Many people choose to make their own wedding cake to keep their wedding costs down. Others just like to be creative and will enjoy the process of making the wedding cake and topper. You can go a step further and create a wedding cake topper for your cake, and make it even more individual.

There are many different designs for wedding cakes, so firstly you need to decide on the design for your own cake, simple designs look good and will save time and hassle.

Make a list of the things you will need for the cake, such as accessories, stands etc.

Try and work out how many tiers you want, then determine the number of cake tins you’ll need. Decide on the amount of icing you are going to need, and whether you want fruit cake or sponge cake. When you have your list of what you need, it’s a good idea to add up how much it will all cost, you may find buying a ready-made cake is cheaper depending on where you buy the accessories and ingredients from and how much the cake supplier charges.

You might want to bake a test cake first, if you haven’t tried the fruit cake or sponge cake recipe before. When you are confident, you can bake the tiers. Fruit cakes can be baked a few weeks in advance, sponge cakes can be made a few days ahead or more if frozen.

Fruit cakes often have a layer of marzipan (use apricot jam to stick it to the cake) before they are iced. Fondant icing gives a smooth finish and can be purchased in blocks ready for rolling to the right thickness.

Gift shops or craft shops will have materials that you can use to make wedding cake toppers. Figurines or small ornaments can be used for the topper and customised if necessary. You could use lace, ribbon, crystals etc. to make it look how you want. You can make any one of the different styles of topper, such as monogram, funny, traditional etc.

After all of this, you will have a wedding cake to be proud of, and which is unique.

Photo: by ToastyKen

Wedding cakes ARE the cake and topping of any wedding. Out of any of the elements that create this magnificent event, the wedding cake is by far the most symbolic one. Yes, by far. Wedding cakes represent the realization of a union, a fertile union that is, and there is a lot of “symbolism” and history behind the meaning of wedding cakes and wedding cake decorations. But of course, what we really want, is not to celebrate whatever that symbolism means, but rather to have a spectacular wedding cake that makes our guests fall of their chairs when they see it! (and show the wedding cakes pictures to their friends) Yes, that’s right, it’s all about the guests, it’s all about the wow! factor and it’s all about brides having the biggest smile because they have the best ever wedding cake at their wedding reception!

So, after such an introduction on the importance of having a fantastic wedding cake, let’s have a look at a few ideas that might help choose the right one for you.

You can choose from two major styles: traditional wedding cakes and contemporary (or modern) wedding cakes. The traditional cake is exactly what you are thinking of: a three tier cake with white icing and also white wedding cake toppers; usually elegant in style whether there’s been lots of decoration on it or not and sitting on traditional wedding cake stands. The ingredients consist of raisins, currants and sultanas; glace ginger and cherries, brandy, treacle and sponge. Add beautiful red chocolate roses scattered around the cake or as the ultimate glorious topper.

Modern wedding cakes are a completely different story. People have changed their “tastes” over the years and seem to demand new styles to cater for new wedding themes that arise all the time. Times have also changed as we have innovative wedding ceremonies taking place every day. Same sex weddings acquire different types of wedding cakes and wedding cake toppers, as they want to move away from traditional ceremonies and thus make new statements. This is good in the sense that trends are being created all the time and history re-models itself.

The color of the wedding cake does not have to be white. I personally love the white traditional cake, but that is my taste as I love the elegance and style of that particular color. Everything should match when it comes to your wedding decor. If the chosen theme is: “pink” then obviously your wedding cake must have at least shades or variants on that tonal range. Find a baker that is good and well known for baking fantastic wedding cakes. Tell him what you are looking for, or hints on how you would like your wedding cake to look like. He/she will know out of experience. Now, I say choose a baker that is well known because usually two things happen when it comes to your wedding cake: either the cake is fantastic but ugly as hell, or it looks gorgeous and that’s about it. No flavor whatsoever. Remember that wow factor we spoke about at the beginning? Well, if you want to achieve it 100% the cake MUST LOOK GOOD and MUST TASTE AMAZING. Simple as that. Even if the baker charges a bit more than an unknown one, it is worth just for the hassle of not going through stress thinking it might not be “good enough” for your big wedding day.

Think of possible wedding cake designs and flavors. Into chocolate? People love chocolate fountains. Also, you can have your wedding cake made with chocolate sponge and icing and boast about it on your wedding website. People usually love chocolate, so you can’t go wrong there. That type of wedding cake will fall for sure into the ‘modern’ category. What about fairy tale wedding cakes, designer and custom cakes, miniature cakes, one for your pink wedding, or black and Red Wedding…  or just one that just looks too good to be eaten! You also have the new trend: wedding cupcakes. They are a cheaper option if you are on a tight budget and you can also create fantastic towers.

You see, the beauty of “moving away” from traditional wedding cakes is that you can do… whatever pleases you! Nowadays, really, is all about having the wedding YOU have been dreaming of. Not your grandma.