At many weddings, the cake seems to be an afterthought. However, a beautifully-designed wedding cake, whether simple or elaborate can really pull the reception hall’s look together. With so many choices for cake designs out there, it can be hard to determine which ones are modern, classy, or the latest trend. But it’s important that the wedding cake, like everything else in your wedding, reflects your aesthetics as well as your sentiments. Below are some of the latest trends in cake design. Take your pick!

A Single, Oversized Flower

Busily decorated cakes are becoming a thing of the past, with the new trend of a single, oversized flower taking over as the new ‘it’ wedding cake. The flower can either be a sugar flower or a real flower, the point being that it is large and oversized and positioned just right within the cake. For an elegant cake, try a simple color scheme with the flower draped in between the tiers of the cake.

Mimic The Gown

Large, loud frosting is as over as shoulder pads! Instead, have your decorator create a design that echoes your wedding dress design. Subtle chiffon-like draping, silver-dusted polka dots, or chocolate-brown sugar flowers are all common ways to mimic either the bride or bridesmaids gowns. The design should be understated yet playful.

Mixed Shapes

To add drama, consider getting a cake with contrasting shapes on the different tiers. Pairing different-shaped cake layers together adds a multidimensional appeal. An easy and practical mix would be a square bottom layer with round tiers on top. If you’re having a ballroom wedding, a tall cake is warranted. For a small, outdoor wedding, one or two layers should be the maximum.

Cake Trios

Cake trios are a sophisticated way to have enough cake for everyone, without producing a gigantic cake!  The center cake is the one that the couple should cut together and is usually the main attraction. The two side cakes should be smaller in size. Often, couples choose to get the cakes in different flavors, even if they’re the same shape, so guests can choose the flavor they like. For example, the main cake could be vanilla bean, and you can choose chocolate and red velvet for the other two smaller cakes.

Henna Designs

Henna-designed cakes are a new trend that have leaped from the South Asian wedding industry to the general American market. There are endless designs, shapes, and color options for cakes designed like bridal mehndi (see the examples below for choices). The henna designs can be as intricate or simple as you request.

Your wedding cake signifies the first taste of the rest of your life. Not to mention, it will show up in photographs of a happy occasion, so make sure you pick one that benefits your personality and reflects the wonderful day you worked so hard to put together!

— Cultural Blogger

Image 1 , 2, 3, & 4 via Cake Central

Image 5 via Here Comes The Blog