The bride and groom place their hands on the knife together and insert the tip into the cake, hold for a moment and make a wish.

The caterers then remove the cake and continue the cutting in the kitchen. The bridal attendants then circulate among the guests to distribute the cake. It’s a social and meaningful function even if the guest takes their cake home in a small cake-bag. It is a special memento of the big day.

Do you know exactly what you would like to have? If so click here and go straight to a Cake Designer.

If not, just read on and allow your choice to evolve slowly as you consider all aspects.

The number of guests influences how much cake you need unless you really want a big cake regardless of how many guests will be eating it. You can have your masterpiece made on a polystyrene base which you can keep and admire for a long time to come. You could have two or three tiers of cake and a fourth or fifth of non-cake to achieve that big look. But we digress – back to the question of size.

First decide whether the cake is for the dessert or to have with coffee.
For dessert portion allow a 5cm square piece per person.
For a portion with coffee, allow a 2.5cm portion per person.

Keep in mind that traditionally the small top tier is retained after the wedding to be cut on the occasion of the first anniversary or perhaps a Christening cake.

There are many shaped cake tins available other than square and round however requesting this is likely to increase the cost of your cake because anything a little unusual always costs more due to its unique nature. Brides tend to say “I want something different” and shape is one way of achieving this.

Not only can shaped cake tins be used but also, cake artists can sculpt cake into interesting shapes or characters to your request. Very special workmanship like this obviously uses more time and this has to be calculated into the final costing.

This is another opportunity to create your unique cake look.

Decide whether or not you require almond paste. Ask for a taste of the paste used as there are so many recipes available that if you are against it without trying it, you could be pleasantly surprised at how it complements the cake and icing. It also serves to support the final coat of icing in an exquisite smooth finish. If you don’t have almond paste, there may be extra thick or two layers of icing.

Had you thought of having flavoured icing to complement your cake? If you are having chocolate cake you may like to have a chocolate covering or for a white chocolate wedding cake, white chocolate icing!

No longer are wedding cakes limited to plain white sugar! Brides are choosing red, black, green or whatever in their search for something different.

But even if you like the traditional white, consider the colour of the wedding gown carefully. Is it bright bridal white or is it a softer shade of off-white, or pale ivory or deeper ivory. It looks great to see the cake the same white as the dress in the photographs.

Also consider the colour introduced in the bridegroom’s attire. Your cake colour scheme should also be co-ordinated with your bridesmaids’ chosen colours and their flowers.

If your bridesmaids are dressed in burgundy, red, pink or blue, it is not necessary to introduce this colour into the covering as the colour can be introduced by your choice of floral (or other) decorations. You have probably already discussed the bouquets to be carried by you and your attendants with your florist and by now have some idea of colour and flowers to be used.

Some other questions for you to consider—do you want hand made sugar flowers, silk flowers or fresh flowers as your decoration?

What would you like as the top tier feature decoration? Bride and groom on top?

There are very many plastic, ceramic or glass top tier ornaments available to choose from but you may like to have your own design of top tier decoration custom made in sugar.

If pigs have a special significance in your life, you may want a pig bride and groom for fun or if you are an Australian bush lover you may like to have a wombat bride and groom or even a kangaroo. Is your imagination kicking in yet?

To get your bridegroom interested you may like to surprise him with decoration in his favourite football colours reflected in the flowers.

You can be sure he will be interested in the type of cake he is to eat! Fruit cake, carrot cake, banana cake, chocolate cake or mud cake, these are the types of cakes being requested and your chosen cake designer may have other specialities.

You may be caught up in the romance of the occasion and want lace and daintiness to be your chosen theme, especially if your dress has lace trim or is perhaps gorgeous lace all over. Is it French lace, guipure lace, Victorian cotton lace….

Continue on through our Cake Designers pages to see how they can help you create the perfect cake for your day, or flick through the gallery to see some idea's.