Wedding Cakes: The Latest Trends

Today's wedding cakes feature designs as unique as the happy couple. The traditional white decorations on a white iced fruit cake are still around for traditionalists but snappy, original creations are more in vogue.

The cake has always been an important part of the festivities and a beautiful addition to the reception. Today it is becoming part of the overall wedding design as well often coordinating with the colours and flowers of the event.

Here are some of the latest trends in wedding cake design.

Colour - Bright and bold or elegant and subdued, colors are replacing the traditional white-on-white. Often the colour worn by the bridal party is the central hue. Multiple, vibrant colours in contrasting layers are popular.

Geometric layers on angles - No longer are round or square layers the norm. The “topsy-turvy” cake of geometric shapes layered in various angles is a real show stopper at wedding receptions. The layers are in bright, contrasting colours decorated with more geometric designs.

Monogram letters - Stylish initials, often in gold or silver, are being incorporated into the cake design, engraved into the icing or used as a stunning cake topper.

Floral motifs - The use of fresh and icing flowers to decorate the cake or create a topper adds a delicate, colourful touch and is very popular.

Draped - A very elegant design is the draped icing, or fabric, which hangs elegantly across the cake layers, often held in place with real or icing flowers. Very stylish!

Cupcakes - A tower of colourful cupcakes is another trend. The designs range from a simple tier to elaborate creations that hide the individual cakes. Each guest receives their own cupcake so there's no need for cutting. Cupcakes as well as the tower layers, are seen in assorted shapes to make them more interesting than the usual round.

Flavours, Fillings, Icings - Feel free to order your favourite cake for the occasion. No need to stay with the traditional fruit cake any longer. Jam, lemon curd, liqueur or cream cheese fillings are popular too. You can hold the marzipan if you like. Any flavour of royal, buttercream or fondant icing will do just fine. It's about creating the cake that suits the bride and groom best. Be creative and incorporate your favourite flavours and textures.

The wedding dessert table - A table with a variety of small cakes in different flavours along with cupcake towers is another growing trend. This way you can use several of your ideas and please more of your guests at the same time.