New Zealand Weddings Planner

The Cake

Dive on in to the sweetest part of planning.

- PHOTOGRAPH­Y BIANCA HOCHENAUER

This marital morsel is a symbol of what it means to be married: cutting the cake is your first mutual task as husband and wife, and when you feed each other that initial slice, it represents your dedication to support and nurture each other on your new path together.

Some couples will be lucky and have a talented family member or friend on hand to create their cake, or will be confident enough in the kitchen to take care of it themselves. But if you’re after something more elaborate or simply don’t have the time, call in the profession­als.

Scour directorie­s (try newzealand­weddings.co.nz/directory) to find a local baker. To clearly communicat­e your ideas, take along photos of your colour palette and theme or show them a rough sketch of your dream design. Be prepared to adjust your vision if the cake you had in mind is too expensive – let your designer know what aspects of the cake are the most important so they can best achieve what you want within your budget. Arrange tastings of your chosen flavours for three months before the day – preferably more than once to check for consistenc­y.

PRO POINTERS

✤ Aim to book your cake designer four to six months ahead of the big day. ✤ Consider your guest numbers when deciding on the cake you want, and whether you’ll be serving it for dessert or as favours for guests to take home. A standard threelayer cake equates to around 100 favoursize­d portions – add another layer if you’re serving it as dessert. ✤ If you have a multi-tiered cake, you can choose a different flavour for each tier. ✤ If you want to save your top tier – perfect for celebratin­g your one-year anniversar­y or the birth of your first child – go for fruitcake: it will last the longest, stored in the freezer – just make sure there’s a sturdy container at the venue for you to take it home in. ✤ Many cake designers have a delivery service, but if you’ve arranged for a friend or family member to pick up your cake, ask them to place it on a rubber mat on the seat or floor of their car to prevent it from getting damaged en route to the venue. ✤ Some cakes will need to be assembled onsite – if this is the case, make sure there’s an appropriat­e spot for your cake designer to do this.

COST CUTTERS

✤ Have a single-tier cake to cut into, but make up the slice numbers with a basic sheet cake kept in the kitchen. You’ll save a fortune on decorating costs. ✤ Instead of intricate sugar flowers, adorn your cake with fresh blooms in hues to match your colour scheme. ✤ Keep your wedding cake simple – a tall, single white tier, for example – but add some grandeur by hiring a towering cake stand to display it on. ✤ Skip the dessert course and simply serve your cake with fresh berries and cream. ✤ Instead of paying the photograph­er to stick around until the cake cutting, cut the cake straight after the ceremony while everyone is still gathered. You could even serve the cake as afternoon tea with bubbles while you go and get your photos taken. W

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand