Wedding Blog
As far as our wedding cake goes, we know we want it to be round with buttercream vanilla frosting, but other than that, we’re having a difficult time making a decision on the decorations and flavors!
Since the cake is included in our catering package with the museum, it would be foolish not to use the cake decorator provided. Judging from the photos we saw of the baker’s past work, he seems to work with minimal designs, so we’re trying to find a very simplistic and elegant design that they can work with - that way we don’t have to go over budget with fancy fondant frills.
Help us pick between our favorites (or feel free to comment with suggestions of your own!):
option 1
option 2
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option 3
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option 4
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We were originally thinking of having the cake design below, but our caterer said it would be a lot more $$ to do the fancy schmancy flowers, so we passed.
Keep in mind this is our cake topper:
Here are the options for flavors (we’re having around 100 guests, so we won’t need a gazillion layers, probably around three):
Vanilla Cake
Moist yellow cake which can be flavored with lemon or orangeChocolate Cake
Moist dark cake, excellent alone or layered with vanilla cakeChocolate Chip Cake
Shavings of Belgian chocolate folded into moist vanilla cakePound Cake
Traditional pound cake made with a pure creamery butterCarrot Cake
With lots of carrots, raisins and walnuts matched with cream cheese fillingToasted Almond Cake
Rich buttery almond flavored cake with flecks of toasted nuts baked throughoutBerries and Cream Cake
Vanilla cake filled with sweet cream and strawberries, blueberries or raspberriesMousse fillings
Chocolate, white chocolate, raspberry, lemon, mochaOthers fillings
Vanilla buttercream with raspberry or apricot jam
Chocolate truffle
Chocolate truffle with raspberry jamCake prices vary pending flavor, size, and décor. Plan on about $4.00 - $9.00 per guest. A starting cost of $4.00 per guest has already been included in your proposal food costing. You may want to include fresh florals from your florist on the cake.
Please help us choose which flavors and patterns we should go with!
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I love the light blue base with the fondants flowers, maybe you could have your florist add the flowers onto a plain cake? That way it would pretty much look like that cake, but not break the bank! The flavors all sound delicious, I would definitely include the Chocolate Chip on one layer, that one sounds awesome!
I think I love the simplicity, and classic but yet modern feel to Option 1 - but 4 is definately my second runner up!
You have fabulous taste!! Don’t you wish you could do them all!!
Ooohh option 1 with pound cake and choc cake! Love the ‘chubby’ look of this cake. Very cute, and whimsical-goes well with the great toppers!
Ohhh - I do love that last one that will be too $$! 
I would go with the 1st one. With such cute, intricate toppers I think anything else would be too much! (btw, I absolutely adore that topper!!) I would go with the toasted almond cake and the berries and cream cake. Just do 2 layers of one, and one of the other! 
I love the cherry blossom cake!
You can buy the premade flowers online, if that would help. They aren’t cheap, but might be cheaper (and maybe better) than your baker doing it.
http://www.wendykromer.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/45
http://www.dianescakesandmore.com/cherry-blossoms-cake-decorations.html
I agree with Emily. Get the look you wanted by taking option #1 and adding a few real flowers to it. As for flavors, taste test!! =) But I might shy away from the pound cake. While structurally sound, its really heavy for your guests (and you). You would need to do REALLY small pieces if its pound cake.
I opt for option 2, with a lighter blue for the band to match your birdie cake topper. or you can match the color of the band with your theme.
I think option 2 or option 1 would be adorable with your topper
I love the proportions of number 4, but the big dots may not be as nice in butter cream… as far as flavor I have no advice here I love cake - all cake
I like option 2 also, but the cake you really wanted is my favorite, and I agree that you should go for the first cake with real fowers to get the look
Based off your theme and cake topper I’d go with either Option 1 or Option 3.
But in general I LOVE Option 4!
I love options 1 & 2 - I think something simple with your beautiful topper would be better, although I can totally see why you love the last one!
I think the whimsy of option 3 goes best with your topper. As for the cake, I think a simple vanilla or maybe the toasted almond would be lovely. You definitely can’t go wrong with any of these choices!
