We’ve all seen those wedding albums where all the pictures are just gorgeous, until you get to one picture, and something just seems off. Maybe it’s a kid in the corner with his finger all the way up his nose. It’d be cute if he were three. But the kid is thirteen and he is digging for treasure. Or maybe you’ve got an eagle eye for details, and you notice the unsightly fingerprints all over the champagne glasses in the champagne glass tower. There are a few of these things that you just can’t control on your wedding day. Some things you have to let go of and some things you have to do your best to delegate beforehand to make sure it’s handled.
One thing that you can control though, is the placement of your wedding cake table. That’s what we’re here to talk about today. We’ve been in this business for a long time, and we’ve seen some doozies. Where you put your cake table (or tell someone to put it) can make a big difference in your reception. The last thing you want is a picture of your gorgeous, one-of-a-kind wedding cake making some list of the top 10 wedding cake fails somewhere online. So, let’s get into the dos and don’ts of wedding cake table placement.
Things to Avoid with Wedding Cake Table Placement
First, let’s talk about the things you should avoid when placing your wedding cake table in your reception area.
Do not place your wedding cake table on uneven surfaces, like grassy areas or slants. This one may seem like a no-brainer. But we’ve seen it done too many times for it to not make the list. All it takes is one bump from your aunt Lucile whose vertigo is kicking in after a few spins on the dance floor and your cake and desserts are ant food. It’s just not worth the risk, for you or your poor aunt Lucile who I know would feel terrible.
Do not place tiered wedding cakes on tall cocktail tables, especially if you’re using a cake stand. A cocktail table at a wedding is already almost a guarantee for a little spill, but when you put a cake on it, you’re in for disaster. These tables are highly unstable and not meant for holding much more than a drink and small appetizer. Those messes can be quickly cleaned up and the happy couple is none-the-wiser. These tables are definitely not meant for holding a heavy wedding cake, though. Plus, think of the pictures. Do you really want your armpits exposed in your cake-cutting photos because you have to reach up high? Shoutout to all the fellow short people, we’ve got your back!
Do not place your cake table (or dessert table) in full sun! This may seem like another obvious one, but you’d be surprised. Plus, remember what’s in full sun at 10 am when you’re setting up will not be what’s in full sun when your cake arrives at 2 pm. This is a given for most baked goods, but especially wedding cakes. Our cakes here at Silver Rose are made with butter and butter has a melting point of 82 – 97 degrees Fahrenheit and it takes less than 20 minutes for your cake to go from a culinary masterpiece and your dream vision to a dripping, gooey buffet for the bugs on the ground. So, especially here in Arizona, if your wedding is outdoors, please plan and schedule your delivery accordingly or find a suitable placement where your wedding cake won’t become wedding soup, albeit tasty wedding soup.
Do not skimp on your cake stand. I know you had a 40% off coupon for that cake stand you saw at the craft store. But do you really want to place your 4-tier wedding cake, which probably cost a solid chunk of your wedding budget, on something that you bought at discount? It’s just not worth the risk of a caketastrophe. Your bakery will recommend a great cake stand for your needs that meets your style, size, and budget. A good wedding cake bakery, Silver Rose included, will not use a cake stand if we feel it’s unsuitable for your cake.
Do not place your cake in a “forgotten” corner of the room. Of course, we’re biased, but a beautifully decorated cake and dessert table should be one of the first things guests see when they walk into the reception hall. It builds anticipation and is a great way to ensure that as little goes to waste as possible. We recommend placing your cake table near the sweetheart table.
Things to Keep in Mind with Wedding Cake Table Placement
Now that we know what not to do when it comes to wedding cake and dessert table placement, let’s talk about what you should do. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Always place your cake table on a sturdy table and ground. The standard banquet table is 6 feet and works great. Wooden tables, round tables, and wine barrels are great options, too. We recommend placing the table on a solid surface. So, for those backyard weddings, try to save a spot on the patio or another flat surface for the cake table.
Plan for enough space when considering your guest list. It can be easy to get caught up in the seating chart and trying to figure out where to sit Aunt Sally so she doesn’t start any drama with Cousin Kathy. While you’re thinking of all those seating arrangements, just make sure you plan for a seat for the wedding cake and its friends. That’s right we just made your cake table a wedding guest. Aunt Sally won’t mind.
Make sure to buy plenty of dessert stands, platters, and plates. If you’re unsure always ask your bakery or dessert caterer. We do this kind of thing literally every weekend of the year. So, even though this may be new to you, it’s a walk in the park for us. We got you. We can help with size, placement, and arrangement. We want your pictures to be beautiful!
Speaking of photos, check out the background of your cake and dessert table. Is there a bathroom, fire extinguisher, weird painting, thermostat, ugly doorframe? This cake is going to be a focal point of a lot of photos in your wedding album. The last thing you want is for a window with a porta-potty sitting right outside to be in every picture. Yes, this has happened in real life. Yes, it made us sad. I would rather have a boring background than a portable toilet any day. It could also be a good idea to ask your photographer before placing the table in front of any large windows or sources of light.
When All Else Fails, Have your Bakery Help
When all else fails, just let your bakery set up the cake table for you. We love decorating dessert and cake tables. We’re good at it and most other wedding cake bakeries are, too. Don’t be offended if we don’t use every piece of décor you bought. Sometimes less is more. No matter what, our goal is to make sure you have a beautiful wedding cake, beautiful photos, and a memorable cake experience on your big day.
Here at Silver Rose Bakery, we’ve got your back. We’ve seen the truly good, the bad, the ugly…and the just plain funny and weird when it comes to wedding cake table placement. We know that your wedding photographer will thank you if you consider these few dos and don’ts of wedding cake table placement brought to you by your favorite wedding cake bakery. Follow us on social for more tried-and-true wedding planning tips!