer could be trimmed out with a faux pearl border, made to look like timeless pearl bridal jewelry. You could either go with a simple row of frosting "pearls" spaced around the cake, or you could have the baker create a realistic looking strand of pearls with a fancy clasp, strung around the center tier of the cake like its own bridal jewelry (which is a very hot trend in wedding cakes, and a nice way to marry old-fashioned design with current trends).

If you prefer a more bold and graphic wedding cake, then go with a red and white palette. A really fantastic design for a cake would be a strong pattern, such as a jacquard or scroll, done in red fondant over a white cake. This would be a wedding cake that will make a strong focal point for your reception.

More whimsical brides can find other ways to take advantage of a Valentine's theme cake. One of everyone's favorite parts of the holiday is the conversation hearts - those little heart shaped candies that have sayings on them, like "Be mine" or "You're the one". An idea for a very unique and fun wedding cake would be to have a cake in a white or pale pink background color, and then have larger than life conversation hearts done in fondant and scattered around the cake. The hearts should be large, so that they make a bold statement and are easy to read. In addition to the classic conversation heart phrases, be sure to include ones with the names of the bride and groom.

One of the neat things about Valentine's Day is that it means something a little different to each couple. When you are designing your wedding cake, choose a style that expresses your sentiments. Whether you prefer something ultra romantic, sophisticated and a little sexy, or fun and kitschy, you will end up with a unique wedding cake that will wow your guests.

Most Unique Wedding Cakes

Most couples just have a nice, normal wedding, with a nice dress, classic wedding cake, and everything is very beautiful, but nice and normal. There are some people, however, that are a little different and unique, and they choose to show their uniqueness through their weddings. There are only so many ways however, to be distinctive in your wedding. You've really only have the option of a different dress or a different cake, and a lot of people choose to show their diversity through having a very unique wedding cake.

If you truly want your wedding cake to say something different, and you really want to have something at your wedding that your guests will talk about for years to come, you should consider some of these Unique Wedding Cakes for inspiration.

Actor Blair Underwood had a exceptionally unique wedding cake at his wedding. It was a model of the Eiffel tower! It was a six and a half foot affair, with real lights all up and down the tower. This cake has got to be one of the most, if not the most unique wedding cake in the world today. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into it.

One couple had a square wedding cake that had two swans swimming on a pond on top of it, all made out of icing. It was a very elaborate cake, with ribbons and flowers adorning it as well. However, it was only one layer, so some people may not want a cake like this.

Another unique wedding cake one couple had was a "Shrek" cake. This couple must have been big fans of the movie, because their cake was all about the movie, including the Shrek and Princess Fiona figurines on top of the cake! This wedding cake had two layers, and on the bottom layer had an icing design of Donkey and the dragon, the other couple in the Shrek movies!

I have also seen some very unique "box" wedding cakes. I don't mean that these cake were just shaped like a box; one of these wedding cakes was a three layered cake, and each of the layers was decorated like a different present, complete with bows. Another couple had a cake that was shaped and elaborately decorated as an open hat box, with flowers spilling out of it.

One of the most unique wedding cakes that I have seen so far has to be a Chinese wedding cake. It was a three layered red cake, decorated with the most intricate detail and flowers. Another strange wedding cake one couple had was a Phantom of the Opera wedding cake. This one was just one layer, and it was white, black and red, with the white mask sitting on top of black icing, and a red icing "cloth" draped over it.

Another unique and not often used wedding cake idea is a cupcake wedding cake. All you have to do is buy a cupcake tree and bake and decorate cupcakes to place on it.

Things To Remember When Buying Your Wedding Cake

One of the most thought about aspects of any wedding is the wedding cake. Every bride wants their wedding cake to be the focal point of the wedding reception table and something that guests will admire and talk about even after the wedding day.

With so many designs and styles available plus the added option to customize and accessorize your wedding cake to suit your wedding theme the options are truly endless.

Before you embark on enrolling someone with the job of creating your wedding cake it is worth making preliminary decisions before hand. Having an idea of what your budget is and what sort of cake you have in mind could save you a considerable amount of time. Do you know what filling the cake will have? Sponge or fruit cake? Do you want a tiered cake? If so how may tiers do you want for your wedding cake?. Having a few of these details already decided will help both you and the caterer you decide to employ.

Although it is a good idea to have ideas in mind, stay open to suggestions from the professionals, they may suggest something you may never have considered and that something could turn out to be your perfect wedding cake.

When you are ready to see the cake decorator or caterer (most should see you for a consultation free of charge) ask to see photos of their designs and do not be afraid to ask for something different or mix two styles together, most caterers should be happy to oblige.

Most wedding cakes are decorated with white icing but if your theme is pink or a different colour there is no reason why the icing on your wedding cake should not match it.

Once you have chosen the filling for your wedding cake you then need to start thinking about a topper, the days of the imitation plastic bride and groom are long gone! Nowadays these cake toppers can be custom made and created to look exactly like the bride and groom, even down to the brides dress!.

Most wedding cake designers will need all decisions made and finalised three to six months before the event. I would strongly recommend having the wedding cake ordered six months in advance to allow for any changes that may need to be make and piece of mind for you.

You will need to budget well for your wedding cake, remember the cost of the cake is normally separate to the decorator's fee, it is also wise to ask if there is any charge for having the wedding cake delivered so every outlay will be covered in your budget.

What ever design or style you choose the wedding cake plays such an important role in the wedding day, having the perfect wedding cake to slice with your partner will make the day extra special.

After the wedding cake has been cut and enjoyed by the guests remember to keep your wedding cake topper safe, this keepsake will always remind you of your perfect day, and who knows, it could be passed down to your children to use on their special day.

Wedding Cake Candle

When you are looking for a Unique Wedding Favor, sometimes it is easier to look for the aspects of the wedding which make it a memorable occasion. And no bride has ever forgotten the taste of their cake to mark their momentous event. So what better way to remind yourself and your guests the wonderful taste of your cake and the warm feeling associated with your marriage ceremony than by selecting a Unique Favor that will accentuate that fact.

If you find the Wedding Cake Candle on Elegant Porcelain Pedestal in Showcase Gift Box as a Unique Wedding Favor then it can be guaranteed that every time your guests look at it; it is guaranteed that they will remember your wedding with fond memories. This favor Comes with a gleaming candle that expresses your beauty and your love. The candle is also the universal symbol for beauty and warmth.

It comes with an elegant porcelain pedestal 1" tall. The porcelain pedestal is also encased in a sleek black base. It is encompassing and its proportions are guaranteed to capture the eye of your guests. When your guests look at the this wedding favor, they will see and remember your wedding always with the fondest memories.

Your wedding should start with a beautiful theme of style and love, this will show in the reception hall and your guest will see the time and effort that you did to make your wedding wonderful. If you want more ideas on wedding favors or formal ceremony wear you should go online and search because their is an abundance of new ideas waiting for you to see.

