How to Choose your Wedding Cake Flavor!

Planning a wedding can be stressful. However, choosing your wedding cake flavor is one of the best (and yummiest!) parts of the wedding planning process. However, once you begin, you realize just how many different wedding cake flavors and combinations there are out there, and it can seem a bit overwhelming (but in the best way!). But not to worry! Here are a few things to think about when choosing your wedding cake flavor. 

1. Have the right mindset
2. Think about cakes at other weddings you’ve enjoyed
3. Consider your wedding theme
4. Think seasonally
5. What are your favorite flavors?
6. Experiment with flavors and fillings
7. Layers and tiers
8. Get recommendations from your wedding planner
9. Try them out, obviously!
10. Not a fan of cake? Try wedding cake alternatives!

1. Have the right mindset

Choosing your wedding cake flavor begins with having the right mindset. There are countless wedding decisions you need to make when planning a wedding, so don’t let this one stress you out. You’re choosing a cake flavor, not who to ask to be your bridesmaids. So have fun with this one!

Also, accept early on that there’s no way to please everyone. Maybe your father-in-lawloves carrot cake and has been making hints or your mom only eats white cake, but you love chocolate. Whatever the case, don’t let yourself be pressured and stressed out by other peoples’ opinions. Ultimately, this is you and your partner’s wedding cake, you are taking the first bite, and you are keeping some to eat on your anniversary. So you and your partner’s opinions are the ones that matter the most here. 

2. Think about cakes at other weddings you’ve enjoyed

Did you attend a friend or relative’s wedding and love the cake they had? Maybe it was a new flavor you’ve never had before! Or maybe it was the best chocolate cake you’ve ever tasted! Either way, a great way to get ideas for wedding cake flavors and even good bakers to use is to ask your friends for recommendations from their weddings. They all went through the process already and might even have some other helpful tips for you.

3. Consider your wedding theme

Another helpful factor to consider when choosing a wedding cake flavor is your wedding theme. Are you having a beach/tropical themed wedding? Consider lighter, summer flavors and incorporating tropical elements like coconut, banana, and mango. Or maybe you’re having a holiday themed wedding such as Valentine’s Day. In that case, consider a sweet pink strawberry flavor or chocolate with cherries. Matching your wedding cake flavor to your wedding theme can be a great way to tie the whole wedding together!

4. Think seasonally

If you’re looking for inspiration for ideas for wedding cake flavors, it’s a very popular concept to let the season of your wedding influence the wedding cake flavor. Here are some examples of cake flavors that match the seasons:

Summer

For summer, think of wedding cake flavors that are bright, light, and refreshing.

• Lemon cake or lemon blueberry cake
• A light, fresh cake with raspberry filling
• Coconut cake

Spring

For spring, think fresh fruits, florals, and nuts.

• Strawberry cake
• Earl Grey and lavender cake
• Almond cake
• Passion fruit cake

Fall

For fall, think of flavors that are cozier, more rustic, and full of spices.

• Spice cake
• Carrot cake
• Salted caramel cake

Winter

For winter, think of warm, indulgent, and more comforting flavors. 

• White chocolate cake
• Dark chocolate cake
• Mocha or espresso cake
• Red velvet cake

5. What are your favorite flavors?

When it comes to wedding cake flavors, sometimes it’s best to not overthink it. It’s entirely acceptable to simply choose your favorite cake flavor. Do you love a simple white wedding cake? Go for it? Or are you a chocoholic and can’t envision ending the celebration without a chocolate fix? Then chocolate it is. Or maybe you’re a big fan of bright lemon cakes, german chocolate cake, italian cream cake, or tres leches cake. Whatever the case, why not have your very favorite cake flavor on your wedding day?

6. Experiment with flavors and fillings

Alternatively, maybe having a cake flavor you have all the time just doesn’t seem special enough for such an occasion. In that case, allow yourself to experiment a little with some new wedding cake flavor combinations to really wow your guests and take your wedding reception to the next level! And when choosing a wedding cake flavor, don’t just stop at the cake itself. Consider adding some creamy, sweet, tart, and jammy fillings as well! Instead of the same old boring wedding cake they’ve had at all the other weddings they’ve attended, give your guests an exciting wedding cake flavor they’ll rave about and never forget!

7. Layers and tiers

Sometimes it’s impossible to narrow down your wedding cake flavor to just one. Or maybe you and your partner have widely varied tastes in cakes. Or maybe you just want a variety! Not to worry! Who says you have to have only one wedding cake flavor, or only one wedding cake for that matter!? It is very common to ask your baker to make a cake with layers of different wedding cake flavors, or to incorporate tiers of separate wedding cakes into the construction of the final cake. This is a request any wedding cake baker is used to and should be able to accommodate it very easily.  

8. Get recommendations from your wedding planner

If you’re having trouble deciding on a wedding cake flavor or need inspiration for new and exciting flavors that would go over well at a wedding, look no further than your wedding planner! It is literally their job to be wedding experts, and they’ve helped with plenty of cakes. Maybe they have heard of a new wedding cake flavor that’s trending, or maybe there are some combinations that clients consistently rave about. Either way, it is an excellent idea to ask your wedding planner for recommendations about flavors, consistencies, fillings, etc. They will also be able to help guide you through the many consistencies and flavors of frostings/toppings. Or if you’re trying to save money on your wedding cake, they would be able to tell you what works best as a naked cake without frosting.

9. Try them out, obviously!

If you’re having trouble deciding on a wedding cake flavor, the best thing to do (and we do mean the BEST thing!) is to try them out! Sampling wedding cakes is all a part of the process (big YAY!). Wedding cake bakers understand that you might need to sample several cakes in order to choose the perfect wedding cake flavor (or flavors!), or even the perfect baker. Just like you need to try on wedding dresses to find the perfect one, you need to try out your cakes, too. (Well, if we must…!) If you have kids and want to include them in the wedding planning process, bring them along on this yummy errand and score some serious “cool parent” points. You might even let them choose one of the flavors!

10. Not a fan of cake? Try wedding cake alternatives!

Having trouble choosing a wedding cake flavor because you’re simply not a fan of cake? No problem! There are plenty of trendy and fun (and wedding budget saving!) wedding cake alternatives out there that you and your guests will love. Here are some wedding cake alternatives you might want to serve instead of a wedding cake, or alongside your wedding cake!

• Cupcakes or cake pops
• Donuts
• Cookies
• Rice crispy treats
• Breakfast sweets
• Cinnamon rolls
• Cheesecake
• Macarons
• Brownies
• Pies
• Mini parfaits
• Multiple mini dessert/candy bar

Love this content and want more? Read more about wedding planning on our blog. Are you helping to plan a wedding and still need to nail down a venue? Give us a call to schedule a tour and see why Jennings Trace might be your perfect place.