Sun, Sand and... Wedding Cakes!
A beach wedding, just like any other wedding, should include the
traditional cake cutting, and the sharing between the bride and
the groom. The cake and the cermonial cutting symbolize that the
newlyweds will feed and nourish each other throughout their
union.
Many resorts in The Caribbean and wedding planners will include
a traditional pound cake with frosting as your wedding cake,
however, if you are left to deliberate the issue of the cake on
your own, consider the following tips from the beach wedding
guide team http://www.islandbrides.com/:
Choosing a Baker in a foreign country
Selecting a Baker for your wedding cake can seem like an
impossible task, considering the distance between you, but there
are ways to do it and get it right! Websites such as The Beach
wedding Guide at http://www.islandbrides.com/ have listings for
bakers in most Caribbean companies, giving you a good place to
start. Contact several, ask for them to send photos of their
work and, if possible, testimonials from previous brides. A few
emails will give you a good idea of whether you feel comfortable
with them or not. Remember, its your wedding, not theirs, so if
you have the slightest doubt, don't take the risk! You can also
ask the hotel you will be staying at if they have a recommended
bakery to add to your contact list.
Once you've narrowed it down, ask them all to send you a
contract which would include price, size, flavour, topping,
presentation, and wether they will deliver and set the cake up
at your venue. Once you have arrived on island, its wise to meet
with your chosen baker and finalize details.
Consider the weather
If your cake is to stay on display for any length of time, and
your wedding is outdoors, then the hotter temperatures of the
Caribbean will have an obvious effect on your choices. Try to
stay away from whipped cream, buttercream and meringue and opt
for more heat durable frostings like fondant or butter-based
buttercream that will protect your cake from the sun. For those
of you with British heritage and wanting the traditional "royal"
icing on your cake, check with local bakers to see if they even
do this in the Caribbean. it is not a local custom and the
humidity in the islands makes it difficult to get royal icing to
set to its crisp, hard texture like back home.
Cutting The Costs
If you insist on bringing your own cake to your reception,
despite the offer of a free cake included in your package,
beware of cake cutting fees that could hike the price of your
"do". Typically priced at $1 per slice, this fee should be
negotiated at the time of booking.
Local traditions
If you have fallen in love with the beach or tropical
destination you've chosen for your wedding, why not try
incorporating local customs into your wedding cake. In Bermuda
brides use a small cedar sapling as a cake topper to symbolise
the growth of the love between bride and groom. In the West
Indies a rich fruit cake laced with heavy rum is covered with
fondant icing. On a more simplistic note you flavour your cake
in rum or pina colada for an extra hint of the tropical.
Taking your cake home?
Etiquette of past tells us that the top teir of the wedding cake
is to be served upon the couples first anniversary or at the
christening of the first child. If your hell bent on sticking to
tradition, have your baker wrap your cake in an airtight baggie
and wrap it to protect it from sunlight. Ask your resort if they
will freeze your cake for you and hold it in their freezers
until its time to go home. Have a mini sized cooler on hand to
transport your cake home packed with ice bags. You will need to
check on the importation restrictions of your home town before
you plan on doing this though.
More Savings
Save money by making sure the size cake you choose will serve
the amount of folks you have at your wedding. You could also
reduce this by a quarter and serve mini portions alongside
another desert option. Incorporate fresh fruit instead of a cake
topper or fresh flowers and you could save on money and hassle.
Alternatively you could take a tip from brides in china who
present an imposter cake to their guests often made of Styrofoam
or rubber and then serve sheets of flavoured cake from the
kitchen as a desert