How a Wedding Cake is Created

You’ve tasted dozens of samples and found your dream cake. Learn the secrets that will bring it to life.

There are several steps that will go into creating your wedding cake.

Cake
The trick to frosting a cake perfectly, without getting crumbs in it, is to place the frosting onto a frozen cake. With this in mind, the cake itself is often baked months before the wedding day and then frozen.

The cake is then frosted with a ‘crumb coat.’ This first layer of frosting goes over the frozen cake. It is often applied thickly to prevent any crumbs from getting through.

The cake will then be placed back into the freezer to allow the frosting to harden.

Fillings
Once frozen, a wide band of frosting will be placed around the top perimeter of the cake. The filling will be placed inside this band of frosting which prevents it from bleeding through to the outside of the cake.
Once the filling has been added, the next layer of cake will be stacked on top of it. When assembled, the outside layer of frosting will be added.

Fondant and Marzipan
For a fondant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fondant) or marzipan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipan) exterior, the dough is rolled out with a rolling pin and placed over each cake layer, before the cake layers are assembled.

Marzipan and fondant flowers and bows are created in advance and allowed to harden in the desired shape before being added to the cake.

Buttercream
To apply the frosting smoothly, the cake will be placed onto a wheel. Spinning the cake allows the frosting to be evenly applied. Often a wet spatula is used to prevent the frosting from sticking.

The cake will then be placed back into the freezer before the Pastry Chef applies the decorations. If you’ve selected a pattern using buttercream, the design will sometimes be drawn on with the help of stencils.

Delivery
To prevent shifting during travel, cakes are often assembled after they have arrived at their destination.

Learn more about cake design by taking a cake decorating class. http://michaels.com/art/online/static?page=wilton_cake_decorating

Wedding Insurance – A ‘Do’ or a ‘Don’t’

When contemplating whether to purchase insurance for your wedding day, it’s important to consider what you have planned.

The Venue
If your wedding will be held at a well known and long established venue, it most likely carries insurance on your behalf. This would cover guest accidents or medical issues while on site. If they are providing the caterer, their insurance will cover food poisoning. A general rule of thumb is that their insurance will cover anything that they plan for you. As each venue is unique, it’s important to ask what they cover.

Every venue wants your wedding to be a success. From a marketing standpoint, they want the positive word-of-mouth your event will generate. Consequently, many venues are more flexible than what they would have you believe. If extenuating circumstances require that your wedding be postponed for any reason, let the venue know as soon as possible. They will often switch your wedding to a new date without any penalty. They want your business and they want you to be happy.

If your wedding will be held at a small, privately owned venue, it may be wise to get event insurance. Due to the recession, some venues are going out of business. If you have paid a non-refundable deposit, you will not be reimbursed if the venue goes out of business before your wedding day.

Vendors
Most vendors guarantee their services and want to avoid negative press that could be extremely damaging to a small business. Rather than purchasing insurance to cover anything that goes awry, it’s better to have a backup plan. If you need to use your backup plan, do so. The vendor that fell through will almost certainly refund any payments received.
The best insurance for managing vendors is to hire a Wedding Coordinator. They will refer you to the most reputable and cost effective businesses. They’ll also have backup plans in place and can often fix issues before you even know there’s a problem.

Insurance provides peace of mind. Single-day event insurance can be purchased for as little as $200. If you are worried about any component of your wedding, buy insurance and walk down the aisle with a smile.

Church Weddings

Before you imagine the church bells ringing on your wedding day, there are several things that you should know.

Cost
Churches typically charge just as much in rental fees as your reception venue will. Budget accordingly! The most cost effective option is to hold the ceremony in the same location as the reception so that you are paying one rental fee, rather than two.

Décor
Churches often have strict rules about what decorations are permitted. They may not permit rose petals down the aisle or may require that alter bouquets remain at the church rather than be moved to the reception site after the ceremony. In downtown Seattle, St James Cathedral will not permit candles.
Find out about décor restrictions at your church before falling in love with a ‘look’ for your ceremony.

Pre-Marital Counseling
Many Officiants require that couples attend several counseling sessions before the big day. This is an important consideration if you are planning a last-minute wedding.

Transportation
Consider the time of day guests will be driving and try to avoid rush hour if possible. Review where guests will park during the wedding ceremony and reception. If paid parking is the only option, consider making special arrangements for guests with financial constraints. Also make arrangements for elderly guests who may feel uncomfortable driving after dark.

A church wedding is a must-have for many couples. Asking the right questions upfront can ensure that your dreams become reality.