Summer weddings that are held outdoors can be magical, spectacular
affairs if you avoid common pitfalls and respect the season that you
love enough to get married in. The reason for all the caution and care
is weather- heat and humidity. Summer can be stiflingly hot or awash in
thunder storms, so it is best to have a contingency plan if the weather
is too extreme. Some of the most important points to consider for an
outdoor summer wedding cake are:
- Do not expose the cake or cake display area in the sun. Make sure you stand in the exact spot that the cake will be on the day and be aware of whether the cake will ever be exposed to direct sunlight for the duration of the event. Direct sunlight can mean watching your cake melt and slide off its cake boards so have a shady spot, either naturally created or under an umbrella. Also, do not ever transport your cake in a vehicle without powerful air conditioning, even if your reception is around the corner. Get the car super cold before putting the cake in a flat spot in the back and never transport the cake in the trunk. Keep the cake in a box or cooler with ice until you can get it back in the fridge at the reception site.
- If you must have fresh flowers on your cake, do not choose flowers that wilt because they are delicate. Roses, lilies, tropical flowers and orchids hold their form for hours. Also, choose blooms that are organic and edible to avoid any unpleasant toxicity issues.
- Do not put the cake out all day if you are holding your wedding outdoors. Bring it out just before it is needed, or at least a short time before. You don’t need the cake to be on display for 6 hours or more to create an impact with the design. You will have pictures of your special day, including the cake, and an intact cake is a better memory than a melted tilting mess. You should be aware of flying and marching insects outside who will be attracted to a cake. You don’t want to go over to cut the cake and realize it is covered in tiny bug carcasses.
- Avoids soft fillings and frostings on your cake or those that are dairy based such as ganache, whipped cream, mousses, cream cheese icing, marzipan, or custard. Consider fondant, buttercream, made with shortening, and pureed fruit fillings instead. Fondant can sweat in the heat, but at least it will stay put on the cake once the surface is set. A naked cake is also a lovely idea because you don’t have to deal with the melted frosting issue. Naked cakes are rustic looking, so suit an outdoor setting in most cases.
