Taking the Cake … Be Sure Yours Reflects Your Wedding Style

The day of the three-tiered, all-white wedding cake with little columns is long gone. And we can bid a happy farewell to the miniature bride and groom on top! Today’s cakes can be dramatic or elegant, trendy or glitzy, edgy or funky. Almost any shape — from stair steps to odd angles to spheres — is possible nowadays. And they don’t have to be white! A wedding cake can be whatever color or combination of colors that work for the savvy bride. Cheesecake, Etc. owner Gail Buff, a cake artist who bakes from scratch, says there are no rules.

It’s wise to keep gravity in mind but if the weight at the top of the cake won’t pull it over, almost anything you can imagine can be created. In fact, Buff keeps Styrofoam blocks in a number of different shapes so brides can experiment to see if what they are envisioning will work. As for the all-important taste, Buff recommends that, while unusual flavors are interesting and fun, it’s a good idea to have at least one portion or tier of the cake that is more traditional for those guests whose palates might not be too adventurous.

So, what do you use on top of the cake these days? One of the most popular options is fresh flowers. They are beautiful, natural, and can be part of your overall floral plan. Another trend is toward edible bows and ribbons. One of the newest looks is the monogram topper. There are hundreds of fonts to choose from in silver or gold metal or acrylic. And they can be plain and simple or decorated with crystals or rhinestones!

The wedding cake tends to reflect the mood of the wedding and reception and is usually quite elegant, sometimes with a slightly whimsical accent. The groom’s cake, on the other hand, is more likely to express the personality or passions of the groom. From sports stadiums to grand pianos to fire hydrants to cars, the groom’s cake says a lot about who he is and what he loves.

Whatever your confectionery dreams, some of the best times you’ll have planning your wedding will be discussing and tasting the baker’s art! ~JSC