Even when the economy is in the dumps people still get married.  When there isn’t as much money flowing around people look for creative ways to save money on their wedding, and the cake is one of the biggest expenses.  Should you bake your own wedding cake?  Maybe you shouldn’t do it, but if you can get someone close to you to do it (Mom? Grandma? Aunt?) you can save an incredible amount of money.  In this post I’ll offer some tips for being successful with this big project.

The first thing that you have to have is a plan.  A wedding cake is a big project, and if you forget something on the big day a whole lot of problems are going to stem from that.  First, figure out how much cake there needs to be.  Most wedding cakes are tiered, which allows you get a lot of cake without taking up too much space.  That means that you need the cake pans, the tiers, and the wedding cake stands.  Round cakes are the norm, but square wedding cake pans are also available, they are also a bit easier to decorate if using fondant.  Baking the cake isn’t the tough part, but it can still be stressful.

There a lot of people that think that they can bake, and will offer to bake your cake.  They key is to sit down and have that person bake a test cake for you, decorated and all.  It’s not important to go as far as to put together all of the tiers, but one level that’s completely decorated.  It will help you get an idea of how good your cake is going to turn out, and it will help the “baker” get a feel for how your cake is going to turn out.

Baking your own wedding cake is a great way to save money and with some planning and practice it will turn out great.  Just remember to work out all of the kinks before hand, rather than waiting until game day to find out that your cake is a disaster!

A reception can be as grand or as informal as you wish but, to a degree, it will depend on the style of your wedding ceremony. There are many different kinds of reception: large, small, formal, semi-formal, informal, stand-up or seated. How much you can or want to spend on your wedding reception is the biggest deciding factor. Take a long, hard look at the cost of the reception you are planning, then add 10% and see if you can afford it. Don’t overstretch your finances at this point.

The level of formality will be reflected in every detail of the wedding, starting with the wording and presentation of the invitations, through to dress standards and the order of events at the reception.

Formal

Formal receptions mostly follow a standard format of guests arriving ahead of the wedding party and bride and groom (who may be formally introduced, perhaps with a receiving line). A series of formal speeches follows, along with the cutting of the cake and the bride and groom’s first dance. Formal receptions usually include a sit-down catered meal and are often held at purpose-built function and catering venues at clubs, hotels, resorts, golf courses, wineries or restaurants.

While more formal receptions often include details such as seating plans and place-name cards, most large venues usually have a dedicated events coordinator who can be extremely helpful in checking off all the details.

Vanessa and Steven Wong had over 300 guests at their wedding and reception, which was held at a large hotel in Wellington. ‘The wedding coordinator at the hotel was so helpful,’ Vanessa says. ‘She really listened to what we wanted, which was good because I was organizing it from London. She was very flexible and allowed us to semi-personalise the look of the reception and alter the menu to include dishes such as roast port, which is a traditional dish at Chinese weddings,’

Less formal

At less formal receptions, such as in a private garden, you won’t necessarily have an event coordinator to provide backup and checklists, but you can have more flexibility in the arrangements. For example, even if you hire a caterer you can often supply the alcohol, giving you a wider choice of beverages along with cost savings.

Of course, casual receptions don’t require many of the trimmings of a formal affair. Murray and Janine Ansell were married at Whangamata in January. They organized their reception a few weeks in advance by booking the restaurant at the Whangamata Club. Guests came dressed in whatever was comfortable, including shorts and t-shirts, and the 40 adults and several children enjoyed (and highly praised) the regular Saturday night buffet from the club’s kitchen. Janine ordered a big chocolate cake two weeks in advance, and the flowers were ordered on the day. Surrounded by family and friends, in the atmosphere the couple wanted, it was a perfect and memorable reception.

The reception

After determining the style of reception, decide on an appropriate venue, such as a hotel, restaurant, hall or function centre, at home, in a marquee, or on board a boat. Take the following into account: budget, theme, number of guests, proximity to the ceremony venue, alcohol licence, time of day, type of food and entertainment requirements. You also need to decide if you will have the reception fully catered for or partially catered for. Remember two things when you are planning your reception. First, receptions are the single biggest expense for a wedding, so it is never too early to start wedding planning. Second, keep in mind it’s the gathering of your family and friends that makes your reception special.