Wedding Cake Designs

The design of the traditional wedding cake has varied greatly over time. Once a sign of fertility, the wedding cake of the Roman Empire was made of wheat or Barley. The small cake was then broken over the bride's head, celebrating her fertility.

The design of the wedding cake changed and it became a tradition to pile several small cakes on top of each other. The bride and groom then tried kiss over the top of the cakes without knocking them down. A successful kiss was a good omen, bringing a lifetime of prosperity to the new couple.

The current traditional design of wedding cakes first appeared in the 1660's. A French Chef visiting London attended a cake piling ceremony. He was shocked at the way the cakes were stacked on top of each other, and how often they fell over, so he created the tiered iced style of wedding cake we know today.

The wedding cake is more than just a desert at your reception. It is a symbol of good fortune and married bliss. Your guests always enjoy admiring the wedding cake and devouring the cake too. Even on a limited budget, you can present a beautiful wedding cake. Low cost options could include buying a stacked cake from your local bakery and dressing it up yourself. Ordering a cake from a pastry class at a culinary school could also be an option. There are also supermarkets and wholesale clubs that may offer bargain priced customized cakes.

Humorous Wedding Cake Toppers

Do you want to make your wedding cake really stand out? Typically wedding cakes serve as an important part of the overall decoration at the wedding reception. The wedding cake will be the table centerpiece and a major focal point of the wedding. Therefore it makes sense to spend a little extra time to get a special wedding cake topper. Humorous wedding cake toppers can really be an eye catcher and a great conversational piece for the wedding reception. Just think about it often at a wedding reception long lost friends, distant family and everyone else in your life is simply thrown together and expected to have great conversations. However since many of the people at your reception don’t see each other a a regular basis the conversation is often stale and focused on the weather. Instead why not use a humorous wedding cake topper to spark some great conversation starters and break the ice.

Where To Get Humorous Wedding Cake Toppers

There are a wide variety of wedding cake toppers to choose from and a variety of sources where they can be purchased. If possible one of the quickest and easiest ways to get a unique wedding cake topper is from the bakery where the cake is bought. This is the quickest and easiest way. However the stock of wedding cake toppers at a bakery might not be that great and you might not find what you are looking for. If this is the case one of the best places to turn is the internet. You can either go with a company that focuses on unique wedding decorations or try searching on eBay. There are now numerous companies online that will even make custom wedding cake toppers.

Your Personality

One of the best ways to make your wedding cake topper humorous to get a custom topper infused with your personality. This make the most humors toppers as everyone can enjoy when you poke a little fun at yourself. For example if your husband has been reluctant to tie the knot and seal the deal then a wedding cake topper where the bride is dragging the groom can be very humorous.

Another way to make it humorous is to design the topper around something that you both enjoy together. Do you both love getting out for a round of golf? Or is mountain biking a big part of your life? Whatever your hobbies are try incorporating one of them into your wedding cake topper this can make for a unique topper.

What You Need

If you are planning on getting a custom made topper then you will want to have a few good quality pictures of yourself in a digital format. Simply find the pictures and scan them in. If you do not have a scanner you can always ask a friend or go to a local store that allows you to scan pictures. You can then send these pictures into the company so the sculptor of your topper can fashion the bride and groom to your likeness.

A humorous wedding cake topper is a great way to break the ice and provide a great conversational piece at your wedding reception. People will love a good laugh and the unique topper will really take your wedding cake over the top from the boring traditional cake.

Winter Wedding Cake Ideas

Many couples want to have their wedding in winter-when holiday season is in the air and when the snow and cold weather make everything more romantic. Moreover, this is the time of year when almost all people do not go to work. It is also more fun to go on a honeymoon in winter right after the wedding because almost all countries all over the world are celebrating either Christmas or New Year or both. And in planning a winter wedding, choosing some great winter wedding cake ideas should be at the top of your to-do list.

To help you on this one, here are some cake ideas for your dream winter wedding.

• One great theme for your winter wedding cake is a traditional theme. This theme includes the colors red, green, white, and gold. You can use icings with these colors or cake decorations. Usually, cake decorators use poinsettia or red ribbons design for these winter cakes.

• Another great idea is a rustic or woodsy theme. to achieve this, you need to use designs of natural objects that you usually see outside like pine cones, lanterns grapevines, bird's nests, bird motifs like chickadee, holly leaves, and other natural things usually associated with Christmas. Use these to designs to decorate a white cake base.

• When you think of winter, what immediately comes to mind is Christmas. In decorating your winter wedding cake, think about Christmas symbols or objects such as snowflakes, holly, wreath, mistletoe, poinsettia, reindeer, Christmas bells and candles, stars, pie trees, and a lot more. You can use these to decorate the wedding cake but do not overdo it or your cake will look more like a Christmas cake than a wedding cake. Add a touch or romance like hearts, ribbons, or flowers. Do not use childish Christmas symbols like Santa Claus or candy cane.

• One of the best winter wedding cake ideas is a winter wonderland cake motif. The combination of white, silver, and ice blue shouts winter wonderland. Decorate it with ribbon and flower designs to make it more romantic.

• Use winter characters like penguins, polar bears, reindeer, and birds. Decorate your cake with a pair of these animals. Nothing can be cuter than a pair of these adorable characters on your cake.

• If you a re planning to use a round cake with several layers, you should decorate it with snowballs, snowflakes, or bells. Another popular option is a cake that looks like a stack of gift boxes. Red ribbons are the usual designs of this kind of cake.

• Think about a great and romantic cake topper. You can use a snow globe with a bride and groom inside. This is probably the perfect cake topper for a winter wedding cake.

These are just some of the winter wedding cake ideas that most bakeshops and cake decorators use these days. There are so many other cake ideas out there for a winter wedding. Choose the best one based on your wedding theme and also you and your partner's preference.

Wedding Cake Decorations

Weddings are a significant event in the lives of most people, and the wedding cake is usually one of the main vocal points of the celebration. The couple have decided to be joined as one is the greatest achievement in a romantic relationship. Their lives are going great the happiness, the joy that their new found love has brought them is incredible. Except for the planning and preparation of the wedding ceremony, although this can be enjoyable it can also be highly stressful.

Every couple wishes to have the perfectly designed wedding cake, although the brides can run wild with ideas and thoughts on how to 'glam' up their special cake. It's important to be prepared and organize your cake and decorations early on. It can be helpful to understand some of the common wedding cake decorations that one has to pick from. Wedding cake decorations allow a couple to have a great sense of style and individuality to their cake.

One of the more popular decorations is freshly cut flowers. The trends and colors of the fresh flowers used as the wedding cake decorations can be co-ordinated to the bride's entourage and the colors of the marriage reception. If you will be using fresh flowers as the wedding cake decorations, provide the florist shop at least two weeks' time so that they will have plenty of time to get the flowers. Try to ensure to utilize a florist well known with cake decorating, as few flowers are toxic and should not be utilized on food.

