Wedding Cakes by Anna Weisend of The Grand Finale

We have had the pleasure of working with Anna Weisend, owner and pastry chef at The Grand Finale  and can honestly say her cakes are phenomenal – to look at as well as eat!  Anna has some tips for brides on designing your wedding cake from the inside out…

Wedding cakes have been an evolving but traditional part of wedding receptions for centuries.  Since Victorian times most of the traditions have been centered on white cakes with white icing because it symbolized purity and affluence.  Times have changed and this is not necessarily the case any more.  Modern weddings have fewer rules and are a more personal representation of the couple.

A wedding cake is a perfect place to personalize your wedding.  Cake is supposed to be dessert so make sure you pick something that is tasty!  If it is beautiful but no one eats it, it’s a waste.  Everyone has their own ideas about what is good and what is not.  Make sure you pick something you like.  Cake no longer has to be a white or yellow cake.  Only 10% to 15% of the cakes made at The Grand Finale are white.  Maybe you like chocolate, date-nut, or orange.  Maybe you have a favorite flavor combination like caramel and pecan or lemon and blackberry.  Have your pastry chef or baker make the perfect combination for you.  Make sure you choose a vendor who specializes in what you want; If you like a creamy, smooth, real buttercream like Italian or Swiss Meringue make sure that’s what they do.  If the sugary sweet frosting of your youth is what you are looking for, find someone with the same sweet tooth.  Once you have all the delicious details worked out you can concentrate on the art.

The outside of your cake is a time to make your artistic expression.  You can bring in details from other parts of your wedding like a lace detail on your dress or the graphics from your invitation.  Did you want something modern?  Traditional?  Whimsical? What about color?  Bold?  Pastel? White on white?  If you find a talented cake designer the only limits are your imagination.  Be prepared at your consultation with the details you might want to incorporate, any pictures of cakes you liked, and the details from your reception.  Your designer will ask about shapes that you like, where your venue is, how many people it will need to serve, if you are interested in a topper or flowers, and what your budget is.  All the information will help them create the cake of your dreams.

When all is said and done your wedding cake will be a fabulous centerpiece at your reception and leave your guests with a sweet memory of your wedding.

Be sure to visit her at www.grand-finale.com to see more of her wedding and special occasion cakes as well as artful edibles, or give her a call at 216-536-7628 or 330-220-9833.  Be sure to let her know we sent you!