Tips for Choosing a Wedding Cake

How to get the best possible wedding cake

Let them eat cake! Fuss-free tips to getting the best out of your wedding cake maker

Be inspired

When it comes to the style of your cake, take inspiration from your colour scheme, venue and even details on your wedding dress. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/1/cakes.html

Show and tell

A good wedding cake designer will ask for as much detail of your big day as possible to help him or her come up with some suitable ideas. Let him or her know what type of flowers you are having, what the style of your dress is, even what the bridesmaids will be wearing. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4474/1/0/traditional-cakes.html

Show and tell

A good wedding cake designer will ask for as much detail of your big day as possible to help him or her come up with some suitable ideas. Let him or her know what type of flowers you are having, what the style of your dress is, even what the bridesmaids will be wearing. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4474/1/0/traditional-cakes.html

Consult the experts

Look for a cake designer who specialises in the style of cake you're looking for. If you have your heart set on a chocolate wedding cake, for example, find a chocolate expert. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4468/1/0/chocolate-cakes.html

Try before you buy

When choosing your cake designer, ask to see examples of cakes they have already made and be sure to have a taste - it's important that a cake tastes as good as it looks. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4471/1/2/contemporary-cakes.html

Play with flavours

When it comes to the cake filling, while fruit cake is the traditional choice, there are many other options such as carrot cake, lemon cake, and, of course, chocolate. You might even decide to have a different flavour for each tier. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/1/cakes.html

Big is often better!

Consider having a cake that's slightly bigger than you need. That way, you can save a slice for guests unable to attend, and enjoy some when you get back from honeymoon. Bear in mind that fruit cake is the only filling that will still taste great a few months after the wedding. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4471/1/0/contemporary-cakes.html

Don't forget allergies

Be sure to cater for guests with nut allergies. Some cake makers will make nut-free cakes, or you could have a small cake (perhaps a fairy cake) created especially for them. Alternatively, you need to let guests with allergies know they should avoid the cake. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4475/1/1/fairy-cakes.html

Keep it unique

Consider serving your cake in the evening, or instead of pudding. Serving it with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or a fruit coulis is also a great idea. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4471/1/5/contemporary-cakes.html

Consider alternatives

As an alternative to the traditional tiered cake, consider having a croquembouche (a French profiterole tower), fairy cakes, miniature cakes, a chocolate cake, or even a pavlova tower. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4531/1/0/alternative-cakes.html

Don't forget transport

Always ask the cake designer whether they will transport and arrange the cake at your venue. Bear in mind that fresh patisserie needs to be made the day before, so it isn't a good idea if you're getting married a long distance from the cake designer. http://www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/galleries/cakes/4468/1/0/chocolate-cakes.html