Another popular cake decoration in a traditional wedding is a cake topper. To use a cake topper is not mandatory. However this can be a great highlight to be seen on your cake. A lot of couples choose personalized cake toppers to show both of their personalities. Common cake toppers feature the couple in their formal wedding outfit. However, different kinds of designs, themes and style are available today in most specialty stores. Material bows and ribbons can also be used to build aesthetic wedding cake decorations and can emphasis the bride's dress attractively.

These are just few of the great wedding accessory options. There are still plenty of wonderful wedding ideas you may choose to decorate your special day with such as wedding party favors.

Selecting and Buying Your Wedding Cake

One of the most crucial and important parts of planning one's wedding is finding the best wedding cake. If your idea of a wedding is pleasing your guests, as well as yourselves, then a wonderful cake is one of the aspects of a wedding that guests remember.

Finding the Perfect Wedding Cake is a task that should be given adequate time and attention. There are many cake decorators available in the industry which offer a variety of offerings that anyone can choose from. Buyers can go directly to their shops and browse through their catalogs to find the one that they want. If the catalog does not contain a preferred choice, you can even ask for a personalized one with their own design and preferences.

In order to get the best value though, you must first know your budget limitation or how much of the wedding expenses are allotted to the cake itself. The budget would determine what kind can be available for you to choose from. Prices vary depending on their ingredients particularly what kind of base it would be decided upon. The icing also varies from one to another.

Knowing this information before consulting providers would save an individual a good amount of time and money as well. With these preferences ready, wedding cake decorators would already have an idea which to offer an individual client. However, this does not mean that what a buyer wants would always be the final product. Buyers should be open with suggestions from the makers and decorators since they know the issues better than anyone else! They would be in the right position to determine whether what a buyer wants is feasible, practical and pleasing.

Wedding Cakes

Your Wedding Cake is the most important cake you’ll ever order from a bakery. You need to get it ordered and get it done right. You wedding cake needs to be beautiful and perfect for your special day.

Tips on getting the perfect wedding cake:

1. Ask any friends of family if they have a trusted baker. You may have recently attended someone else’s wedding. If the cake was great, ask them which bakery they used. Go with a baker that has happy customers that recommend them.

2. Ask the baker if you can taste samples of cakes and icings. You need to decide on the cake flavor, icing in between layers, and outer icing.

3. Bring photographs or pages from bridal magazines with you. A picture IS worth a thousand words. So, if you have something in mind already, show the baker a picture. It’s easier than trying to explain everything in words.

4. Pick your cake top out ahead of time and bring it with you to the baker. Some cake tops are heavy and may need special consideration or support. The cake topper may look too small or big for the cake you had in mind. The baker can help you with sizing of the top cake.

5. Ask the baker how far in advance they bake the cake and how far in advance they frost it. You want the freshest possible wedding cake, but not a last minute cake either.

6. If you have special decorations like pillars, columns, cake tops, flowers, etc., find out if there are extra charges. Most likely there will be extra fees if you have an elaborate setup.

7. Ask about the setup and delivery options and charges. Don’t send a friend or relative to pick up your cake please! Let the professional baker deliver it and set it up.

If you stick to these suggestions and guidelines, you’ll choose a baker that will create a lovely and delicious cake for your special day.

Getting Prepared For The Wedding Cake

In history, wedding cakes served to symbolize the abundance of blessings the couple will share in the future. Traditional practice includes the bride and groom serving caking to each other. This act symbolizes their commitment to serve each other, to protect and to hold, and all the other things they say in their wedding vows. In other cultures, it’s tradition for a bride to serve cake to the members of the groom’s family to signify that she has become part of their family, and with this gesture, she shows that she’s willing to do her role.

One has to remember that the cake is a big part of the celebration, and that everyone would remember it. Thus, personal touch is required to make the celebration memorable and unique. Ideally, getting married is a once in a lifetime experience, so every measure must be made to make it special. One way of doing it is by choosing the perfect cake for the occasion.

Planning your wedding cake is relatively easy but it’s not quite as simple. For starters, one has to consider how big the cake should be. That would depend on how many guests are expected, assuming the cake is served at the wedding of course. In some cases, the cake only serves for the ceremonial tradition, and is taken home by the couple after. But a larger cake would also allow them to share parts of it with their guests during and after the ceremony. What makes a wedding cake unique from other cakes is that it’s made with several layers or tiers. It is also heavily decorated with icing, which can be made from simple sugar and egg whites, a butter cream mix, or fondant. Among weddings cakes, the ones made with fondant are the ones with the best taste and the most intricate designs. The design of the cake depends on what the bride wants, which can range from a traditional one (like that of ivory design with hearts and ribbons) to practically anything the bride’s creativity can create. Wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes, and are usually topped with figurines of the bride and groom. Of course, the couple may also opt to top it with figurines of a different sort like a couple performing a common hobby or sport.

Actually, there are two kinds of wedding cake, the more popular and more common of which is the bride’s wedding cake (the cake served at the reception). The groom’s wedding cake is a smaller one, which in most cases is optional. A groom’s wedding cake is commonly dark, usually chocolate, or a rum soaked cake like a fruitcake to illustrate a masculine taste. These cakes serve to illustrate what the groom likes in the same way the bride’s cake does for the bride.

The Cake Winter Wedding Cake Candle

Icing on the cake winter wedding cake candles are a very exclusive seasonal wedding favor. You can find these wedding favors online at any wedding store available, but let me tell you a bit about this wonderful seasonal wedding favor that I thought really brought a great design and look teach wedding reception.

I found that the icing on the cake winter wedding favor was a great monumental memento of your special day for each and every guest to take home with them. The wedding cakes came in a glamorous clear see-through box with a beautiful white silk ribbon tied around it and a thank you tag that match the ambiance of the design. Each cake had a pure white snowflake decorate frosty blue icing on a three-tier layer that captivated the candle rest on a white porcelain platter. The beautiful and elegant wedding favor takes the cake, no pun intended. Beautifully presented this wedding favor with. A thank you tag to match measures at a 2 inch and 0.5 x 2 inch design.

If this winter wedding favor captivates you and strikes your interests. I have listed some information for you to find it be seasonal, wedding reception will design below. I think that this wedding fare is one of the better ones that I have seen available online today, if you feel that you would like to find more information on this beautiful classy elegance wedding favor. So free to go below and find it. high place several different informational guides to help you find that right wedding favor and wedding gift to give to each and everyone in your guests.

Cheap Wedding Cake Ideas

Cheap wedding cake ideas normally involve spending hours in the kitchen creating your masterpiece. This is fine if you are a talented cook or have friends and family that are, if you don't then this could add to your wedding day stress. Stress is something to be avoided!

The cheats way to having a beautiful cheap wedding cake is to buy your cake, now that wasn't too much of a surprise but I don't mean the perfect cake that is going to cost you hundreds. What you need to buy is plain pre-iced cakes - different sizes if you want tiers and cupcakes if you want a cupcake tower. The way you are going to make them your own is by decorating.

