After the bride, the cake takes centre stage at a wedding.

Luckily for those of us who don’t like fruit cake a modern wedding cake doesn’t have to be a tiered fruit cake with marzipan icing. Today the choices are endless. But there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing your wedding cake. Here’s our quick guide to keep you on top of the details.

Have a plan

Like everything else with a wedding, it starts with a plan.  Think about the style and theme of your wedding, and consider ways the cake could tie in with the flowers, the colour scheme or the dress.

Do your research. Look at pictures of wedding cakes online to give yourself some ideas of what’s possible. Then, find a pastry chef who specialises in wedding cakes and ask to see examples of other cakes they’ve produced.

Once you’ve found a baker you are happy with, it’s time to get serious. How much time will they’ll need to bake and create your cake? How big does the cake need to be? What is your budget?

Style and taste

If a traditional fruit cake isn’t your thing, try a chocolate or caramel mud-cake, a plain butter cake, or a creamy cheesecake. Collections of cup-cakes are popular as well, as are profiterole cakes or croquembouche towers.

Before you decide on the cake, always taste a sample first. The last thing you want is a cake that leaves a bad taste in your mouth on the big day.

Where and when?

Give your pastry chef two to three months notice before the wedding day – just to be on the safe side. Remember that the season might affect whether your choose a dense and rich cake, or something a little lighter for the warmer months. 

Likewise, the venue may also influence your cake choice. For example, you may regret getting a tall-tiered cake for your outdoor reception when a gust of wind brings it crashing down.

Things to avoid

• Don’t wait until the last minute to order your cake;
• Don’t make it too complicated or awkward to transport or assemble;
• While planning your cake, don’t have too many people offering opinions. There’s truth in the saying, "too many cooks spoil the broth".