So we've very nearly made it to the end of January. We've tried our darnedest not to talk about wedding cakes for a whole month, but today, we cracked.
Because there's a trend we've admired for a while now, that we couldn't hold off on sharing any longer. Small, mighty, and entirely chic, it's one-tiered wedding cakes.
These cool cakes are enjoying a moment right now. And at a time when weddings are becoming more about personal touches, rather than lofty statements, we think this striped back touch is the perfect example of how to pare back your day without scrimping on style.
Cake byMerely Sweets,Photo byThe Great RomanceviaStyle Me Pretty
Despite the tradition for wedding cakes being at least three tiers high, (or like, 17, if your names are Kate & William), the truth of it is, a lot of that delicious cake ends up uneaten.
Now that fruit cake is a less popular choice, wedding cakes don't last as long as they used to, and how many of us willreallyfreeze the top tier for our first child's Christening?
In some cases, when dessert is also served at your wedding, the cake gets overlooked, and for others, a larger wedding cake is just too big for the number of guests.With wedding cakes costing upwards of 200 or 300 quid, that's a lot of eggs, flour and cash going to waste.
Food waste is a major problem with modern day excess, particularly in hospitality, so as with all catering choices you make, it's important for couples to asses how much food they'll really need at their wedding, and avoid the impulse to go overboard.
And while a smallerwedding cake is still a work of art that has a valuable pricetag, chances are a one-tiered wonder will cost you less on the bottom line than something more elaborate.
Cake byRabalais Bistro,Photo byJack & Hannah Film & Photographyvia Bridal Musings
If you're planning to DIY your wedding cake, a single tier is a no brainer. By stacking up a layer cake, you can still ensure your bake has height, grandeur, and enough icing to fill your guests, without all the construction and transport logistics of a multi-tiered cake.
Aside from the practical, financial and ethical reasonsto choose a one-tiercake, there are also a lot of aesthetic ones too. Smaller cakes allow you to be really creative with colours, textures, and toppings, and to play around with different techniques, flavours and fillings, without the worry of being able to stack it, or recreate it to scale.
Oh and the best thing about choosing a single-tiered wedding cake? You can always have more than one!
Be inspired for your own one-tiered bake, with 25 of our favourite takes on the trend…
1. Textured Blue
Cake byFlour & Flourish,Photo by Emilie Ann Photographyvia Bridal Musings
2. Gold Leaf
Cake by Pylon Cake, Photo by Chris Isham Photographyvia Swooned
3. Coconut & Barley
Cakes byJaime Scripps & Heather Motz,Photo byCat Mayer Studiovia Bridal Musings
4. All Scream for Ice-Cream
Cake by Kind Ice-Cream
5. Luxe Bake
Photo byNatashia Nicole Photographyvia Style Me Pretty
6. Ombre Love
Cake byOlofson Design,Photo byMarianne Taylor Photographyvia Bridal Musings
7. Bundt Banter
Photo by Feather & Twine Photographyvia Wedding Party
8. Clean Palette
Cake by Pylon Cake, Photo by Chris Isham Photographyvia Swooned
9. Barely Iced
Cake byDreamCakes, Photo byJason Wasingervia Bridal Musings
10. Delicious Damask
CakebyM Cakes Sweets, Photo byKT Merryvia Flutter Mag
11. Dark & Opulent
Cake byA Bake Shop, Photo byRachel Solomonvia Style Me Pretty
12. Say It With Swirls
Cake byRabalais Bistro,Photo byJack & Hannah Film & Photographyvia Bridal Musings
13. All That Glitters
Cake byMariaVCreative,Photo byVitalic Photovia Ruffled
14. Floral Topper
Cake byPaper Heart Patisserie,Photo bySamantha Kirk Photographyvia Bridal Musings
15. Shades of Purple
Cake byMagnolia Bakery,Photo byMary Costa Photographyvia Green Wedding Shoes
16. Pretty in Pink
Cake by Blissfully Sweet Cakes, photo by Jenny Sun Photography via Style Me Pretty
17. Chocolate Drizzle
Cake by A Squad Bakeshop,Photo byIzzy Hudgins Photography via Bridal Musings
18. Confetti Cake
Cake byMomof*cku Milk Bar, Photo byCassi Clairevia Elizabeth Anne Designs
19. Sweet & Simple
Cake byThree Sister's Bake, Photo by Dasha Caffrey Photographyvia Bridal Musings
20. Mad Hatter's Cake
Photo by Tin Sparrow Studio via The Knot
21. Polka Dot Dessert
Cake by Miss Cupcake Bakery,Photo byOlga Thomas Photographyvia Bridal Musings
22. Deep Purple
Cake by Call Me Cupcake
23. ForbiddenFruits
Cakes byTrillium Caterers,Photo byHenry + Macvia Style Me Pretty
24. ItalianMeringue
Cake byPasticceria D’arte,Photo byLes Amis Photovia Elizabeth Anne Designs
25. Elegant Appliqué
Cake byLittle Bear Cakery,Photo bySanshine Photographyvia Bridal Musings
So much choice!
I just love the look of the pink and purple ones, and the idea of going for a different texture, like Bundt cake or cheesecake is pretty cool too. Those drizzle cakes look divine as well.
Right, we're off for cake…
Get more Wedding Cake Inspiration.
