Museums of History New South Wales on Unsplash Nathan Walker on Unsplash THE REST IS HISTORY Wedding cakes boast a long and vibrant history, with humble origins in ancient Rome where a simple loaf of barley bread was broken over the bride’s head to symbolise good fortune and fertility. As we move into the Middle Ages through to the Renaissance era, we start to see wedding cakes looking more like, well, cakes! During the 16th and 17th centuries, bride pies or wedding pies were a staple at wedding feasts. Indeed, one of the earliest known recipes for a wedding cake appeared in 1655, while the first recipe for sugar paste was first published in 1609. By the Victorian period, the traditional wedding cake looked much more like the showstopping confections we encounter today. Tiered cakes became popular, as did white icing inspired by Queen Victoria’s nuptials in 1863. In general, the notion of simple food was making a shift firmly into the realm of spectacle, so the once humble big-day bake dutifully followed suit. Royalty carried on inspiring the masses into the 20th century, with King George VI’s 1923 wedding cake being the most sought after – a 10-foot high, 800-pound creation complete with figurines, cherubs and intricate icing. Today, wedding cakes run the entire gambit from single tier cutting cakes, to multi-tier showstoppers. They’re also versatile when served as a wedding breakfast dessert and act as a jaw-dropping focal point to your venue styling, when dressed to impress. They even offer the key to conveying your personalities as a couple both through flavours and decoration. READY, STEADY, GO So, you’re sold on the idea of a wedding cake? Where do you start? While Pinterest, Google and Instagram are great places to look for inspiration, try not to get caught up in the hullabaloo. There’s nothing worse for a cake designer than being presented with an interminable moodboard of images that might appear similar but are actually completely different. Your confusion will only lead to their confusion, particularly if what you’re showing them isn’t even their style. Don’t worry, there’s a simple solution. Scroll through your favourite images for points of similarity. What do you really love about each of the cakes you’ve saved? Make a shortlist and hold onto it. Before racing into a decision and approaching the first cake maker you find, who might not be the right fit for you, try narrowing down your searches with some of the keywords from your shortlist. Add in ‘Yorkshire’ too and hey presto, you should find the makers who fit your desired vibe and are capable of bringing your vision to life. When you head for your consultation have a realistic idea of budget in mind. The key here is ‘realistic.’ You may want a 10-tier George VIesque showstopper, but are you prepared to put the financial backing behind it? If not, have a think about how you might be able to incorporate the elements you love into something more palatable for the purse. Be prepared to work with your cake maker on the design to bring the dream in on budget. TASTE TEST When many of us think of a wedding cake, the traditional heavy fruit version first popular in the Middle Ages, might spring to mind. Love it or hate it, it’s far from essential at 21st century weddings, so don’t let the idea hold you back. In fact, there’s no reason to let any dislikes give you pause on the flavour front, since the options offered by local bakers are almost as varied as the designs they come up with. Meanwhile, dietary requirements can also be catered for by Yorkshire’s talented bunch. And if you can’t decide, why not opt for a tier of each of your favourites? How about a his and hers? We love the idea of combining a light, fruity flavour such as elderflower, champagne and strawberry with something rich and decadent like salted caramel. Then, for the final tier play it safe with a classic Victoria sponge. Some cake makers will offer a tasting box through the post allowing you to try before you buy. Alternatively, if you can have an in-person consultation, find out if you can try some samples to help you narrow down your choices. Top tip If the day’s a scorcher, bring your cake out later when it’s cooled down to avoid it melting and collapsing. Have your venue store it somewhere cool in the meantime or ask your cake maker to deliver it later. Alternatively, find a place to display it inside away from direct sunlight beaming in from the windows. The HK Photo Company on Unsplash CAKES 33
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