As a general rule (traditional)

• Late morning weddings are followed by a formal seated meal or buffet.
• A church ceremony in the early afternoon is nearly always followed by a stand-up buffet.
• A ceremony late in the day – at 4.30 or 5 o’clock – can be followed by drinks, with a seated dinner and dance later in the evening.
• A hotel, restaurant or professional caterer can arrange everything for you.
• To seat guests with the least fuss, place cards are essential
• Seating plans should be given careful consideration, as guests cannot mingle easily once seated. You want people to talk to each other and feel comfortable, so seat those with similar interests and of similar ages together.
• Have a floor plan somewhere near the entrance to the reception or hand out cards with their table number to guests as they arrive.

At the reception

Most newlyweds hold their wedding reception at a function centre, hotel, restaurant, rented hall or private home. Outdoor receptions with marquees are another alternative if you have a big lawn. Sometimes a hotel, park or vineyard might permit you to erect a marquee on its grounds. Or for something different, consider a boat, historic home or even a barn.

While the wedding party are having their photographs taken, the Master of Ceremonies – this can be a friend or relative with good organizational and improvisational skills – asks the guests to proceed to the reception venue, preferably in convoy to assist guests from out of town. Parents of the bride and groom (or whoever is hosting the reception) greet guests as they arrive. If the bridal party is not away having photographs taken, the traditional receiving line to greet guests would be: the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, then the bride, the groom and attendants. While the guests mingle they are offered hors d’oeuvres and champagne, wine, ape’fitifs or non-alcoholic drinks. When the wedding party arrives, the Master of Ceremonies asks the guests to stand and the wedding party is escorted to their table. The guests may then be seated.

Top-table seating

Traditional seating for the top table is, from left to right: chief bridesmaid, groom’s father, bride’s mother, groom, bride, bride’s father, groom’s mother, best man. Other members of the party, including step-parents of the bride or groom, are added to each end, according to the same plan – men alternating with women, the two families nicely mixed. Another suggested seating is to have a top table for the wedding party with a table directly in front for the parents of both the bride and groom, close family and friends of the parents and any distinguished guests, such as the minister.

Master of ceremonies

The MC is an important supporting role in your wedding celebrations. Although various people give speeches at the reception, it is the MC who effectively acts as a ring master, warming up the crowd, controlling the order of events and keeping things running smoothly. The MC’s duties can include making any last minute announcements after the ceremony, assisting with the photographs, asking the guests to stand for the arrival of the wedding party, informing guests of the format for the evening, and introduce the speaker for the speeches.

When choosing your MC, you should look for someone who is comfortable and confident speaking in public. A sense of humour is a great advantage as this will put people at ease and establish a relaxed tone for the evening. If possible, choose someone many of the guests and wedding party already know.

Speeches

Speeches are traditional, but by no means obligatory. A good speechmaker can by very entertaining, but for those not experienced or confident in public speaking, speeches should be brief, sincere and to the point.

Generally, the speeches take place at the start of the reception, either before the meal begins or between the entr’ee and main course. This leaves those making a speech free to enjoy the rest of the reception.

• The first to speak is the bride’s father (or close friend or relative of the bride’s family). At the conclusion of this speech, a toast is proposed to the couple’s health.
• The groom replies, thanking the first speaker then the guests for their attendance. He expresses his appreciation to the bride’s parents for their input into the wedding and compliments their daughter. Then he pays tribute to his own parents and rounds off by proposing a toast to the attendants.
• If the bride chooses to speak it would be appropriate for her to do so at this point. As this will be just prior to the best man’s response, to keep procedure flowing smoothly, we suggest the bride starts with ‘Just before we hear from our best man. I’d like to say a few works…’ or something similar.
• The best man’s official duty is to reply on behalf of the attendants. If he is confident speaking, he may be less formal, keeping his topics appropriate to the range and age of the guests. He can finish the speeches by reading telegrams and faxes, and should mention how lovely the bridesmaids look.

There may also be toasts to the bride’s parents to which the father of the bride responds; and a toast to the health of the groom’s parents, to which the groom’s father will respond, these will precede any reading of the telegrams (or emails).

