Displaying your wedding cake

Displaying your wedding cake

When you’ve invested in a luxury bespoke cake I always recommend thinking about how you’re going to go about displaying your wedding cake on your big day.

Table position

Often, venues have set positions for the cake table.  Find out where they are.  Ensure you like the position.  If you don’t like it don’t be afraid of suggesting alternatives for displaying your wedding cake.  Make sure it’s not in a dark corner, next to a fire extinguisher or an ‘Exit’ or ‘Toilet’ sign.  Sounds obvious, but often the position of the cake table and how it will look in photographs is completely disregarded.

Finally, ensure it’s not near a heat source or in bright sunlight (which I always double-check too).  Select your preferred position for the table and also have the contingency plan of an alternative position in the event of a heatwave – which are obviously becoming more prevalent.

Cake stand – hire from me

Ideally, when displaying your wedding cake, a pedestal cake stand is best.  It both elevates the cake and transforms it from a triangular profile to hourglass.  I have two available to hire capable of supporting the considerable weight of tiered cakes.

My tiered cakes range between 10 and 20+ kilos depending on size.  Hence, they need a suitably strong and stable cake stand.

Cake stand – buy one

Or you can, instead, buy your own like this couple did (from Prop Options)…

Just remember to check its suitability and weight bearing capacity before adding to basket.  Then, after your wedding you can either sell it on or the style above can even be repurposed as a plantpot stand.  Hanging on to it though is the perfect excuse to bake, eat and share cake.

Traditional cake stand – ask your venue

Alternatively, you can check out your venue’s cake stand.  Some have none, or the ones they do have aren’t strong enough.  Some have the traditional silver style.  These are okay as long as they’ve been well maintained and regularly polished like this one…

Displaying your wedding cake doesn’t have to be done on a stand that looks like a find from an archaeological dig – I won’t show the picture.  If the venue’s stand is this traditional silver type do also consider whether this style will complement your cake’s design.  They’re best with classic floral cakes rather than super-modern contemporary or rustic ones.

Some venues have traditional type cake stands but they’re plastic.  These aren’t my favourite but are passable.  But, if they’ve been heavily used they can be worn and peeling – an absolute no.  So, make sure you inspect your venue’s cake stand.  If their stand is an ugly one, don’t be tempted to still use it and hide it underneath the table cloth for the floating cake look.  When displaying your wedding cake it’s far better to go without a stand than end up with an ugly one or a weird self-levitating cake.

Rustic cake stand

If you’re having a teepee, barn or woodland wedding with a rustic or particularly botanical style of cake with twigs/branches and foliage then either a beer barrel… or a log slice/beer barrel combo is an option.

Just make sure both are clean and have no wobble!  Your florist will likely be able to supply a log slice for you.  If not, try your local garden centre or one of the many online suppliers.

Cloth or no cloth?

If it’s a nice table which complements your cake, leave it clothless! Or drape with a gorgeous silk, satin, lace, or muslin table runner in a colour to complement your cake.

Actually though, many venues’ tables are the collapsible kind and purely functional, rather than solid wood beauties.  In this case, you’ll need a tablecloth.  It should be clean and stain-free.  It should be creaseless.  I am considering investing in a steamer, purely to rectify the appearance of some of the tablecloths I’m greeted with.  When I arrive to set up your wedding cake I’m always quietly impressed by those venues who are busy ironing all the tablecloths on the tables (including the cake one).  It makes for much better photos.  And reduces the time I have to spend (for free!) photo-shopping out all the creases.

When it comes to tablecloths, they vary too.  The draped kind are best.

But, the table skirt variety, secured with plastic clips, crop up often.  (Cue more time for me photo-shopping out those clips.)

If this is the type your venue use, do consider styling your cake table with fresh florals, even if it’s just the perimeter, to conceal those clips.

Or if your venue is a dry hire your venue stylist or caterer will have beautiful linens you can hire – remember to get one for the cake table as well as the dining tables!

Get creative…

I always recommend using some of your fresh flower budget to choose blooms to decorate your cake table.  Choose the same blooms and foliage as the rest of your fresh florals to ensures seamless continuity.  This couple’s florist, Swallows & Damsons, created a vase of beautiful flowers for the cake table.  The styling options are endless but, of course, will depend on your flower budget.  Ask your florist and venue stylist for ideas and see what they can create for you!

You can either choose to decorate the table itself, the area surrounding it – or both!  This makes for a spectacular display and creates a real focal point.

But, if your budget won’t stretch to additional elaborate floral displays to style your cake, you can repurpose your ceremony flowers.  Use those urns of flowers or floral arches twice!

Or, if you’re absolutely at the limit with your flower budget or repurposing isn’t an option, sometimes some thoughtfully placed, beautifully simple candlesticks with elegant candles in a colour to complement your cake will do the trick!

Be cohesive…

Don’t be too swayed by pinterest and be tempted to throw everything at it.  If you’re going to style your cake table and/or its surrounding do make sure that any additional décor is cohesive (less is more!) with your wedding styling, venue and your style of cake.  I can advise on this.

Photographs of your cake

When you’ve spent all this effort displaying your wedding cake beautifully, it’s important to capture it in print.  I always take my own photographs of your cake both at my home and at the venue.  I can control the environment at home and know the light in my lounge and can correct this with my reflector and editing to create decent images.

At your venue I do my absolute best photographing your cake.  But, I’m a cake designer not a photographer.  So, my photography skills are limited and will never be a patch on your photographer’s work.  So, please make sure you’ve asked your photographer to take photos of your cake.  Not just one photo, or incidental ones where your cake’s in the background.  Ask your photographer to spend time taking good head-on photographs wholly dedicated to your cake – both before the room is milling with your loved ones and during your cake-cutting.

This way, long after you’ve devoured and enjoyed your wedding cake and when your wedding day is a distant memory, you’ll have professional images of your cake, beautifully displayed, to cherish.

In conclusion…

When you’ve paid handsomely for a handcrafted bespoke luxury wedding cake – likely the largest cake purchase of your life – it deserves to stand out.

Your wedding cake

If you’d like to start your wedding cake journey with me please get in touch.  I will design your cake and help you decide how to display it.

With love, Amanda x