What does a wedding dress designer have to do with the wedding cake? Quite a lot it seems! Long a tradition, from Ancient Rome to Victorian England, the wedding cake has once again taken its rightful place as the star of the reception.
A Classic Centerpiece
The traditional cake served at the reception has come a long way from the symbol of long life and prosperity it started out as thousands of years ago. In ancient Greece, cakes were made from honey and nuts and shared with the guests as a symbol of prosperity. Known as the “bride’s pie”, guests were served pieces of cake, pie or bread and were expected to consume it. Not doing so would be a symbol of ill luck.
Bridal cakes sometimes held surprises for the single bridesmaids in the form of a ring hidden in the layers or ribbons woven into the base as part of a game to play. Multiple tiered cakes were once a symbol of the truly wealthy, but now any contemporary bride can have the cake of her dreams.
Today it is not just about the white, tiered cake, the tired white icing or flavourless white fondant. Modern cakes are now a vital part of the big day and are central to the overall theme. The wedding dress designer will often work in consultation with the cake designer in order that the two features complement one another.
A New Approach to Icing, Flavour and Style
The wedding dress designer has embraced the cake revival, with many bakeries taking their cues from current dress designs and trendy wedding themes. The dress now complements, matches or subtly contrasts with the cake.
The bride and groom can look forward to tasting a range of different cake creations until they find the flavour that suits them best. One on-trend approach is to select bride and groom cakes and have guests eat from both! You may want to consider a full tiered wedding cake in lighter flavours, such as buttercream and carrot and a smaller groom’s cake. A groom’s cake is traditionally done in darker flavors, such as dark chocolate pecan, but your baker will adapt it to personal preference.
There are several other trends that are now popular when it comes to cakes; here are just a few.
€ The ever-famous buttercream frosted cake is making a comeback, simply because buttercream is delicious, holds up well to hot lights and travel and is extremely versatile.
€ Another option is to go with a theme cake that matches or contrasts the bridal colours. It can be decorated with flowers that match her bouquet or her favorite flowers in fondant or spun sugar.
€ Monogrammed and heritage cakes are perfect for brides who want to make their culture a vibrant part of their wedding decor. Think traditional flavours presented in a more modern approach.
€ Modern cakes often veer away from the traditional circular tiers. Abstract, box and asymmetrical cakes are perfect for the contemporary bride who wants a refreshing modern feel.
€ Dark cakes are making a splash as more and more brides veer away from the traditional cream, white or ivory wedding dress colors. A haute couture chocolate cake makes a lovely impact – especially when dressed up in modern shapes and colours.
The important thing when it comes to selecting your cake is to consider what works best with your choice of gown. In some cases, as with Chanels bridal dress line, the wedding dress designer may take their cue from beautiful award-winning cakes. This results in artistic couture headpieces and avant-garde textures. In many cases the designer creates the dress in sumptuous fabrics and with attention grabbing details to give the bride a look inspired by sugar, frosting and lace. So do not just pick out any old cake standing in the bakery display window. Make a statement, make a choice and enjoy the flavors of your wedding cake!
