Wedding Cake Designs The traditional wedding cake is a tiered, white cake with butter cream frosting. Today, wedding cakes come in all different shapes, styles, flavors, colors and decorations.

The wedding cake design starts with the choice of the wedding cake icing. Here are the main types of wedding cake icing:

FONDANT ICING
It's made of sugar, corn, gelatine and glycerine. This type of icing is rolled out, like pastry, then applied to each tier of the cake. The resulting look is exceptionally clean and smooth, although not necessary delicious.

CREAM CHEESE ICING
Made of butter cream or cream cheese and confectioner's sugar, this type of icing is the best tasting one! However, because the cream cheese doesn't stand the heat well, this type of icing is not best suited for summer outdoor weddings. Butter cream or cream cheese can be flavored and used as a filling between cake tiers.

ROYAL ICING
This type of icing, though soft when applied to cake, dries to a very hard, smooth finish. Generally, this icing is used for decoration and does not well taste.

GUM PASTE AND MARZIPAN ICING
Gum paste is used to create extremely lifelike flowers and decorations; it dries to a very hard finish. Marzipan is made of almonds, sugar and eggs; like fondant, it can be rolled in sheets and cut to a desired shape. It is often colored with food colorings and made to look like very realistic and yet delicious flowers and fruits. Spun sugar, an air weight tulle-like substance is often used for decoration of the wedding cake topping.

Most cakes are covered in a soft white or ivory icing but sometimes pastel pink or peach can be used to match your wedding colors. You can choose a traditional white, butter cream, cream cheese, white chocolate icing, or rolled fondant. As the name implies, rolled fondant is icing that is rolled over the layers of the cake for a completely smooth and very elegant look.

Your wedding cake should be individually designed to your match own personal style and taste as well as the wedding decor and color scheme.

The traditional shape of the wedding cake is either round or square. Many shapes are now available to enhance and give a unique look to your cake. Many bakers offer oval, hexagon and heart shapes. Square shaped cakes can be decorated in the style of gift boxes in beautiful designs with cascading ribbons. A creative baker can create a magnificent castle or a lighthouse, for a "seaside" wedding.

Having trouble choosing a flavor for your cake? Choose a multi-flavored cake. They come in so many yummy varieties from vanilla to chocolate, marble, lemon, carrot, spice and even cheesecake. The fillings get even more tempting with raspberry, coconut, strawberry, lemon, mocha and white chocolate cream.

Another option that looks great for summertime or outdoor weddings, is the basket weave. This is usually more expensive because the baker has to actually hand weave the fondant.

Some brides like to take a particular element of the wedding decor and design the cake around that theme. Bakers can decorate cakes with the look of embroidery, lace, applique or elegant drapes or swags. For instance, many brides will use the lace or detailing from their wedding gown as a design for their wedding cake. Bring in a picture of your gown and talk to your baker to incorporate the lace or pearl beading detail into the cake.

Some choose cascades of fresh or confectionery flowers or satin ribbons that coordinate with the wedding color scheme. Some bakers are even painting designs on the cakes for a truly exquisite look. Cakes can be decorated to match the bride's china pattern using this "painted on" technique.