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Wedding Cakes in Reading: How to Choose the Perfect Cake for Your Big Day
Choosing your wedding cake is one of the most enjoyable parts of planning a wedding, and one of the most overwhelming. There are so many styles, sizes, flavours and finishes to consider that it can be hard to know where to begin.
At BKRY, we've helped lots of couples in Reading and across Berkshire and Oxfordshire find their perfect cake. This guide covers everything you need to think about, so you can approach the process with confidence and actually enjoy it.
Start with your style
Before you think about flavours or sizes, it helps to have a sense of the overall look you're going for. Your wedding cake should feel like a natural extension of your wedding, so consider:
Your venue and overall aesthetic. A relaxed outdoor wedding in a barn calls for something different to a formal reception in a grand hotel. Think about whether your wedding is classic, modern, rustic, maximalist or minimal, and let that guide your initial direction.
Your colour palette. Your cake doesn't need to perfectly match your flowers or table linen, but it should sit comfortably within your overall colour scheme. Even a white or ivory cake can be subtly tied into a colour palette through fresh flowers, ribbon, or a carefully chosen topper.
The level of detail you want. Some couples want a simple, understated cake that lets the flavour do the talking. Others want something elaborate and decorative that becomes a talking point of the reception. Neither is wrong. It's entirely a matter of preference.
The most popular wedding cake styles at BKRY
Because buttercream is at the heart of everything we do at BKRY, our wedding cakes have a warmth and finish that's hard to replicate with fondant. Each style has its own character, and the right one will depend on the feel of your wedding.
The Lambeth. Our most statement wedding cake option and one of our most requested. Lambeth-style piping is a traditional technique that's had a real resurgence in recent years, characterised by its intricate layered borders and scrollwork. It's romantic, maximalist and incredibly beautiful in person. If you want a wedding cake that genuinely stops people in their tracks, this is the one.
The Pearl. Elegant, refined and quietly stunning. Our Pearl cake has a timeless quality that suits formal and relaxed weddings equally well. The soft pearlescent finish catches the light beautifully and photographs wonderfully, making it a particularly popular choice for couples who want something classic without being predictable.
The Vintage Heart Message cake. One of our most loved wedding options. A beautiful, romantic design that can be personalised with a message, making it as meaningful as it is striking. Perfect for couples who want their cake to tell a story.
Naked and semi-naked cakes. These have been consistently popular for several years and show no signs of going anywhere. With little or no buttercream on the outside, they have a relaxed, organic feel that works beautifully for countryside, garden and informal weddings. Our Vintage cake is a lovely example of this style.
The Simple Swirls. A softer, more understated option for couples who want something elegant without being overly formal. The swirled buttercream finish is approachable and beautiful in equal measure, and it works across a wide range of wedding styles and colour palettes.
Drip cakes. A bolder, more dramatic option. Our chocolate or classic drip cakes add a sense of occasion and work especially well for couples who want their cake to be a real centrepiece moment rather than something that blends quietly into the background.
How many tiers do you need?
This comes down primarily to your guest numbers and how you plan to serve the cake.
Our cakes come in four sizes: 6 inch Short (2 layers), 6 inch Midi (3 layers), 6 inch Tall (4 layers) and 8 inch Tall (4 layers). For a detailed breakdown of how many guests each size serves, take a look at our cake portion guide.
For larger weddings, we'd often recommend combining a display cake with a supplementary cutting cake, a plain unfrosted cake kept in the kitchen that's used purely for serving. This gives you the visual impact of a beautiful centrepiece without needing to order an enormous tiered cake.
Choosing your flavour
This is where things get really personal. Your wedding cake flavour should reflect what you and your partner actually love to eat, not just what seems most traditional.
Our celebration cakes are available in a range of flavours, and the best way to find your favourite is to come into our Caversham shop and try our cupcakes and loaf cakes, which are made in exactly the same flavours as our celebration cakes. It's a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
A few things to consider when choosing flavour:
Think about your guests. If you have guests with dietary requirements, it's worth knowing that we offer gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and nut-free options. Just mention this when you order and we'll make sure everyone can enjoy a slice.
You don't have to have one flavour throughout. If you and your partner can't agree, different tiers or a cutting cake in a different flavour is a perfectly sensible solution.
Personalising your wedding cake
A wedding cake becomes truly special when it feels personal to the couple. At BKRY, there are several ways to make your cake uniquely yours:
A personalised message or name topper. Simple, elegant and always meaningful.
A personalised cake topper. From classic Mr & Mrs styles to something that reflects your personalities, a topper can add a finishing touch that guests will notice and remember.
Matching cupcakes. A central wedding cake surrounded by matching cupcakes for guests to help themselves to is both practical and visually impressive. It also removes the need for plates and forks to be distributed during the reception.
How far in advance should I order?
For weddings, we'd recommend getting in touch as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks before your date, to allow plenty of time for your cake to be planned and made with the care it deserves. During peak wedding season from May through to September, our order books fill up quickly, so earlier is always better.
We can accommodate orders from as little as three days before your collection date where our schedule allows, but for something as important as your wedding cake, we'd strongly encourage you not to leave it that late.
Come and find us
We're based at 47 Church Street, Caversham, Reading. You can browse our full wedding cake collection online or pop into the shop to talk through your ideas with the team. We love hearing about the occasions we're baking for, and we'd be delighted to help you create a cake that does your big day justice.
