Cake Designs and Tips

After taking a short break for the holiday that involved spending time with family and eating way too much, I thought what better topic to share than more food! Wedding cakes… one of my favorite aspects of the Big Day. I loved going to cake tastings for my own wedding (as did my husband!), I think because many bakeries are so passionate about what they do. In their minds, each creation is like a work of art. Here are some awesome cakes from a few of my favorite Maryland bakeries, along with tips from me on how to have fun and make your cake fit the vibe of your wedding day.

1. Go traditional. Traditional white wedding cakes are still so popular beacuse of their timelessness and beauty. You can't go wrong here and there's enough variation in shape and decorations to make your cake unique.

2. Use some hues from your color scheme. Remember that the colors don’t always have to be an exact match – they can come from the same color palette. Side note: Be sure to talk to your bakery and compare the difference of color appearance on paper versus on a cake. They may ask you to drop off a swatch of the color you are looking for.

3. The display is almost as important as the cake itself. Cake displays can enhance and bring your wedding theme to life. Going for a rustic look? Try something like this tree stump cake stand, which could be a DIY project! OnceWed has a simple tutorial for how to create a similar display. Even just using a fancier linen for your cake table can really dress things up. Everyone takes a picture of the wedding cake!

4. Choose multiple flavor layers. Stuck between buttercream and strawberry? Go for several flavors so you can satisfy that picky eater (there’s at least one in every crowd) and your guests can have fun trying each other’s slices.

5. Coordinate with your florist. Flowers and flower petals are a classy, budget friendly way to decorate your wedding cake. This is typically less expensive than having the bakery create edible flowers, and many florists will give you their throwaway petals.

6. Be inspired by the season. Take note of your surroundings: Are the leaves going to be a beautiful mix of gold, orange, and red? Are you getting married around the holidays? Incorporating pine needles or fall leaves is a natural touch. Holiday decorations can also add something special to your cake table and display.

7. Have fun with cake toppers. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of creativity from my brides and grooms when it comes to cake toppers. I think this is something you can really personalize. Several weeks ago one of my brides used Star Wars figures made from a shop on Etsy – they were such a hit! Some of my new favorites are animals, names, initials, and quirky figurines. Read more about unique cake toppers on Groom Sold Separately.

8. Go with what you love. Even if it doesn’t look like a wedding cake. If this makes you nervous, you could always label it the groom's cake - seriously, if you love it, go for it!