Wedding cakes are not just the delicious end to a three course meal, they act as a centrepiece or focal point at the reception. These desserts should tie in with the theme and colour-scheme of the wedding.
Regardless of the style – whether traditional or edgy – there are a variety of talented bakers that can make the ideal centrepiece.
Many couples are moving towards the naked or semi-naked cake trend to complement a rustic-themed wedding, said Tracy Luscombe, the owner of Tracy’s Cakes in Echuca.
“A lot of people, because they’re near the Murray River, are going for the rustic look with the rough icing.”
Priscilla Pomeroy, owner of Cill’s Creative Cakes in Shepparton, has also noticed the growing popularity of naked cakes.
“It’s about the rustic and vintage look – everyone wants that look,” she said.
In addition to naked cakes, there are a variety of emerging, recycled and flavour-based cake trends.
Emerging Trends
Upcoming trends for wedding cakes are hard to pinpoint, however Ms Pomeroy predicted the salted caramel flavour would take off in the near future.
“Salted caramel has become really popular and is becoming bigger – it’s the trendy flavour at the moment,” she said.
Some customers are opting for the less sweet flavours too.
“A lot of people are starting to lean toward citrus and the not-so-sweet cakes,” Ms Pomeroy said.
“I do a citrus mud cake – so it’s got the heaviness of the mud but not sweetness. I think everyone is getting a bit over the mud and white chocolate.”
Dessert bars are also on trend right now.
“Lots of people want their guest to be able to pick them up as they like – this could be for the ease of guests or just a cost cutting thing,” Ms Pomeroy said.
The use of metallic on cakes is an ongoing trend.
“Metallic is quite big at the moment, like the silver and gold leafs. I’ve done a lot of them,” Ms Pomeroy said.
Ms Luscombe has also noticed the metallic trend and said it added shine on wedding cakes.
“Gold is a colour that is coming back in – gold icing or gold decorations on cakes coming back in,” she said.
The size of cakes varies from wedding to wedding, but Ms Pomeroy has noticed an increase in couples opting for taller cakes.
“It’s three, four, five or six tiers – or three tiers that are extra tall, so equates to six tiers,” she said.
In terms of style, many couples are opting for a water colour or marble look – which is achieved through putting food dye through the cake fondant, Ms Pomeroy said.
“You see it (water colour and marbling) in a lot of pastel colours too. I’m doing a peach one later this year,” she said.
“You tend to see what’s happening in America happen in Australia … marbling was big in America last year so it’s coming into fashion this year in Australia.”
Traditional vs Alternative
Left of centre cake trends come and go, like the recent cupcake trend – as an alternative to the standard cake. Not long ago this was the must have wedding cake, but, as with all cake trends, the focus has again shifted back to more traditional cake styles.
Although Ms Luscombe said she still had the occasional customer requesting cupcakes.
Ms Pomeroy said that the early noughties were a time when a lot of the more daring designs were popular, whereas today people are returning to the traditional decorative styles – like lace, flowers and white fondant.
“At the moment I’m doing a lot of traditional white and ivory cakes and there are lots of ruffles and textures and lacework with flowers,” she said.
“We had period of ten years with the bolder stuff but now it’s that really pretty and traditional style. You see that filtering through not only in the wedding cakes but in the décor as well.”
Regardless of trends, Ms Pomeroy said the design of a wedding cake is a personal choice and said couples should always select design features they actually like.
Be Unique
Because a wedding day is all about representing the bride and groom, couples are encouraged to put their mark on everything – including their wedding cake.
Ms Luscombe said the most interesting request she had received was a Star Wars themed cake, where the bride and groom were made to look Princess Leia and a Jedi.
A few years ago Ms Pomeroy had a request to create a Mario Brothers themed cake; and she has made two others since then.
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