Tante Guste

Although new trends have emerged, such as cupcake towers, the traditional wedding cake is irreplaceable, because in addition to delighting your guests with an irresistible and carefully presented snack, you will be fulfilling an ancient and romantic custom.

If you have not yet started the search for your wedding cake In this article you will be able to solve all your doubts, from how much they cost, to the styles and trends.

Step by step to choose your wedding cake

Zurys - Cakes & Cupcakes

What should the wedding cake look like? There are several factors to consider when choosing your wedding cake, but the first step is to review the catalogs of the different bakeries, as you will find a lot of variety in styles, designs and flavors. For a first filter and, if you do not have direct recommendations, you can inquire in the wedding cakes section of Matrimonios.cl and in the social networks of the different bakeries.providers, reviewing comments from other couples to see what their experience was like.

Since the wedding cake will be the protagonist at the banquet, it is important that you leave it in the hands of professionals And start your search early, ideally three months before the wedding, especially if you are getting married in high season.

Then, it is essential that you review in detail the images of the cakes and their descriptions, so that you can become familiar with the different ingredients. This way, you will have a clearer idea of the range of possibilities and you will be able to choose a cake that matches your type of celebration.

For example, choose a naked cake, if the wedding will be country; a marbled cake, if you are looking for an elegant wedding cake; or a cake with copper sheets, for an industrial wedding. We will review all of them later.

But in addition to how the cake looks on the outside, it is important that the flavor is to your liking and ideally to the taste of the majority of the diners. If in doubt, the supplier will recommend options that are a hit, such as the Tres Leches wedding cake or the Selva Negra. However, if you want a flavor that is not in the catalogs or a particular presentation, you can always request to yourOr, if you want to make the cake suitable for diabetics or celiacs, you can do that too.

And another important point is manage the number of guests attending the marriage Since the cakes are calculated by individual portions, it is best to order them when you are already advanced in the confirmation of guests. However, always count a higher number so that there is no shortage.

Finally, before closing the deal with the supplier, clarify all the points that may raise doubts: How is the payment made? Is free tasting included? What happens if the event is postponed? Is the assembly of the cake included or is it a separate charge? Is it delivered to your home? Is it sent the same day of the wedding? Consider all these factors and you will surely succeed in the task.to choose your wedding cake.

Wedding cake prices

Charm

Although prices will depend on the ingredients, design and technique used, the average per slice of wedding cake is between $1,500 and $3,000. Of course, the amount can increase depending on the wedding cake decoration you choose, whether they are natural flowers, edible flowers, gold foil, or if you decide to order a themed cake topper.

And they should also consider that, in most cases, they will be charged a fee for the dome to assemble the cake, which is usually between $20,000 and $40,000, depending on the complexity of the cake.

On the other hand, if you want to add little boxes for portions, in order to give them to your guests at the end of the celebration, you should calculate about $1,200 per box. Giving little boxes with pieces of cake is a good idea in case the menu is abundant and you also have a dessert buffet and Candy Bar. And it can even work as a replacement for a souvenir.

Wedding cake styles

Candelle Pastry Shop

Fondant and Buttercream

Fondat cake or Buttecream cake? These are two concepts that you will hear a lot when choosing your wedding cake, so it's a good idea to clarify them.

Fondant is a flexible paste made of icing sugar, glucose, glycerine, gelatine, butter, essence or flavouring and water; ideal for working with various techniques For example, it can easily stretch and cover a cake, achieving flat and polished surfaces. Or, it can be used to create figures in volume, from the simple to the most complex. Depending on how it is mixed, the Fondant will have a smooth and shiny finish; or a ready and matte finish, and can be white or dyed in the color of your choice.

Buttecream, on the other hand, is a mixture of butter, milk and icing sugar, achieving a smooth and creamy consistency. And it can be used for filling cakes, as well as for topping and decoration. In fact, due to its texture, it is perfect to apply it in piping bags, obtaining very delicate patterns. It can also be dyed with different food colorings and even combined with more flavorings, such as cocoa powder or vanilla extract.

Flavors

Goretty

Although the aesthetics of the wedding cake is the first thing that jumps out at you, the taste is undoubtedly the most important thing. Here are some of the favorite combinations for the wedding cake filling.

