Your wedding cake is the centerpiece of your reception—pulling together the theme of your wedding in one creative, delicious package. It draws the attention of your guests and features prominently in your photos. Whether you imagine a stately traditional cake or something whimsical, the wedding specialist in the Hy-Vee Bakery will create the perfect cake for you.
For your first consultation with the cake designer, take along pictures of cakes you like, as well as bridesmaid dress fabric samples, colors and any inspirational photos you’ve collected to suggest a theme or style for your overall wedding look. “We also have albums for brides to look at, to gather ideas,” says Nancy Childers, bakery manager at the Hy-Vee in Topeka, Kansas.
Stacked cakes are traditional and popular, but if you want a chic modern look, consider going for extra-tall layers or alternating square and round layers (with a square on the bottom for visual stability). Tiered cakes lend themselves to elegant, formal weddings with the current trend toward shorter columns between the tiers. “It’s more contemporary. Many brides want a sleeker, cleaner look,” Nancy says.
Another major decision is whether to have fondant or buttercream icing. When you meet with the Hy-Vee Bakery Department for the fi rst time, you’ll get to sample both types. Fondant’s smooth, hard surface creates an elegant, sophisticated look and allows for decoration that imitates lace, ribbon or fabric. It’s more labor-intensive, however, and may cost up to twice as much as a cake with buttercream frosting. Buttercream is tasty, has a more traditional appearance and can be easily manipulated to form flowers and piping. Like fondant, it can be tinted to match your color scheme, although you’ll probably want to avoid intense colors such as blue and red except for the embellishments. “Buttercream requires large amounts of dye to achieve an intense color,” Nancy explains, “and the icing can stain lips, teeth or clothing.”
For the cake itself, Hy-Vee offers the classic flavor favorites—white, chocolate and marble—or you can order red velvet, spice, strawberry, lemon or carrot cake. Pricing is based on a per-slice cost, which includes basic decoration. Embellishments such as gumpaste flowers, fresh flowers, unusual fillings (such as fresh fruit) and hand-painting add to the cost but allow you to make a unique personal expression with your cake.
Another popular option is to offer cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. “They’re a little less expensive and they’re easier to serve,” Nancy says. Iced with fondant or decorated with gum-paste flowers and set on tiered stands, they can be just as elegant as a traditional cake. Some couples also like to include a sheet cake decorated to reflect the groom’s interests. Whatever your desire, your Hy-Vee wedding specialist can bring it to life.