The wedding cake was $1,200.00, the result of 2 full days of the baker’s art and skill. It was so breathtaking that many commented that it was a crime to see it cut, as the bride and groom edged out their tiny piece from the back, feeding each other bites to scattered applause from the guests and the flare of camera flashes. And in fact, if you happen to be the type of person who reflects upon this sort of thing, it did seem rather barbaric, this wanton destruction of its glorious, delicate beauty, matter-of-factly hacked to irregular pieces in a matter of minutes, reducing it to a wasteland of crumbs and plastic-like shards of fondant. With the exception of a few children who had been anxiously awaiting the sugar of this moment, 90% of the guests immediately lost all interest in the marching rows of cake slices advancing across the serving table; and the focus of the celebration moved on to the couple’s champagne toast.
The following night at the same venue, the ritual was repeated. This time the cake was spotlighted on its own round table covered in a beautiful damask cloth that fell to the floor. Again, the fragile intricacy of its beauty was a joy to behold. And again, the newlyweds carefully worked their small slice onto a plate, while the guests craned their necks to catch any twinkle of mischief in the couples’ eyes that might foretell whether they would be genteel and feed it to each other gently and tenderly, or kick off their celebration by laughingly throwing dignity to the winds and smashing it in the general vicinity of the other’s face. Again the cameras flashed and the guests laughed and cheered. As the couple moved on to their champagne toast, a pair of attendants moved with quiet efficiency to the sides of the cake table and wheeled it into the kitchen for cutting. By the time the couple had finished their arm-entwined toast, plated portions of precision-sliced cake were beginning to be set out on the serving table.
In each case, one of those camera-flashes resulted in one of the most key and treasured photographic memories of the occasion. But the second memory can be treasured for about $1,000 less.
Why? It’s a fake! Don’t believe it? Don’t believe nobody noticed? Well, it’s true. While Aunt Doris was in the kitchen slicing 3 delicious sheetcakes, each serving at least 40 people (remember, many will not want cake anyway), Aunt Marian had tossed out the waxed paper that had held the couple’s pre-sliced piece of cake, and was swathing the gloriously-iced masterpiece in bubble wrap before sliding it back into its shipping crate for return to the rental “bakery” in the mail the following week. Where’s the photographer now? Because this would be something to see!
On wedding blogs, it seems that many feel a faux cake is a terrible affront to tradition. I think it’s a very clever way to have the tradition and eat it, too. Still others say, well, if you can’t afford a REAL cake, why not just admit it? Why not get a clumsily-decorated grocery-store cake if that’s all you can afford? Why go to so much effort "just for show?" Well, aren’t weddings essentially “just for show?” Because if they’re not, then everybody who’s ever walked down the aisle needs to admit right now that they would be no less married if they’d simply gone to City Hall. The cake is a major focal point of any wedding, so it’s not unusual that a bride might have visualized something spectacular for her special day–and if this helps her afford it, why shouldn’t she have it?
We’re recycling everything these days–how many wedding gowns get a second life from Craigslist or a consignment shop? Are those brides any less beautiful? As to the cake, why should all that artistic labor be wasted? Why shouldn’t several brides proudly display these masterpieces of culinary art, which are no less fabulous the 4th or 5th time they are trotted out? The same people who turn up their noses–would they not rent 200 dinner plates, stemmed water goblets, and 15 banquet-sized tablecloths? Do they think their guests think they own this stuff? No; it’s a given that it’s rented; what’s the difference? Do their groomsmen not rent their tuxes to give everyone a uniform look?
Why does everybody care so much what somebody else does that they need to pass judgment and condemn? How many of them have even researched “fake cakes”? These things aren’t made of Play-Doh and a glue-gun. Of course, when confronted by the idea of a fake cake for the very first time, nobody is going to imagine themselves at a “cake-tasting” session, saying, “I’ll take the styrofoam and latex.” Apples and oranges!
So I’m not saying every bride MUST have a fake cake; what I am saying is, many a bride is cutting every possible corner these days to get as much wedding as possible for her dollar, and these cakes can give you a designer-quality look at literally a fraction of the price: $80 and up (plus shipping) for rental, or if you have one made custom just to your specifications, about $250-$300 to purchase (then stick it on Craigslist afterwards).
These elegant cakes show that they are certainly a valid consideration for taking a slice (pun intended) off the price. And if your cousin recoils in horror when you tell her, ask yourself if her engagement ring isn’t probably a cubic zirconia anyway. Let them eat cake!
by Clairsie Dotes Factoidz.com
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