54 SLICE OF THE ACTION How do I work out how big my cake should be? Clare Deary from Liverpool-based Cake On The Lake (www.cakeonthelake.com) says: “This very much depends on whether it will be served as your main dessert. If you’re planning to have a separate pudding, you may not need a cake as big as you think. Trying to figure out the right size to order isn’t always a piece of cake! “You’ll want to make sure you have enough to adequately serve guests without paying for leftovers that go to waste. Don’t forget, it’s common nowadays for some guests to decline a slice, so you can usually get away with ordering enough cake for just 80 per cent, or if you have a separate dessert, just 50 per cent. Always consult a professional cake maker to get their opinion too.” Debbie Fenton from Lois’ Little Cake & Chocolate Co. in Sandbach (https://loislittlecakecompany.com) says: “In general, cake sizes are reducing slightly, so when you’re making decisions about yours, have a think about whether you need to accommodate every guest. We always advise to look at your day and evening numbers then aim for an average, but this is down to personal choice. If you’re a big cake fan, then a bit more wouldn’t hurt, right?” Marina from Liverpool’s Sweet Palette (www.sweetpalette.co.uk) says: “If you want to be practical about your cake size or there’s a budget that needs to be kept to, the best option is to get professional guidance from your cake maker. You need to feel confident about your choices after all. As cake size is calculated by the number of guests you’ll need to have your guest list ready, or at least an approximation. As a general rule, a standard serving is about 1” to 2” wide and 4” to 5” tall, so you may be able to do the calculations yourself. “Ideally, there should be no rules when choosing your dream wedding cake. First and foremost, it’s a work of art, a centrepiece of the wedding, therefore the primary concern should be its appearance. “A competent cake maker will always be keen to adapt to your requests. So, if you’d like to have a five-tier showstopper for a 50-guest celebration, some of the tiers can be replaced by fake ones to avoid waste. If, on the other hand, you have a big number of guests but the desired cake design may not be big enough, there’s always the option to have an extra sheet cake for additional portions.” Cake Creations Southport We All Love Cake Lois’ Little Cake & Chocolate Co. We All Love Cake Sweet Palette
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