The history of the marvellous wedding cake has been around for centuries. In Roman times the wedding cake was a bread that was broken over the head of the bride for good fortune. In medieval England the cake was a series of buns stacked high similar to a Croquembouche today. The higher the better as well .... things haven't changed there. The bride and groom would then have to kiss over the enormous pile. If they managed it, it was good luck. If they toppled the tower of buns then you guessed it ...not so good. Oh, and the bride would also get the buns or breads thrown at her for fertility. Yes, I know, bizarre! But thankfully the 19th century saw the innovation of the tiered or stacked cake which, has brought us to where we are today.
Luckily our 2017 brides & grooms will not have the honour of having their cake thrown at them this year. They will have the far more sophisticated experience of cutting into beautifully finished tiered cakes or lashings of sweet treats.
So, what's going to be big for 2017? I have put together some of the main trends that I think are fab. There are quite a few out there but, here's my pick!
Hand-painted Cakes can be quite spectacular for your design. This is where you can really make a unique statement with your wedding cake. Special moments can be captured, inspirations from nature, even your wedding stationery can be captured on your centrepiece. There are endless possibilities and can be mixed with 3D elements such as florals to make it pop even more.
Naked cakes and semi-naked wedding cakes, like the beauty below from Erica O'Brien, are still strong trends for 2017. It provides a fresh rustic feel to your wedding cake, from fresh fruit finishes, beautiful soft floral themed décor to contemporary ombre style cakes.
Crisp White and Greenery – Pantone chose greenery for their 2017 colour of the year and this pretty much sets the tone for all things design. I myself have loved this theme as it is crisp and vibrant. It looks stunningly beautiful and is still simple and elegant. And yes, I have a design in mind for this that I cannot wait to get started on. The selection below is from StyleWedd.com. To see the full range of all things wedding for this theme here's the link..gorgeous! http://blog.stylishwedd.com/top-50-greenery-wedding-ideas-pantone-color-of-the-year-2017/
Metallics where very strong for 2016 and are definitely not going anywhere for 2017. What is attractive about metallics is that you can get a stunning and very different look with them. The range is also fab with soft pearl lustres and pinks, silver and golds, like the gorgeous gold beauty below from Cove Cake Design, to striking coppers such as our Copper & Lustre wedding cake. For me their greatest design appeal is the way they reflect and pick up natural light which, adds another dimension.
Marble Effect cakes are just fab. I love the marble effect on cakes and it also works beautifully with metallics. Marble effect also looks wonderful when adorned with sprays of sugar flowers or oversized statement blooms. What's not to love about these two stunning designs by Sweet & Saucy Shop with hints of gold leaf and The Sugared Saffron Cake Studio with a beautiful sugar Black Eyed Beauty Anemone.
Art Nouveau & Art Deco designs have a definite Wow factor. I love all things art nouveau and deco, the Art Nouveau for the decorative floral designs and Art Deco for those gorgeous sleek lines. Both go so well with contemporary twists and of course metallic details with those lavish Art Deco designs. Love, love, love this gorgeously stylish Art Nouveau range from Kaytee Trudeau-Leet and the this stunning architectural Art Deco piece by Hey There, Cupcake xx
Geode Cakes are definitely interesting ones. If you want something that is out there and want to boldly go where no one has gone before then this is for you. This will have guests in WOW mode because of their unusual and striking look. If this design from Rachel Teufel of Intricate Icings Cake Designs does not blow your mind .. I don't know what will!
Dessert Tables world wide from Australia to the U.S. are a big hit and definitely allow for a wider variety of ways to treat your guests to something sweet. They can have two of more cakes, a large centrepiece wedding cake with cupcakes falling at it’s heals, macaroon towers with tiered cakes, chocolate covered strawberry towers, cupcakes and delicious biscuits. The list goes on. If you love cake and all things sweet then this is a fab option just like these creations by The Cake Cuppery and they have an Art Deco twist..fab!
Couture Bridal Inspiration is one of my favourites. Broken Spoon Cakes will be making additions to the 2017 collection with a selection of couture bridal inspired wedding cake designs. I just love wedding dresses, who doesn’t and I am obsessed, and I mean obsessed, with transferring design elements from bridal dresses to cake. I am really, really excited and can’t wait to start. This, my Calla Couture Cake, was my very first design at transferring dress to cake. The inspiration was the very ethereal Calla bridal dress from Mira Zwillinger.
I hope you have enjoyed my selection of this years trends. There is so much to chose from it is difficult to pick a favourite but, I love them all. Until next time, remember to keep calm and love your wedding cake! Tara xx
Photographs for Broken Spoon Cakes collection were taken by Portraits By Patrick.