Aside from the bride, the wedding cake is one of the most important focal points of the entire reception. However, while it’s crucial that you choose a cake that is aesthetically-pleasing, it’s more important that the cake tastes delicious. And keep in mind that just because a cake looks good, that doesn’t mean that it tastes good. In fact, some of the prettiest cake designs are made with poor-quality ingredients. 

As you venture out into the bakeries in your hometown, maintain an open mind. If you’re working with a limited budget, you may need to compromise a few floral pieces in order to keep the price within a range you can afford. But this is ok – simplicity is the new “it” for wedding cakes. Find a simple two-toned, 3-tiered cake design and leave the complexity to your wedding gown. 

Sample everything; you may find that your favorite combination is something that you never even considered. And don’t just sample with one bakery, visit a few and compare the difference. An upcoming popular choice is wedding cheesecakes. Many bakeries who create wedding cheesecakes offer the option of choosing a different flavor for every tier. This way you can have your favorite strawberry mousse and your groom-to-be can have chocolate truffle. 

When shopping for wedding cakes, try to avoid fondant icing. Most bakeries favor this type of frosting for its durability and low cost. Fondant can be easily molded into any shape and design and can be dyed any color. Although it’s physical elasticity and aesthetic qualities are highly desirable, its taste is not. Many who have tried fondant have confirmed that the taste is stale and flavorless and the consistency chewy. Buttercream tastes much better than fondant, and is actually cheaper! The downside to buttercream is that it must be refrigerated or else consumed within an hour or two of being exposed to room temperature. 

The groom may be happy to hear that wedding cakes don’t have to be all flowers and butterflies. But if you must have a decadent dainty delight, consider purchasing a groom’s cake. These are distributed in all bakeries where wedding cakes are sold, and come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. If the groom is known for golfing every Sunday, get him a cake complete with a golf ball, green, and putter. If you want something that fits in better with the classy wedding motif, get something that’s simplistically masculine. A black and white bowtie cake would suffice. 

These are just some ideas to get the ball rolling. For more information on cakes, visit our complete wedding cake section on 1WeddingSource.com.