Wedding cake - Design ideas and picture gallery

 

Wedding cake design

When we think of a wedding cake, many of us will imagine the traditional style - a tiered
fruitcake wedding cake with white icing and perhaps some delicate fresh or sugar flowers.
While this traditional style wedding cake remains popular, there are plenty of others to choose
from. The contemporary version of a traditional wedding cake might feature coloured icing
and detailed sugar decoration to fit the colour scheme and style of the wedding. Of course, there
are wonderful alternatives to the tiered wedding cake. A Fairy cake wedding cake is increasingly
popular and means that you can give each guest their own individual cake. You might even decide
to ice names on each cake and use them as place cards! Likewise, the croquembouche (a fabulous
French creation of choux pastry balls filled with cream and decorated with spun sugar) makes a
great alternative to a wedding cake and a fantastic dessert, as does a tower of miniature meringues.
When making your choice, always consider the style of your wedding. A traditional, grand stately
home venue is just the place to see a wonderful white wedding cake, while a country barn could
be the ideal setting for a pretty fairy cake wedding cake decorated with sugar flowers. Also, consider
what your guests will enjoy eating. A rich, heavy chocolate wedding cake would be wonderful in
the winter, while a lighter sponge wedding cake might be more suited for summer.

Wedding cake flavours

As well as looking fabulous, you want your wedding cake to taste delicious! Fruit cake will always
be a popular choice, especially with more traditional guests. It's also worth considering that
fruitcake has a much longer life and will last for quite some time after the big day. Of course,
if you're having a tiered wedding cake, each tier can have a different filling. Perhaps you might
like the idea of carrot, chocolate, plain sponge or even lemon wedding cake - a great idea for
giving guests choice, and also if you're planning on serving your wedding cake for pudding.

Find a wedding cake designer!

As with most suppliers, the best way to find the perfect wedding cake maker is by recommendation.
It's also a great idea to visit wedding fairs and exhibitions where many wedding cake designers
show their wedding cake designs. Before you even consider making a booking, make sure they
specialise in the type of wedding cake you're looking for. Someone who makes a fantastic chocolate
wedding cake or croquembouche won't necessarily have the skills to create an artistic novelty cake.
It's important to see photographs of their work, and to have a taste. When deciding upon your style,
always ask advice. A good wedding cake designer will be able to take inspiration from your ideas
and the style of your wedding and come up with a sketch to enable you to finalise your wedding cake
design.

The wedding cake on the day

On your wedding day, it's important to make sure the wedding cake can be seen by all your guests.
The wedding cake can be a real focal point of a room so it shouldn't be hidden away in a corner.
When it comes to the cutting of the wedding cake, if you'd like to serve it for pudding, you'll need
to scrap tradition and cut it before sitting down to eat, giving enough time for it to be cut in to
portions. Equally, if this is to be your pudding, it's a good idea to accompany the wedding cake with
fruit coulis, ice cream or toffee sauce. If you're having the wedding cake later on in the day,
traditionally it's cut after the speeches.

And finally...don't forget to save or send a precious piece of wedding cake to any guests who
were unable to join you on the day!

* WEDDING CAKE HISTORY