Unique Wedding Cakes…
By: Candace Hutchins
For many couples, the wedding cake is one of the most important parts of the wedding reception.
Guests are always anxious for the cake. It’s something that guests are eager to taste but even more eager to see. These days, cakes reflect the theme of the reception and the newlyweds’ tastes. The focus is still on the beauty of the uncut wedding cake and the ceremonial rituals involved in cutting the cake, but the old standards have changed.
Couples are no longer serving traditional white cake with white buttercream frosting. Wedding cakes today are more expressive than ever and pop up at receptions flaunting a wide variety of shapes, flavors, colors and decorations. Alternative dessert-only receptions and variations on traditional wedding cakes such as cupcakes and chocolate fountains are also gaining recognition at receptions.
Shape
Wedding cakes are no longer restricted in shape to a three-tiered cake with circular layers. Designers create wedding cake shapes to fit the venue’s style and the décor of the reception space.
For a grandiose, room with high-ceilings, cake designers might boost the height of the cake with layers of Styrofoam in order to create a dramatic cake that fits mirrors the size of the space. A single layered cake or several thin layers might be more appropriate for a party in an intimate, smaller venue. Designers are creating wedding cakes in more or less than three layers depending on the size of the reception space and the number of guests.
The shape of wedding cakes has broken from tradition and become another way for couples to express their style. Squares, rectangles and hexagons are replacing circles. Some couples choose heart shaped tiers for whimsical receptions. And for the indecisive, cakes with layers that vary in shape and size creates a unique look.
The main wedding cake is still the center of attention, but couples are also opting to surround their main cake with several miniature versions. Couples are also choosing to have miniature cakes as centerpieces on each table for guests to enjoy, with a slightly larger version on the wedding party’s table.
Flavor
There is not a specific trend for wedding cake flavors except that flavor options are unleashed and innovative. Revolutionary flavors for wedding cakes are served at receptions matching the season, color theme, ethnic background or a favorite flavor. The flavor of wedding cakes can be anything, and some popular choices include chocolate, red velvet, coconut, lemon poppy seed, key lime, mango or carrot.
A way to integrate more than one flavor into a single wedding cake is to have a multilayered cake that has different flavors for each layer. The largest layer may be a traditional white cake, but other tiers can accommodate for unconventional flavors. Using multiple flavors gives guests options but still allows the wedding cake to be the main focal point of the reception.
“Having different flavors opens up the possibility for wedding guests to eat more than one piece because they want to try each flavor,” says J. Qualls of Maples Wedding Cakes, who advises couples using multiple flavors, to consider increasing the number of servings.
Color
Using unconventional wedding cake flavors is increasingly popular, which often means that the inside of the cake is a unique color. A discreet way Qualls incorporates color into wedding cake is by coordinating the inside cake or filling between the layers with the theme of the reception. Maples Wedding Cakes offers an orange dreamsicle cake and pale pink cakes that complement the soft pastels of a reception.
The wedding cake is the focal point of the reception, so using color helps tie together the entire room. A traditional way to add color to wedding cakes is to decorate the cake with flowers that coordinate with other flowers arrangements or the wedding’s theme. According to Qualls, many brides choose floating tiers between layers in order to allow ample space to fill with colorful flowers. Accessorizing cakes with seasonal fruits, such as berries, also adds a colorful and edible dimension to white wedding cakes.
While white icing is still popular, it is not uncommon to see white cakes with colored frosting accents or cakes completely covered with colored icing. Wedding cakes are designed to adapt to any color theme that the couple uses at the reception from pink to blue to black.
Chocolate icing is becoming popular to use as the main frosting on wedding cakes. In addition, there is a trend toward white icing with black icing details. The black and white cake is a modern version of traditional wedding cakes that radiates an edgy elegance. Another trend that adds a touch of color is cake designers banding layers with a ribbon-like stripe. Almost any shade of frosting imaginable is possible, but pastel shades of green, blue and yellow are some of the more commonly used colors.
Decorations
Detailing cakes with white frosting designs such as basket weaves has been replaced by colored frosting decorations and inedible decorations. Recent wedding cake designers have been using more elaborate decorations on cakes. For example, the trend mentioned earlier of having colored frosting ribbon banding on circular cakes looks classic and like a stack of hatboxes. Colored frosting monograms or single initials add a discreet personalized beauty mark to wedding cakes.
Extra embellishments, such as pearls, add a classic touch to simple white icing cakes. Some brides are using their wedding dress as a model for the wedding cake and copying lace detailing, beading and embroidery from their dress onto the cake.
Frosting can be designed to make buttons, bows and lace on cakes. Qualls designs gorgeous cakes that have antique-style pendants and broaches affixed to them. “Cake jewelry” and other embellishments are a graceful touch and make cakes look as poised and elegant as the bride herself.
Conclusion
No matter what you choose to make your wedding cake, do what you want but also what will please guests. Stick with your tastes, and if you prefer an unusual flavor, then incorporate it into at least a layer of your wedding cake. Express your style and tastes as a couple.
Guests will appreciate your thinking outside the box and presenting something special that you both love. Be willing to try something different and unique. This year, wedding cakes are all about coordinating shape, flavor and color to elements from your own wedding.
