Dans Hamptons

Choosing your wedding cake should be a tasty experience, but some may wonder, “do I even need a wedding cake?” Technically, no – and you also don’t need a wedding dress, tux, band or anything more than a wedding license and rings. The wedding cake is a symbol of prosperity, fertility and good fortune. The cake cutting is the first task the newlywed couple performs together. By feeding cake to each other, the bride and groom symbolize their promise to provide for one another in their new life together. It’s the grand finale, and very much anticipated by guests who not only want to see it, but eat it as well.

Planning ahead makes the wedding cake buying process easier. Once the wedding date is set, you should start thinking about what kind of wedding cake you’d like to have and who you’d like to make it. Start getting inspired by looking through wedding magazines, books or searching online. Decide on some basic design elements. Colors, number and shape of tiers, decoration and theme are all important aspects of your cake. Do you like square, round, or hexagon tiers? Will your color scheme compliment your wedding colors, flowers or time of year? The cake can be a tribute to the couple’s ethnicity or culture, a whimsical reflection of the bride and groom’s interests or mirror the romantic ambiance of the wedding. Its finish also affects the composition of your cake. Rolled fondant gives a smooth, yet modern finish. Buttercream has a softer, more subtle feel. Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition, but make sure the flowers are pesticide-free and non-poisonous before placing them on your cake. Edible sugar flowers are made from rolled fondant, marzipan, chocolate clay or buttercream and can be made to replicate many flower varieties. Cake toppers can be a porcelain figurine, heirloom or a custom-made edible sculpture.

Your cake may be provided by a caterer, bakery or specialty cake shop. Your caterer may provide your cake as part of a reception package. Usually, you can choose from a few standard cake designs. If you want something custom-made, there may be an additional fee, or you may need to contact an outside cake source. Another option is ordering the cake from your favorite bakery. Bakeries vary on the designs they offer. While some will only provide simple designs, others may offer more decorative choices. For more elaborate cakes or a custom-made designs, you may want to contact a specialty cake shop. Specialty cake shops tend to take an artistic approach to their cakes and will work with you to design a one-of-a-kind wedding cake. Caterers book your cake and reception together, with final details due a few weeks before the wedding. Bakeries vary from a couple weeks to a few months notice. Call at least six months in advance for ordering requirements. Specialty cake shops may need advance notice for bookings. Depending on the cake shop and design, you may need to book six months in advance to reserve your wedding date. All is not lost if you’ve delayed ordering your cake. It’s worth the call to see if your cake maker can still fit you into their schedule.

Once you’ve decided on your vendor, you may want to have a tasting. Ask for a list of cake and filling flavors. You can offer your guests a different cake and filling combination in each tier. Your wedding cake can encompass seasonal fruits, simple flavors or cultural tastes. Contact your vendor to see if they offer tastings. If not, you can order a small cake to try. Some may charge a tasting fee, but this may be deducted from your total when you book your cake. Pricing can vary. While standard designs can be cost-effective, custom designs may cost more. If you’re having a Viennese table or serving other desserts, you may want to order fewer wedding cake servings. If you’re on a budget, you can order a smaller decorative wedding cake and a sheet cake to be kept in the kitchen for additional servings. Whatever your needs, communicate with your vendor so they can provide you with the perfect wedding cake.

Madame Butterfly Cakes, located at 22 Fire Island Ave. in Babylon, offers custom designed cakes for all occasions, handmade edible sugar sculptures, figures and flowers, cookies and edible favors. For more information, call 631-669-1069 or visit www.madamebutterflycakes.com.