Good morning guys, Claire (BM ed) here, and today I'm going to talk about one of my very favourite things.

Cake. (Obviously!)

There are lots of blog posts dotted around the internet on why you shouldn't make your own wedding cake, and I agree.

Sort of.

Of course if you're going to spend the final days before your wedding running around between salon appointments, hosting out-of-town guests or decorating your venue, then of course, I'd advise against baking a cake in the middle of all that.

But for those who get married in, or near, their hometown, who have done all the planning and prepping already and are left with little to do in the last day or two, baking a cake (provided you enjoy baking of course!) can be an almost therapeutic, relaxing way to unwind, banishing any pre-wedding jitters and preventing you from over-thinking in those final hours - "Oh wait, did we order two vegetarian starters or three?"

While I haven't baked my own wedding cake (though I do plan to) I have baked for my sister's and friend's weddings. And while it can be a little nerve-wracking (you don't want to muck it up!), it was so rewarding, and I actually think it would be less stressful doing it for your own wedding than a friend's.

It might be a little rustic looking, it might even be slightly lop-sided, but if you're a laid back bride, with wedding guests who are as chill as you are, then your cake is going to be loved no matter what.

But before you stick on your apron and coat your kitchen in flour (I'm a messy baker!), read my top tips for baking your own wedding cake, without inviting chaos.

1. Be Practical

Cake you bake? Do you like baking? Do your cakes taste nice? Do they look pretty? And are you a calm and confident baker? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you embark on baking your own wedding cake.

The cake is by all means, not the most important feature at your wedding. But if you're going to ruin the day before, (or maybe even the day of) your wedding stressing about how it looks, tastes or whether it's raw in the middle, it really isn't worth it.

2. Keep It Simple

Don't think that just because it's your wedding you need to create something elaborate that you've never baked before, (each tier represents a native fruit indigenous to north east Cambodia), this isn't the time to experiment. Use a tried and tested recipe and something that you know you can bake, and decorate with ease.

For my sister's wedding, I baked three tiers of my signature chocolate Guinness cake. Nobody minded that all the tiers were the same, no one even noticed! If you make a mean pie, a legendary macaroon, or a champion cheesecake, why not do that instead? Who says a wedding cake has to be three tiers coated in white icing?

3. In Advance

Do as much prep in advance as you can. Even if you've made this cake 100 times before, if you've never made it in such quantities, be sure to do at least one trial run (your friends and family will be only too happy to test it for you!)

Don't leave shopping for your ingredients to the day of the bake, have as much as possible prepped in advance.

If you can do your bake early, even better, fruit cakes and biscuit cakes often last longer, so these are great for baking several days before your wedding.

4. The Right Reasons

Only bake your own wedding cake for the right reasons. If you're doing it because you can't afford a fancy bakery one, either go without a cake (no one will mind, and many won't even notice!) or opt for a simple supermarket cake and add some decorations.

You could also ask a friend to bake it, or request any bakers among your guests to bring along different bakes for the dessert table.

Only bake your wedding cake because it's something you'll really enjoy doing, not simply to save cash or impress your guests with all you managed to do yourself - seriously, it's not worth the stress and hassle!

5. Enlist a Helper

One. Uno. Singular. If you'll have a house full of people in the days before your wedding, maybe clear them out for the day, or borrow a friend's kitchen for your cake prep.

While it's advisable to have someone on hand to wash mixing bowls or in case you get a phone call, having too many people hanging over you while you create your masterpiece, will only stress you out.

6. Clear the Kitchen

While I suggest you clear the kitchen of people, you should also clear it of clutter too. Our homes get filled up with stuff before a wedding, so no boutonniere pins, no wedding cards, and no last-minute DIY projects.

Having a clear workspace will make your bake run so much smoother. You don't want to realise too late you forgot to add the vanilla because it was hidden under a pile of ribbons.

Cake by Narborough Hall Gardens, Photo by Rebecca Goddard Photography via Bridal Musings

7. Free The Day

Set aside a whole day to make your cake. Yes, an entire day of no appointments, no dinner plans, no "just nipping out to pick up...". While you might be able to time your bake, you won't be able to account for decoration, and if you rush it, it won't look right.

I spent about three hours icing and coconut-covering my friend's Pineapple Pina Colada wedding cake. I thought it would take an hour, max. But when it's such an important cake, even the most laid-back baker can become a meticulous perfectionist.

Oh and tip 7.5 - be sure to let the cake cool before you add the icing!

8. Do It With Decoration

If you're nervous that your bake will look amateur, remember that the key is in the decoration. Even if you missed a spot on the icing, once you've added your final touches, it will look the part.

My sister's wedding cake didn't really look "weddingy" until I added the Mr & Mrs topper, while the most plain cake will look utterly polished with some blooms on top.

It doesn't matter if it's Mississippi mud pie or a twelve tiered sponge, add flowers, foliage, a cake topper or a fancy stand, and you'll have yourself a wedding cake!

(P.S. look to the naked cakes and simply decorated cakes throughout this post for inspiration.)

Photo by Delesie via Style Me Pretty

9. Think Transportation

One of the best things about hiring a professional baker, is that they'll often handle the daunting task of transporting your cake to your wedding venue.

Before you assemble your finished cake, think about the logistics; whether it should travel in pre-built tiers, or as separate cakes, will a cake tin do, or will you need bigger boxes, and who will you enlist to do it?

It's perhaps best if you can drop it off at the venue the night before, and do your assembling then. But whatever you do, please don't travel with it on your lap it your wedding car. Especially if it's chocolate!

Photo by Caroline Joy Photography via The Wedding Chicks

10. Back-up Plan

Finally, even the best laid plans and the most accomplished bakers have an off day, (I mean, have you seen Great British Bake-Off!). So know when to call it a day, and have a back up plan.

Know what grocery stores sell plain white cakes, have your local cupcake shop on speed dial, or whip up some fairy buns. No baking disaster however big or small was enough to halt a wedding (I hope!).

Photo & Cake by The Artful Desperado

I hope these tips haven't put you off too much! Just remember to give yourself lots of time, and don't pile too much pressure on yourself and you'll rock as a baker bride!

Tell us, have you baked your own wedding cake - how did it turn out? Or if you plan on baking your own, what creations have you got up your sleeve? We'd love to hear about them!

For more wedding cake inspiration, see 2014 Cake Trends + our Cake Ideas board on Pinterest.