I like 3 best with your topper!! My second pick would be #2. I think #1 might look odd with your bird topper.
In terms of cake, get what you guys love (and think the guests will like)!
I think option 2 will look best with your topper. Fun!
Tough decision! The first is my favorite… I love the elegance and simplicity. Nothing should take away from your fab cake topper! Although #3 is super adorable, too… good luck!
OOOH!!! I totally heart the one with the dots. And I like chocolate.
I love the look of #2– I especially love the slight sheen it has with the buttercream (I’m with you, no fondant!). Our cake flavor is an almond/nut that sounds like your toasted almond, and we are having cream cheese filling– it was sooooo good!
I like the one with the dots, and the chocolate chip flavour sounds delish!!!
Option 2!
First cake, berries & cream. That’s my vote.
I showed #4 to 2 bakers and one quoted me $14 a slice and the other $11 a slice.
If it’s not more, #4 is beautiful. I like #1 a lot too.
I like 1-3; it’s a difficult choice. #3 seems more “you” (guessing from your other choices and posts, since clearly I don’t actually know you). I always think that chocolate cake is an exciting surprise from wedding cakes.
i like the one with the cherry blossoms/birds on it. what they do is order the sugar flowers from a catalog and then paint it the color you want before putting it on the cake. at least that’s what they told me when i inquired about a similar cake except with >200 of those flowers! (now that was expensive so i opted for something else.) but i think for the cake that you showed, >$9/slice seems unreasonable. you might want to shop around. the chocolate chip or berries w/cream sounds great. we had hazelnut with mocha cream which was divine!
my vote is for option 3. as far as flavors go, too bad you can’t have them all. lol. but the chocolate chip one is very initriguing to me…
I love your original pick and I thought you may want to take a look at http://www.discountsugarflowers.com. Look under gumpaste flowers. They even have cherry blossoms!
They have a bunch of small blooms where you can get approximate 80 for under $20!!!!
But if it has to be one of the other four, definitely number 2 It’ll be gorgeous with your topper.
I’m a vanilla cake with lemon filling fan. Simple and light. My MOH (my little sister) told me she wouldn’t eat this though so we’re also doing a chocolate cake with vanilla filling and icing.
Option 1 with Option 2’s color scheme.
YUM berries & cream and something chocolate (maybe chocolate mousse?)! I really like #1 but have seen it on a lot of people’s inspiration boards - obviously because it’s so gorgeous! I think #3 seems the most “you” (based on my extensive knowledge of you, right?). Miss Pineapple’s def. right about the buttercream thing, but I think you can usually put a thin layer of fondant over buttercream. I don’t know how expensive that gets, though. And your birdies are SO adorable - I love the groom’s boutonniere!
Oh, and a word of advice - when you freeze that slice of cake, put it in the freezer, not a shoebox. 
Option 3: polka dots–ADORABLE!! by the way, would your baker/caterer entertain the idea of having plastic/non-icing cherryblossoms or other type of branches put on the cake? would that make it cheaper? I bet you could find some thing great somewhere…
I really like option 2. Simple, but not too simple, and bright and cheerful all the same.
It’s too bad you can’t do the original design because that’s super cute and was my favorite out of the ones you posted =P
definitely talk to your baker. most of those look like fondant finishes - it’s really tricky to get that same smoothness with buttercream alone. while i love, love, love the look of fondant, i’m not a fan of flavor, so our buttercream covered cake is going to have a swirly frosting finish (think better crocker swirl - the picture on the cake box), but with fresh flower garnish.
the cherry blossom cake is fabulous! in pastry school, i made a similar construction for my cake class final (the first and last wedding cake I’ll ever make!). it came out well, but it was a pain to make all those flowers by hand!
What about asking your baker to use pre-made sugar flowers like the ones by Wendy Kromer? http://www.wendykromer.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/62
He could make the simple design and just add the flowers after… It’s worth a shot if you really love your original design.
i like the first one, but that’s because i like blue, pink, and brown
i love carrot cake and chocolate!
and i like the first and second design
I would totally go with #1. I love April Reed cakes…I’m assuming that is one of hers. I think 1 would be the best with your topper. If you are dealing with a baker that does very simple cakes, I believe that it’ll be your best bet to have a really well done cake as well. As far as flavors, I would do chocolate with some sort of choc. filling and pound cake with lemon filling…that way you have something for everybody.
