Wedding Cake Toppers: A Guide To Traditional And Modern Accents

Wedding cakes are steeped in tradition and symbolism. The cakes, which are often tiered, can be decorated with flowers, icing, chocolate, fruit, and other sweet treats. But what about the things that sit on top of the cake?

Wedding cake toppers date back hundreds of years. Traditionally, these were miniature figurines of the happy couple, dressed in wedding attire. Nowadays, cake toppers come in all shapes and sizes and can be personalised to reflect the couple's interests, hobbies, or even their pets. Some couples opt for a more classic approach, such as a simple monogram or romantic phrase, while others go for a fun or humorous option.

In some cultures, the cake topper is used to tell a story about the couple's history or to symbolise their hopes for a long and happy marriage. Whatever the topper may be, it adds a unique and special touch to the already mouth-watering creation.

Cake toppers: traditionally miniature figurines of the couple, now anything from classic monograms to clay animals

Cake toppers are a fun way to personalise your wedding cake and add a decorative touch that reflects your personality and style. While traditional cake toppers feature miniature figurines of the couple, modern iterations include a wide range of designs, such as classic monograms and kitschy clay animals.

The history of cake toppers dates back hundreds of years, with the earliest versions featuring a bride and groom in wedding attire. This custom was especially popular in the 1950s United States, symbolising togetherness. Over time, cake toppers have evolved to include a broader range of designs, such as shared hobbies or other passions.

Today, cake toppers offer a fun and creative way to showcase the interests and hobbies of the couple. For instance, the topper could be designed to resemble the couple's favourite pets or a shared hobby, like hiking. They can also be used to incorporate cultural or family traditions, such as a nod to the couple's heritages or a tribute to a beloved relative.

For those seeking a more classic or elegant approach, monograms remain a popular choice. A monogram cake topper adds a touch of sophistication and can be customised with the couple's initials or wedding date. Fresh flowers are another timeless option, especially for a rustic or garden-themed wedding.

Ultimately, the possibilities for cake toppers are endless. Whether you opt for a traditional figurine, a playful clay animal, or a personalised monogram, cake toppers offer a unique way to express your style and add a memorable touch to your wedding cake.

Cascade cakes: a traditional design where flowers, greenery or other decorations cascade down the cake

Cascade cakes are a traditional design where flowers, greenery, or other decorations cascade down the cake. This style of cake is often chosen for weddings and can be a romantic, elegant, botanical, and timeless choice. The cascade can be created using sugar flowers, fresh flowers, or a combination of both. Sugar flowers, such as roses, peonies, dahlias, and leaves, can be wired together to create a natural look, while fresh flowers can add a pop of colour and a squishier texture.

When designing a cascade cake, there are a few things to consider. The first is the shape of the cascade. Options include circling the cake with flowers, creating a straight line from the top to the bottom, or having a snaking cascade along the front. The second consideration is whether to leave room for a cake topper or to fully cover the top of the cake. The third consideration is the overall look you are trying to achieve. A maximalist look will require more flowers, while a minimalist look can be achieved with fewer, more spaced-out flowers.

To create a natural look, it is recommended to use graduated sizes of flowers, with the biggest flowers at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Leaves or vines can also be added to fill in any gaps and create a more organic feel. For a traditional or understated look, individual leaves can be inserted into the cake. Edible leaves, such as mint or rosemary, can also be used as a more cost-effective option.

The number of flowers needed for a cascade cake will depend on the size of the cake. A larger cake will require more flowers, while a smaller cake can be adorned with just a few blooms. A minimalist three-tier cake, for example, might only need 8-9 flowers, while a maximalist three-tier cake might need 20 or more.

Cascade cakes can be a beautiful and elegant choice for a wedding cake, offering a flowing and romantic design that is sure to impress your guests.

Groom's cake: a surprise cake for the groom, designed to showcase his interests

Grooms Cake: a surprise cake for the groom, designed to showcase his interests

The groom's cake is a wedding tradition originating in 19th-century England and is especially popular in the Southern United States. It is a wedding cake entirely influenced by the groom's tastes, hobbies, and personality. The cake is usually displayed on a separate table to highlight its unique design and significance.

The groom's cake can be used to represent the groom's favourite sports team, stadium, alma mater, or even a specific game. For example, one groom's cake was designed to look like a football field and stadium for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas at Austin. Another cake was in the shape of the state of Texas.

The groom's cake can also showcase his favourite hobby or interest. For instance, a cake could be designed to look like a tree stump adorned with natural elements like antlers and leaf cookies, perfect for nature or hunting enthusiasts. Another cake featured tennis balls and a tennis racket.

The groom's cake can also be inspired by his favourite movie, book, or TV show. One groom's cake was based on the film "Steel Magnolias", featuring a red velvet armadillo on top of a tree trunk adorned with moss and succulents.

The groom's profession can also be highlighted in the cake design. For a professional football player, the cake could be designed to look like a football, or for a firefighter, the cake could replicate a fire truck.

The groom's cake is a fun and unique way to showcase the groom's interests and personality, adding a personal touch to the wedding festivities.

Cake pulls: a Southern tradition where charms are placed on the cake's bottom layer, to be pulled out by single friends and wedding party members

Cake pulls are a Southern wedding tradition with roots in the Victorian era. The bride gathers her single or eligible female friends around the wedding cake, where they pull out inserted charms with ribbon tails. The charms are placed in the bottom layer of the cake after baking, and each charm has its own meaning, signifying the woman's future. For example, a butterfly represents eternal beauty, a star signifies that your deepest wish will come true, and a ring indicates that you will be the next to marry.

The cake pull ceremony is also known as a ribbon pull, and it is believed to bring good luck and fortune. This tradition was brought to America by the English and has ties to English, Irish, and Scottish cultures dating back to the 1600s.

Nowadays, couples often hire a baker to make the cake, and the baker will place sterling silver charms with specific meanings inside the bottom layer. At the wedding, all the single ladies participate in the ribbon pull ceremony, pulling a charm from the cake just before it is cut.

The cake pull is a fun and charming Southern tradition that adds a unique touch to any wedding celebration.

Croquembouche: a complex pastry made of cream puffs and caramelised sugar, the traditional wedding cake in France

Croquembouche is a complex pastry made of cream puffs and caramelised sugar. It is the traditional wedding cake in France.

The croquembouche is a tower of cream puffs, decorated with a halo of spun sugar. It is served at wedding receptions, where the couple use a sword to break the tower, causing the cream puffs to tumble down. Guests then reach for a cream puff, symbolising a wish for the couple's sweet future.

The croquembouche was inspired by a Medieval English tradition, where sweet rolls were piled between the bride and groom, who would attempt to kiss over the top of the stack without knocking it over. When a French pastry chef witnessed this custom, he returned to France and created the first croquembouche.

Today, the croquembouche is still a popular choice for French weddings, often placed on a bed of cake to create a top tier.

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