Long gone are the days where a wedding cake has to be 3 tiers of rich fruit cake iced with marzipan and stiff royal icing. Sponge is by far the most popular type of cake for a wedding these days and with sponge the flavour options are endless. This means that one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is the cake tasting. However the expanse of options can quickly become overwhelming. Here are my top tips for picking the flavour(s) for your wedding cake:

1. Think about who your guests are

What type of flavour will be most popular with them? Are a lot of your guests from an older generation that might be expecting a slice of fruit cake? Are there going to be lots of children attending and should the flavour cater to their tastes? You might not want to include alcohol in the flavouring if there is going to be lots of children.

2. What other food you will be serving during the day?

Ensure your wedding cake flavour does not clash with your dessert. If you are serving a chocolate dessert with your wedding breakfast then your guests may not want to follow that with chocolate wedding cake.

3. Have a different flavour for every tier is possible

However make sure you consider that the largest tiers will provide the most servings compared to the smaller top tiers. So you won’t be getting an even split of flavours if you have different flavours for each tier. Pick a safe flavour for the bottom tier, one that you know will be popular with your guests. Use the smaller top tiers for the more unusual flavours you might like.

4. Are you considering serving the wedding cake as dessert?

If so you may need to settle on one flavour so that everyone is having the same thing. Offering people an option on flavour when it comes to a plated dessert can become complicated. In this case it’s important to consider picking a flavour that will compliment your main meal and finish off the wedding breakfast.

5. Can the flavour you pick help to tell your story as a couple?

For example I have made a red velvet wedding cake for a couple that were engaged in New York and a Chocolate Guinness for a Groom from Ireland.

6. Consider the time of year you are getting married

Lemon is a really refreshing flavour to have during the summer, where chocolate may seem a bit rich on a hot day. Similarly in the autumn & winter you might want to choose rich, warming flavours over light and refreshing ones. It can be really lovely to incorporate the flavours of the season into your cake. In December adding orange zest and cherries soaked in kirsch to a chocolate cake gives a really festive flavour. Or in the summer use fresh strawberries when they are at their best.

7. Most importantly pick a flavour you and your partner will enjoy!

Yes of course it is important to consider who your guests are and what they will enjoy. But it’s your wedding day and your wedding cake so you need to enjoy it as well as the guests!

For a full list of my wedding cake flavours have a look at my Naked Wedding Cakes and Iced Wedding Cakes – or book a tasting!