Telegrams

Telegrams, or more recently emails, are a time-honoured tradition for relatives and friends who can’t be at the wedding in person, or for those present who wish to add their touch of humour to the speeches. If time does not permit the reading of all the telegrams, read some of the more noteworthy ones and mention the names of the others who sent messages in recognition of their effort. An alternative or addition to reading all the telegrams is to display them somewhere prominent, perhaps a foyer. Wedding messages are often delivered early in the morning so it is preferable to have a domestic address for delivery, as reception centres are frequently closed. Telegrams in New Zealand are now handled by private companies (check the Yellow Pages for listing). They can deliver on Saturday morning to main centres; check with them for delivery in rural areas.

Food and drink

When everyone is seated, the bridal table is served first. At a buffet or smorgasbord the guests will serve themselves, but the top table will always have separate service so that members of the bridal party need not leave their seats. Champagne is the traditional wedding drink, but a welcoming glass of sherry or an ap’eritif followed by wine with the meal and then champagne or sparkling wine for the toasts is acceptable.

Cutting the cake

No reception is complete without a wedding cake. Traditionally it is a rich fruit cake with two, three or even four tiers, iced and decorated. Sometimes the top tier is kept for the christening of the first child – in which case it must be a fruit cake or it will not keep. Otherwise, there is no reason why you should not choose any flavour or type you prefer. The cake should be well displayed during the reception, either on a special table decorated with flowers or in pride of place on the top table, and should receive its first cut from the bride and groom after the meal. The rest of the cake is then cut up and served to the guests, usually by the bridesmaids. If you wish to send portions of the cake to friends and relations who were unable to attend the wedding, order cake envelopes or boxes and make sure the cake is cut to fit.

Music and dancing

At the reception your choices are virtually unlimited – you can have a jazz band, a DJ, a covers band, a classical guitarist, a string quartet. When booking a live band, it always helps if you hear a CD or tape of their music first, or better still see them in action at a public performance. If you are considering a DJ, ask to see a list of the music they play. If you have any special songs you would like to hear, tell them well before the day and most professional bands and DJs will try to accommodate your requests.

In choosing your music, give consideration to the age differences among your guests. More people will have a good time if you cater to majority tastes. Remember: loudest is not necessarily best, as many of your relatives and friends will be busy catching up with each other and will have to strain to be heard above loud music.

A good band or DJ will judge the mood and pace of the evening and will probably liven up as the evening wears on. It may be best to start off conservatively with a wide-appeal selection and then towards the end of the evening, put on some louder dance music. In situations where amplified music might not be so convenient, perhaps out of doors with no access to a power source, consider hiring an acoustic or jazz band, or a small orchestra for a classic formal wedding. The first dance is a tradition that’s still going strong. For some couples the traditional bridal waltz has lost its appeal. Many are instead opting for something more modern, romantic and personal. If you wish to take lessons, two to four months is enough time to learn a simple dance. Choose a song that’s easy to dance to, not too long and that preferably has a four beat, then find a teacher in your area.

Departures

Generally the guests will not leave the reception before the bride and groom, so the newlyweds should consider others when timing their departure. If they intend to party on they should make an announcement that guests are free to leave when they wish. The last ritual is for bride to throw her bouquet to the female guests, the lucky catcher being the next bride, according to folklore. With the departure of the bride and groom, the wedding reception is now officially over and guests may leave. But the party can go on as long as drinks hold out, or the arrangement with the reception venue allows.

Finale

The last official act, according to traditional etiquette, is a delivery of flowers from the groom to the bride’s mother, the day after the wedding. The florist will take care of this by previous arrangement. Seeing to this is the best man’s final duty.

Wedding cakes no longer have to be a multi tiered fruit cake. Brides and grooms today are choosing from a multitude of various flavours such as chocolate mud, banana, carrot and lemon just to name a few.The wedding cake is coming in a range of different shapes and sizes from a single layer through to an eight layer masterpiece. The cakes can be decorated with fresh or sugar flowers, ribbons and crazy cake toppers. Your imagination (and your budget) is your limit when deciding what kind of wedding cake you want.