Since they’re all awesome, I’m ranked them from favorite to least favorite: 3, 1, 4, 2.
As for flavors, these are my three favorite (if you do three layers):
Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Jam
Lemon Vanilla Cake with Lemon Mousse
And that Berries and Cream Cake sounds DELISH!
I like the first cake best, followed by 3 and 2. I think 4 is too busy for your topper, and the pattern is incongruous with your whimsical birds.
Although I like the cherry blossom cake you’ve rejected as too expensive, I think it clashes with your birds as well. The very literally rendered flowers don’t go with the fanciful anthropomorphic birds.
i vote option 1 as the best option for the birdies….
although i really like option 3, i think its a tad bit busy for the birds.
i love the flourishy cake option (i’m going for something similiar) but i dont think it matches the birdies either…..
option 2 is also good, but i like the assymetrical look of one. it seems to follow the whimsey of the birdies….
The toasted almond cake sounds lovely…and carrot has always been a favorite of mind….
GL!
Option 3 would look really cute with your topper.
love option 1! It’s such a good design for a minimalist, but rather retro, cake.
But I’m also with the first commenter: It seems like perhaps you could have real flowers added to something similar to Option 1 to get your inspiration’s look!
I loooove April Reed, so I would have to say cake numbah one! As for fillings, I, personally, would probably doo the berries & cream (or carrot- yum!) for one layer, the chocolate for another, & the vanilla for the third. That way your guests will have the option to chose & if someone is allergic to - say chocolate - they’ll still be able to enjoy your cake!
I love cake 4 and I am strongly considering it for my own wedding, but I am suprised to hear you call is simplistic, because I was actually worried that it would be too tedious, and out baker would want to charge more. Althought I LOVE #4 I don’t think it matches with your topper. I would suggest #2 (which I also really like)
I love the last one the most, but of the others #1 and 3 work best with your topper (I like 4 a lot but not with your topper).
You could do the cherry blossom cake on buttercream instead of fondant. We had a similar cake (though not as nice as yours) done on buttercream with white and pink flowers (and fewer pears). See the last tiny cake picture on my bio (3/4 of the way down):
http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/page.aspx?username=walletpuppy&MsdVisit=1
I love Option 1 and I think it will go beautifully with your cake topper. You can never go wrong with Berries and Cream–such a crowd pleaser. Although I am partial to Carrot Cake and the Pound cake is always good.
I’m lovin #4, personally. And, um, the berries and cream sounds heaaavenly.
the chocolate chip and the toasted almond both sound super delicious and unlike any options i’ve seen before.
I vote for options 2 or 3. It sounds like a lot of cake options–I don’t know if I could decide.
I like option 1 with your cake topper if you want that to be the feature on the cake. That said, I really like 3 the best before you showed the cake topper.
Ooh! Your choices are all so pretty! In order of preference, I like 4, 5, 2, 1, 3. For flavors, I say carrot, berries, & vanilla. Good luck deciding!
First, go with whatever is included because it’s cake. Some people will like and some won’t regardless of what you pick.
Your cake topper will look awesome on the first cake. You can always add some white or cream colored roses/fresh flowers
I like the Berries and Cream Cake, but simple vanilla with the buttercream filling is fine too.
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Mrs. Candy Corn, Philadelphia
Age and Occupation: 24, Senior Editor/Writer & Freelance Illustrator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Inventory Manager for a Music Publisher
Engagement Date: September 1, 2004
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: May 6, 2008
Venue: Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology
About Me: I enjoy people watching (especially in New Jersey malls), obsessive collecting, drooling over contemporary art, browsing flea markets for vintage finds and eating an absurd amount of cheese. In my Philadelphia abode, I create mixed media artwork and one-of-a-kind home accessories in the company of my farmer-tanned husband, our Westiepoo (Betty White), our three rabbits (Cadbury, Willie Nelson and Applesauce) and our two frisky chinchillas (Ethel Funk and Maude).
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