Pick The Best Wedding Cakes To Get The Perfect Dress
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Picking a wedding dress is a Big Deal™ - and every bride wants to make sure that she looks absolutely perfect before walking down the aisle. The dress isn't just about making the bride look and feel beautiful, either. It's something that can reveal a whole lot about her personality. Is she the kind of laid back lady that would rock a flowing beachy gown, or is this bride a total princess who needs her dress to be all about the tulle and bling? Some brides love to get as modern and striking as possible, while others like to keep it traditional - and some even like to find ways to combine the two into a totally unique dress (that looks traditional from afar).
Like the dress, the wedding cake is another big decision for your big day - and the days of fruit cake are far behind us! These days, it's possible to get all kinds of different wedding cakes; everything from the traditional options to unusual icing techniques and effects, different shapes, and even a few 'cake' options that aren't cake at all! Some brides and groom are now celebrating their first shared dessert with towers of cupcakes, donuts, pies and cookies instead of the usual sponge - sometimes it's to make things more memorable, and sometimes it's just because they don't really like cake that much...
Pick your favorite cake options, and we'll tell you what kind of wedding dress would suit you best...
'Naked' Cakes - yes or no?
Although some people think that the frosting is the best part of a cake, for those without quite such a sweet tooth, 'naked' cakes are the answer! These have buttercream in between the layers, but nothing on the outside (except some berries or flowers). Do you think these cakes are gorgeous and rustic, or that they just look unfinished?
What about this metallic cake?
One of the big trends for wedding cakes right now is to make them metallic - whether that is with a metallic finish on the fondant, or with gold or silver leaf on top. Metallic cakes are dramatic and extremely luxurious looking, without being overly colorful or out there. How do you feel about the metallic cake trend?
Is this ruffled cake sweet or too much?
Most classic wedding cakes are covered with smooth fondant, and the decorations are on top of that or in the color of it. However, this style of cake flips that on its head, using the fondant to create a ruffled effect (that can sometimes match the bride's dress!). Whether ruffles are big or small, would you want them on your cake?
Are cupcake wedding cakes over?
Several years ago, every bride was trading in the traditional wedding cakes for tiers of cupcakes, usually with a little cake on top for the bride and groom to cut together. Cupcakes mean multiple flavors, decorations, and it's a whole lot easier for guests to eat (not to mention cheaper...). Do you still love these, or are they totally over?
White on white, or colored cakes?
Another option that is popular with brides who love minimalism is a cake that is white on white. Instead of the usual colorful touches, decorations and fondants, these cakes are all white, and they get their drama and decoration from textures and designs, rather than from color. Would you want a colorless cake?
Are these painted cakes pretty?
Another style that is increasingly popular is the painted cake - cakes where the smooth white fondant has been carefully hand painted with a design. The designs range from flowers (like this one), to shapes, and even entire scenes or famous paintings. How do you feel about a cake that looks like classic art?
Is a wedding cheesecake a good idea?
Instead of sponge cake, how about cheesecake for your wedding day? The same kind of tiered tower can be created with cheesecakes of different sizes (and flavors, although that will mean the tiers are different colors, too). Instead of fondant, there are just decorations like flowers and chocolate curls between layers - delicious, or too cheesy?
Is a donut cake a great idea?
Instead of cupcakes, what about a small, cut-able cake... on top of a donut tier? It has all the benefits of the cupcake option (easy to eat, with multiple flavors), but it's a little bit more unique, and plays into the love that everyone has for a delicious donut. Is this idea quirky and cool, or just a little bit crass and cheap?
Should a wedding cake be lacy?
A lot of weddings (and wedding gowns) make lace a big feature element - whether that is lace on the gown, the lace veil, or elsewhere in the decorations. Would you take that trend all the way to your cake, with fondant designs and airbrushing that make it look like lace, or would you prefer your dessert to not look like fabric?
Does this woodland cake feel charming or dirty?
Some weddings are all about the church and a fancy reception, but some brides want to make their big day feel like they are getting married in an enchanted forest! These cakes take that and run with it, with fondant made to look like birch, and decorations that include flowers, leaves, berries, and even a cute little toadstool or two.
Is this geometric cake too angular?
While traditional weddings are all about florals and feminine designs, more and more brides are going for something more modern, and incorporating angles into their decorations. How do you feel about a geometric cake - whether that means geometric shapes on a traditional tier cake, or even having the whole cake be more squared off and angular?
What about this rosette cake?
Another option for the finish of a cake is to have it covered in piped icing rosettes, to give the whole cake a textured and floral look. It's very feminine, without being too traditional (or too different), and the rosettes can be done in white or in color... but it does mean a lot of icing! Would you get a rosette covered cake?
Is this floral cake pretty or boring?
This cake is sweet and simple, without being completely traditional. It takes the classic tiered cake with white icing, but instead of wrapping it in ribbons and decorations, it is simply accented with a few sprigs of colored flowers. Would you love this cake, or is it just not different enough for you?
Is the ombre cake trend passe?
A few years ago, ombre was everywhere - and it's still popular when it comes to wedding cakes! This trend takes the classic tiered cake and shades it with color (whichever colors your wedding is done in, not just blue, of course!), with the darkest color at the bottom, slowly fading out to white (or pale pastel) at the top. Is this outdated, or still pretty?
How about this tower of pies?
Pretty much any round dessert can be made into a tiered tower and used as a wedding cake, if you just put your mind to it... like this tower of fruit pies! Layers can be made with fruity fillings, pecan pies, even pumpkin pie for a fall celebration... do you love this stack of pies, or is it too weird for you?
Is buttercream better than fondant?