Have a look through wedding magazines and online and you will find that mostwedding cakes are either unusual or simple.

The unusual cakes are really cakes that you would not associate with a wedding, deep cheesecakes and chocolate gateaux spring to mind. The good thing about choosing this style is that it can easily be your wedding dessert and therefore saving you money on your wedding breakfast. You need to think about how you are going to display these cakes - the easiest way is to hire a cakestand with support for the individual layers and then you don't have to worry about stacking the cakes. If you went to a local baker and ordered 3 cheesecakes in different sizes it will cost you a fraction on the price of a normal wedding cake from the same shop. Cheesecakes are tasty but the traditional cake is normally thinner than you would want, so that it looks good in photos ask for it to be make deeper. To avoid the cheesecake spilling over the sides you can decorate the cake side with lady fingers or charlotte
sponges and then add more fruit to decorate each layer. Bunches of berries tumbling over the edge looks lovely.

Chocolate gateaux look great as wedding cakes and you can add your personal touch by decorating the sides with chocolate matchsticks or chocolate fingers then make chocolate shavings to scatter over the top. Berries look great with chocolate to add a touch of colour.

For those of you wanting a more traditional cake then it is worth going to the supermarkets and choosing their celebration cakes, these come pre-iced and on board ready to either stack or decorate.

For a very simple and beautiful look use flowers either real or sugar crafted. There are lots of people who love to create decorations with sugar craft, so ask around, somebody will know somebody!

Another way to decorate your cake is to use sugary crystallised petals and they are very easy to make yourself. You will need organic rose petals, egg whites slightly beaten and caster sugar. Brush the petals with the egg whites and then coat very generously with sugar, place them on a
plate to dry overnight. You can use this process with fruit and leaves and it looks stunning. No one will know how easy it was.

The best way to come up with more cheap wedding cake ideas is to find your ideal wedding cake and then work out how you can re-create the look using shop bought cake and your imagination!

Who Should Make Your Wedding Cakec

One of the most crucial and important parts of planning one's wedding is finding the best wedding cake. It may seem a simple choice but the correct cake can really help the ceremony and festivities stand out in your mind and make the day memorable. There are a number of options that you may need to consider with respect to your cake provider.

So, what are the customers' options when buying wedding cakes? There are a few options available. Should the cake be made by the hotel (or ceremonial hall provider) or by the specialist cake manufacturer? Some reception halls or venues have their own in-house wedding cake provision that is part of the wedding reception packages. It is a very economical way of having a wedding cake. But, the standard MAY not be so high although it is more convenient as transportation is not necessary.

Another option is of course the regular baker which is not part of the reception hall package. Before choosing this option, it would be best to clarify with the reception hall if they allow off-site made wedding cakes to be served in their reception halls to avoid inconvenience and misunderstanding during the actual wedding reception day. Professional bakers may cost a bit more and, of course, there is the issue of transportation to the venue, but the quality and service is likely to be top notch and suitable for you big day.

The last option that one can choose to take is to have their wedding cake made by friends or relatives who know about cake making either as a business or as a hobby. This is an economical and convenient way of having wedding cakes prepared for a wedding. However, you must consider that you have little redress if something goes wrong or if friendships or relationships break down.

Decorating Wedding Cupcake Towers

If you wanting to break away from tradition or a traditional wedding cake is out of your budget you need not worry, there is a simple & elegant alternative. The idea of using wedding cupcake towers has become a very popular wedding dessert option, and will be sure to wow your guests. If you are thinking about making your own wedding cupcake tower simplicity is the answer.

There are many great benefits to having a cupcake tower instead of having a traditional tiered wedding cake. Firstly and most importantly the greatest benefit is everyone enjoys a nice tasting cupcake. Cupcakes also give you the option to have a variety of different flavors throughout your wedding cupcake tower easily. Which can have all your guests raving about your elegant centerpiece. Also if your not into the more formal wedding celebration cupcakes are a more casual approach then a formal cake, which makes them a sensational dessert for a more relaxed wedding.

When planning on the flavors to add to your cupcake tower, you should plan on having plenty of the classic chocolate and yellow butter cupcakes throughout the tower. As these are always a hit. Moving on from there, try and go with a seasonal flavor. So what are some of the benefits of having a cupcake tower for your wedding dessert? There's no mess to clean up, less staff needed as there is no cake cutting. Guests can choose the most appealing cupcake to them making it a bit more personalized. Simplicity is the key it decorating disasters can easily be hidden and can be assembled at the last minute. You can delegate the job of preparing the cupcakes to a friend or family member if you decide not to make it yourself or can't afford to have it made by a baker.

Wedding cupcakes don't have to be technical, elaborate designs just a yummy treat. When decorating, fresh flowers are a popular addition. Fresh flowers can be easily intertwined in between the cupcakes. Edible decorations also make an elegant looking decoration, these can wedding cake decorations can be made beforehand which will save on time and will bring some real class and added color to your wedding. Don't be mistaken though these cupcakes shouldn't be like the tiny little ones you baked at school, they should be elegant and bursting with flavor. Most brides decide to have their wedding cupcake towers coordinate with their jewelry and bridal attire. If your one of those brides that enjoy the glitz and glamor of crystal bridal jewelry you might enjoy having a shimmer powder sprinkled over your cupcakes. However if your more into the pearl sort of bridal jewelry, you might prefer to have a nice little white frosting bow with a small white frosting pearl perched in the center.

Once you've decided on your finished cupcake design, all that's left to do is to figure out how you'd like them to be displayed. If you find yourself to be a bit of a craft lover, making your own cupcake tower is a fairly easy accomplishment. Another popular and elegant way to display your beautiful cupcakes is to collect some white or silver vintage tiered stands and place the cupcakes atop them on the reception table, that way they can also double as the centerpieces.

Wedding cupcake towers are definitely a thing that will stick with future weddings as an alternative to traditional wedding cakes. More and more couples are coming to the conclusion that they are to fun and easy to resist. So if your looking for a wedding dessert thats fresh and new,that your guests will love give a wedding cupcake tower a try on your special day.

Popular Wedding Cakes For Celebrity Weddings

When people are trying to figure out what kind of a wedding cake that they want at their reception, they sometimes do some research on what their favorite celebrities have had at their weddings. There are a lot of different options available out there for cakes, and even if your favorite celebrity's cake costs forty thousand dollars to make, this doesn't mean that an experienced cake maker can't make a cheaper copy of it for you. Some of the most popular wedding cakes out there are pretty elaborate and expensive, but don't get discouraged by these facts; there are many great caterers out there who will be able to design a great cake for your big day.

Donald Trump and Melania Knauss had an impressive five foot high, fifty pound, seven tiered orange and white wedding cake that had three thousand white icing roses on it. Obviously, not many people will want to be quite as elaborate as that with their cake! Donald Trump was probably expected to go all out with everything in his big day, and he has enough money to cover any costs. If you like the sound of his cake though, you could probably scale it down to a regular size, and still be able to afford it.

