When people think of weddings, they cannot help but think of cake. A wedding cake is a symbol of celebration and joy, and yours should be representative of the type of wedding that you plan on having. It is important, above all, to choose a cake that you like both the look and taste of as well as one that matches the general feel of your wedding celebration.

Buying a wedding cake is not as easy as you might imagine. Not only can it be expensive but there are a number of very important factors to consider when buying a wedding cake that are all too easily overlooked. Below are some hints about what to keep in mind when purchasing your wedding cake.

Size
The size of your wedding cake can be fairly easily determined by the number of guests you will have attending the celebration. However, if you are planning a small affair, this doesn’t mean that your wedding cake cannot be as grand as those made for larger weddings. Most bakeries offer the option of fake wedding tiers that appear to be real but are actually just beautifully iced Styrofoam. While the bottom layers are real cake, these fake layers can allow you to have the elegant tiers you are looking for without wasting money on layers of unnecessary cake. You would be surprised to find out how many people use this option!

Flavor
While you may love chocolate peanut butter cake and are determined that this should be the flavor of your wedding cake, many of your guests may not agree. It is advisable to get a flavor of cake that a majority of your guests will enjoy.  Buts this doesn’t mean that you have to jeapordize your tastes for those of your guests. Most bakeries will be more than happy to make each layer of your cake a different flavor, allowing you to savor your peanut butter chocolate cake while your guests enjoy vanilla raspberry. Almost all bakeries will offer tastings of the different types of cakes they have so be sure to taste all the flavors you plan on including in your cake.

Assembly
When you shop at IKEA, you shop with the general knowledge that assembly will be required but you hardly think of this when it comes to your wedding cake. However, believe it or not, most wedding cakes require assembly upon arrival at your reception and if you do not plan for this ahead of time, then you could end up in quite a predicament. While a professional baker should discuss your assembly options when you purchase your cake, some do not. Make sure to get the following questions answered…

• Will the cake be assembled for me? If not, make sure to ask for assistance unless you are absolutely sure this is something you can do yourself (for most people it is not!)
• What will I need at the reception hall in order for the cake to be assembled? You should also confirm that the reception has room to store, cut and cool the cake.
• Do I need to provide servers to cut and serve the cake or will they be provided for me?
• Will there be an additional cost for the assembly of the cake at the reception? Make sure to factor this into the budget that you have allotted for your cake.

Cost
While a wedding cake may be mostly flower and water, some have been known to cost as much as a car!  Make sure that the wedding cake you want fits into your budget.  Would you be willing to spend less on another aspect of your wedding in order to get the cake you want?  You may be able to save money by reducing the scale of the cake you want or by removing one of the tiers.  Talk to your baker about possible alternatives.

Style
Choosing the style of your wedding cake should be the most fun part (except for maybe the tasting)! The style of your cake should reflect you and your partner as well as the general atmosphere of your wedding. Make sure to look at a number of bakeries to make sure you find the perfect style cake for you.