In our conversations with bakers across the country, buttercream frosting is still the predominant choice of brides. However, each month we are finding more cake artists who use fondant to cover 100% of all their wedding cakes. If you don’t care for the taste or feel of fondant, you’ll want to share that with your baker. Besides “buttercream and rolled fondant” there are a multitude of other types of “sugar-pastes” and “chocolates” to cover your cake and for making decorations. It would be a good idea for you to ask your baker for your options. Tip: The type(s) of frosting or “sugar paste(s)” on your cake will affect the price of your cake and design.

While every baker/designer will have their own collection of wedding cake pics and displays in their stores, you may like what you found in a magazine or on the Internet better. Ask them if they can recreate any of the wedding cake pics and how much they will cost?

(Note: Most wedding cake pics found in magazines are more expensive than what you’ll see in a baker’s typical displays.)

• Consider the ambience and architecture of the room or facility of the venue.
• The pattern or design in your wedding dress or the bridesmaids dresses.
• Your wedding invitation.
• The location of your honeymoon.
• Your favorite flower(s) or flowers you’re using in your wedding.
• Yours and his hobbies or special interests.
• Seasonal influences. (e.g. Winter)
• Location influences. (e.g. The beach)
• Heritages or ethnic influences
• Paintings or pieces of art.

Some brides don't take into account the shape of their wedding cake while looking for designs. For 2012-2013, square tiers will remain popular. As a different idea, consider looking at shapes like tear-drops, petal shaped, hexagon or multiple layered tiered cakes. These are often overlooked and could be appealing to you. Ask the baker/designer what they offer. Most respectable baker/designers will have a variety of choices in their showroom.

From the bakers we have interviewed, it’s a split decision. Some baker/designers don’t really care if you bring your colors to your initial consultation. They only care to see them if you actually place your order. Other baker/designers feel the colors you’re using helps them determine your personality and flair, so they can design a wedding or groom’s cake including your colors. Tip: We suggest taking your colors with you. And, be prepared to leave any material or color swatches with the designers you visit. They may need them to create an original concept for you.

Most wedding cake designs and wedding cake pics utilize some type of flowers. The majority of the time, flowers will be either fresh blooms, silk, buttercream frosting or some other type of sugar-paste. If you’re looking to save some money, you’ll have to ask your designer if they can exchange one flower for another. For example, a photo you’ve chosen could have sugar-paste flowers on it and replacing them with silk or fresh flowers could save you hundreds.