The wedding cake, what used to be just another item on a wedding to-do list has become the most important part of any wedding, next to the dress. To most couples it is so much more than what flavor of cake, or what cake topper to put on it. The wedding cake has become an expression of the couple, and is often the most remembered aspect of any wedding. As a bride you might be wondering, how do I go about making such a huge decision? Well, here are a few tips to selecting the perfect cake.

First, you should Google wedding cakes. You can usually find some great pictures and websites with pictures, just by typing “wedding cakes” into any search engine. The best way to get what you want from your caterer or bakery is to go armed with pictures.

Secondly, select an excellent bakery or caterer. Talk with your married friends or even the manager of your reception hall. Word of mouth is a great way to select the right one for your wedding. It doesn't matter if their website has pictures of beautiful cakes or if they can present you with huge albums of cakes to wade through, you should still try to base your decision off of their reputation.

Thirdly, you should be armed with a wedding cake budget. According to The Bridal Association of America, as of July 2006, the average price of a wedding cake plus the cutting fee is $543. Of course there are cheaper cakes out there, so you just need to have a price range in mind that fits into your overall wedding budget. You should also keep in mind, that cake decoration makes a huge difference in the overall cost of your wedding cake. A few nice tips if you are looking for a more cost efficient cake, are fresh flowers and cutting down on fondant decoration, according to http://costhelper.com. Fresh flowers are less expensive and easy to use when decorating, you might even consider doing this yourself if you cannot find a bakery that can stay within your budget.

Lastly, if you do find a great caterer or baker, you should request a cake tasting, because pretty isn't everything. As my mother always said, “it's not the outside, but what's on the inside that counts”. You can have the most beautiful cake in the world, but if it doesn't taste good then that is what your guests are going to remember. By requesting a cake tasting, it will allow you to not only choose the best flavor that goes with your wedding theme, (ex. dark chocolate cake for a Valentine's Day wedding or carrot cake for a mid-summer wedding), but it will also allow you to find a flavor that both you and your guests can enjoy. A cake tasting will also help you decide if the baker you've chosen has what it takes to make a truly scrumptious cake.

As you can see, there are many decisions you must make when choosing a wedding cake, but by following these few simple steps you should have a successful experience while shopping for your dream cake.