Hip hop artists Kalis and Nas had a five tiered wedding cake that was covered in sugar roses and gilded in twenty four karat gold! There aren't too many people out there who would want to spend that kind of money on their cake, or even on their whole wedding for that matter.

Celebs Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis' wedding cake was a popular one. They had a four tier cake that was designed to look like four Tiffany's boxes, all painted robin's egg blue. The store must have appreciated the celebrity endorsement.

The now split up couple, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen had a multi flavored wedding cake that was quite popular. The cake had three layers: chocolate fudge, banana cream and white satin. This must have been appreciated by their guests, because most people like at least one of those flavors. This kind of cake would probably be the cheapest celebrity cake to replicate, and it would be very popular among your guests.

Leanne Rimes and Dean Sheremat's wedding cake was a five foot, multi tiered, white chocolate and strawberry cake that was decorated with over thirty five dozen roses. This cake was a very popular and much talked about cake, and would again, not be too hard to make, as long as you cut down on the size and the amount of the roses used!

When Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro got married, they had a four tiered wedding cake that was layered with Oreo cheesecake, chocolate cake, and strawberry shortcake. It was decorated with the same crystals that Carmen had on her wedding dress.

Any of these cakes can be the inspiration for your wedding cake, as long as you don't mind compromising on a few things to make it more affordable. However, if you can afford it, go all out and spend the money to have one if these popular wedding cakes.

Finding the Perfect Wedding Cake Topper

By no means are wedding cake toppers a central element in a wedding. But, at the same time, they are one of the primary things that attendees remember about the marriage years after it has taken place. Wedding cake toppers are a form of keepsake that many families will pass down to their heirs over the centuries. And that's why you'll often see brides spending so much time agonizing over the many choices available while trying to find the "perfect" wedding cake topper.

The dripless candle wedding dessert topper is one of the more popular wedding cake toppers. It's especially perfect for an outdoor beach wedding held in an atmosphere with mild breezes. It also is relatively inexpensive when compared with other type of cake toppers. You'll find these types of toppers available in many custom shapes and the long burning candles can last as long as three days.

Some couples just have to be creative and just can't see themselves settling for one of the many standard cake toppers that can be found at thousands of other weddings. If you are such a creative type and you have a bit more money to spend as well, you can opt to have a custom wedding cake topper designed for your wedding. Your choice can be humorous or serious -the tone doesn't matter. What is important, however, is that your custom cake topper design expresses something about yourselves as a couple. If not, why do it?

Other couples are simple traditionalist and would think that it's sacrilege to even consider parting with the ways of the past simply to indulge their creativity and passions. For these couples, the choice is easy. The "right" glass, porcelain or other type of wedding cake topper can be easily decided on by simply choosing one that you like from a catalog of the most popular cake topper designs.

Couples that just can't be bothered to be serious may find a humorous wedding dessert topper more to their liking. These couples can choose from toppers diverse as Mickey and Minnie Mouse to swashbuckling sea and space pirates. Just be aware that whatever "humorous" images you choose will follow you and your soon to be spouse around for the whole of your marriage.

It used to be that you could only find wedding toppers for straight couples. But today, gay and lesbian couples have wedding cake topper choices as well. While not as extensive as traditional male/female toppers - more are working themselves into the mainstream every day. Gay couples can find man/man toppers with two men in tuxedos atop the cake. Lesbian couples can find cake toppers consisting of two brides in wedding dresses or tuxedos.

No matter who you are, you can be sure that the perfect wedding dessert topper is out there for you. Just keep in mind that this part of the wedding ceremony is meant to be fun. If you keep that attitude in mind, your wedding is bound to be perfect.

Five Best Wedding Cake Decoration Ideas

After a wedding ceremony, it is very common to serve invited guests with wedding cake as dessert. A good and presentable wedding cake decoration comes from the creativity and ideas of the cake decorator. In the decoration process, planning is the most crucial part. Apart from the taste, it is very important that the cake looks elegant, loyal and grand.

Classic Elegance decoration style is built on three-tiered length base. The cake is iced with off-white fondant and decorated with beautiful fresh cream scroll work. It is topped with a cluster of cream flowers and other wedding cake accessories such as ribbons are placed at the surrounding of the cake.

In Classic Romantic Heart design, the cake is built on round shape stand with maximum of 3 tiers in height. The design features two love crystal hearts and a pairs of dove on the top of the cake. The cream color of the cake should be in pearl white. The top layer of the cake is decorated with crystal hearts and dove; both are considered as the elegant sign for everlasting love.

Forever Love Red Roses decoration idea used red fresh roses as its main attraction. The cake usually is square or rectangular in shape with several tiers. Dowels and cake separator are used between tiers. The cake frost is in pearl color and the cake base is in white color. Cream color royal icing is used to make roses and dots.

Orchid White Fondant Natural wedding cake decoration idea emphasizes on natural born love and comes in multiple tiers. The cake has multiple folded layers of greenish scroll work. The white fondant for the cake is garnished with spotted purple orchids and always avoids detailed table decorations as the cake itself is much complicated and detailed.

The Fresh Fruit Royal Icing wedding cake is built on the original love message that bridegroom needs to deliver to the bride. The cake is covered in marzipan and layered with fondant fresh white icing. Royal icing and simple scroll work are also added to the cake decoration. The top layer should consist of not more than three types of fruits. The fruits colors should be contrast as the base of the cake is in white.

Beach Wedding Cakes

Looking for beach theme wedding cake ideas?

When it comes to wedding cakes, long gone are the days of following tradition. Since you are considering a beach theme wedding cake, you are obviously not a slave to those traditions.
So...let's stray from the "norm" and be adventurous!

One thing to remember...there are no rules! If there are...well, rules are made to be broken. Your beach theme wedding cake can be anything you want it to be!

What Size?

How many guests are you planning to have? If you have your cake made professionally it can range in price anywhere from $2.00 to $15.00 per slice. A "slice" is normally considered to be 2 ounces or, approximately 4" x 2". The range in price will depend on how much intricate detail you want on it. If the cake you choose is very labor intensive, you can expect higher prices. If you are on a tight budget, keep it simple!

What Shape?

A Beach Theme Wedding Cake can be any size, shape or description. Be creative. If you have an idea for your cake, sketch it out on paper and take it to that talented friend, relative or your chosen bakery. If you can imagine it, someone can make it!

Do not limit your thinking to a two or three tier cake. It can be round, square, a sheet cake, a sculpted cake, individual mini cakes, cupcakes or even cookies! Some brides even choose a one or two layer, individual wedding cake on each guest table rather than the traditional large cake at the head table. This is a nice idea because it also serves as the table centerpiece. This eliminates the added expense associated with having a wedding centerpiece at each table!

A couple of things to keep in mind though...

