Advice from Signature Cakes: All About the Groom’s Cake (Part 1)
Monday, August 6, 2012
I love chatting with Vicki of Signature Cakes. She loves designing cakes and creating new cake flavors and designs. She also has an appreciation for cake trends and history. Being a history buff, I’m always eager to hear anything she has to share.
According to Vicki, the groom’s cake started in England as fruit cakes. (England takes credit for everything, says Vicki!) With the explosion of wealth in the southern United States in the 1700/1800s, the groom's cake was introduced and has become a tasty, southern tradition.
What’s Popular Today
Vicki estimates that 30% of southern weddings include a groom’s cakes. Many couples still opt for fruit but many others are choosing chocolate or liqueur in contrast to all white cake. Now, the groom’s cake is sometimes a gift from bride to groom. However, in the 1970s, it was the groom’s parents buying his cake and this still happens today.
Some brides surprise with cake but more and more grooms want input into design, from cakes with his college alma mater, fraternity, favorite hobby, or sports team.
Flavors have come a long way too. A huge trend 20 years ago was a chocolate basket weave cake with strawberries, but this is rarely seen these days, unless a mother asks for it. Now, grooms are seeking part modern, part traditional flavors like caramel butter cream, strawberry white chocolate covered with chocolate ganache, or Italian butter cream.
Operation game and box - both cake (level 7)
Buttercream cake with silver Christmas bow (level 1)
Is a groom’s cake right for you?
As you plan your wedding, keep in mind that a groom’s cake isn’t a necessity. If your budget doesn’t allow for a groom’s cake, invest in a better wedding cake. A lot of modern couples purchase a groom’s cake to offer guests a different flavor other than vanilla. If that’s your only reason for a groom’s cake, consider companies like Signature Cakes that allows couples to select a different flavor per layer for the wedding cake, at no additional cost.
Unless you want a great design or want your grooms cake to pay homage to something he loves, put the money into a grander wedding cake.
How to price budget for your groom’s cake
Groom’s cakes in Nashville usually start at $150, unless you go the grocery store route. Remember, cake prices are based on the cost of supplies and labor. The more detailed the cake, the more labor required.
To give you an idea of what you might expect, take a look at Signature Cakes prices for some of the wonderful groom cakes shown below. Think these are great? We’ll share even more incredible cakes tomorrow.
Tanker cake (level 7)
Liverpool cake (level 3) + Piggly Wiggly cake (level 5)
Beach crab cake (level 6)
Groom's Cake Rates from Signature Cakes
Signature Cakes is one of Nashville’s premier cake companies, especially when it comes to sculpted cakes, which is a rare skill. All ABG readers, take 20% off Signature wedding cakes when you mention upon initial contact. The exclusive rate cannot be combined with other savings.
Level 1: $150 to $200 - buttercream icing with gumpaste ribbons and bow
Level 2: $150 to $200 - buttercream with edible flat image such as team logo or fraternity
Level 3: $200 to $250 - fondant covered edible image
Level 4: $275 to $300 - fondant covered with fondant cutwork images and piping with edible flat image
Level 5: $300 to $325 - ganache icing with buttercream filling and bows and ribbons; flat edible image; simple fondant letters
Level 6: $350 to $500 - fondant covered with sculpted features such as figurines, baseballs, hockey pucks, animals
Level 7: $525 to $900 - sculpted cakes
Level 8: $950+ - extreme cakes
(Levels 1 through 6 serve 50 to 70 people; Levels 7 & 8 servings are dependent on design and does not effect the cost.)
Golden gate bridge cake (level 7)
Drum with groom's name (level 6)
Trike cake (level 7)
About the Author:
Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide
Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Happy Planning.
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Posted on August 6, 2012 |
Filed under: Cakes & Food
