When you think about wedding cakes, chances are that you envision a tall, elegant dessert. It has sleek sides
and might be adorned with splashes of sugar roses and pounds of buttercream frosting. Even if the cake is simple,
ungarnished with excesses of sugar sculpture and fondant shapes, a wedding cake will always be elegant.
At least, almost always.
More and more couples are moving away from the traditional wedding cake model, having cupcake towers so that each guest can have an individual, elaborately decorated cake. The cupcakes maintain the elegance of tradition, but allow for an infusion of fun. Even further from the standard, however, is the snack-food cake. A snack food cake can be made of anything from Twinkies to Snowballs and chocolate donuts. What I didn't realize was how much the trend towards down-market "cakes" was catching on until I saw a "cake" of homemade Ding Dongs in the New York Times wedding announcements over the weekend.
Would you have wanted this at your wedding? Are you considering it for the future? I can't say that I would want it, but I would definitely serve ice cold milk, and not champagne, if I did.
[Image NYT]
4-18-2006 @2:07PM Lori said... I'm thinkin' hohos......
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4-18-2006 @2:07PM Rainbow Brite said... ... NOW ... NOW ... children ... It's important you know Trash comes in ALL the colors of the rainbow ... AND please recognize NOT all trash hail from trailer parks near 8 mile Rd ... Some trash come from Fancy Suburbs and pose but can be just as "Ghetto-Fabulous" ( just ask Kid Rock's neighbors ) ... Long live trashy trash trash and remote friends, the ghetto fabulosos ! ... I can't wait for the next 'Hood Rat Flavor Flav picks to roll wit' him or see what quality step-daddy Pamela Anderson finds for Tommy Lee's offspring !
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4-18-2006 @2:08PM Jess said... I think people should be able to do what they want on their day.So, they don't have to be (WHITE TRASH, BLACK TRASH) not trash at all no one has to pay for that day but them and everyone else who doesn't like it shouldn't eat the cake simple as that. It's no difference when couple get married at the court house in front of the justice of the peace are in one of those little chaples in Vegas. So, I say who ever wants a Twinkie cake then I say go for and be happy because it's your day and you planned it. SO LOVE IT!!!!
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4-18-2006 @2:09PM Amy said... Martha (from comment #24), Ring Dings and Ding Dongs are sold by different companies, but they are basically the same snack. Ding Dongs have also been sold under the names King Don and Big Wheel, and are made by Hostess. Here in the Midwest, even when it's a non-Hostess brand, they are still commonly called "Ding Dongs." Hope that helps! ;-)
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4-18-2006 @2:09PM Diana said... I think a specialized or unique cake is a GREAT idea. However, as much as we all like twinkies or ding dongs, they have so many artificial ingredients and preservatives that I am not sure they are considered a food. You can find bakers that will make something cute, original and FRESH that will still be unique and unusual! I believe that a cake made with the best inbgredients and baked fresh is the only way to go! AND, the cake or cupcakes do not have to be outrageously priced!
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4-18-2006 @2:14PM ILOVESB said... I think the idea is awesome. I would rather spend the money on a better honeymoon! And plus, I love ding dongs...but you know what would be better, a cake made out of hostess cupcakes.
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4-18-2006 @2:14PM Mella said... I'm not a native New Yorker, but if I'm not mistaken, having your wedding announcement in the Times is fairly unlikely for the denizens of the trailer park. We may or may not think that this cake represents a lack of class, but it certainly does not represent a lack of money. As each individual snack cake was hand-made, this cake was probably extremely expensive and quite possibly quite tasty.
So why all the talk about trailer parks? Money certainly doesn't buy class. The more money you've got, the more trashy stuff you can have!
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4-18-2006 @2:15PM Tina said... To all of you seniors out there- please do not walk barefoot on the public beach, keep your dentures in, and don't buy those fancy doublewides in retirement villages- (you know the ones- where the lot costs more than most houses) with the golf courses, etc.
And don't be creative with your wedding cakes or you will be thought of as "trash" by close minded snobs.
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4-18-2006 @2:17PM Lydia said... I made a "junk food" cake for the rehersal dinner for my son's wedding. sort of a reminder of his childhood. I used ding dongs, ho-ho's, twinkies, snowballs, cupcakes, etc. It was a huge hit at the rehersal dinmer. As it turned out, it saved the day for the wedding. I had also made a very traditional, 5 tiered cake for the wedding. As it was being loaded into my car for delivery on the morning of the wedding, we had what we now call in our family.."the dog incident", she ran and jumped into the car and right into one of the cake layers!! My daughters had me go ahead to the reception site to set up the remaining layers. When I got back home, there was the damaged layer, completely repaired, fondant covering perfect! You guessed it! They cut away the damaged part and replacd it with leftover twinkies and then covered it with new frosting and fondant. We set it up when we got to the reception and no one was the wiser, we just didn't cut into that part of the cake. It's been a year and we all still laugh abut it!
