Written By: Cakes by Esther du Preez
| Photographer = | Gerhard Louw Photography |
| Venue = | Bella Vista |
When it comes to wedding cake design, there are generally two approaches. The first is to browse online for inspiration and discover the styles and designs you are naturally drawn to. The second is to work directly with a cake designer who can create a custom design based on your ideas, preferences, and wedding style.
A good place to start when searching for a cake designer is by asking friends and family for recommendations. From there, you can browse different designers’ portfolios to see whether their style matches the vision you have for your wedding. This will help you narrow down a shortlist of bakeries or cake artists that suit your taste.
Once you have selected your cake designer, it is important to discuss your budget, wedding theme, and the approximate number of guests you plan to host.
There are countless cake styles and colour combinations to choose from, and these choices usually reflect both your personal taste and the overall theme of your wedding. Some couples prefer a single-colour palette with different textures and decorative elements to create visual interest, while others choose two-tone or multi-coloured designs in either bold shades or soft pastel tones.
You will also need to decide on the overall shape and structure of the cake. Some couples love tall, elegant cakes with narrow tiers, while others prefer different tier shapes, single-tier cakes, or more unconventional designs.
Another important design choice is the cake finish itself. Popular options include buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, and fondant. Styles such as Lambeth or vintage piping are now commonly created in buttercream, although historically they were traditionally done in royal icing over fondant. Fondant, in particular, sometimes gets an unfair reputation, but when used well it creates a beautifully smooth finish and serves as the perfect canvas for decorations such as sugar flowers, fondant details, or wafer paper designs.
Closer to the wedding date, it is helpful to arrange a face-to-face or online consultation with your cake designer. Good communication is essential, especially when it comes to personal details that are meaningful to you as a couple. Some couples choose to include elements that tell part of their story — perhaps figures of beloved pets, symbols connected to where they met, or references to hobbies and outdoor activities they enjoy together. These thoughtful touches make the cake feel even more personal and unique to the wedding.
Specific colours, textures, and decorative details should also be discussed during the consultation. If possible, bring fabric swatches, colour samples, or photographs of your décor to help ensure accurate colour matching and a cohesive overall design.
Practical Arrangements
It is also important to ensure clear communication between your cake designer and wedding planner. Your cake designer will need to know where the cake will be displayed and what time it needs to be set up.
This is especially important because some cakes do not cope well when left outdoors in direct sunlight for long periods. The type of cake, weather conditions, and display location should all be carefully considered ahead of time.
At first glance, many people may not realise how much planning, creativity, and attention to detail goes into designing a wedding cake. But when you take a closer look, you begin to notice the thoughtful details, meaningful symbolism, and personal touches that reflect the unique story of the couple whose lives are being joined together.
