Oh trends they come and they go...and they come back round again! I’m still waiting on cakes with pillars to make a retro cool comeback. In fact I might even do it myself...watch this space (or maybe don’t!).

I’m not sure if it’s because I work in the industry but I’ve noticed that wedding trends seem to be evolving quicker than they ever did before. What used to be a one-size, one-style has to fit all has now been thrown out the window along with outdated traditions that just don’t suit the many different types and styles of couples wanting to get married in 21st century.

So with all this choice, what’s currently on trend for wedding cakes in the 2020’s? Well, grab a cup of darjeeling and a slice and let me fill you in...

MOdern handpainted marble wedding cake with wafer paper roses and clear tier — Image by Zaki Charles Photography

1. Wafer Paper Cakes

In 2020 I started to dabble in wafer paper and it has seriously changed my life. Bold statement I know but when you’ve spent hours making delicate sugar flowers only for them to break at the last minute when you put them on the cake, then you’ll know my pain.

I noticed that the use of wafer paper was becoming more and more prevalent as I scrolled through Instagram and it piqued my interest so much that I enrolled on a course with an amazing wafer flower artist and my love for wafer paper became fully fledged!

The beauty of wafer paper flowers is their life-like nature and how similar the medium is to real flower petals. Despite their delicate appearance it’s also surprisingly resilient and won’t shatter into pieces like a traditional sugar flower – an absolute bonus for easy placement on your cake not to mention delivery!

And it doesn’t just stop at flowers, wafer paper makes beautiful ruffles, pleats and abstract designs and can be used to add extra texture to your cake. I honestly can’t harp on about it enough!

2. Acrylic Tiers

For those wanting to add a modern edge to their wedding cake, the arrival of the clear acrylic tier has been a welcome addition to many a cake artist’s portfolio. Adding a clear tier or ‘divider’ not only adds style and creates an amazing floating tier illusion but they also create height.

There’s no denying that tall cakes with multiple tiers make a statement but with many of my weddings averaging around 90 evening guests, my couples don’t always need an enormous amount of cake yet they still want their cake to have some presence in the room and these do the job perfectly.

You can even fill an acrylic tier with flowers or fairy lights or incorporate it into the decoration to add even more interest and make it a real showstopper.

Dramatic white and gold modern wedding cake with gold bow — Image by Suzy Elizabeth Photography

3. Sculptural Wedding Cakes

Why make a cake that looks like a cake when you can make it look like an incredible art sculpture?

More and more cakes that are befitting of an art gallery are gracing the wedding editorial pages and they’re perfect for the style-led couple who really appreciates art and creativity and wants that to feature as part of their wedding styling.

Cakes that look like stone or pottery with heaps of texture that blend seamlessly into their surroundings or vibrant abstract pieces with organic wafer paper shapes that steal the show are for the brave couples who want to surprise and delight with their wedding cake.

4. Fondant Wedding Cakes

Since I started my business, I’ve noticed a gradual move from the much-favoured semi-naked cake back to more structured fondant creations, which lend themselves beautifully to sculpting, hand-painting, creating an abundance of textures and more. I love the versatility of the medium and it enables me to produce something uniquely individual for my couples.

The buttercream vs. fondant debate will always be contentious amongst cake artists with each preferring to work with one or the other and, whilst I do like a buttercream cake, fondant is where my creativity goes into full flow!

If taste is an issue then trust me when I say that the quality of fondant has moved on a lot since those birthday cakes of our childhoods with their inch-thick wedge of sickly sweet icing! If you’re still not convinced, check out my blog on “3 reasons to choose a fondant cake”.

Celestial dark blue and burgundy handpainted wedding cake — Image by Poppy Carter Photography

5. The Latest Colour Trend

Every year, Pantone releases a new ‘colour of the year’ and for 2022 they announced ‘Very Peri” (Periwinkle - blue/violet) as the colour ‘du jour’.

Given I love a bold colour statement, I’m totally on board with this colour and used sparingly, it can make a beautiful accent colour that will add depth and interest to an otherwise muted palette.

The Last Crumb…

There you have it, my top wedding cake trends for the 2020’s. Trends aside however, your wedding, and indeed your wedding cake, should be a reflection of you as a couple. What do YOU like, what floats YOUR boat? Don’t be dissuaded from choosing something completely different because you’re worried what people might think… and if that’s a retro cool cake with pillars then go for it!