DIY Friday: Preserving Your Top Wedding Cake Tier

The age old tradition of preserving the top tier of your wedding cake for the first anniversary is one many couples still follow. What many don't know, is that there are variables when it comes to preserving different kinds of cake as well as alternatives.

It is important to know what the shelf life of your wedding cake is. Cakes which consist of heavier items like chocolate, carrot cake, and almond often times have a longer shelf life and will fair well in the freezer. Cakes with fresh fruit, whipped cream filling or fluffy white cakes will not last a year in the freezer. When choosing your cake flavors, consult with your baker on "freezer worthy" options if you are considering saving the top tier for your anniversary.

Some bakeries even suggest ordering a cop-cat cake for a couple's one-year anniversary. This alternative is perfect for a bride and groom whose cake will just not hold up in the freezer. This fresh copy-cat cake will be the exact same flavor as the wedding cake, allowing you to once again enjoy your cake as you remembered it, not freezer burned and stale.

                  "Sylvia Weinstock, of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in New York, recommends storing cakes for no  longer than two months, and forgoing the first-anniversary tradition."      

-The Knot

If you do decide to be a bit nostalgic and save the original top tier of your wedding cake, here are some guidelines to follow to properly preserve your cake:

1. Remove the sugar flowers and set them aside.
2. Chill the cake well before wrapping it up so that the icing hardens. This way it won't stick to the plastic wrap and make a mess.
3. Wrap the (unadorned) cake in several layers of plastic wrap -- not aluminum foil, which can cause freezer burn.
4. Seal the wrapped cake in an air-tight bag and place it in the freezer.
5. Snag a ribbon (from your bouquet, the centerpieces, your hair, a gift) and tie it around the cake package to mark it so that you don't mistake it for anything else.

 

**Important Tip: Try not to expose your cake too much by opening it up in the freezer. The more often you do, the less fresh it will be on your anniverary.**

{Courtesy of the Knot}

**What do you think about the tradition of saving the top tier? Are you planning on saving your top tier?

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Photo Credits:

1. Third Eye Photo

2. Moments of Elegance

3. Wedding Wire

In the Heat of the Night...Let There Be Cake (Still)

Summer is absolutely upon us! With the ever increasing temperatures and blazing sun, there are a few considerations to make when planning a summer wedding. This week we've discussed some tough flowers that will withstand scorching temperatures and steps you can take to ensure your flowers are hydrated throughout the day. Along with flowers, there's another detail to consider for a summer wedding (especially if your wedding is outside)...the cake!

Your wedding cake is most certainly the showpiece of the reception. And every bride has envisioned what their cake might look like, right down to the detailed borders and intricate fondant work. Here are a few tips that every bride should know when dreaming up their perfect summer wedding cake!

1. Choose Your Frosting Wisely- So you have a sweet spot for buttercream and you think it would be perfect for your cake...think again. The word "Buttercream" during the summer months is most always followed by groans and moans of "oh no!" Buttercream, while incredibly tasty, is vulnerable to the summer heat and will melt. Especially if you've planned for intricate piping and designs with buttercream, the heat will ruin it and cause the frosting to run and drip. Fondant is the most acceptable choice for a summer cake. And if you just can't see your wedding cake covered in fondant, find out if your reception location can store your cake inside, or in a cooler until about 30 minutes before you plan on cutting it.

2. Protect Your Cake: Even if you do choose fondant for your cake, it's important to not set it up in direct sunlight or completely exposed to weather. Fondant will crack or split if exposed to too much humidity or heat, and it's much more challenging to fix fondant than frosting. For indoor weddings, be mindful of the location of your cake. The sun can still come blazing through a window. Keep your cake covered under a tent and completely sheltered.

3. Think Light: If your wedding is truly the epitome of all things summer, why not incorporate that theme into your wedding cake as well? Try a key lime flavored cake with coconut frosting or a light angel food cake with a lemon curd filling. Fruit flavors like raspberry and strawberry are always a great filling addition to any cake.

As always, your baker will be informed of the preferred summer options for your cake. If you're not sure that your dream cake will withstand the summer heat, just ask for safe alternatives.

**Summer Brides!! What kind of cake will you be featuring at your wedding? Any creative summer flavors? Share the sweet info!


                 Love,
   
                The Emily Weddings Team


Photos courtesy of: Antique Wedding Cake via Intricate Icings, Pink and Black Cake of Celestial Cakes, Green Cake via Bridella.com

Ultimate Showdown!: Cupcakes vs. Wedding Cakes

Cupcakes! We've all seen the specialty "cupcakeries" and the endless shows on TV, but just what is the new obsession with cupcakes all about? Cupcakes have been around for a long time, and most of us remember eating them as kids or making a mess in the kitchen as we decorated them. Cupcakes have wiggled their way into the limelight of the wedding industry, and we couldn't be more fond of this sweet treat!

Cupcakes have recently become the new alternative to traditional wedding cakes for many brides and grooms. And with the seemingly endless options for decorations and flavors, there is plenty of room for customization. Much like wedding cakes, whose canvas for design is always being taken to new heights, these decadent desserts are making their statement at a front table.

So which is the better option? We're breaking down both based on style and affordability in this week's showdown!

STYLE

      There truly is something so whimsical and fun about cupcakes. You can't escape it! It's a staple from many of our childhood memories. If your wedding reception's sole theme is fun and carefree, then cupcakes are the perfect addition. On the other hand, if your wedding is a bit more formal and traditional, cupcakes might look a bit cheap and understated next to the traditional grand wedding cake. Both can be decorated to suit your wedding's theme and feel. So who wins in the style category?

Cupcakes: If fun and a carefree attitude is important to have at your wedding, cupcakes are the way to go!
Wedding cake: If your wedding is to be a grand affair, a wedding cake might be more appropriate. Let's not forget the symbolic importance of the wedding cake. The last thing you want to do is lose sight of your beautiful cake at the reception because it's either non-existent or just doesn't stand out.

COST

When cupcakes were first introduced to the wedding industry, they were the cheaper more cost efficient alternative to the traditional grand wedding cake. It was soon apparent that bakers would have to put just as much work into cupcakes, if not more work, as a regular cake! Each one has to be iced and decorated and sometimes cupcake stands need to be purchased, as most bakers will only have cake stands.
   On the other hand, it is easier for a non-professional baker to make cupcakes than an elaborate 8-tiered masterpiece. The simplicity alone will save you money. There are other variables that add to the cost of cupcakes however:

www.cakepicturegallery.com

• Specialty cupcake liners
  To match your wedding colors approx. $0.10 each
  Fancy laser cut cupcake liners approx. $1 each
  
• Sugar flowers
  these can either be royal icing or gumpaste
  Wendy Kromer $0.40 - $9 per flower
  Whole Sale Sugar Flowers $0.12 - $1 per flower
  Sugar Craft $0.30 - $3 per flower
  
• Monogrammed fondant hearts
  Wendy Kromer Approx $1 each.
  
• Mini bride and groom cupcake toppers
  Plum Party 12 for $7.50
  
• Cupcake Stands
  Wilton wire stand Holds 38 cupcakes $39.99
  
  Acrylic Cupcake Stands - tiered cupcake tree comes in six styles and sizes to display 8 to 200 cupcakes

 WINNER: In the end, choosing to do memorable and extravagant cupcakes might cost you just as much as an unforgettable wedding cake. You'll just need to decide which is the better fit for your reception theme.

** Are you thinking about using cupcakes for your reception instead of a traditional wedding cake? We want to hear the details!! = )

                             Love,
                                 The Emily Weddings Team