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What Do People Decorate Their Wedding Cakes With?

by Meggie Hardy

Overview

The days of the plastic bride-and-groom or paper wedding-bell cake toppers are a thing of the past. Couples are now opting to make a personal statement by choosing wedding-cake toppers that reflect a special meaning to them. Cathe England, Wedding Designer at Blue Ribbon Weddings in San Antonio, Texas, says, "Imagination is the key ingredient: Couples are now putting a lot of thought into the design element of their wedding cake and they're getting creative about what to put on top of it."
Flower Toppers

According to England, topping a cake with fresh flowers is a classic choice that is elegant and timeless, but warns that "if you're doing the cake yourself, you must be careful about the type of flowers you use. Some exotic flowers have poisonous leaves and pollen." She recommends counseling with a florist who specializes in providing fresh flowers for cakes, or using marzipan, a gum paste, to make edible flowers. Marzipan can be colored to match any theme.

Monogram Toppers

Monogram cake toppers are made from a variety of materials to accommodate any theme or budget. Swarovski crystals, though expensive, add sparkle, glamour and glitz to a cake; coated wire, brushed silver or gold-plated monograms denote a simple elegance and are less costly.
Glass Toppers

Although pricey, beautiful glass designs sitting atop a wedding cake make a sophisticated statement. Many themes are available in ready-made glass toppers, but for a total custom design, some couples hire a glass blower to customize a piece that depicts their interests. For the more budget-conscious, ready-made acrylic toppers provide the same look at a reduced cost.
Animated Toppers

Lighted waterfalls that empty into bubbling fountains and LED lights have made their way onto the tops of wedding cakes. Words such as "love" and "forever" or the couple's married surname (The Smiths) are common choices for cake toppers.
Fun Toppers

Small informal receptions are often laid-back, high-energy celebrations and the cake toppers reflect the mood. Fun and frivolous items such as disco balls, miniature golfing symbols, dancing shoes--anything that appropriately describes the couple--adds a light-hearted ambiance to an informal celebration.
Icing the Cake

What sits atop the cake will first sit atop the icing, so the icing must be firm enough to support the topper. England says, "Rolled fondant is a smooth icing that will support the weight of most any topper, but it is very sweet, has a waxy taste, and is time-consuming and expensive to make." She recommends buttercream icing (made with butter) or royal icing (made with shortening). "These icings are softer than rolled fondant, less sweet, can be made to look like rolled fondant and are much less expensive." However, England warns that buttercream icing is not a good choice for outdoor receptions in warm weather; the heat will cause the icing to soften and create instability for the cake topper. England has a few words of caution for all do-it-yourselfers: "Heavy toppers should always have spikes or supports that insert into the cake and fasten to the bottom of the cake plate; and any support accessories or anything that comes in contact with the cake should be certified as safe to use for food."