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4-18-2006 @2:19PM Trish said... I think its your wedding organize it how and with what you want!! Real friends and family except you for who you are not for what kind of wedding you have. Afterall if it is different it will be one that people will remember!! Trish from Ohio
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4-18-2006 @2:25PM Lorraine said... I think it is wonderful to break from the norm! As a Widow and a Grandmother, if I ever remarry, I would love a Ding Dong Cake. My Grandchildren would be delighted! And who is the cake for anyway, if not to entertain the guests!
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4-18-2006 @2:33PM Deb said... Love not cake (traditional or non traditional)is what the couple wishes to share with their guest. Pass on the cake if that is what you wish.
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4-18-2006 @2:35PM Linda said... Whatever floats your boat is fine!
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4-18-2006 @3:06PM Nami said... I think this is pretty cool. If its your big wedding day and you want a unique wedding cake than go for it, you dont have a wedding every day of your life so do what makes you happy, ya?
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4-18-2006 @3:13PM Cathy said... A couples wedding is a celebration of that couples love and commitment to each other.It is 'THEIR'day, so whatever makes them happy, and whatever they may want in their wedding, be it casual dress or formal wear, a rock band or jazz, daisy's or roses, a traditional wedding cake or a cake made of ding dongs..they should be able to have it. And the guests are just that 'GUESTS'. They were invited to join the celebration not to come and put it down because they have to eat ding dongs instead of a $400 or $500 traditional wedding cake. And being a "look down your nose at others" snob or what you want to call "white trash", has nothing to do with the couples choices.
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4-18-2006 @3:16PM chrissy said... The issue I hear being raised over and over again is money....... The wedding itself is the only part of the celebration that is specifically for the bride and groom and cost the least. The reception is for your guests.
WANT TO KNOW THE BEST REASON NOT TO HAVE A DING DONG WEDING CAKE?
Cause no matter how your guests smile in your face, and tell you how unique it is, and what a wonderful idea it was......... they will be split down the middle ( as everyone is here ) in their opinion about it and people will say everything you have read here for years everytime your name comes up.
Sad but truly how it is...
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4-18-2006 @3:34PM Brandi said... i say more power to them its thier special day and if they want ding dongs for a cake then thats what they should get. they should not be judged and called white trash because of thier cake, thats what they wanted and thats what matters. who cares what anyone else wants or thinks. i think it was very creative not everyone wants or can afford a decorated wedding cake . and there are more important things to think about for your wedding day then the cake. its stressful enough for the bride and groom getting everything perfect for that day if thats the perfect cake for them then who are you to judge them and call them white trash. it may not be what you would want or what you like but ITS NOT YOUR WEDDING SO STOP JUGDING THEM!!!
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4-18-2006 @4:08PM Amanda Spence said... Well I am not too fond of Ding Dongs or Twinkie. I like traditions but my mom Pam makes this Strawberry Browne Tort Cake and it’s to die for. I love it so much I have selected it for my wedding cake. I know everyone doesn’t like chocolate so to represent vanilla I am going to use Angel Food Cake. So it really depends on what u want that's what makes a wedding cake in my opinion.
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4-18-2006 @8:14PM Theresa said... a few years ago read.......for a fast and cheap wedding cake buy frozen Pepperidge Farm boxed square layer cakes assemble all together and decorate..have to say it looked like an expensive wedding cake...
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4-19-2006 @12:06PM Joan F said... We are going to a 100,000.00 wedding on Saturday
I fully intend to see how their cake does taste and then I will go to the store and buy a ding dong ( cause we are in ny) and then I will post back as to which of them does indeed taste better.
As to the debate as to this being tacky-Yes, I am afraid it is ( but if you are betting on taste) Drake's and Hostess may win, most wedding cakes may be lovely to look at, but actually taste terrible! I cannot ever recall tasting a "great" wedding cake ever:( as sad as it is to say(((
maybe for the future you should buy a fake wedding cake to look at , and then just serve the ding dongs for desert.
will get back after the hundred grand wedding for sure!!
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