Planning a wedding is not easy. Even without counting the design of the wedding cake there are just so many elements to consider. What style should the gown be? What kind of chairs would fit the design of the reception hall? Are they safe for the wedding guests coming to this wedding? What about videography? Photography... and the list goes on. Often, as a result wedding cake design is put off until the end.



Yet putting the wedding cake design until the last minute is foolish.

True, the actual baking of the cake should not happen until the last few days prior to your wedding (watch out, I have heard reports of bakeries that bake wedding cakes months in advance and keep them in the freezer until they need them - yuck), but baking and the actual building of the cake is only one of the last steps of the wedding cake design process - and just like any other discipline, the better quality pastry chef's book months (and for some dates, years) in advance.

The real question is what kind of wedding cake do you want? Do you want it to be a visual centerpiece of your wedding reception design? If so you need to start early to incorporate your overall design of your wedding into your wedding cake design.

Think through the details of the kind of design you would like:

Is your wedding reception a formal event? Consider a tall, hexagonal, regal cake matching the design of your wedding dress, accented with your favorite flowers and crystal wedding cake jewelry.

Are you more a trendy type couple? Think about a style that incorporates multiple shaped tiers - perhaps of different heights with decor that is uniquely you.

Is your reception more whimsical? Mull over a square or rectangular cake stacked in an offset fashion and adorned with fondant to look like a stack of gifts with a large bow on top.

For a Cinderella themed wedding consider a round or oval tiered cake with a crystal pumpkin cake progressing toward a castle perched on the summit of your grand wedding cake.

For an Asian themed wedding consider an ivory colored pastry with delicate handmade lotus flowers or cherry blossoms. Or for a bolder look choose a red or yellow cake with the other color used as an accent.

The options are almost infinite. Still, the trick is to find a pastry chef who can make the wedding cake that you picture. Some can. Some cannot. Some will not. Take time early in your wedding planning process to decide on a design concept at least - then you can start the process of finding a bakery that can provide that centerpiece wedding cake that you want.