I’d like to share some useful info with you on wedding cake set up, as this is a thing that you can only learn by experience. Brides all over the land suddenly think ‘Oh yeah, where is the cake going to go? For some it’s an after thought or simply not a thought. As a cake designer, I think it’s as important as the design of your cake. Here’s why…
Where should my modern wedding cake be set up?
Picture this. You spend out on a beautifully designed cake, your cake maker delivers it with care and sets it up at your venue on a designated table… in a corner… in front of an ugly radiator and fire extinguisher… (cue the sound of a broken record!) This will make for great photos, wont it?! As a cake maker myself, I think it’s hugely important that when ordering potentially the most expensive cake in your life, it’s a good idea to have a think about where it will be placed at your venue. Will it be seen all day, or just be placed in a smaller room and seen at the moment of cutting? Will it have pride of place in the middle of your room? Will it be hanging from the ceiling? The possibilities are endless! I’d recommend it goes somewhere with good natural light if possible as this makes for great photos. And think about it’s backdrop? Could you even go all out and have one of your suppliers create a floral or decorated backdrop for it?
This modern geometric wafer paper design had pride of place in the middle of the room at The Charlotte Street Hotel with a simple, modern square stand and Golden T rex bride and groom toppers with flowers to finish.
Modern Wedding Cake Stands
Another thing to consider is whether you’d like a cake stand. Cake stands can be pretty naff in my experience. Why would you want to put a modern wedding cake on a very traditional and sometimes in my experience, broken cake stand?! I have been exploring the world of cake stands and started making my own as I just can’t find anything modern out there that doesn’t cost a bomb. Most of the best modern cake stands I can ever find are in the US, Australia or made abroad and you pay the earth in shipping charges to get them here. I can make them at a fraction of this price. Lookout for my Etsy shop coming soon or get in touch to find out about bespoke stands.
These guys were handmade by moi. A trio of modern wedding cakes with a trio of modern wedding cakes stands in copper and white to match. Perfect!
Cake stands can actually come in any form too; try found objects- as long as they are sturdy and will take the weight of your cake, they can add interest to your cake set up and make it feel more personal too. One of my couple’s are using a stack of books as they are getting married in the library of Charlton House.
This ‘book cake’ was placed on a couple of cooking and baking books to give it some height. A great example of a found object cake stand- and a sturdy one at that!
modern Cake Topper or not?
Like anything else for your cake, the topper can be completely bespoke, found objects, family heirlooms, toys you had as a child. What I would say is try to have your toppers in-keeping with the style of your cake. Or, you could go with no topper at all. The choice is yours, as ever, there are no rules!
This cake trio uses a abstract modern chocolate shards as a modern alternative “topper”. No traditional toppers in sight here!
I hope this was useful and do ask your cake maker as many questions as you need to about the set up of your modern wedding cake. Make it your own!
My name is Katie and I make modern wedding cakes in London. Feel free to have look at my creations, or leave your comments below. x
