Confetti

Confetti Bride of the Year 2010

Irish brides-to-be have lots of questions and little time.

You have the final say on lots but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone.
We went to those in the know to bring you practical advice to help you make your decisions.

Search the Expert Answers From the Categories Below

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Q: How can you find a reputable bakery abroad?

A: If you are planning your destination wedding yourself, enquire at the local hotels if they have a preferred caterer or a restaurant in the hotel that could accommodate your wedding. Part of the fun of saying "I do" abroad is to enjoy the local culture. Find out what people from the area do. The French keep it sweet with a tower of cream-filled pastries covered in caramel called croquembouche. In Denmark, cakes are made of marzipan.

Many wedding-abroad organizers such as Weddings Made in Italy help you locate services. Conversely, coordinators from SpanishWeddings.ie are happy to arrange for a local Spanish cake or a traditional Irish cake which would save you having to transport it.

Browse the destination Real Weddings to see how other couples got their cake and ate it too!

Q: I'm thinking about making my own cake. Is it a good idea?

A: If you or someone in your family is a professional baker, baking your own cake could add that personal touch to your day. However, if you don't make cakes for a living, now is not the time to start. Baking a cake requires a lot of effort. You are going to be one busy bride and baking a cake is only going to be one more thing to worry about. Leave this one to the professionals so you can enjoy your day! Besides, why deprive yourself of the "task" of cake-tasting?!?

If a family friend bakes your wedding cake, be sure to thank her with a present that matches her effort. A gift voucher for the ballpark figure of what you would have spent on the cake is a great way to show your appreciation.

Q: I want to try and please all my guests with the perfect wedding cake. How do I choose one to suit everyone's taste?

A: You know everyone has different tastes so why not cater to that? There's nothing that says you have to have a monolithic cake of one flavour. If you want to keep with tradition and have one cake, make one tier chocolate and another vanilla. However, a growing trend is to have a cake for the cake-cutting ceremony and offer your guests many cupcakes or several smaller cakes of different flavors. Don't forget about fruit and cheese!

Once your baker knows the wedding date and the size of the guestlist, he will be able to draw upon his experience to come up with suggestions. It's likely that he will say summer wedding guests won't have as large an appetite as winter guests.

Remember that it's your big day and the guests are there to celebrate your vows with you. Any flavour naysayers will simply have to wait until their own weddings to choose their cakes.

Q: How do I make sure my cake arrives at the reception?

A: Start by ordering the cake well in advance. Most bakers recommend booking four to six months in advance though some take reservations up to a year in advance. Keep in mind that traditional fruitcakes require three months to reach maturity.

Most cake suppliers will deliver the cake on the big day and most venues will take care of it until it's time to be put on display for all your guests to admire. Wedding experts at Castle Durrow caution 'Be wary of baking one yourself. You have enough to be worrying about in the run-up to the big day!'

Local bakers will have less distance to travel which will save on time, and delivery charges. Find one in your area by searching the Pink Pages.

Q: Do I leave the cake out on display for the duration of the meal?

A: If you're having a summer wedding where heat is a factor, display the cake long enough so that those who are interested can ogle it but not so long that they watch it melt. If heat is not a factor, a cake may be left out for the entire reception or so on its own table, out of the way, but not hidden. The cake is cut after guests have danced off dinner. You can ask your DJ to make an announcement when you're ready to cut the cake. Remember that the wedding cake is the cherry on top for your wedding theme. The days of the three-tiered white cake are gone. Brides use flowers in their bouquet to decorate the cake and keep up the theme with coloured frosting. Shape, size, colour and flavour are all up to you!