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As The Great British Bake-Off gets serious, we’re probably all spending far more time than usual contemplating cakes, bakes and sweet treats. Happily, if you’re planning your wedding, you’ve got a legitimate excuse to swoon over gorgeous confections as choosing the cake is definitely one of the tastiest things on the wedding to-do list. A few years ago, the wedding cake was always three tiers of fruit covered in white icing. Now, you’ve got options aplenty and everything is on the menu. So, here’s a run down of our favourite wedding cakes and bakes – prepare to feel peckish…

 

There’s still a place for the traditional layered and iced cake at wedding and their classic beauty suits an elegant, timeless wedding. Don’t feel you have to have fruitcake however – inside the icing you can opt for all manner of fab flavour combinations to give your guests a choice.

A modern take on the iced layer cake is to use buttercream icing on stacked layers. This can be smoothly applied or left rough for a more rustic look. Add lots of fresh flowers and greenery for a beautiful finish and again, different layers can be different flavours. Yum!

If you’ve having a more intimate day (or if, heaven forbid) cake isn’t a huge priority then you might like to go for a single layer cake. Again, these can be decorated in any way you want to fit your theme. Even a small cake can be a showstopper when it looks so good.

Painted cakes are real works of art for your wedding day. Hand decorated by skilled cakemakers, they can reflect designs and motifs used in your wedding or just provide a real pop of colour to your cake table. The only limit here is your imagination so if you’d like a painted cake, choose a cake maker who’s a whiz with a paintbrush.

Ah, we do love the metallic trend and even your cake can fit your theme. Opt for alternating layers of plain and metallic icing or go all out with a completely burnished cake. Metallic sparkles or touches of real gold leaf add a truly luxurious touch and lush flowers are the perfect finishing touch.

The graduated colours of the ombre trend look rather fabulous on cakes and you can use super bold or more muted colours to great effect. Ruffled or flat icing, round or square cakes, ombre suits everything and brings you wedding colours together in the most mouthwatering fashion.

For a really contemporary look, you need to go geometric and if this is your wedding style then your cake should reflect this too. Coloured squares and triangles, straight lines and even jewel shaped adornments will make your geometric wedding cake the centre of attention.

The naked cake trend is as popular as ever and, if you’re not a fan of icing or if you’d just prefer a more natural look then this is the cake for you. Sponge layers are sandwiched with buttercream filled and them piled high. Add flowers, fruits of fun caketoppers to make sure your naked cake looks as good as it tastes.

We weren’t going to forget chocolate! If you’re a lover of chocolate, why hide those yummy layers under icing? Instead, show off your chocolate cake with flavoured buttercreams and ganaches or just leave it naked except for a dusting of icing powder.

Macarons have been the delicate wedding favour of choice for a while now and macaron towers definitely have the wedding wow factor. These almond treats are perfect if you’re gluten-free and with a whole host of colours and flavours available, they’re absolutely adorable and a perfect alternative to a traditional cake.

Whilst we’re on the subject of alternative, cupcakes are also incredibly popular. If you fancy yourself as a star baker then they’re a good DIY option. Mix up lots of flavours and then pile them up on a stand or create a cupcake buffet table. If you’d still like a cake to cut then place a small single layer cake on the top of your cupcake tower.

Who doesn’t love doughnuts? Doughnut towers have become really popular at weddings as alternatives to cakes (or even just to serve during your evening reception) and it’s easy to see why. They’re fun, colourful and full of flavour plus, if you’ve got a doughnut shop nearby, you can buy some big trays and put a display together yourself for a fraction of the cost of a cake.

Pie buffets might be more common at American weddings but let’s bring them to Britain! From lemon meringue and chocolate fudge to maple cream and fruit, you can do whatever you like with pies. They’re perfect served with warming custard in winter or topped with a blob of cream in summer and, if lots of guests want to get involved, everyone could bring a pie and create a brilliant buffet.

Credits:

Collage One: Left – via Style Me Pretty Top Right – via A Chichi Affair Bottom Right – via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Collage Two: Left – via Bridal Musings Top Right – via Aisle Perfect Bottom Right – via Wedding Chicks

Collage Three: Left – via Intimate Weddings Top Right – via Wedding Chicks Bottom Right – via The Knot

Collage Four: Left – via Wedding Chicks Right – via Mine Forever

Collage Five: Left – via Brides Top Right – via The Knot Bottom Right – via Intimate Weddings

Collage Six: Left – via Style Me Pretty Top Right – via MOD Wedding Bottom Right – via Wedding Chicks

Collage Seven: Left – via B.Loved Top Right – via Pinterest Bottom Right – via 100 Layer Cake

Collage Eight: Left – via MOD Wedding Top Right – via Style Me Pretty Bottom Right – via Rock My Wedding

Collage Nine: Left – via 100 Layer Cake Top Right – via Ruffled Bottom Right – via Style Me Pretty

Collage Ten: Left – via Wedding Chicks Top Right – via Style Me Pretty Bottom Right – via Wedding Chicks

Collage Eleven: Left – via The Berry Top Right – via Karrah Flores Photography Bottom Right – via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Collage Twelve: Left – via Brides Top Right – via Elizabeth Anne Designs Bottom Right – via Brides

Collage Thirteen: Left – via Style Me Pretty Top Right – via Ruffled Bottom Right – via Style Me Pretty