Have your cake – and eat it, too - Gulf Coast Woman Magazine

By Julie Vignes

Planning your wedding can be stressful and time-consuming, not to mention increasingly expensive. You can cut some corners to reduce costs, but the cake should not be one of them. It’s not just a dessert; it’s a design focal point and a reflection of the happy couple.

Making a wedding cake is an important undertaking that should be left to professionals.

Take advantage of these tips to ensure your big day stays sweet:

When there is a bride and a groom’s cake, a one-third or two-thirds split usually works best when determining the number of servings you need.

DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU NEED.

When calculating the number of servings needed for your guests, I generally recommend a two-thirds to a one-third split for the bride and groom, equaling the total number of servings.

For example, with an approximate guest count of 200, the bride’s cake would serve 130, and the groom’s cake would serve 70. If a couple has one cake, enough to cover 75 percent of the guest count is a good rule of thumb.

I have used this method for the entirety of my business, and it has worked out beautifully.

Additionally, I factor in whether the couple intends to save the top tier for their one-year anniversary.

AMATEUR BAKERS SHOULD PROBABLY SIT THIS ONE OUT.

Your cake is a focal point of your celebration, so don’t cut corners.

Aunt Karen has baked cakes for your family for every special occasion. She’s excited and wants to gift you a wedding cake, but she has never done a multi-tiered masterpiece of such importance. So, today is not the time for her to start.

When I began my baking journey, I would refuse every wedding cake request. I know how special weddings are, and I didn’t want to be responsible for any upset if I did something wrong, regardless of my increasing skill. Eventually, I started small and have worked my way up, but I strongly recommend using a reputable baker or bakery for the sweet as part of your day.

We still love Aunt Karen, and we know her intentions were pure, but let her just enjoy the moment with you.

BE MINDFUL OF THE CAKE’S SURROUNDINGS.

When displaying your cake, consider the environment it will be in.

For the most part, you can have any cake flavor and design you desire, but make sure you consider the venue and season.

For example, if your wedding is outside in the summertime, your cake(s) should be displayed in an air-conditioned venue or tent. Having your confection melt in the Mississippi heat and humidity would be disastrous — not only for you and your new spouse, but also the baker and florist involved in creating your design. Summertime cakes don’t have to lack design and beauty, but they may require a bit more thought and planning.

DON’T FORGET TO SAVE YOURSELF A SLICE – OR TWO.

The wedding cake should be a symbol and reflection of the happy couple.

You’ve spent a year or more planning, and when the day finally arrives, it has come and gone in the blink of an eye. You wake up the next morning only to realize you didn’t get to eat any of your own cake, and unless you’ve said something to your coordinator or catering service, you may not even have a box wrapped up for the next morning. Let your vendors know you would like a slice of each cake and flavor saved for you and your new spouse to enjoy later; you definitely won’t regret it.

Julie Vignes is owner/operator of Whipped LLC in Waveland. Reach her at (228) 342-8423 or at whippedllc@gmail.com.