Is it time to select the right bakeries and wedding cakes for your wedding in New York? New York bakeries aren't all just about bagels and lox. If you've always wanted a cake shaped like the Empire State Building (complete with sugared King Kong), New York bakeries have the right dessert for you.

New York has an abundance of bakeries, so try not to get overwhelmed by all of the delicious choices. Instead, look for bakeries that specialize in the specific type of cake you want. If you're celebrating a Yankees fan's birthday, for example, look for New York bakeries that wouldn’t blink twice at a round baseball-shaped cake with navy blue icing. Birthday cakes can come in all shapes and playful creativity brings an extra smile.

Cupcakes make a fun alternative to large birthday or wedding cakes. You can skip the mess of trying to split a cake into even slices, and every guest can enjoy their very own pristine icing decoration. Serve several cupcake flavors to personalize dessert even more.

Wedding cakes should reflect the preferences of the couple getting married, but they should also take into account the dietary needs of the guests. If you have a large number of guests with vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or other restrictions on their diets, consider serving two wedding cakes.

Are you planning an outdoor wedding? Discuss this with your baker. New York summers can be quite warm, so wedding cakes should avoid delicate icing that can melt in the sun. Wedding cakes with heavy ornamentation like shells or strings of beads should also be constructed out of sturdy materials.

How many guests are you serving? For large gatherings, wedding cakes are often supplemented with a matching layer cake to be served from the kitchen after the wedding cake cutting. New York bakeries will gladly discuss your best serving options.

To start looking through the many bakeries New York has to offer, look through our listings of wedding cake and other dessert professionals.