The Wedding Cake

While a celebratory cake was traditionally provided as a symbol of fertility, modern cakes have become custom made confections with perfection as their main ingredient.

Options are as broad as the imagination!

It could be round, square, stacked up cupcakes, profiteroles, meringue, ice-cream, sorbet, chocolate, red, yellow, or pink. How about a carrot cake, lemon or banana flavour or something to match your wedding gown? Or perhaps the traditional fruit cake.

There are some excellent cake designers in Northland who are only too happy to discuss your ideas and offer samples for the all-important taste test.

Most of them will also have an album of photos or a website so you can see a range of their work. Once the culinary masterpiece has been made the artistry of the decoration begins. Whether classical, modern, fun, funky, sculpted, shaped, piled, painted or piped. The icing can reflect almost any colour scheme or theme.

Practical considerations include the number of guests and whether the cake will be served as a dessert. If you are getting married in the height of the Northland summer consider the temperature and choose a cake that will not melt before the end of the reception. You might also consider gluten free, or cater for those with allergies.

Traditionally the cake would be cut after the meal, however it is customary now for the bride and groom to take this step before the speeches to allow for the best photographs.