Crafting Wedding Toppers: A Guide To Personalized Perfection

Wedding cake toppers are a fun way to express the couple's unique style and personality. Whether it's a rustic wood design, an acrylic cut-out, or a custom figurine, making your own wedding cake topper is a special touch to any wedding. With a range of DIY options available, from glittery gold cardstock to natural twig toppers, you can create a memorable keepsake that reflects your love story.

Choosing materials: glitter cardstock, bamboo skewers, acrylic, wood, porcelain, etc

When making a wedding cake topper, the materials you choose will depend on the design you have in mind and the equipment you have available. Here are some options to consider:

Glitter Cardstock

Glitter cardstock is a popular choice for cake toppers as it adds a sparkly, glamorous touch to your wedding cake. It is also thick and sturdy, making it easy to work with and ensuring your topper holds its shape. You can purchase glitter cardstock in various colours, such as gold, black and white, to match your wedding theme.

Bamboo Skewers

Bamboo skewers are a simple and cost-effective way to secure your cake topper to the cake. They are easy to cut to the desired height and can be glued to the back of your topper design.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a modern and elegant option for a custom wedding cake topper. It can be engraved with your names, wedding date, or a meaningful message. Acrylic toppers are typically clear or white and can be cut into various shapes, such as a heart or a block.

Wood

Wooden cake toppers offer a rustic and natural look. They can be customised with wood-burning techniques to include your names, the date, or a meaningful design. You can also paint or stain the wood to match your wedding colours.

Porcelain

Porcelain cake toppers are a classic and elegant option, often featuring a bride and groom design. These toppers can be personalised with your hair colour, shoe colours, and other details to make them look just like the happy couple.

When choosing your materials, consider the overall style of your wedding and the impression you want to create with your cake topper. With a bit of creativity and the right supplies, you can make a beautiful DIY wedding cake topper that reflects your unique style.

Customising your topper: colour, size, shape, wording, and personal touches

Customising your wedding cake topper is a fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Colour

You can customise your wedding cake topper to match your hair colour, outfit, or wedding theme. If you're going for a rustic theme, consider using wood veneer or burlap for a natural look. Or, if you want something more glamorous, try using glitter cardstock or acrylic for a sparkly effect.

Size

When designing your wedding cake topper, consider the size of your cake. You'll want to make sure the topper is proportional to the cake and doesn't overwhelm it. However, if you're going for a dramatic effect, you can choose a larger topper that makes a statement.

Shape

Wedding cake toppers come in various shapes, from traditional bride and groom figurines to more unique options like tractors, scooters, or even a couple sitting on a couch. You can also choose a topper that reflects your hobbies or interests, such as a musical instrument, sports equipment, or a motorcycle.

Wording

If you're using a cake topper with wording, make sure it reflects your personality and style. You can choose something classic like "Mr & Mrs" or "Best Day Ever," or get creative with a funny or romantic phrase. If you're going for a rustic look, consider using a wood veneer topper with personalised wording.

Personal Touches

To make your wedding cake topper truly unique, consider adding personal touches that reflect your personality and interests. You can include your pets, choose a topper that represents your cultural or ethnic background, or even add a Polaroid picture. Don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box!

DIY tips: adding backing support, using glue, and cutting out designs

Adding backing support is an important step in ensuring your wedding topper is durable and long-lasting. This is especially crucial if you're using lightweight materials like cardstock or paper. To add backing support, simply cut out your design from a sturdy material such as poster board, ensuring it's the same size and shape as your topper. Then, attach it to the back of your topper using a strong adhesive like ModPodge or SuperGlue.

When it comes to gluing your wedding topper together, it's essential to select an adhesive that is suitable for the materials you are using. For example, if you're working with cardstock or paper, a glue stick or liquid adhesive may be best. On the other hand, if you're attaching heavier materials like wood or acrylic, you may need a stronger adhesive like epoxy or super glue. Always be sure to follow the instructions on your chosen adhesive for the best results.

Additionally, consider reinforcing any delicate areas of your design with extra glue. For instance, if you're attaching a topper to a skewer, apply a generous amount of glue to ensure a secure hold. It's also a good idea to let the glue dry completely before handling or displaying your topper to avoid accidental smudging or smearing.

Cutting out intricate designs for your wedding topper can be achieved using a Cricut machine or a similar cutting tool. First, load your chosen design into the machine's design space and set it to cut with precision. Size the image according to the width of your cake and centre it on the cutting mat. Select your desired material, such as cardstock or poster board, and let the machine cut out your design.

If you're creating a custom design with lettering, consider adding a stroke to the font or underscoring slender fonts with a thick line to ensure the topper holds its shape. You can also reinforce the design by gluing it to a backing material, such as poster board, before cutting. This will provide added stability and make the cutting process easier.

Design inspiration: rustic, elegant, funny, vintage, sporty, stylish, etc

Rustic

Go for natural, wooden cake toppers, perhaps featuring Mr & Mrs in natural wood, or wooden wreaths and leaves. You could also opt for a wooden cake stand with a slice of wood as a cake topper, or a wooden heart-shaped topper.

Elegant

Elegant wedding cake toppers can be made from brushed aluminium or powder-coated galvanised steel. They can be designed with elegant fonts and in a variety of colours.

Funny

For a humorous wedding cake topper, try something playful, like a bride and groom in a piggyback pose, or a bride dragging a reluctant groom to the altar. You could also go for a funny phrase, like 'Game Over' or 'The Hunt is Over'.

Vintage

Vintage-style cake toppers include those featuring pearls, hearts, roses, paper flowers, cherubs, porcelain figurines, and ribbon.

Sporty

Sporty wedding cake toppers can feature the happy couple playing or watching a sport together. This could be anything from skiing and fishing to basketball and baseball.

Stylish

A stylish wedding cake topper could be made from acrylic, with eye-catching wording such as 'Best Day Ever' or 'The Hunt is Over'.

Where to buy: Wedding Collectibles, Weddingstar, The Knot, The Cake & Sugarcraft Store, and Hey Wedding Lady

Wedding Collectibles offers a wide range of custom wedding cake toppers, allowing you to add personalised touches to your special day. You can choose from a variety of styles, such as rustic wood, acrylic engravings, or custom cut-outs. They also offer toppers that resemble the newlyweds, allowing you to customise details like shoe and hair colour.

The Cake & Sugarcraft Store provides a unique, UK-designed and sculpted bride and groom wedding topper called "Endless Love". Standing at approximately 24.5 cm tall, it serves as a romantic and emotionally expressive centrepiece for your wedding cake.

The Knot's Wedding Shop features Weddingstar's custom wedding cake toppers, catering to a range of styles, including rustic, vintage, funny, traditional, sporty, and stylish. You can choose from various materials, such as wood veneers, acrylic, and figurines. They also offer customisation options with motifs like motorcycles, musical instruments, and sports equipment. Additionally, they have options for same-sex couples and those from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Asian and Indian wedding toppers featuring traditional attire.

Hey Wedding Lady is a website that offers creative wedding ideas and event design inspiration. While they do not appear to have a specific section for wedding cake toppers, they provide valuable resources and tips for planning your wedding, including seating charts, budget guidance, and style inspiration.

For a more hands-on approach, you can also make your own wedding cake topper. This allows for a truly personalised touch and can be a fun DIY project. You can find various online tutorials and guides to help you create a topper that reflects your style and theme.

Frequently asked questions