Something old
Gone are the days of dried out fruit cake encased in cement-like marzipan as the only option for your wedding cake. Modern wedding cake design no longer stops at aesthetics, what’s on the inside is now every bit as important.
Something different
The trend for more adventurous and exotic flavours and fillings is continuing to gather pace. As a result, North East based The Designer Cake Company has expanded its menu to include Caramel Apple, Cookies and Cream, Banana Chocolate Peanut Crunch and Snickers, all of which are proving popular with brides looking for something a little different on their big day.
Have your cake
Run by cake artist Isabelle Bambridge, The Designer Cake Company specialises in creating beautiful bespoke wedding cakes that not only look incredible but also taste amazing. The attention to detail and flawless finish of Isabelle’s creations have earned The Designer Cake Company a strong reputation since its inception in 2011 and attracted a wide and varied client base, not only in the North East of England, but also across the UK.
Q & A with Isabelle
Q. What are the top trends in the wedding cake industry? (such as classic cake, seasonal designs, vintage 1920s, retro 1950s designs, different flavoured layers, different coloured layers, seasonal cakes, cupcakes - anything else you want to mention!)
Frills & Ruffles
Soft frills and ruffles that mimic the folds and full skirts of a wedding dress have been popular for a while and this trend is continuing.
Metallics & Lustres
Metallics are big for stationery and the same goes for wedding cakes. Gold and silver accents using edible paints, gold/silver leaf and brooches are a key trend in the wedding cake industry at present. An all-over lustred finish is also becoming increasingly popular.
Colour
Colour both on the outside and inside of a wedding cake is on the rise with popular choices including shades of lilac/purple and dusky pinks. An ombre effect between tiers, using ruffles or within the layers of the cake itself is also a growing trend.
Naked Cakes
Love them or hate them, naked cakes (i.e. un-iced and adorned with fruit and/or fresh flowers) are still a popular choice for brides planning a rustic countryside style wedding.
Unusual Flavours
Traditional cake flavours such as vanilla, chocolate and lemon are still hugely popular but these are being enhanced with liqueurs, unusual conserves, syrups, purees and candy.
Q. Are brides and grooms asking for anything unusual at the moment?
Not really. There’s always the odd request for dinosaur, frog or penguin cake toppers but that’s all part of personalising a cake!
Q. Cupcakes have been very popular, do you see any other alternative cake option coming into the fore (cake pops, macaroons etc etc)
Cupcakes and cake pops appear to be on their way out while French macarons are becoming increasingly popular, as part of a dessert table or as individual favours.
Q. What are your favourite designs over the last year?
It’s difficult to choose favourites because every one is different but we designed a rustic cake that included Scrabble letters earlier this year which I loved, mainly because the bride gave me complete freedom and had no idea what the cake was going to look like until the big day! The Scrabble letters were a last minute addition to the design but they really worked with the style of the wedding and the couple loved them.
Another design of ours that I would probably count among my favourites was a four tier vintage lace and roses cake which incorporated a separate mini cake stand for the top tier. I had the idea for this design but couldn’t then find a tiny 4” cake stand that I liked so ended up making my own and I loved the overall effect.
Q. Do you have any top tips for brides when choosing their wedding cake?
Look at wedding magazines and websites like Pinterest for ideas that you can pass on to your cake supplier. Also gather colour charts and fabric swatches if you want your cake to reflect the other elements of your wedding. A ‘mood’ board is really useful when designing a cake and will help your cake supplier come up with something that is bespoke to you. Don’t feel that you have to settle for an existing design, it’s your special day and your cake supplier can design a cake that is yours and yours alone!
The Designer Cake Company will be at The North East Wedding Show at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena from 24-25 January 2015.