* Since your reception may be on the beach, consider the sun! If you are having a dawn or dusk ceremony, heat from the sun will probably not be a major factor. However, if you are having your wedding midday, consider an "ornamental" cake. By that I mean, not edible with the exception of perhaps the bottom layer if you and the groom plan to cut it. You don't want your creation to melt!

* Consider draping your cake in a decorative manner with tulle to keep the bugs and sand out of it. It would be beautiful yet practical.

* Purchase decorative, individual cake boxes. Fill them and perhaps tie your wedding program or thank you to them with ribbon. Keep them in a cooler until time to pass them out to your guests. They will serve as your wedding favor, killing two birds with one stone!

* Make your own beach theme wedding cake! Look inside the next "DuncanHines" cake mix you buy. The instruction for making baking tiered cakesare in there! You can do it. If you can't, I'll bet you know a friend who could! In EVERY town there is a friend or a "friend of a friend" who makes beautiful wedding cakes. It's a hobby for them. They love doing it! Of course they still want to be paid, but not the ridiculous prices that a professional will charge you.

Preparing the Perfect Wedding Cake

I have come up with various ways of making extra money in order to supplement the family income throughout the years. For instance, I have typed term papers for students. However, this service is no longer profitable because we are now in computer age. I have also baked pans of bars for special events to help a local caterer. I also do special occasion cakes to earn extra money. I usually bake these cakes for birthday parties, retirement parties and anniversaries of the people I know. I willingly use different flavored cake mixes and a variety of fillings in the layer cakes. I am getting quite a few requests because my cakes are unique and tasty.

Since she was a little girl, my godchild has been the number one fan of my cakes. Every year since she was born, I have been making her birthday cake. I also made her first communion cake, confirmation cake and graduation cake. It came as no surprise to me when she asked me to make her wedding cake.

I was a bit apprehensive because I had never made one before. I had always declined the requests to bake this kind of cake through the years. This is because I was concerned since I do not have the right pans to bake a wedding cake, and I do not have the frosting skills needed for such an important event.

I explained to my godchild that I could not do her wedding cake because of these reasons. However, she told me that she did not want the traditional wedding cake with tiers and fancy piping and flowers. She wanted several individual layer cakes of different flavors and fillings. This is because she was planning to have the cakes displayed on a table with different height cake plates. The cake that she and the groom would cut also has to be her favorite flavor.

I was still apprehensive about doing it, even if she gave me an interesting idea for a wedding cake. You see, I did not feel that my decorating skills were good enough to be displayed and photographed as part of an event as important as a wedding. However, my godchild would not take no for an answer. She went on and told me what flavor combinations she wanted and which fillings. She also told me that she was not ordering any other wedding cake. She would not have any if I did not make the cakes, so I was forced to make the cakes she ordered.

I loaded all the cakes into my car on the morning of the wedding. I then drove to the banquet center where the reception was to be held. My godchild has prepared a separate table set up with different pedestal plates of varying heights to place the cakes on. I have to admit that the cakes looked very nice once I had arranged them all. Three of my godchild’s friends ask if I would make a wedding cake arrangement for their weddings during the reception. This could be the start of a new business.

Save Money on Your Wedding Cake

Wedding cakes are expensive. Wedding anything is expensive. It seems like once you attach the word "wedding" itself to anything, the price automatically doubles. Well, one place you can save some dough is on the cake.

On a visit to a local bakery in my area, I saw the most mouthwatering display of cakes and pastries I have ever seen in my life. Having been to this bakery a few times, I knew the prices were relatively reasonable. I grabbed a list of their wedding cake prices and after further inspection realized that the same cake, displayed differently (in tiers) and for a different purpose (a wedding), was double the price. Here are my suggestions for locating a good cake at a great price.

• First find a good local bakery that offers cakes and pastries in different sizes. Why? The last thing you want to do is go in and say "wedding". If the bakery offers small cakes and pastries, you can go in and buy one to sample before you place an order for your big day.
• Never ask for a tasting. The tasting only gives the bakery salesperson an opportunity to sell you a dream of a cake that is probably too big for your budget anyway. After adding up all the extras for basket weave icing and individual flowers, your cake will probably be an overdone monstrosity that doesn't even match the atmosphere of your event. And, requesting a tasting is a dead give away that the cake is for a wedding. No one ever asks to sample a cake for a birthday or family reunion.
• Get a price list in advance and go home to review it. Don't discuss anything in the bakery. You don't want the staff to overhear you gushing about chair covers and lavender overlays.
• Be willing to make some concessions. Who says a wedding cake has to be tiered? If you really want to save some money, go for a well decorated sheet cake. These are just simpler to put together by the bakery staff and they have less logistical challenges. You can always jazz it up with fresh flowers (pesticide free) the day of.
• Get someone to pick up the cake for you. If the bakery's delivery fee is too hefty, assign the task of picking up the cake to a couple of responsible, non-accident prone people. Have them bring the cake directly to the reception site the day of.

So here is my final price comparison for a cake for 100 people. A tiered wedding cake is $395. Add $15 for columns, $35 for a wooden base, and an extra $25 if you want a basket weave treatment on the frosting. Any extra roses or sugar flowers can cost anywhere from $2.50-$10 each. So in the end we have a cake that will easily cost close to $5 per serving. Try my tips and instead order two sheet cakes that serve a total of the same 100 guests. The total cost for the sheet cakes is $197 or less than $2 per serving!

That is an awesome savings and remember, our tiered wedding cake and our sheet cake are the same flavor. Bottom Line? Save money on the cake and invest the difference in your future.

Ideas For Your Wedding Cake

A Tier Cake Stand is used to support the various levels of a cake. It is traditionally used for weddings, but some people also make festive tier cakes for birthdays and other themed parties as well. There are various numbers of tiers on cake stands, usually two or three. You can have more tiers for a fancy cake, but traditionally, the smaller cakes are more common. You can select from many varieties and sizes, like the 2 tier stand or the 3 tier stand. You can use these sizes to complement your wedding cake, be it contemporary or traditionally elegant.

Cake tier stand sizes run from about eight inches across to twenty-five inches in diameter, although specialized cake stands can be made to accommodate almost any size cakes, including cupcakes. There are different finishes for cake stands, like porcelain and glass, to name a couple. They can be "stacked" at many different heights, to allow for the different sizes of cakes placed on them.

A wedding cake stand is often elegant and beautiful. There are designs that incorporate iron and ceramic, or other finishes, to create a one of a kind cake. These are available with a variety of tier numbers and sizes, so that each cake can be a custom work of art. A tier stand for a wedding cake will allow the baker more shapes and sizes to style the cake in.

One very Elegant Wedding Cake tier stand is made with glasses and metal. The stand shows off a look of sculptured metal and frosted glass. This type of cake stand may look simple, but it is, in actuality, elegant looking. This type of stand is not expensive to purchase, so you can have a memorable wedding cake on a budget.

The silk wedding cake stand uses a five tier buffet server accented with glass plates. This is another stand that is simple and inexpensive, but nice-looking, with finials decorating the top. You can include extras on any wedding cake you have designed. You are only limited by the money you have to spend and the quality cake bakers you can find in your area.

