Over the last few years we have made some amazing Wedding Cake discoveries - there are so many styles and types to choose from than ever before and with cake designers getting more and more creative, choosing the perfect wedding cake can become quite the bamboozling process. While you may think you have an idea of what you want for your wedding cake, you might feel overwhelmed by the many options and things you need to consider.

So, with that in mind we thought it would be useful in the vein of the wedding dress buying guide - to put to a Simple Wedding Cake Guide, giving the heads up on what you need to know before you start so you can sit back and enjoy those yummy tasting sessions!

Your Simple Wedding Cake Guide

The Basics

• What size cake? Start by looking at your guest list - while some guests will not have cake, others may want to try more than one piece. Typically, you can estimate the number of servings needed by approximating that 75 to 85 percent of your guests will enjoy a piece of cake. From there, determine if you’d like to have enough cake to feed every guest, whether you’d like to have cake leftover, and the size of the slice of cake you'd like to serve.
• If you are planning on preserving a tier - keep this in mind when ordering too. Don’t include the top tier when figuring out how much you need for guest servings. 

• How many Guests? Typically, three tiers will serve 50 to 100 guests so you'll likely need five layers for 200 guests or more. You can give the illusion of a larger cake by increasing the cake's height with columns between the tiers. Wilton cakes have a great guide for determining the serving size.
• When to order? You can order up to 9-12 months before the date of wedding especially for peak season wedding dates plus, elaborate design and decoration takes time to be properly executed. Don't leave it too long to order your cake though, a minimum of at least 6 months beforehand is advised.
• Having a day two? An additional wedding cake tier can be added to allow for plenty of leftovers for guests to enjoy at at your second day celebrations

Do your Wedding Cake Research

• There are wedding cake styles to suit every type of couple, don't get caught in the plain white trap if you're not that sort of couple. We've featured everything from handpainted cakes, metallic cakes, soft-iced cakes, vintage cakes, black cakes and all sorts through our posts. Do plenty of research to find out what you like. Check out our cake features, real weddings or, our cake board on Pinterest.
• Match your cake to your overall wedding style and vibe - a huge elaborate regal style cake may look out of place at an outdoor wedding with handmade details!
• It is also a good idea to have a colour palette in mind as well as discuss your cake with your florist as you could match your colours with your cake or incorporate flowers into the design. 

Budget 

• Be realistic - It is important that you discuss budget at the beginning of the design process with your baker/cake designer to avoid any misunderstandings and don't feel pressurised into ordering a cake that is beyond your budget.
• Tiers, handmade sugar flowers, molded shapes and metallic finishes all add significantly to the price, so if you are trying to keep the cost low it is best to avoid or minimise these. You could consider decorating with fresh flowers or fruit for a less expensive but equally beautiful finish.

Meeting the Wedding Cake Designer

• If you've found a wedding cake designer you love (and in your budget!) - request a wedding cake tasting. At tastings, the couple are invited to the bakery to view sample cakes, taste various cake flavours, ask questions, and review the cake designers portfolio.
• Bring your research with you - photos from the web, magazine cut-outs of cakes that you like, fabric swatches, flowers, your stationery design or any details that inspire you.

Wedding Cake Flavours 

• Don't feel you have to settle for the traditional fruit cake, there are literally hundreds of flavours to choose from these days.  Coffee, white chocolate and nut flavours have recently become popular as have citrus and fruit flavours.
• It makes most sense to pick flavours that match the season of your wedding - light, dainty flavours for a spring or summer wedding and rich, heavy cakes for an autumn and winter wedding.
• If you're having different tiers you could have different flavours in each tier.

Presentation & Decoration

• No matter what style of cake you choose, make sure it gets the credit it deserves by displaying it properly.  Make sure there is a designated cake table that gives the best presentation possible. It is also worth raising it up rather than losing it on a huge table.
• For a single tier cake in particular - borrow, rent or invest in a great cake stand to show the cake off to best advantage.
• Even the plainest cake can be brought to life with a beautiful cake topper. There loads of cake topper choices out there from the slick to the very kitsch, so you dont have to stick to traditional plastic figurines (unless you really want to!). Fresh flowers, a monogram of your new initials or even left bare, you don't have to follow the rules.  Also if you have a skilled cake designer, you can ask he or she to come up with a personalised version.

At the Venue - Ensuring your Wedding Cake is Picture Perfect

If you're having a wedding cake professional make your cake they will ensure it is all perfectly set up.

• Who or how will it get to the venue?
• Ask your venue how far in advance your cake can be set up.

If you of a family member are planning on making your own wedding cake then here are a few tips to ease the cake set-up process...

• First of all, make sure your venue or caterer allows it! Due to health and safety many venues and caterers will only work with insured wedding cake designers.
• When transporting the cake, make sure it is boxed properly. It's essential for protecting the cake from dirt and dust, the weather and makes it much easier to carry
• Cakes on pillars will have be transported unassembled
• Toppers, fresh flowers and ornaments should be removed from cakes when they are being moved
• Keep the box or boxes flat never place on car seat with a slant
• Remove the box or boxes from the cake on the reception table by cutting the sides of the boxes and then sliding the cake out
• Bring along extra sugar flowers, piped icing, fresh flowers incase the cake needs to have some small repairs
• Take a photo of the cake set up, so you know the condition you left the cake and if anything has happened to it.

Wedding Cake Cheats (Smart Tips for Savvy Couples)

• A top tip for couples worried that the cake wont be eaten is to serve the cake as dessert. Not only do you save money as you are skipping a course you can ensure your dream cake will be money well spent.
• Order a small cake that's decorated to perfection (also known as a dummy cake in the bakery world), but can only feed a handful or guests plus several un-decorated cakes (also known as plain sheet cakes) of the same flavour to feed the guests, to tuck behind the scenes.
• Opt for something that’s more affordable such as a naked cake, or buttercream instead of fondant, since fondant is often the more expensive option.

• Wedding cake slices are traditionally cut smaller than party cake slices. Uniform slices will ensure that your cake serves the correct number of guests.
• If you are planning on having a candy bar or dessert table as well as a cake, consider a cake sized for about half your guests. Servings will be smaller, but so will the price.

There are so many more stunning wedding cake ideas and trends to check out!

To find the right wedding cake designer and florist to make your own dream wedding cake, check out our recommended wedding suppliers.