How Sweet It Is

When it comes to the wedding cake, couples have many options. Some may skip the cake entirely and go with a dessert bar instead. Some may order one small wedding cake and several sheet cakes to serve to their guests. Some may forgo the main cake and serve smaller cakes in various flavors at the reception tables. Whatever your personal preferences, make certain you discuss the matter in great detail with your fiancé, and should you decide to go with a wedding cake, keep the following trends in mind.

The wedding cakes of today hardly resemble those of yesterday. Gone for the most part are the rich, three-tiered, heavily decorated cakes and in their place is a wide range of cakes customized specifically for the bride and groom.

When selecting a wedding cake, couples often look to the location, theme and season of their celebration as a guide. A simple affair on the beach in the middle of summer might not call for the same type of cake as a formal evening affair in the winter.

The actual design of the cake is up for grabs. Some couples may opt for the traditional three layers, while others may go for fewer or additional layers. Tiers can be of the same or different heights with the same or alternating designs. Some couples may request the design of their wedding cake incorporate the traditional flowers, either made of silk or frosting, while others may choose dots or scrollwork. Although once popular, basket weaves and swags appear to be on their way out, as do plastic columns and foil boards.

Common cake flavors include carrot, chocolate, lemon, spice and vanilla, with many couples requesting each layer of their cake to be a different flavor. Some couples go an alternative route and choose unusual flavors like espresso, hazelnut and gingerbread. Frosting may be buttercream or fondant, though many couples today seem to favor the former.

As for the top of the cake, couples no longer have to stick to the traditional bride-and-groom cake toppers. They can go with flowers, sculptures or monograms. Monogrammed letters in silver or tin make for stylish cake toppers. For those that prefer bride-and-groom toppers, they’ll be glad to know that the traditional toppers have made a comeback and can be customized. Many companies now make toppers that match the actual bride and groom in hair color, skin color, age and more.

These are just some of the hottest trends in wedding cake design. Whatever type of cake you choose, make sure it is flavorful and presented well. It should serve as a focal point at your reception, so place it in a prominent position and decorate the area around it.

Tags: niche pubs, wedding planner