• Carrot, almond, walnuts: Carrot cake is a classic pastry, which consists of an exquisite and moist sponge cake that is complemented with almonds and walnuts, and can be filled with cream cheese or manjar.
• Chocolate, chocolate, raspberry, raspberry: The so called Amor cake consists of a chocolate sponge cake topped with manjarca leaves, pastry cream and raspberry jam, a delight to the palate!
• Vanilla, lemon: It corresponds to a fluffy vanilla pancake, filled with lemon pie cream, vanilla cream and lemon cream. The topping is usually Fondant with lemon slices on top. Or you will also find these flavors in a wedding cake with meringue.
• Chocolate, fruits of the forest: An explosion of flavour! It consists of a chocolate pancake filled with berries puree (blackberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries) and Chantilly cream. Very popular in naked cake format.
• Vanilla, milk: Famous for its spongy texture, the Tres leches cake is made with a vanilla sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream. Ideal for those looking for a wedding cake with cream, as it is topped with Chantilly cream.
• Chocolate, hazelnut This is a chocolate sponge cake, filled with hazelnut cream, hazelnut pieces, chocolate ganache and chocolate chips.
• Coffee, vanilla, truffle: For lovers of bitter flavors, an infallible combination is the coffee and vanilla pancake cake, filled with bitter chocolate truffle, white chocolate truffle and pastry cream. Because of its warm flavor, it is ideal for winter weddings.
• Chocolate, cherry: The famous Black Forest cake is a chocolate sponge cake soaked in sour cherry juice, filled with sour cherry chunk jam, Chantilly cream and chocolate paste and decorated with maraschino cherries and chocolate branches. Unmistakable!
• Vanilla, passion fruit: A combination of exotic flavors is the passion fruit cake, which is made with vanilla pancake and filled with Chantilly cream and passion fruit mousse with seeds. Fresh and ideal for summer weddings.
• Chocolate, mint: Finally, the chocolate/mint cake is made with chocolate pancakes and filled with a smooth mint cream alternated by layers of cocoa, and can be covered entirely with chocolate or left naked to leave the green color visible.

Designs

Kikis Pastry

Plain or full of details? White or with a mix of colors? Flat or with several tiers? Since there are many wedding cake designs available, the ideal is to be able to differentiate between the different styles, especially if you are looking for a civil wedding cake, a simple wedding cake or one with many details, among many other models.

Check these designs that are repeated among the most demanded.

• Classic cakes: They are usually oval cakes covered with white Fondant, with two, three or more tiers, which stand out for their striking decorations, such as sugar pearls, icing flowers, trellises, ribbons or columns. They are ideal for elegant weddings and for brides and grooms who value the trends of yesteryear.
• Naked cakes Naked cakes are characterized by not having a frosting, leaving both the filling and the layers of the cake or pancake visible. They are usually decorated with fruit or flowers. They are perfect for country or boho-inspired links.
• Cakes with ruffles: Especially popular in warm colors, ruffle cakes are covered with a layer of buttercream, in the form of ruffles arranged horizontally or vertically. They are usually cylindrical and single-tiered. Very suitable for weddings with a vintage feel.
• Marbled cakes: The covering simulates the pattern of the veins of marble, achieving an elegant, clean and very modern rock effect. Although in their traditional version they combine white and grey, there are also marbled cakes in pale pink or mint green, among other tones. Very sophisticated.
• Geode cakes: These are cakes inspired by geodes, which are rock cavities, usually closed, that exhibit crystallized minerals inside. The most common cakes in this style emulate cavities with quartz, amethysts and agates. They stand out among the most striking designs.
• Leaky cakes: They are characterized by simulating chocolate, cream or caramel sauce dripping from the frosting, which can be mixed among flower decorations, wafers or macarons. The sensation of drops sliding down the surface gives these drip cakes a relaxed touch.
• Watercolour cakes: They are hand painted cakes, as if they were a canvas, either with flowers or abstract details. They are usually cylindrical in shape, one or two tiers and made in pastel colors. A good choice, for example, for a civil wedding cake.
• Slate effect cakes: For its elaboration you need black fondant, some alcoholic beverage such as vodka or rum and edible chalk, the latter to personalize the cakes with drawings or short phrases. The chalkboard cakes are original and unrepeatable.
• Minimalist cakes: These are structural cakes, with simple lines, sober designs and refined white toppings. They are usually one or two tier cakes, with geometric shapes and ornamented with discreet details, such as leaves or flowers. A square wedding cake, for example, entirely covered with Fondant, will seduce the minimalist bride and groom.
• Cakes with gold leaf: The golden touch gives a sophisticated air to these cakes that allow several versions, such as covering the whole cake with gold leaf; covering only one or two tiers; or decorating it with subtle golden details. They are edible gold leaves, plain or corrugated.
• Cakes with copper finish: Whether covering a floor, with hand-painted brush strokes or horizontal stripes, copper details add a touch of glamour to these cakes. Plain or hammered copper sheets can be used, making them a good choice for industrial style weddings.
• Mirror cakes: The secret lies in pouring the icing, in one or more colors, over the frozen sponge cake. If you want to surprise with a modern wedding cake, you will surely succeed with a mirror cake.
• Cakes with pressed flowers: This style consists of incorporating pressed edible flowers on an ideally white icing, creating delicate and colorful compositions that give life to romantic, fresh and spring-like cakes.
• Miniature cakes: Finally, if you want to replace the traditional wedding cake, mini cakes are a great option. They replicate the flavors and aesthetics of a normal cake, but in a small size, similar to a cupcake. They are individual and ideal for mounting on tiered trays.

