“A wedding cake is very personal. It’s one of the first thing that you will eat, as a married couple.”

Last week, we sat down with Nicole Hughes, owner of Dessert by MommaCakes, to talk about one of the most important decisions when planning a wedding – the wedding cake.

“I want it to be beautiful,” she said. But it’s got to be delicious.”

That said, she served a sample of her base cake – a salted almond vanilla with buttercream frosting – and we could have stopped right there.

It was divine.

“It is very balanced,” Nicole said. “Rarely will you have someone who says they don’t care for vanilla – a really good vanilla.”

That’s just the beginning.

When deciding on a cake for your wedding, Nicole’s first question will be about servings. “How many guests are we looking at?” she asked.

This will determine the base price of your cake.

The second question will be, “Do you want to keep the top tier for your first anniversary?”

Not everyone wants to freeze their wedding cake for a year, said Nicole.

“Marriage is huge,” she said, stating that the twenty-plus year couples are a minority, these days. “Embrace a great opportunity to celebrate how far you’ve come.”

Nicole always advises saving the top tier. “If a year down the road you don’t want to eat it, give it to a friend or your parents.”

Next consideration will be design.

Whether you want a smooth iced cake, a striped texture that mimics chenille, intricate filigree piping, or even one of the trending naked cakes – the time and patience required for decorating will influence the overall cost.

“One thing that we pride ourselves on is our buttercream skills,” said Nicole. She shared how some customers had seen pictures of her cakes and assumed they were made of fondant.

“We are a buttercream bakery,” she said. All of her cakes are decorated with buttercream.

The last element to consider for your wedding cake is flavor.

“Fillings can get really exciting,” said Nicole.

Some flavors may require a lot of fruits or nuts, so it is important to consider what month your wedding will be. “If it’s strawberry season, then we can pretty much guarantee that fresh strawberries are going to be delicious,” she said.

On the other hand, purchasing off season may affect quality, and pricing. “We are at the mercy of the market,” said Nicole.

When discussing flavors, Nicole is quick to remind brides that ultimately, they are the host of their reception.

“Yes, it’s about you, and your new husband,” she said. “However, it’s also about your guests.”

The fact that a typical wedding cake is built with several tiers makes for a great opportunity to play with flavors.

According to Nicole, each tier will have two layers, allowing for a vanilla layer and then a second flavor, like chocolate or strawberry, on the bottom layer.

“Every cut will have that vanilla, for those that don’t care for that specialty flavor, and it makes for a beautiful cut,” she said.

“We want to do everything to give our clients exactly what they want, to fulfill their total wedding dream,” said Nicole. “I try to fulfill their vision while educating them.”

Some of things she asks brides to consider include:

–Red Velvet cake, if you are not careful, can stain your wedding dress. “Good Neighbor Cleaners will not be able to get it out!”

–Black icing, while it makes for a striking cake, could lead to black lips, black tongues and black teeth for your guests in photographs.

–Huge burgundy flowers on your cake may steal the spotlight. Nicole reminds her brides that, “You are the star of the show. We need to keep you the star of the show.”

–Fit the cake to your wedding. “You don’t want a “Highland Park” cake with a sundress.”

In the end, Nicole said not to let the details overwhelm the big picture.

“This is cake. It’s a party, a celebration,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what else goes on. At the end of the day, you are going to marry your favorite person.”

Dessert by MommaCakes is located on the courthouse square in downtown Fairfield, Texas. Give them a call at 903-389-0007 or visit them online at LoveMommaCakes.com

And, be sure to take a look The ‘Times’ 2002 Wedding Planner for more ideas to make your wedding day special.

(Photo by Karen Leidy)