Creating Modern Wedding Cake Designs

alisondunlop27
Sep 8
3 min read

Wedding cakes are more than just desserts. They are a central part of the celebration, a sculptural centrepiece which reflects the couples style. Designing a wedding cake requires creativity, precision, and an understanding of what your couple wants. Here, I will guide you through my process of creating modern wedding cake designs with a fun and unique style.

Modern wedding cake by ARD Bakery — A.R.D Bakery Wedding Cake

Understanding Wedding Cake Designs

Wedding cake designs can vary widely. Some couples prefer classic tiered cakes with white icing and delicate floral decorations. Others opt for bold colours, unique shapes, or themed designs. The key is to match the cake to the wedding’s overall style and the couple’s personality.

When planning a cake design, consider these factors:

Theme and colour scheme: The cake should complement the wedding colours and theme.
Venue and season: Outdoor summer weddings might suit lighter, sponge cakes, while winter weddings could feature richer flavours.
Number of guests: The cake size must be sufficient to serve all guests.
Budget: Custom designs and intricate details can increase costs.

I recommend starting with a mood board. Collect images, fabric swatches, and colour samples, or create a Pinterest board with all your favourite things. This can be anything from the flowers or outfit you have chosen for your wedding, or maybe your favourite building, piece of furniture, or artwork . All these things help visualise the final look and guides the design process, allowing me to put together a design specifically for my couples, making it completely unique for them.

Wedding cake design process — Example of mood board to design to final wedding cake

Key Elements of Wedding Cake Design

Several elements define a wedding cake’s design. Paying attention to these details ensures the cake is both beautiful and functional.

Shape and Structure

Traditional wedding cakes are round and tiered. However, square, hexagonal, or even asymmetrical shapes are gaining popularity. Each shape affects the cake’s stability and cutting process.

Round cakes are easier to cut and serve.
Square cakes offer a modern look with added drama.
Multi-tiered cakes create a dramatic effect but require strong internal support.

Flavour and Filling

I work really hard to make sure my cakes taste as good as they look, and offer all my couples tasting boxes so they an choose their favourite flavours before they commit to ordering. Some of my most popular flavours are:

Classic vanilla sponge with buttercream and homemade raspberry jam
Rich Chocolate cake with dark chocolate and yoghurt ganache
Sticky toffee date cake with salted caramel ganache

Have a look at all the flavours I offer here - https://www.ardbakery.com/flavours

Decoration Techniques

Decoration sets the cake apart. Some of the techniques I use include:

Ganache: Great for a sharp, smooth finish, which holds up well in warmer temperatures
Edible print: My signature style allowing complex prints and patterns
Chocolate Work: From filled bonbons, to brightly coloured spheres or fins, chocolates add real drama
Fondant icing: Smooth and perfect for marbled effect.

Wedding Cake featuring edible printed icing, marbled fondant icing, and chocolate work

The Process

Creating wedding cakes is a collaborative process, and I work closely with all my coupes to ensure they have the best cake possible for them.

Cake tasting

I always start by sending out a tasting box with 4 different flavours, so my couples can choose their favourite cakes before we start work on the design

Discuss your vision, preferences, and budget. Share your mood board and any inspiration images. A good designer will offer suggestions based on experience and current trends.

Initial Consultation

Thanks to zoom, I can arrange an online consulation anywhere and any time. Here we discuss your vision, preferences, and budget. Share your mood board and any inspiration images. I will also be able to offer suggestions based on experience and current trends.

Design Approval

I will then work on a couple of design options based on our meeting. Then these are reviewed by the couple and any changes made before we finalise the design.

Delivery and Setup

I always deliver and setup all wedding cakes myslef, and will usually liaise directly with the venue to organise this. This prevents damage and ensures the cake looks perfect at the event.