Your wedding cake is so much more than dessert. It is a work of art designed to be the aesthetic focal point of your wedding reception. So why do so many brides choose essentially the same wedding cake design?
In many cases, I'm sure, it's because they don't know what the options are so here are the basics (I say basics because, I'm sure there is a talented person out there who does something outside the following list) to get you started:
- Sculpting: This option can range from the handmade icing flowers that are often found on traditional wedding cakes to... well, just about anything. I have seen pastry chefs who have created nearly life like babies out of marzipan. Really just about anything is an option.
- Fresh Flowers: Again, this is one of the more common options. It is worth mentioning though because it can be less expensive than paying a pastry chef to create flowers by hand - especially if all you really want is loose flower petals as often grocery stores will part with flowers that are past their prime (but would yield fine loose petals) at a greatly reduced price.
- Painting: In the hands of a real artist, the wedding cake can become a true work of art. Choose to use a solution made from icing color for an effect that becomes part of the cake or choose a pipping gel for a more 3-D effect on the cake.
- Dusting: This is a little more tricky to work with because ... well because you are essentially working with edible dust (sound's horrible, it's not) and we all know how hard dust is to work with. However, a skilled pastry chef can use the dusting technique to create dramatic works.
Of course, don't think you have to choose just one option. In reality you could easily choose as many of these options as you wanted to create your dream wedding cake. Combining the sculpting of flowers with dusting is actually a fairly common practice and goes a long way toward making the coloring of the flowers look much more realistic. Painting is a less common practice but combined with some of the other techniques (or even by itself if you have a true artist) can create a wedding scene that is reminiscent of any of the great artworks. Imagine what kind of cake you could have if you had Thomas Kincaid paint your wedding cake!
Be sure, as you consider your wedding cake design options that you consider too what you want to pair with your cake. Are there going to be elegant silver candleabras flanking the cake? Do you have your heart set on a lighthearted or themed cake topper? Make sure they will compliment each other. Perhaps you would prefer cake jewelry. What you choose is your decision. Just be sure that you consider all your choices in advance so you actually do end up with the wedding cake of your dreams.
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