Magnificent marriage of creativity

Modern cakes are infused with fun and whims that reflect personalities and tastes of the couple instead of being just a sweet and pretty looking dessert, writes ALLAN OLINGO.

Long long time ago, wedding cakes were defined by how many tiers were placed on top of each other. Not anymore!

On my recent visit to the Valentine Cake House, I was met with tens of wedding cakes fashionably designed in forms that I had never visualised before. There we simply exotic works of art that reflected lifestyle, taste and preference of the couples.

Henry Chege a cake designer. [Photo: Joseph Kiptarus / Standard]

According to Eva Njung’e, an instructor at the Valentine School of cake, the modern wedding cake is a magnificent marriage of creativity, taste explosions and unparalleled beauty.

"The cake flavours are no longer the plain offerings they were in the past and have thankfully moved away from the brandied fruit cake confections they once were," Eva said.

There are also those couples that have tried shortcuts with their wedding cakes and ended up very disappointed by the results.

Linet Kuria admits that her greatest disappointment on her big day was the wedding cake; as she accepted a friend’s offer to bake her a cake for free.

"I ended up with something that resembled a wedding cake and it really embarrassed me. It was not only poorly done and displayed but it was also not enough for the guest to taste. This was the lowest point of my big day," she said.

Compromise is one thing no couple should ever do with their wedding cake and getting the best for whatever amount is very important.

Flavours

Today, the choice of flavours range from straight vanilla to banana, carrot, mango and strawberry to your choice of liqueurs. The fruitcake, however, still remains the most popular amongst couples.

Professional wedding cake designers should comfortably offer flavours such as carrot, black forest, white forest and even pineapple cakes, which are a one-day cake affair.

"There are some cakes that go bad fast, so we always advise clients to pick them on the wedding day so as to avoid serving a stale cake," says Eva.

Fruits cakes have been a favourite for many couples for years reason being they are not only tasty, but can also stay for months without going bad.

She says that wedding cakes can also come as ice cream or mousses or even cheese cakes and selecting what you want really hinges on your personal taste. There are wide ranges of new designs in the creation of contemporary wedding cakes.

"We have had clients who want their cakes stepped instead of tiered, while there are those who prefer horizontal cakes," she says.

While walking around the Valentine Cake kitchen, I saw wedding cakes garnished in fruit decorations like grapes, flowers, shells, beads, lace or ribbons and all this, I was informed, were to add to the glamour of the big day.

Current wedding cake presentation styles have shifted, incorporating fountains, winding tiers and even several delicate bases to hold the cakes.

"We are observing a trend in which people are willing to spend on the presentation of the cake to make a lasting impression on their guests. So we do our best in making their dream cake come true," says Henry Chege, a cake designer.

But all this glamour comes at a cost and in some cases, a higher cost when the couple has not sourced for the best service provider.

Says Eva: "Doing your homework and shopping wisely is a great way of cutting costs if you want to get the best of your budget."

One way of saving costs is on the shape of the cake. Round cake offers more for the same cost while square/rectangular cakes can work for those who want to feed all guests, she says.

From various wedding photos, I have observed outrageous wedding cake designs such as a rugby pitch, bridal images moulded from the icing.

Therefore, only your imagination coupled with an experienced and creative wedding cake designer stands between you and your dream wedding cake.