Wedding cake toppers are a fun and creative way to showcase the newlywed couple's personality. From traditional porcelain figurines to modern acrylic designs, there are endless options to choose from. For those who want to get crafty, making your own cake topper is a unique way to add a personal touch to your wedding cake. Sugar-crafted toppers are a popular choice, with many tutorials available to guide you through the process. For a more alternative or boho look, peg-style cake toppers are also on-trend, with wooden pegs easily available online. Whether you opt for a classic or quirky design, your cake topper is sure to be a memorable addition to your special day.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Materials | Porcelain, wood, plastic, sugar, acrylic, clay, glass, metal |
Style | Classic, funny, vintage, custom, laser cut, retro, romantic, sporty, rustic, silhouette, acrylic, bobblehead, floral, veil, skiers, blonde, African American, Asian, Indian, beach-themed, winter-themed |
Customisation | Hair colour, Skin tone, Wedding attire, Pets, Hobbies, Children, Cultural motifs |
Availability | Weddingstar, Etsy, Party City, Walmart |
What You'll Learn
Choosing a style: sugar-crafted, peg-style, vintage, or alternative
Sugar-crafted cake toppers are a classic choice for wedding cakes. They pair well with novelty style or funky wedding cake designs. Sugar-crafted toppers can be purchased from sugar model creators, such as Sugar High Inc, Feats of Clay, Sugar Couture Cupcakes and Cakes, and Arte da Ka. Sugar modelling experts, such as Verusca Walker and Carlos Lischetti, have also put together tutorials for creating your own sugar-crafted cake toppers.
"Peg-style" cake toppers are a popular choice for alternative or boho brides. These toppers are made from wooden pegs that can be painted to resemble the bride and groom. You can purchase these wooden pegs from online stores such as Goose Grease on Etsy, or follow a tutorial to make your own.
Vintage-style cake toppers are another option, often featuring the bride and groom in traditional wedding attire. These toppers can be purchased from wedding collectible stores or created by sugar artists such as Carlos Lischetti, who has published instructions for creating a vintage-style topper in his book, *Animation in Sugar: Take 1*.
For couples seeking something unique, there are many alternative cake topper options available. Acrylic cake toppers are a modern choice, often featuring eye-catching wording such as "Best Day Ever" or "The Hunt is Over". Customizable options are also available, allowing couples to include their names or wedding date. Same-sex couples can create custom toppers using individual bride and groom figurines, and there are even options for brides in pant suits. Other alternative topper ideas include incorporating the couple's pets, using figurines that represent the couple's hobbies or interests, or choosing a funny or humorous design.
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Customising skin and hair colours
When it comes to skin tones, you can expect to find options that cater to a diverse range of ethnicities. For example, you can find African American bride and groom cake toppers, as well as toppers featuring traditional Asian and Indian attire. This ensures that couples from all backgrounds can find a topper that represents them accurately and celebrates their cultural heritage.
Hair colours can also be customised to match the couple's appearance. Whether you're a blonde, brunette, or something in between, you can find cake toppers with hair colours to match. Some companies even offer painted hair colours, allowing for an even more precise match to your hair shade.
In addition to selecting the right skin tone and hair colour, you can also personalise your cake topper with other unique features. For instance, you can choose toppers that showcase your hobbies and interests, such as sports, music, or pets. You can also find toppers that incorporate cultural motifs, like traditional attire or specific hairstyles.
By customising the skin and hair colours, as well as adding personal touches, your wedding cake topper will become a cherished keepsake that perfectly captures the joy of your special day.
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Incorporating hobbies and interests
Adding a cake topper that reflects the couple's hobbies and interests is a fun way to personalise a wedding cake. Couples can opt for custom-made toppers or choose from a variety of pre-made options.
For couples who love the outdoors, a national parks-themed cake topper could be perfect. These rustic toppers are laser-engraved with the couple's names and come in various sizes to fit the cake beautifully. Another option for nature lovers is a wooden cake topper, which can be customised to look like the bride and groom.
If the couple has a favourite sports team, a topper featuring sports equipment could be a fun choice. For a more elegant option, consider a topper featuring the bride and groom in formal attire, such as a tuxedo and evening gown. This could be customised with the couple's favourite flowers or other details.
For couples who share a love of music, a cake topper featuring musical instruments is a lovely way to represent their passion. Alternatively, music lovers might opt for a topper that depicts them dancing together, whether that's a romantic waltz or a fun, modern dance.
For bookworms, a cake topper featuring the couple's favourite book or literary character would be a unique touch. And for film buffs, a topper inspired by their favourite movie or a classic film scene could be perfect.
Whatever the couple's hobbies and interests, there are endless ways to incorporate them into a wedding cake topper. From pre-made options to custom creations, the possibilities are endless for adding a personalised touch to the big day.
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Adding pets and children
Choose the Right Material
Silhouette cake toppers are often made from acrylic or wood, which can be easily customised with your chosen design. These materials are also lightweight, ensuring they won't sink into your cake. If you're looking for something more intricate and lifelike, custom-made figurines are a great option. Hand-painted porcelain toppers are another possibility, allowing you to capture the likeness of your pets and children.
Consider the Size and Proportions
When adding pets and children to your cake topper, consider the size and proportions of the figures in relation to the cake. You'll want to ensure that the topper is in scale with the cake, so it doesn't appear too large or small. The height of the topper will depend on the width you choose, so keep that in mind when making your selection.
