Buttercream, Lemon, and Red Velvet - Oh My!

Ahh...cake! The cake is quite often the thing most people look forward to at a wedding or birthday celebration. Afterall, it’s not a reception without a cake cutting ceremony! These days though there are so many options for cakes. You can have red velvet, lemon meringue, chocolate, marble, carrot, or maybe traditional vanilla. Others may choose to divert from the traditional cake, choosing cupcakes, truffles, chocolate confections, cookies, or a dessert buffet (for those who just can’t decide!). On top of the main dessert at a wedding, there is usually a separate groom’s cake. With all these options how does one even begin?!

If you have a special need - glucose-free, lactose-free, vegan, Kosher, organic, etc. - there are specialty bakeries who do such services. Many bakeries will list these services on their website. If you wish for your decadent dessert to be specially made for one of these categories, begin there. Find a cake designer in your area who makes a product to your specification.

Next, decide the style you want. Are you a cupcake lady? Or are you a chocolate lover at heart? Or does a traditional tiered cake tickle your fancy? At weddings, many couples today are going with the cupcake route. Bakeries are able to tier the cupcakes, so they have the shape of a cake with the servings being individual cupcakes. The cupcake tree pictured was designed by Gig Salad member Ryke's Bakery, Catering, Cafe & Coffee Shop. A dessert buffet is always a fun route to go, as well. You can have all your favorite goodies in one place from a chocolate fountain and truffles to fruit tart and pastries.

Should you go with a cake or cupcakes, you then must decide the type, filling, and frosting. So many decisions! However, this is where the yummy part begins - cake tastings! On top of the type of cake, such as red velvet, chocolate, or carrot, you also have the option of having a filling. Fillings can be in the form of fruit, mousse, and cream cheese, just to name a few.

Cakes can come in all shapes and sizes these days. Bakeries and cake designers can sculpt a cake into a castle, sports arena, animal, musical instrument, and anything else you can come up with! You can go this route for a birthday cake to match the cake with the birthday person’s favorite hobby. A designers ability to do this also is beneficial for groom’s cakes.

If you are planning for a wedding, you don’t want the groom to feel left out of the planning process. This is where the groom’s cake comes in to play. A common trend is for the groom to have his own cake that reflects one of his main interests. Cake decorators can make cakes in the shape of football stadiums, sports mascots, fishing equipment, a guitar, or whatever his hobby or passion may be. The groom's cake pictured was designed by Gig Salad member Cakes By Shara.

Are you a cake decorator or designer? Share some of your fun wedding cake designs!

Peace, Love, & Gigs!

ORIGINAL BLOG POST: http://www.gigsalad.com/blog