Cake Smash Tips & Guidelines

Does anyone else think we should be able to smash cake when we are old enough to remember it? I think we need to make an older birthday a cake smash birthday too :) But while we wait on that idea to take hold, let's talk about how to make your one-year-old's cake smash a success!!

Admittedly, cake smashes have become more involved and a bigger deal in recent years. When I was a baby, you just got a chocolate cake in your high chair to destroy. Now many people do photo shoots with GORGEOUS cakes and a theme and it's a whole production. Whether you do your own thing at home, go all out, or end up somewhere in between, there are a few things to keep in mind to make your baby's cake smash go smoothly.

The Cake
Whether you make it yourself or purchase it, there is a middle ground for design. You could go really simple and just make a homemade cake that you frost yourself. That's fine, but if you're paying for photos of this event, you want all the elements to be nice and I would recommend putting a little more effort into the cake. At the same time, the cake can be so elaborate that it's taking away from your baby who is the real star of the photos! If you want to make your own, Pinterest has a TON of ideas to help you out there. Remember: you want nice and elegant, nothing ordinary, but not too over-the-top at the same time.

Cake vs. Cupcake
I've seen people doing cupcakes instead of a whole cake for their smash photos. It's generally a bigger cupcake, but still smaller than a cake. This wastes less food, saves money, and is potentially less overwhelming for the child. You can get beautiful cupcakes so you're not sacrificing style by choosing that route. I have examples for you on my Pinterest board for one-year-olds.

Go Outside (If You Can)
If at all possible, you want to do your cake smash outside. This saves so much time and energy on clean up. If that is not possible, get some clear plastic (like a paint drop cloth) or a vinyl table cloth (that is a light, solid color and in good condition) to put down first. I like vinyl because it wipes off easily but doesn't rip and bunch up as much as plastic cloths. If you are doing professional photos, they will help you decide on the location and know how to do all the clean up necessary indoors.

Clothes Or Diaper?
This is up to you. What kind of photos do you want? Some do the smash in a diaper but have a hat/bowtie or necklace/headband. Others do it fully clothed in a cute outfit. The choice is yours as the parent but if you are doing it clothed, be okay with the fact that you might not be able to get the outfit completely clean again.

Save It Til The End
If you are wanting to do cute one-year photos, then your cake smash needs to be the LAST thing you do. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement but once you bring out the cake, there is no going back.

Enjoy!!!!
This is a fun time, more for you than your child, but enjoy it! If the idea of an elaborate setup is stressful, just do your own small thing at home. If making your cake sounds overwhelming, buy it. Don't put expectations on yourself from what others do or don't do. You do what is best for your family. Your child won't know the difference!

What did you do for your baby's cake smash?