The history of the wedding cake

Fola Pâtisserie

What does the wedding cake mean? The beginnings of the wedding cake date back to Ancient Rome, although it was not properly a sweet cake. At that time, the rite of marriage included the groom eating half of a wheat dough and breaking the other half over his wife's head. This act represented the breaking of the bride's virginity, as well as the groom's headship over her.

Meanwhile, the guests were to pick up the crumbs that fell and eat them as a symbol of fertility, prosperity and long life to the marriage. Although it lasted for a long time, this ritual evolved from a wheat dough, very similar to a large loaf of bread, to a meat dish.

It was in the 17th century when the custom of crowning the wedding by offering a piece of minced meat, usually lamb, decorated with sweet breadcrumbs became popular. They called it "bride's cake". And so the tradition continued until the end of the century, when in Great Britain the cake as we know it today began to be conceived.

But first it became fashionable to assemble small cakes, carried by the guests, with the idea of making a tower, and then decorate it with a layer of icing sugar. The higher the cake, the better omen for the couple. In addition, it was believed that if the bride and groom could kiss on the tower, without it falling, they would be lucky.

Years later, this bet was replaced by a unique and enormous cake, which at first was white, as a symbol of purity, but especially of material abundance, since only wealthy families could acquire refined sugar for its elaboration. It was the starting point of the white wedding cake. Perhaps the traditional image you have when you think of a wedding cake.

And although they are still chosen today, the truth is that the wedding cake has gone through several transformations in the last 100 years. For example, in the 50's romantic cakes with neat details with Lambeth technique dominated; while in the 70's and 80's it was the bombastic and colorful cakes, with tiers separated by columns, that set the trend. And now, in the 70's and 80's, the wedding cakes were the best.Entering the 2000's, geometric cakes stole all the attention, while cakes with black fondant finishes and more elaborate techniques, such as watercolor, appeared.

The cutting of the cake

Art and Sweetness

Although many beliefs have been woven around the wedding cake since ancient times, the truth is that there is one that remains very valid, and that is that the bride and groom should cut the cake together, ideally with a sword, on behalf of the first task they perform together as a married couple establishing a mutual commitment.

At the moment of giving the first slice, according to tradition, the man has to place his hand on his wife's, so that both of them take the first slice, although over the years and according to the couples, it has been changing. Then, both must give each other a piece to taste and then proceed to share it with the rest of the guests. The latter, as a sign of abundance. Andnote that if the cake is a multi-tiered cake, always cut on the bottom tier.

The ritual indicates that the first to taste, immediately after the bride and groom, should be their parents, who are advised to serve them personally; while the catering staff will be in charge of distributing it to the other guests.

Although it will depend on each couple, the cutting of the cake will depend on the usually takes place at the end of the banquet Or, in the middle of the party, if the wedding will be at night, but before the evening service.

Wedding cake figurines

Erick Lapi Tastings

They are a classic! Figurines or cake toppers are a must, whether on a simple or elaborate wedding cake. But what do you do with the bride and groom of the cake?

Among the various options that exist are still the most chosen dolls dressed as a bride and groom Today you can personalize them with the faces of the celebrants themselves, either with human features or caricature style, which is done from a photo. In addition, you can choose a bride and groom accompanied by their pets, their children, in romantic actions, in funny actions, or with some detail alluding to their hobbies or professions.

But if you prefer something different, you can also choose between cute penguin or swan couples, Lego or Playmobil figurines, superheroes, movie characters, and "The Simpsons" or "The Smurfs" style bride and groom, among other wedding figures for cakes.

If you are planning a themed wedding, you can even choose your figurines ad-hoc, for example, starfish with veil and hat, if you are getting married on the beach; or two birds on a nest, if you are going for a country wedding.

These figures can be, on the one hand, sugar, chocolate, Fondant or marzipan; and on the other hand, plasticine, eva rubber, polymer clay, ceramics or cold porcelain.

And as for cake toppers, the most popular ones include pennants, black acrylic silhouettes of the bride and groom, and golden monogrammed letters, for example, with your initials intertwined.

Splitting the wedding cake will be one of the most awaited moments of the celebration and, moreover, one of the most photographed. A tradition that you can personalize even more, setting the moment with a song that identifies you or dedicating some beautiful words of love to each other.