Four tips for a Unique and Personalized Wedding Cake while Cutting Costs

Wedding cakes can be a great way to continue the theme or decor of your wedding while giving your guests a tasty treat, and creating beautiful photo opportunities.  Here are a few tips for personalizing your wedding cake and cut the cost of it at the same time.

1)  Serve a cupcake tower instead of an actual wedding cake.  You can choose to have the top tier as a small cake for the cake-cutting ceremony, and to personalize with a cake topper if you so choose.  Not only will this alternative probably cost less, it will also save you from cake-cutting fees.

2) Order a small wedding cake for display, and an undecorated sheet cake in your preferred flavor to provide cake for everyone.  The sheet cake can be cut in the kitchen, and guests will never know their slice may not be from the actual wedding cake.

3) Have your wedding cake decorated with fresh flowers, rather than flowers made of sugar.  The cost of sugar flowers can be very costly.  Also, your wedding cake can be very simple, since fresh flowers are so vibrant and beautiful.  A simply decorated cake is always less expensive.

4) Ask to have a foam cake decorated to look like a real wedding cake, but serve guest from a sheet cake that will be cut in the back so they never know the difference.  Bakeries use this trick for trade shows, and it can be used to save you money for your wedding too!

For more ways to personalize your wedding and make it truly unique, contact Power Wedding Planning for you complimentary consultation.

S'mores Cupcakes!

Yes, you read the title correctly...I said s'mores cupcakes!

I seriously started to drool when I found this recipe. Sounds like the perfect way to transform one of my favorite all-american camping treats into an elegant treat that could be served at a wedding or bridal shower.

Happy Fourth of July! :)

S'mores Cupcakes

makes about 24 cupcakes

Recipe courtesy of keyingredient.com

For the graham cracker crust:

- 1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 5 and 1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

- 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

For the cake you can use box mix chocolate cake.

Follow directions on box to prepare mixture then set aside.

For the frosting:

- 8 large egg whites, at room temp

- 2 cups sugar

- 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

- 2 tsp. vanilla extract

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

2) Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter with fork. Drop about 1 tablespoon of mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner and press down to line the bottom.

3) Sprinkle a small amount of chopped chocolate on top of the graham cracker crusts. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

4) Prepare cake batter according to box directions.

5) Fill liners about 1/4 way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through cooking. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes then remove and transfer to a wire rack to completely cool.

6) To make frosting, combine the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. Heat mixture, whisking frequently until it reaches 160 degrees with an instant-read thermometer.

7) Transfer mixture into bowl. Whisk starting out slowly then gradually increasing until stiff, glossy peaks form. Mix in vanilla until combined. Frost cupcakes as desired.

8) Brown with a kitchen torch. Garnish with Hersey chocolate.

Groom's Cakes

Groom's cakes are so much fun. Through most of the wedding planning process, grooms are usually very quiet and don't make their opinions heard. When most of the wedding reflects the bride and her tastes, a groom's cake is a great way to add the groom's personality.

Here are some fun groom's cakes with tons of personaliy:

Pool table cake:

Poker table cake:

Laptop cake:
Books and sports hat:
Superman cake:

Tetris cake: