Cake Decorating Classes

Cake Decorating Tips: Wedding Cake Decorating

The ultimate project for cake designing hobbyists and professionals is the tiered wedding cake or anniversary cake. Making a large special occasion cake is not only economical; it also provides an exciting challenge. Your unique creation can be both delicious and a source of conversation.

Planning is Crucial

A crucial cake decorating tip for projects large and small is planning. You may get away with spontaneity with a small cake, but when a cake has several tiers you will need to plan. The work to be done consists of six distinct tasks which can be performed on separate days:

1. Choose recipes, flavors, decorating design, and display strategy—browse magazines and books for cake decorating tips and display ideas and consult with the couple to be honored.
2. Create a small practice cake to test recipe and decorations.
3. Purchase ingredients, tiering supplies, display props, and transportation container.
4. Bake the cakes and refrigerate.
5. Decorate the cakes. Assemble or wait until you are at the party site.
6. Transport the cakes, pick up any fresh flowers you plan to use, and set up the display.

Creating Tiered Cakes

Multiple cakes can be displayed side-by-side or on a stacked cake stand, but there is something special about a tiered cake. Once cakes are tiered, you have created a large impressive single cake. There are two main methods for tiering. At cake decorating stores you will learn that there are many variations based on these two methods:

1. Stacking: Cakes are stacked with a large one on the bottom, a medium one in the middle and a smaller one on top. Wooden or plastic dowels are used for support—otherwise the weight of the cakes and decorations will cause a collapse.
2. Pillars and Columns: Cakes are separated by pillars or columns—you can purchase separator sets that come with separator plates and snap-on columns.

For the advanced and adventurous, lopsided tiering of unevenly shaped cakes is a recent trend.

Transporting the Cake

Transporting a cake with tiers requires some thought. The safest option will be to create the tiers on site, but if you would prefer to do that in the privacy of your kitchen, make sure you have someone sit with the cake when you are driving it to the party.

Visit a cake decorating supply store for ideas for protecting your cake when it is on the move. The whole cake should sit on a solid piece of fiberboard or plywood—if you underestimate the weight, the cake board will collapse.

Cake Decorating Tips for Weddings and Anniversaries

For any special cake celebrating couples’ milestones, it is important to consult with the couple about their likes and dislikes. Here are some ideas that you can present to a wedding couple:

• Choose between very traditional fondant decorating styles and more modern approaches
• Use colors from the bridal bouquet and wardrobe or favorite colors of the bride and groom.
• Incorporate symbols reflecting the joining of two families, two cultures, or two unique personalities
• Use symbols and flavors inspired by the honeymoon destination or the wedding location.

Anniversary cakes may incorporate some of the ideas suggested for wedding cakes. Additional ideas, only suitable for anniversaries, include:

• Write a note of congratulations with the names of the couple on the cake. For example “Happy Anniversary Sarah and John!”
• Use symbols relating to the number of years of marriage, such as crystal for the 15th anniversary.
• Decorations can reflect highlights of the marriage such as children, trips, animals, hobbies, and accomplishments.

Don’t forget that you can take wedding cake decorating classes on a master course and get further inspiration from wedding cake decorating books.