Overwhelmed wedding cake maker covered in flour

‘Wedding cake ideas’. Oh that’s a big old beast of a Google search result isn’t it?

Whilst planning a wedding is fun and exciting, the sheer volume of wedding inspiration means that it’s also like being bombarded with a million confetti bombs! Don’t get me wrong, we are so lucky that the wedding industry has evolved from the limitations of a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to the vast array of styles we have now but jeez, too much choice can also be difficult to navigate.

Some couples have a definite idea of what they want their wedding to look like but for those who don’t, it can be paralysing. Personally, I was never someone who thought much about weddings and when it came to planning my own, I got a bit overwhelmed and my reaction to this was to make quick decisions to remove the need to choose from too many options. I was very much a ‘that’ll do’ kind of planner. In hindsight and now that I work in the industry, I would have done things so much differently had I known what incredible things suppliers can create and if I hadn’t been so hasty.

If that’s you and you’re suffering from inspo’ overload then fear not, I have some advice on how you can beat the overwhelm just by doing the right research and letting your suppliers lift some of the heavy weight.

1. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist

Cryptic I know but let me explain…

I’ve lost count of the times a couple has come to me with a set idea on their wedding cake design because it was all they had seen on their internet searches.

Let’s take ‘rustic wedding cakes’ for example. Do a search and you’ll be met with a sea of semi-naked buttercream cakes and you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s the only possible style you can have because that’s all you can see. And why wouldn’t you? You’ve probably never planned a wedding before and if this is what goes then why argue? Don’t get me wrong, if you absolutely love the look of a semi-naked cake then go for it!

BUT, if you’re only choosing this style because you think that’s what you should have or you just can’t think of any other style and don’t profess to be creatively minded or worse, you think it’s the only thing you can have, please don’t be tempted to adopt my old “that’ll do’ approach. Your wedding and indeed your investment is worthy of more. Let’s face it, why spend money on something you’re only half-hearted about or feel is a compromise?

The beauty of bespoke products like wedding cakes is that you can have anything you want and if you don’t actually know what that is then here’s where your supplier comes in. Wedding suppliers are a creative bunch so look to them to design something unique for you. My downfall when planning my own wedding was to just instruct my suppliers with my ideas without letting them contribute their own creativity and experience. Control freak much?!

Wedding cake designer sketching a design

2. Look for inspiration outside of weddings

Whilst you are absolutely going to look at other weddings for inspiration when planning your own (in fact, I often participate in styled shoots to create inspirational designs to showcase to prospective couples), there’s something to be said for looking outside the realm of actual wedding cakes for ideas.

Your wedding should be about you, so why not look to the things you like and enjoy in everyday life? What kind of clothes do you wear? What’s your home like? What are your hobbies? Do you love the city or the countryside? Do you love art and if so, what style? Most importantly, what’s your wedding venue like? The venue is the biggie because this often dictates the style (and indeed tends to echo your style) and feel of wedding you’ll go for.

Recently, I had a consultation with a bride and she offered to send me some inspiration pictures. I fully expected several images of other cakes but she surprised and delighted me with an image of her wedding dress, cape (yes, a cape!), her pearl bridal hair accessory, the groom’s tuxedo and her bridesmaids’ dresses. Those images immediately gave a me the sense and feel of what she and her partner wanted to achieve and I was able to propose a design that fit perfectly and uniquely to their wedding.

PS. Let me caveat this by saying that if you do want to send a Pinterest board of wedding cakes as inspiration, then it’s not a problem! I can often identify common themes and decorating techniques and apply that to a design whilst still creating something unique. I will not judge...and I will also not copy, which brings me to my next point...

Smiling wedding cake maker sketching a design

3. Your suppliers are there to help and inspire you

Confession time. In the past, I’ve been guilty of copying another cake artist’s design in the belief that it was what the couple REALLY wanted, only to realise that they had searched the internet for inspiration and for lack of any other ideas, this was the one they both seemed to like best so they plumped for that one (see point 1 above!).

My failure was that I didn’t question it or delve deeper because they seemed SO certain with their choice but trust me, I’ve changed my ways. Even if it’s one of my own designs that they like, I always look for ways to change it up and customise it to their style. Recently a couple told me after their consultation that I had designed a cake that they ‘didn’t even know before speaking to you today that this is exactly what we wanted’, all because they allowed themselves to trust in my skills and creativity.

What I came to realise was that it’s my job to educate and inspire you. Most couples are totally new to the concept of wedding planning, not least what the possibilities are in the realm of wedding cakes, and the things that are obvious to me as a cake designer, who lives and breathes weddings all year long, won’t necessarily be obvious to you.

Nowadays, my first question is often ‘how do you want your wedding to feel?’. My aim is to build a picture of what you’re about as a couple and what your preferred style is like. I will tease information and inspiration from you so that I can create something personal to you.

Above, it’s about trusting your chosen supplier. After all, you’ve chosen them and their specific style for a reason so give them some nuggets of information and let them flex their creativity.

The last crumb…

As a designer, I'm inspired by the natural world, florals, fabrics, art, pottery, textures and interiors etc. As a couple planning your wedding, you will have you own set of criteria but allowing your suppliers in to the planning process means that the meeting of both our minds will create a design that is truly unique and meaningful to you...and “that’ll most definitely do”!

Images by Nicola Dawson Photography