A glass cake stand will be an elegant addition to your collection of fine tableware, long after your wedding is a happy memory. There are different types of glass tiered cake stands, and you are not even limited to round styles - you can find tiers of other shapes, as well. They can also range from simple clear glass to ruby red coloring, with many additional options for patterns and colors.

A wedding bead cake stand is quite a classic stand used along with a jewelry or artwork design. This styling of wedding cake stand lets you incorporate cake designs from contemporary to traditional. This type of cake stand can also be used for many different styles and sizes of cakes. The number of tiers will affect the cost. The more tiers you include, the higher the price will be. A Tier Cake Stand can make an elegant statement at your wedding reception, with its detail and styling.

Delicious Wedding Cupcake Towers

If the traditional wedding cake just is not your style, there is a wonderful alternative. The cupcake tower has become a very popular wedding dessert, and it is sure to delight your guests. Here are some ideas about how to plan for the most charming and delicious wedding cupcakes towers ever!

There are many things that are great about having a cupcake tower instead of a standard wedding cake. The most important one is that everyone loves cupcakes. Cupcakes also give you the freedom to mix and match different flavors very easily, which will make your guests even happier. Plus, cupcakes are more lighthearted and fun than a formal cake, which makes them a terrific dessert for a casual wedding.

When you are having cupcakes, you will be able to choose a variety of flavors. Certainly, you should plan on having plenty of the classic yellow butter and chocolate cupcakes on hand. From there, why not think about including one or two interesting seasonal flavors? A lemon cake is lively and refreshing for spring; at a summer wedding, a light-as-air angel food cupcake would be wonderful; fall brides can serve up a warm and cozy pumpkin spice cupcake; for a winter wedding, a gingerbread cupcake will get everyone in the holiday spirit. There are even more cupcake varieties available. Red velvet is popular with Southern brides, and brides can also consider some other delicious fruit flavored cakes like strawberry, banana, or even key lime.

Frosting is the next step, and the key is to have lots of it. These are not the puny little cupcakes with a smear of canned frosting that you took to school on your birthday in the fifth grade. Oh no; wedding cupcakes should definitely be scrumptious and decadent. To that end, be sure that your cupcakes have a tasty frosting mountain on top of the cake. Vanilla, chocolate, and white chocolate are the most popular frosting flavors, but you can also dabble in some of the specialty varieties like rich cream cheese frosting or a light whipped cream topping.

Your cupcakes should be as beautifully decorated as the rest of your wedding, and there are infinite possibilities. If you choose a vanilla frosting, it can be custom colored to match your wedding colors. From there, you will want to think about choosing a special adornment for the top of each cupcake. As with wedding cakes, flowers are a favorite choice for cupcake decorations. You can choose from fresh flowers (dainty pansies look especially nice), classic buttercream flowers, or handmade sugar flowers (the most costly of the three). A whimsical alternative to flowers is butterflies or ladybugs.

Many brides like to have their wedding dessert coordinate with their bridal attire and jewelry. If you are a pearl bridal jewelry kind of gal, then cupcakes decorated with a pert little frosting bow with a tiny white frosting pearl in the center would be adorable. Brides who prefer the glitz and sparkle of crystal bridal jewelry will love the effect of having a shimmer powder dusted over each cupcake. Other popular choices for the wedding cupcake toppings include monograms, hearts, and beach themed accents like starfish.

Once you have settled on your finished cupcake design, all you need to do is decide how you would like them to be displayed. If you are a crafter, making your own cupcake tower is a fairly easy project involving not much more than some Styrofoam circles and decorative trim (look at a site like Martha Stewart Weddings for detailed instructions). Another lovely way to display beautiful wedding cupcakes is to collect an assortment of white or silver vintage tiered stands and place the cupcakes on them on each reception table. The fun thing about this is that the cupcakes on their gorgeous stands can double as the centerpieces.

Cupcakes are definitely here to stay as an alternative to wedding cakes. More and more couples are deciding that they are just too fun to resist. So if you are looking for a wedding dessert that is festive and that your guests will love, give a cupcake tower a try.

Perfect Wedding Cake Toppers

Wedding cake toppers are an interesting tradition. Especially in the last century, American brides and grooms have been adorning the tops of their wedding cakes with little figurines.

These days, cake toppers are not just limited to figurines. Cake toppers are becoming a way for couples to express their personalities and style. At least that is what you should be doing. If you just throw on a cheap, plastic, cake topper just for the sake of having one, it will definitely look tacky.

The newest trend is to have unique and custom wedding cake toppers. These could be something modern such as a monogram. Or they could be something funny. Either way, they should be something that is special to the couple.

Monograms are a very hot trend. The design is customized how you want it. It can be a large swirled design with initials on top, or just a single letter. Then they are decorated to match the style of the reception. You can just paint it. The hot thing to do is to put colored rhinestones all over it.

If you are more traditional, a unique idea would be to put a vintage wedding cake topper on your cake. Maybe you can either use or replicate your parents' cake topper. This is a good way to have a traditional style, but still add a personal and sentimental touch.

Some people prefer to go for style over sentimentality. If you have a theme or elaborate reception decorations, it is essential to coordinate the cake with the style. Flower arrangements, lighting effects etc can all be used for this purpose. Of course, the perfect cake topper would be a combination of style and personality of the bride and groom.

Wedding Cake Prices Increasing Rapidly

If a wedding is in your future then wedding cake prices are of concern to you. It is an important part of the wedding planning. Today's weddings usually have a grooms cake in addition to the standard cake.

The traditional cake will be chosen by the bride. The groom's will usually represents his hobbies or interests. This is usually much smaller than the traditional one. Wedding cake prices have increased because of having both of these sweet treats being completely different. The traditional cakes were several layers and usually round with a white icing and flowers of the wedding colors.

With more advances in cake decorating and the addition of fondant, options in cakes is extreme. Have you ever considered decorating the cake yourself? This would allow more control over what you would want. It will also save you a lot of money. If you look at some of the new designs some areas have simplified. It is no longer a standard to have one big cake. You can have several cakes displayed in various ways. This makes it easier to bake many cakes and give varieties and different styles.

Wedding cake prices will vary, depending on how complex and detailed your order is. Learning to decorate your own would also allow the advantage of marketing this talent later. Depending on how you look at the equation, if you are the one making the cake for another wedding, you can look at the wedding cake prices as an advantage. It may open doors to a whole new career.

Cupcake Wedding Cakes Popular Reason

Cupcake wedding cakes have suddenly rocketed in popularity and more and more brides are choosing to have this unusual type of wedding cake at their reception. Let's take a closer look at the reasons why cup cakes have become so popular.

