Gone are the days of the traditional wedding fruit cake layered in marzipan and coated in white icing. Today’s brides and grooms are mixing it up with a huge range of wedding cakes to choose from. Anything from mud cakes to sponge cakes and even cupcake towers is possible. If you have a cake in mind, all good wedding cake specialists will be able to make your ideas a reality. Dazzling decorations coupled with fantastic flavor are crucial to your wedding cake’s success and with modern day cake design the sky is the limit!

Wedding cakes come in a huge range of shapes and sizes. Some are made to match the bride or bridesmaids’ dresses and flowers, while others can be shaped into castles or hearts to match a specific theme. Cakes can consist of multiple layers separated and supported by pillars or multiple tiers stacked on top of each other. Common shapes are circles and squares as they are easily cut; however, anything goes in this industry and if you have a certain shape in mind it isn’t a problem.

Some couples start out with a clear idea in their minds of what type of wedding cake they want, and what they want it to look like. Others may need guidance from a wedding cake designer to come up with ideas. With the internet, however, finding your perfect wedding cake is a lot easier now than it used to be. There are so many ideas and such a wide array of helpful information online. Most wedding cake decorators have their wedding cake pictures on their websites so you can do the leg work from the comfort of your home and find a style you like before shopping in person. Do this research at least six months before your wedding date.

Another smart way to find a good cake decorator is to ask people you know who have planned a wedding whether they were happy with their wedding cake decorator and who it was.

Before making the final selection of your wedding cake decorator, be sure to get a full quote and shop around for the best deal. Wedding expert Linda Kevich, creator of SuperWeddings.com and director of the International Institute of Weddings advises couples to watch for hidden charges that can really drive up costs. She cautions, "Get a quote from your wedding cake decorator in writing before proceeding with the order so you know exactly how much your wedding cake is really going to cost you in the end".

It’s also a good idea to ask the wedding cake decorators you are considering what ingredients they use and be sure to ask whether they freshly bake or freeze their cakes.

Sometimes wedding cake bakers, designers and decorators may also specialize in wedding flowers. Inquire whether you can get a better price or package deal if you use them for both your wedding flowers and your wedding cake.

Before ordering your wedding cake you'll need to have a good idea of how many guests you will be expecting at your wedding to ensure that there will be enough cake to go around for all your guests. Your wedding cake designer will be able to determine how big of a cake you will need based on the number of wedding guests you will be having.

Quotes are usually based specifically on the specific style, size and type of wedding cake and can vary considerably according to the size, type of cake, and style of decorating and delivery. There will also be charges for delivery and set up. Once you've selected a wedding cake and finalized the details, and are happy with the price, expect to pay a deposit to hold your wedding date. Often the deposit is 25% - 50% of the total cost of the cake.

"One other wedding cake related charge couples should be prepared for is a cake cutting fee. Many caterers or reception venues will charge to cut your cake. It is a time consuming process and there are proper techniques that must be used to disassemble a wedding cake and then cut it without damaging the detailing. The cake cutting fee can often be rather hefty, and it often takes couples by surprise, so make sure you ask your caterer or venue about this, and build it into your budget".

The real fun in shopping for a wedding cake is in the cake tasting session. "Once you've decided what your wedding cake is going to look like you've got to decide what its going to taste like too", says wedding expert Linda Kevich. "Remember, a cake isn't just a visual element at your wedding. It's not just part of the decor - it's really got to taste amazing as well".

Cake tasting sessions are typically offered by most wedding cake bakers.

The most popular types of cake to consider are:

Fruit Cake: The traditional fruit cake is still a popular option, especially for durability purposes. Because it remains edible for years if stored correctly, a lot of couples like to save their cake for their one year wedding anniversary.

Sponge Cake: This option has become increasingly popular for younger couples and modern weddings. The only set back is that it is harder to stack if you want a cake with pillars and multiple levels.

Others: Cheesecakes, mud cakes and even cupcake stacks are other popular options. Some couples even opt for multiple tiered cakes with a different flavor for each.

When you’re choosing your cake and filling type consider the season of your wedding. Cakes with butter cream icing and/or moose or cream filling will not hold up well in the summer heat unless you keep it refrigerated until the cutting. Something sturdier such as fruit cake or mud cake is potentially a better option for hot weather.

Wedding cake decorations are ultimately what distinguish your cake from all the rest and make your wedding cake unique, memorable, and truly your own. Many couples choose to color coordinate their cake with the wedding flowers or bridesmaid dresses. With floral decorations it’s possible to implement either sugary edible flowers or fresh flowers. For this purpose it comes in handy if your wedding cake specialist also provides wedding flowers. Other possible wedding cake decorations include lace from the bride’s wedding dress and ornaments known as cake toppers to place on top of the cake.

Internationally recognized wedding expert Linda Kevich (creator of SuperWeddings.com and director of The International Institute of Weddings), offers this money saving wedding cake buying tip:

To give your wedding cake "bling factor" without having to incur the cost of a very elaborate and expensive cake, go for a more simple design on the wedding cake itself, but then "crown" the cake with an amazing cake topper. Your cake will get a ton of 'wow factor' through this one design element itself. It will cost you a lot less to really splurge on an amazing cake topper for the powerful visual effect than it would if you were to splurge on a really decked out cake. You'd be surprised what a difference the right cake topper can make to an otherwise rather simple cake. It packs a lot of visual impact.

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