Cake Toppers:
Some are elegant; some are kitschy. Some are whimsical, some are caricatures and some play a favorite tune. Although cake toppers, traditional as they may be, have become optional, they can also be a great expression of your bridal style. Look around there may be toppers that delight you, make you laugh or even play misty for you. Some couples choose collectibles that later serve as sentimental curios, others even commission artists to render their likenesses in polymer. Get feedback from your pastry chef, but remember, ultimately the decision is up to you.
The Groom's Cake:
A well-loved tradition, especially in the southern United States, is the groom's cake. Usually darker than the "bride's cake," (wedding cake), richer (often chocolate or mousse), and sometimes designed with whimsy in mind, the groom's cake is traditionally sliced up and sent home with guests in pretty boxes. Rumor has it, if an unmarried woman sleeps with a piece of the groom's cake tucked under her pillow, she will find true love within a year. We're not guaranteeing anything, but we're always up for more cake!
Cake Stands:
One alternative to stacking your
wedding cake in the traditional layers or tiers is using an eye-catching cake stand. Most bakeries can offer a selection of designs, but remember -- virtually anything can be used as a cake stand. Brides often browse flea markets and estate sales for vintage plant stands, baker's racks and even bric-a-brac display shelves. But before you buy or even build a cake stand of your own, double-check weight and diameter requirements with your cake designer.
Cake Pedestals:
You've admired it for years -- Grandma's lacy milk glass cake pedestal that looks as frothy and delicious as her famous lemon-coconut cake! Sweet, old-fashioned, and somehow always personal, a beautiful pedestal is a lovely complement to any wedding cake. A footed cake plate made of crystal, china, glass or silver-plate, or an antique or heirloom pedestal is a great choice for any style cake. Snap up one-of-a-kind designs at antique shops, flea markets and estate sales or borrow an old favorite from Mom.
Cake Plate:
Granite or glass, silver-plate or soapstone, the smooth-edged cake plate can be yet another one-of-a-kind addition to your one-of-a-kind cake. Designed to be easy to serve from (the edge of the plate is rounded out for easy plate-to-plate maneuvers), look for great cake plates at antique shops, estate sales and in Grandma's china cabinet.
Cake Table:
Your designer has baked her heart out to make your dreams come true. It's not like any old table will do for this cake. Go crazy. Have your florist decorate your cake table with rose petals, fresh blooms, pillar candles (not too close to that delicate frosting, mind you), seasonal fruits, fragrant foliage like lemon or camellia leaves, or dozens of tea lights and votives. For a family touch, why not add framed pictures of both sets of parents cutting their wedding cakes? You might just start a tradition.
Don't be surprised if your cake table becomes a main attraction. The only thing guests love more than looking at the wedding cake is watching the bride and groom cut it. So go ahead -- drape your table in organza, tulle, a beautiful print fabric or heirloom linen.
Champagne Glasses:
Whether from your registry or from your mother-in-law's collection, a great pair of champagne glasses will always add extra sparkle to your cake table. Wind ribbons, velvet leaves, silk flowers or other beautiful embellishments around the stems, or start a tradition, monogramming your initials and wedding date on the crystal itself. With a little luck, one day your wedding flutes will be covered with the initials of your great-great-great-grandchildren. Won't it be cool to be the old lady who started it all?
Serving Set:
Lest you find yourself in the awkward position of having to use your diamond engagement ring to cut the cake, your knife and lifter just HAVE to be on the table next to your wedding cake. They may be antique, heirloom or brand new -- depending on your wedding style. Many couples choose decorative serving sets, engraved with floral designs or the couple's new initials. Consider adding a pretty ribbon or wire-wrap a bloom to the handle of the knife and spatula.
Read more about Wedding Cakes:
Search for the perfect cake baker in your area.
All About Cutting the Cake
4 Classic Cake Myths -- Busted!
Find the perfect wedding cake accessories in the WeddingChannel Store.
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