Here’s a question. If you commissioned a beautiful work of art, would you hang it in the garden shed? I suspect that unless your garden shed is particularly palatial then the answer might be “no”.

This is why it breaks my heart to see wedding cakes, which have been given so much thought during the design stage, relegated to a table in the corner of a venue on the day of the wedding, more often than not, draped with a creased white tablecloth and set against the delightful backdrop of a fire exit or fire extinguisher. It makes for pretty uninspiring viewing (and photographs), especially after you’ve invested time with your wedding cake maker for them to design and create your dream cake only for its presentation to be a let-down.

There are however, simple ways to give your wedding cake the stage it deserves, so here are my tips to creating a display that doesn’t put your cake in the corner!

Modern abstract white wedding cake with teal blue art backdrop — Image by Maxeen Kim Photography

1. Ditch the round table

Tip number one and it’s controversial: ditch the round table. Yes, it’s an easy solution, your venue will most likely offer you one to use but goodness, it ain’t half boring! You’re definitely going to need something sturdy on which to display the cake though (they’re pretty weighty!) and here’s where a little bit of creativity will work wonders.

Do you or someone you know have a nice dressing table or console that they would happily lend you? A vintage drinks trolley perhaps? Or maybe you’re happy to upcycle a second-hand dresser with a fresh lick of paint. Your venue or venue stylist (if you’re using one) might even have a lovely decorative table that they would be happy for you to repurpose/hire for your cake display. Just a little pre-planning and thinking outside the box will go a long way and it will look SO much better in the photos, trust me!

Tip: Talking of dressers, furniture with drawers are especially great; just ask your florist to fill the open drawers with trailing foliage or flowers and you’ve got yourselves a display of loveliness that will not only add to the overall styling of your day but it will entice your guests to take a look and whet their appetite for a slice of cake later.

2. Stand and deliver

There are definitely more creative wedding cake stands on the market nowadays and they can elevate your cake to the next level. Depending on your wedding style, the options are plentiful, from fairy-light bedecked arches and clear acrylic plinths filled with flowers to cake swings. Even a stack of antique books from a charity shop would look fantastic if you’re going for a literary theme.

Tip: Many cake suppliers will have a selection of stands for hire so it’s always worth asking what they have available. Personally, I always ask my couples how they intend to display their cake and I will always give help and suggestions.

Painted marbled wedding cake with wafer paper roses in burgundy and blush

3. Just desserts

Why have one cake when you can have several! Dessert tables are increasingly popular as they provide a nice variety of treats to appeal to your guests and they make for a beautifully tempting display. I would always suggest having a main feature cake for cutting and to act as the centre-piece, whether that be a single tier or more, with coordinated treats to match.

Tip: Display a menu (I always offer this as an extra for clients ordering dessert tables) and use different size stands to display the goodies. Positioning them a different heights adds interest and enables your guests to see what’s on offer. Pop in some foliage or flowers and you’ve got yourself a beautiful buffet of goodness.

4. Repurpose, recycle, reinvent

Have you invested in a beautiful flower arch or maybe you have an awesome backdrop created to sit at the end of your ceremony aisle? Once the “I do”s have been happily exchanged and you’re ready to party, repurpose that beautiful piece of work and position your cake in front of it. Your cake gets its own magnificent stage and your cake cutting photos will look a-mazing!

Tip: Chat with your venue and/or venue stylist and florist; they will be able to advise the possibilities and feasibility of moving items around during the day.

Forest green and white handpainted wedding cake floral arch display — Image by Lucy Noble Photography

5. Don’t put cake in the corner

I’ve seen Dirty Dancing a gazillion times and Johnny was spot on. Baby trained for weeks to do that Mambo like a pro so don’t hide away her talent when it comes to the final show! I could go on (I mean we haven’t even discussed ‘the lift’ for your first dance yet) but you catch my drift…

In my experience, quite a few venues have a cake corner. It’s where every couple is advised to position their cake because, well, that’s what they always do, but in some cases it’s not always the best place. Practical yes but not always the best. One venue I know has a dedicated cake table and it must be one of the worst: the lighting is shocking and the background completely distracts from the cake and the images are always so disappointing, no matter how talented the photographer. So when you’re having your venue show round, have a think about where might be the best place for your cake to show it off at its best.

Tip: Have a think about what’s behind your wedding cake; will it distract from the cake or enhance it? If you’re going for an industrial style for example, a distressed wall could be a perfect extension of the theme or you could use a fantastic piece of artwork or a beautiful doorway. Will your cake be positioned in the centre of a room? This is important, as your cake designer will need to consider that your cake will be viewed from all angles. Finally, if it’s on a window ledge, ensure that it’s safe from direct sunlight during a hot day or else you may have a cake puddle!

The last crumb…

So there you have it, however you choose to display your cake is up to you but a little imagination could take it from mediocre to memorable. Garden sheds need not apply!