[ad_1]

The dessert that is more than just a dessert – the Wedding Cake, beautiful to look at – but the sticker shock can be overwhelming. Here's a few insider tips that will help you get a fabulous looking and great tasting cake – and money left over.

I've baked wedding cakes for friends and family and so I'll share with you some information that could save you hundreds of dollars in expenses. One thing is to do your budget so that you know how much you can spend. Talk to friends who have recently gone through the wedding planning experience. Listen to your friends and neighbors to their recommendations about who does the best job.

Have a talk with the manager of your reception venue and find out what the rules are for your wedding cake. Some venues will only allow you to bring in cakes from licensed bakers – these are businesses or in home bakers who have the required permits to make a cake. Do not try to get around this – you might end up with a cake that can not be served. Also find out if the venue charges a fee to slice and serve a cake that you bring in.

Here are the basics of what a wedding cake is. The cake is made up of several layered cakes that are stacked one on top of the other. Each cake is called a tier. Most wedding cakes are three or four tiers. Each tier of cake is on a cardboard round, in between each tier there are wooden or plastic dowels that hold up each tier and makes sure the cake does not collapse in on itself. The cake is frosted with either butter cream or fondant. Fondant is marshmallow which is rolled thin and placed over the cake. It tastes awful. Butter cream taste wonderful, but you do not get the smooth appearance that you can get with fondant – which is why decorators love fondant. At the bottom of each cake – where one cake meets the other – there is a border of decoration either frosting, fondant, ribbon, or even candy. This helps to cover up the edge. After a cake is stacked, then the decorations are added – like flowers. That's the basic construction of the cake. Do not let price fool you a cheap cake is not a bad cake and an expensive one will not guarantee it's the best. Taste – demand a sample and do not order a cake until you've had a proper tasting.

You will need to decide on flavors of the cake, the filling and frosting, and the color of the outside and the decorations. Sounds quite simple, but the cost can very easily get out of hand so here are some ways to keep your budget in tact and get the best – inexpensive cake you can.

Do not overlook grocery stores. Many offer wedding cakes and cupcakes. Check on their delivery policy – you might have to pick it up yourself.

Order a plain cake and put your own fresh flowers on it. Individually made sugar flowers are very expensive.

I've done wedding cakes where they were decorated with silk flowers. Wash all the flowers – any that have dyes that run can not be used.

Order a smaller cake and then have sheet cakes delivered to the kitchen. The main cake will be in your pictures, it's the one you cut, and the sheet cakes can make up the difference. No one will really care and the price difference is significant.

Cupcakes can be cheaper; you will need a way to display them. Compare the price of a regular wedding cake by comparing the price 'per slice' with the cost of a cupcake. You can order plain cupcakes and decorate them with a flower or a piece of candy.

You will save the most if you can do it yourself – practice, take some lessons to learn the 'how to', and the extra cash is all yours.

[ad_2]

Source by Denise Dunn