Firstly, cupcakes are very versatile. A traditional cake leaves you with a limited number of options. Flavors are restricted to one per layer and icing or frosting is usually of a single type. Cup cakes though, allow the bride to have one flavor, a couple, or many, so every guest is able to have a taste each, even those with different or restrictive dietary requirements. What's more, each individual cake can be decorated differently with unusual toppings and frosting.

Some brides choose to have individually decorated paper cases too and decorate each cake with a wedding cake topper as a keepsake for her guests of the happy day. You can also make cakes of varying sizes - larger muffin types and smaller "fairy cake" sizes come to mind. Couples often have a giant cup cake on the top of the display as the one they use for the traditional "cutting of the cake." Also, the individual cakes are easy to transport and can be made in advance, stored safely and then easily transported to the reception venue.

Secondly, a cupcake wedding cake is a real statement piece. Imagine looking at a beautiful arrangement of hundreds of cupcakes stacked on a tiered stand. The wedding cake would be a centerpiece on the day and a talking point amongst the guests for years to come.

Finally, many brides are watching their budgets these days and choosing a cup cakes can keep costs down. Cake recipes, even the more unusual types such as carrot cake, are easy to find, and being able to choose ingredients yourself can reduce the expense, especially as the bride and her friends or family could easily make and decorate the cakes themselves.

Affordable Wedding Cake Topper

As a bride you will want your wedding cake to stand out above the rest. Why go with the cheap plastic topper when you can make your own unique topper. In addition to the simple idea of adding fresh flowers to your wedding cake, here are some other affordable cake topper ideas:

* Wine Glass with Flowers

Stand a wine glass on a round mirror for stability; fill it with silk flowers and tufted netting; tie the stem of the glass with a bow and add swirls of tulle netting around the edge of the mirror.

* Tiny White Basket with Flowers

Use the same idea, only with a basket instead of a wine glass.

* Framed Photo of the Bride and Groom

The trick to this simple cake topper is to round up an elegant white ceramic or lacy crystal frame for the couple's photo; set it on a five- inch by one-inch base of white Styrofoam covered with silk flowers, tufts of white tulle netting and strings for white seed pearls , one of which drapes over an upper corner of the frame.

* Bride and Groom Figurines (Precious Moments)

Surely you know someone who collects Precious Moments figurines; ask if you can borrow one for a bride and groom, setting the bisque figurine on a mirror with sprigs or white silk stephanotis sprinkled around the edge of the mirror and at the feet of the bride and groom.

* Blown Glass

There are dozens of traditional blown glass figures that work as well, from two hearts entwined, to a wishing well, to a pair of love doves, to a wedding bell suspended from a heart.

* Wired Ribbon Bows

I saw a wedding cake recently that was beautifully adorned with affordable wired ribbon bows. The top layer had a large three-inch wired bow "Sitting up" on top. The remaining layers each had five smaller one and one-half inch wired bows placed evenly around each layer. Each of the bows had their "tails" draping gracefully down onto the next layer by about two inches. The bows were in the primary wedding color--a soft , dusty pink. What a simple, affordable, yet elegant way to decorate a white wedding cake.

* Nested Votive Candles

By "nestled" I mean that the shallow votive candles are pressed down into the frosting so that the sides of the candles are hidden from view. This would look lovely in an evening wedding with all the lights dimmed and the candles are lit. The trick is to make your reception feel like a magical romantic setting. Besides putting candles on the cake you could place votive candles in bowls filled with water on each table. Light all the candles and dim the lights and your venue will be romantically lit by candlelight.

* Rotating Music Box

Borrow a music box that compliments your theme; set it to a mirror, surround the base with silk flowers and narrow acetate ribbons and the appoint someone to be in charge of winding the box off and on during the reception. It will be a real conversation piece.

Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Cake

Also think about having a faux-tiered cake, as it is primarily meant for guests to look at and for you to have your picture taken with. I lieu of an edible tiered cake, have sheet cakes in a back room to be cut up for your guests to eat.

Avoid an elaborate cake topper and other labor-intensive decorations. Consider omitting the anniversary top altogether. Do you really want to celebrate your first anniversary by eating year-old freezer-burned cake? Try ordering less cake than would be needed for the number of people attending the event. Believe it or not, some people will choose not to eat cake. Also, a certain number of people whom responded to your invitation indicating that they will attend will not show up for one reason or another.

Have your cake prepared by someone other than the caterer. A home-based baker or family member might be able to make your cake for a bargain price. Ask around at a local culinary school to see if any students would be interested in making your cake in exchange for a little cash. This is one sure way to get your cake for pennies on the dollar. Furthermore, with advance notice, many grocery stores that have in-house bakeries could prepare your cake for a modest cost.

Your wedding cake doesn't have to cost a fortune. As a matter of fact, if you are open to it, you don't even need to have a traditional cake. If you are willing to consider alternatives, you can take a big bite out of your wedding budget.

The Wedding Cake

The wedding cake, what used to be just another item on a wedding to-do list has become the most important part of any wedding, next to the dress. To most couples it is so much more than what flavor of cake, or what cake topper to put on it. The wedding cake has become an expression of the couple, and is often the most remembered aspect of any wedding. As a bride you might be wondering, how do I go about making such a huge decision? Well, here are a few tips to selecting the perfect cake.

First, you should Google wedding cakes. You can usually find some great pictures and websites with pictures, just by typing "wedding cakes" into any search engine. The best way to get what you want from your caterer or bakery is to go armed with pictures.

Secondly, select an excellent bakery or caterer. Talk with your married friends or even the manager of your reception hall. Word of mouth is a great way to select the right one for your wedding. It doesn't matter if their website has pictures of beautiful cakes or if they can present you with huge albums of cakes to wade through, you should still try to base your decision off of their reputation.

Thirdly, you should be armed with a wedding cake budget. According to The Bridal Association of America, as of July 2006, the average price of a wedding cake plus the cutting fee is $543. Of course there are cheaper cakes out there, so you just need to have a price range in mind that fits into your overall wedding budget. You should also keep in mind, that cake decoration makes a huge difference in the overall cost of your wedding cake. A few nice tips if you are looking for a more cost efficient cake, are fresh flowers and cutting down on fondant decoration, according to costhelper.com. Fresh flowers are less expensive and easy to use when decorating, you might even consider doing this yourself if you cannot find a bakery that can stay within your budget.

Lastly, if you do find a great caterer or baker, you should request a cake tasting, because pretty isn't everything. As my mother always said, "it's not the outside, but what's on the inside that counts". You can have the most beautiful cake in the world, but if it doesn't taste good then that is what your guests are going to remember. By requesting a cake tasting, it will allow you to not only choose the best flavor that goes with your wedding theme, (ex. dark chocolate cake for a Valentine's Day wedding or carrot cake for a mid-summer wedding), but it will also allow you to find a flavor that both you and your guests can enjoy. A cake tasting will also help you decide if the baker you've chosen has what it takes to make a truly scrumptious cake.

As you can see, there are many decisions you must make when choosing a wedding cake, but by following these few simple steps you should have a successful experience while shopping for your dream cake.