Customise to Your Liking
Many cake topper providers offer customisation options to personalise your topper. You can often choose the hair and skin colours of the bride and groom, as well as add motifs that reflect your personalities, such as sports equipment or musical instruments. If you're including pets, look for providers who can customise the pets to look like your furry friends. You may also be able to choose the clothing colours and add accessories to match your wedding attire.
Think About Placement
When adding pets and children to your cake topper, consider how you want them to be positioned. Some toppers come with separate sticks for each figure, allowing you to place them in the arrangement you prefer. This gives you the flexibility to position the figures however you like, whether you want the pets and children beside the bride and groom or all together as a group.
Include Your Whole Family
If you have a large family, don't be afraid to include everyone in the cake topper. Many providers offer options to include multiple pets and children, so you can represent your blended family in a fun and unique way. You can even find toppers that include extended family members, such as grandparents or siblings.
Plan Ahead
When ordering a custom cake topper with pets and children, be sure to plan ahead. Customised toppers may take longer to create and ship, so allow plenty of time before your wedding day. Additionally, read through the seller's policies regarding custom orders, as they may have specific requirements or non-returnable policies for personalised items.
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Using wood, porcelain, or acrylic
If you're looking to make a wedding cake topper out of wood, porcelain, or acrylic, there are a few different ways you can go about it. Here are some ideas and instructions to get you started:
Wood
Wooden cake toppers can be a beautiful and rustic addition to your wedding cake. You can find pre-made wooden cake toppers online, or you can make your own if you're feeling crafty. If you're going the DIY route, here are some steps to follow:
- Choose your wood: Select a type of wood that is safe for food contact, such as bamboo, maple, or birch.
- Design your topper: Decide on the design of your cake topper. You can keep it simple with just the words "Mr." and "Mrs." or get more creative by adding decorations like hearts, flowers, or other wedding-themed motifs.
- Gather your tools and materials: You'll need a sharp knife or laser cutter, sandpaper, wood glue, and paint or stain (if desired).
- Cut out your design: Use your knife or laser cutter to carefully cut out your design from the wood. If you're using a laser cutter, make sure to follow the machine's instructions for safe use.
- Sand and finish the wood: Once your design is cut out, use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges. You can also paint or stain the wood if you want to add some color.
- Assemble your topper: If your design has multiple pieces, use wood glue to attach them together. Let the glue dry completely before handling.
- Add any final touches: If you want to add extra decorations like ribbons, flowers, or glitter, now is the time to do it. Get creative and make your topper truly unique!
Porcelain
Porcelain cake toppers can be a elegant and classic choice for your wedding cake. You can find pre-made porcelain toppers featuring bride and groom figurines in various poses, from kissing to dancing. These toppers often have intricate details and can be customized to match the hair color, skin tone, and dress color of the happy couple. If you want to make your own porcelain cake topper, here are the basic steps:
- Choose your clay: Select a type of porcelain clay that is suitable for sculpting and firing.
- Design your topper: Decide on the design of your cake topper and sketch it out to help guide your sculpting.
- Sculpt your figures: Use your hands and sculpting tools to carefully shape the clay into the desired forms. Take your time and add intricate details to make your figures unique.
- Dry and fire your topper: Follow the instructions for your specific type of clay to dry and fire your topper. This process usually involves using a kiln, so make sure you have access to one or know someone who does.
- Paint and glaze your topper: Once your topper has been fired, you can paint on any final details and add a glaze to give it a shiny finish.
Acrylic
Acrylic cake toppers are a modern and trendy option that can be customized in a variety of ways. You can find pre-made acrylic toppers featuring silhouettes of the bride and groom, or you can personalize them with names, dates, and other details. Making your own acrylic cake topper is a bit more complex and may require access to a laser cutter or engraving machine. Here are the basic steps:
- Choose your acrylic: Select a food-safe acrylic material in the color and thickness of your choice.
- Design your topper: Decide on the design of your cake topper and create a digital file if you plan to use a laser cutter or engraving machine.
- Cut and engrave your topper: If you have access to a laser cutter or engraving machine, use it to cut out your design and engrave any personalized details. Otherwise, you may be able to find a local maker space or business that can do this for you.
- Assemble your topper: If your design has multiple pieces, use a strong adhesive to attach them together.
- Add any final touches: Acrylic toppers can also be painted or decorated with glitter, ribbons, or other embellishments to make them truly unique.
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Frequently asked questions
Sugar-crafted and "peg-style" cake toppers are both popular choices for wedding cake toppers. Sugar-crafted toppers are classic and go well with novelty or funky wedding cakes, while "peg-style" toppers are more on-trend and alternative.
You can personalise your cake topper to look like you and your spouse-to-be by choosing designs that reflect your personalities and customising features like hair colour and skin tone. You can also add motifs that celebrate your interests, such as sports equipment or musical instruments.
Wedding cake toppers can be made from a variety of materials, including sugar, porcelain, wood, and acrylic. If you're looking for a more durable option, you can also find toppers made from plastic or metal.
There are many online resources, such as Cake Geek Magazine, Etsy, and Weddingstar, that offer inspiration and tutorials for creating your own wedding cake topper. These sites often feature step-by-step guides, tips, and ideas to help you design and craft a unique topper.
If you're using craft materials, such as paint, to create your wedding cake topper, remember to place the topper on a circle of clear acetate before putting it on the cake, as craft paints may not be food safe.