Selecting a wedding cake for a destination wedding in Paris has as much to do with who will bake it as to what kind of cake you prefer.
Raph & John selected a macaroon cake (left) and a croquembrouche as their wedding cake designs.
What is your wedding cake personality: traditional or modern? White or colorful? Butter cream or chocolate? Most brides look to colors and features of their theme for inspiration for their wedding cake. More about this later.
The traditional wedding cake in France — indeed, a traditional cake for all of life’s celebrations in France, such as baptisms, engagements and milestone anniversaries — is croquembouche, from croque en bouche, meaning “crunches in your mouth” — like a glazed doughnut hole, but with hard and thin layers of caramel as a coating. Croquembouche was invented by Antonin Careme, who is credited with creating many of the fundamentals of traditional French cuisine and pastry in the early 19th century.
A croquembouche wedding cake.
But just because you’re getting married in Paris doesn’t mean you’re limited to that particular tradition. Macaroon (macaron, in French) “cakes” — macaroons formed in a traditional pyramid (perhaps reflecting the shape of the Eiffel Tower) — have gained favor, and there is always la galette des Rois (“the Cake of Kings”), a flat, flaky cake that could be incorporated into your wedding cake. Ironically, many French brides are opting for multi-tiered American-style cakes, so if you have your heart set on that type, you will have no trouble finding a baker in Paris who will bake the cake of your dreams.
A white and silver cake with just a hint of blue.
The more concrete the dream, the better. Start by determining which type of cake you want, then look for pictures of examples. As I stated earlier, most brides take inspiration from aspects of their theme: the flowers; colors and decorative embellishments of your invitations; and the color of your bridesmaid dresses can all be incorporated into the design of your cake. You can even sneak in your “something blue” by having a small blue embellishment on your cake. (Hey, it’s an idea, right?)
Apart from the design, do you or any of your guests have any food allergies, and therefore need a gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free cake? Another option is to offer another cake or dessert for those with food allergies, such as gluten-free cupcakes or the like. I am actually not a proponent of cupcakes as a wedding cake because I like the idea of everyone sharing in the matrimony of the two people getting married. Just as “breaking bread” with people at dinner signifies the sharing of a meal and yourself (through conversation) with others, everyone eating from the same cake at a wedding seems more intimate and sharing than consuming individual cupcakes. But as an alternative for people who have to follow a special diet — I’m all for it.
Your cake’s size will depend on the number of guests, and whether you want the top tier for your first wedding anniversary.
I have provided two bakers who will design a wedding cake for a wedding in Paris, and one located in Avignon, in case you want to marry near Paris but not in the city itself. Go onto their websites to look at what they’ve done before — but just because you don’t see something resembling your dream cake doesn’t mean the baker won’t make it. They want your business, and as most say outright, they will design and bake a cake to your exact specifications.
Regardless of whom you select as a baker, be sure to get a contract that covers the following:
*Cake’s size
*Number of tiers
*Design elements
*Flavors of cake and icing
*Guarantee free of irritant(s), if applicable (ex.: gluten-free)
*Delivery charge/Time of delivery
*Final price
*Cancellation policy
*Deposit policy
*Set up (including whether touch-ups will be provided on-site)
*Whether a cake knife is provided (You might want to provide your own to have as a keepsake)
I don’t recommend trying to save money by transporting the cake to your reception yourself. What if something happens en route? Also, the baker can do touch-ups on-site if necessary.
Also, try to have some embellishments on your cake table to make your cake look more festive. Flowers, votive candles, large lace, and greenery are just some examples. A cake on a table by itself can look lonely. Start with a table skirt and work from there.
The best way to inquire about ordering a cake is to either email a cake shop or contact them via their Contact page with the following information:
*Name
*Mobile number
*Date of event
*Number of guests
* Design ideas
Cristina Lasarte
Phone: +33 06 07 25 12 94
Email: parisluxurycakes@gmail.com
Hours: None given
Hortensia flowers.
Cristina Lasarte excelled as a teacher of the English language and Literature in her native Buenos Aires before she became a luxury cake baker. Her portfolio of wedding cakes is one of the finest I’ve ever seen. To prove it, compare the picture of Hortensia to the cake with Hortensia flowers (called “Classic Hortensia”) in her portfolio. My favorite, however, is the cake with the bow.
68 rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005 Paris
Phone: +33 01 46 34 07 43
Email: info@sugarplumcakeshop.com
Hours: Tues-Sun 12:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M., Closed Mon
Sugar Plum Cake shop opened in Paris in the spring of 2010. The three-woman team has received world-wide press for their unique cake designs using traditional North American recipes and their coffee shop.
Phone: +33 06 08 65 20 00
Email: infos@madeincake.net
Hours: Not given
They do not provide information on their website as to who they are and how they got started. If you go onto their website, their Contact page is a pop-up to prevent spam. They are located in Avignon. Rates start at 6.50 euros per person, plus extra for decorations, depending on complexity. Minimum order is for 10 people. They will deliver within 100 km of their bakery for a delivery charge. Why did I feature them? Not everyone selects Paris as their France-destination-wedding location, and their flower designs are spectacular.
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- The cake nicely incorporates elements of the flowers.
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- An Eiffel Tower atop your cake is a perfect design element.
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- La Gallette de Rois, the “Cake of Kings.”
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- A traditional cake displayed horizontally.
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- White icing + chocolate fudge = perfect for chocolate lovers.
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- A beautiful cake atop a beautiful table.
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- Wedding cake and macaroons nearby.
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- Gluten-free cupcakes could be a nice option for guests.
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- Crystallized White Rose Cake includes brioche.
Au revoir!
References: “Beyond Brioche: When Wedding Bells Ring, Croquembouche,” by Lucie Rose, French Morning, published September 20, 2015. “Your Wedding Cake,” Modern Wedding Planner, pp. 100-104. “Croquembouche,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.
Image of Raph & John’s wedding cakes by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Croquembouche wedding cake of Lalie & Steeve by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. White and cornflower blue wedding cake with silver accents (created by Graceful Cake Designs) by Grace Tan, Flickr,
CCBY 2.0. Image of Hortensia flowers by Dietmut Teijgeman-Hansen, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
Slideshow: Wedding cake of Anais & Christophe by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Eiffel Tower wedding cake from Pinterest (via Etsy), CCBY 2.0. La Gallette des Rois by Gael Chardon, Flickr,
CCBY 2.0. Image of horizontal wedding cake by Tracy Hunter, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Chocolate fudge wedding cake by Heather, CCBY 2.0. Wedding cake by Tracy Hunter, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Wedding cake and Macaroons by Carl, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of wedding cupcakes by Cat, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
I am featuring photos of Raph & John’s wedding in Paris for this series (see above). I want to make it clear that I do not know this couple: I selected their photos from an album on Flickr because I love their theme and the photos are available for use under the CCBY 2.0 license. If I married in Paris, I would want a theme somewhat similar to theirs–in terms of colors and formality.