The wedding cake has broken with tradition – the pristine, iced, white fruit cake topped by a militant bride and groom figurine no longer sets the standard. Here we take a look at the latest trends in wedding cake design and show you how to individualize your cake.

Another thing which has become increasingly popular is to have a cupcake tower, so each guest gets an individual cupcake instead of a standard piece of cake. This can be a great option if you have guests with food allergies, you can get special cupcakes made for those people so they don’t miss out.

The cupcake towers often have a small cake sitting on top so the bride & groom can still perform the cutting of the cake for photos and guests.

Many times the couples who opt for a cup cake tower instead of the traditional wedding cake can save money by using the cup cakes as their wedding favors. You can buy individual cake boxes to place the cup cake in and give to each guest as they leave. This idea is especially great if your wedding reception menu includes a dessert course.

Like our taste in art or the way we choose to decorate our homes, cake decoration comes down to personal style. For many couples, wedding cakes reflects their wedding theme, repeating colours, fonts used in their invitations, and/or flowers featured in the bridal bouquet. Others view their wedding cake as light relief from the more serious aspects of the wedding and give it festive touch by choosing bright, bold colours comical figurines.

Some couples choose to celebrate their heritage by deciding on a traditional European wedding cake, such as the croquembouche, or by incorporating a design or ornament of cultural significance.

Other popular themes for personalising cakes are shared interests, such as sports, or maybe the couple’s professions. At the other end of the spectrum, a new and growing trend is the minimalist cake – generally, a plainly iced cake with little adornment or embellishment. With ‘less is more’ as its abiding rule, a minimalist cake may be adorned with a single flower or, for a unique point of difference, plainly iced tiers may be alternated with subtly embellished tiers. Cakes decorated with the bridal couple’s initials have also become fashionable.

Sizing it up

While the circle has been the favoured cake shape for some time, Thea of Cake Couture says the square is making a comeback, but with a modern twist. Instead of stacking the squares directly on top of one another, today’s trend is to place the squares at different angles to each other, creating an interesting visual symmetry. Another popular wedding cake shape is the heart. Anita of Auckland Cake Art takes many orders for her popular funky hear-shaped cake.

Cake

The wedding cake is the grand centrepiece of the wedding feast, so it’s worth splashing out on it. Alternatively, you may have a relative or friend with a flair for baking and decorating, who want sot make a special contribution to your day, or you might even like to try making it yourself?

All things cake….

Who’s going to make the cake? How many people has the cake got to serve? Do you want a fruit or sponge cake – or something (such as chocolate profiteroles) that can double as a dessert?

What shape and decorations do you want? When will the cake be delivered? Who will arrange it at the reception venue?

Look on the bright side

When it comes to wedding cakes, white is the obvious choice. But many modern brides are abandoning tradition and choosing cakes in every colour of the rainbow – from pastels to brights to a multi-coloured creation.

Most cake decorators are adept at adding colour to wedding cakes. Whether it’s a bold striking blue or the merest hint of pink, your decorator can colour your cake to your requirements. Either the sugar-dough icing will be coloured before it is set over your wedding cake, or the cake can be airbrushed with colour after it has been iced. Similarly, decorations such as sugar flowers can be hand-coloured, made from coloured royal icing or tinted using an airbrush.

Homeopathic dosage

If you’re not ready to give up on the traditional white cake, but want something a little bit different, you can add some pizzazz to your design with small touches of colour – a couple of pink blooms or a few pastel icing spots should do the trick. Who said you couldn’t have your cake and eat it too?

Made to measure

Your decorator can colour-match your cake to the exact shade of your dress, your bridesmaid’s dresses or flowers, so make sure you give your decorator a swatch of fabric or a bloom from your bouquet to ensure colour accuracy.

When one is not enough

Your wedding cake doesn’t necessarily have to be one entire colour. You can alternate the colour of each tier or ask your decorator for a swirled, marbled effect. Cakes with stripes in pink, blue, lemon and candy colours are perfect for outdoor summer weddings.

All the rage

Regal colours such as rich navy, burgundy and forest green are always popular wedding cake colours, particularly if decorated with gold or silver piping.

Colour trends of the moment include strong hues such as lime green and fuchsia pink, while soft pastels and multi-coloured cakes are also popular.