For a long time, a wedding cake would only ever be a fruitcake with fondant - and while the fruitcake part disappeared years ago, the fondant stayed put... however, more and more brides are now covering their cakes with soft buttercream - either because of the flavor, or the look. Would you like a buttercream cake?
What about separate cake trios?
While most wedding cakes come in a tier, some brides are choosing to split theirs up, and have three separate layers (or however many layers they want) all grouped together on a table. It's a lot easier to make and cut, and most choose to have different flavors as well. How do you feel about a cake trio, not a tower?
Is this brownie tower cute, or classless?
Some couples are just chocaholics - and for them, the cake has to be chocolate! However, that doesn't have to mean an actual chocolate cake... what about creating a cake out of stacks and stacks of delicious fudgy brownies? No fondant on this one, just lots of hand-held chocolate goodness - cute, or classless?
Is a monogram a little too much?
Some people think that monograms are outdated and a little bit pretentious, but other people think that they are a lovely way to celebrate a new family being formed. Some even like to decorate the cake with their new monogram - would you do this, or do you think that the whole idea is just a little bit tacky?
Is a black and white cake too dramatic?
One color that you rarely see at a wedding is black... but more and more brides are incorporating it into their big day. Black and white on a cake is a great way to create real drama without going overboard on color or decorations, whether that means a monochrome cake with black piping on white, or more dramatic black ribbons or even black tiers.
How about this dripping cake?
One way to create layers of color is to have one color (or even a design) on the fondant that goes around each tier of the cake, while a second color sits on top, and is drizzled down the sides to create this drippy effect. Do you think that this looks lovely and pretty, or that it just looks kind of messy?
How about a strawberry tower?
Another options for couples who don't have too much of a sweet tooth (or who want something a little bit healthier) is to make a tiered tower shape out of chocolate dipped strawberries! This sweet, fruity cake is much lighter than a sponge, and is still decadent. Could this be the 'cake' for you?
Is this shaggy cake cool or weird?
More options for creating a whole new look for a wedding cake include this 'shaggy' cake, that looks a little bit like wool, or a shag carpet! This is done with thin strands of icing in different colors to create a truly unique texture and look - do you think that this is a great way to do something different, or just a bit strange?
Should cakes look like watercolors?
As well as the painted cakes that we showed earlier, there is another popular technique for painting onto cakes - the watercolor look. Instead of painting clear and detailed designs onto the fondant, this style creates soft splashes of color for a cake that looks like watercolor art. Is this beautiful, or not wedding-y enough?
Is this pastel macaron tower pretty?
For an option that is bright and colorful, but lighter than a cake (and without all that heavy fondant), a tower of macarons is sweet and pretty. These light little bite sized treats will make guests think of dainty patisseries in Paris, and they can be made to match the wedding scheme, or in a huge range of colors and flavors. Is this pretty, or boring?
Would you love this pancake wedding cake?
If you and your groom are bigger fans of breakfast than dessert, you don't need to make your wedding cake out of actual cake! Some couples are choosing to make their wedding towers out of pancakes, with floral and berry decorations, and syrup flavors on top. Is this a great idea, or a terrible one?
Is an all black cake too goth?
While some think that a black and white cake is dramatic enough, others think it's still too light - and that's where all black cakes come in! These are usually made with fondant (because it is less likely to stain guests' teeth!), and are all black, with some colored or white decorations. Is this gorgeous, or way too goth?
Is a croquembouche better than a cake?
Not every idea for a cake-less cake has to be about stacking other desserts... this one is a classic (and decadent) dessert in its own right. The croquembouche is a tower of choux pastries, bursting with creme and wrapped in caramel - totally decadent and still not cake. Could you see yourself with this on your wedding table?
Is this feathered cake cool?
Flowers might be classic, but they aren't the only option for decorating a cake! Feathers are a great way to make a cake look unique, while keeping things soft and feminine. Whether you want to put whole feathers around the cake, or decorate it with sweeps of chocolate to look like feathers - do you think this idea should take flight?
Is a meat pie 'cake' too crazy?
As well as a tower of sweet pies, it's also possible to make a wedding cake out of pork pies... if you really don't like dessert at all, and want your 'cake' to be savory instead. This tower of pork pies includes three or four deep filled meat pies, decorated with small white flowers and leaves around the tiers. Is this delicious, or just bizarre?
Are these marble cakes classy?
The last thing that any bride wants is for their cake to taste like you are biting into a rock... but if the sponge is light, sweet and fluffy, would you like it to look like a stone on the outside? Poured dyes give these cakes a marbled effect, that is dramatic but sleek, and can be done in any color that a bride could want. Classy, or too much?
What about a cookie tower?
More towers made of nostalgic childhood treats... cookie towers are increasingly popular substitutes for wedding cakes! The one pictured is a tower of oreos, but other options include a built tower of chocolate chip cookies, or a tiered stand with a cake (or giant cookie!) on top and a selection of cookies underneath. Would you consider doing this?
Should the groom have a cake?
A lot of the time, the wedding cake is decided by the bride... and the groom can feel a little left out! So some couples are dealing with this issue by giving the groom a small cake of his own - one where he can show off whatever hobbies, colors, styles, or tastes the bride doesn't want anywhere near the main cake. Would you have a groom's cake?
Could cake be replaced with cake pops?
If you love the idea of cake, but aren't a fan of the size (and price) of a traditional tiered wedding cake, would cake pops be a great option? These are cute, fun, and definitely easier for guests to eat on the dancefloor... or are cake pops a sweet idea for favors, but something that can never replace a 'real' wedding cake?
How about this geode wedding cake?
This pretty option may be plain on the outside, but it's designed to look as though the inside is a beautifully glittering crystal. Geode cakes are created by cutting out a section of the cake and filling it with painted and formed sugar, usually with some gilt along the edges. Is this beautiful, or not right for a wedding?
