Wedding Cake Design

Wedding cake design since 1900

The early years were known for there extravagance and romance, after the death of Queen Victoria wedding fashions became more feminine and so did wedding cake designs. Cream and Ivory were the most popular colours for wedding dresses, the wedding cake stood out as a stately white monument, the only people to afford multi tiered wedding cakes were Royalty or High Society. The rest of British Empire could afford a single layer adorned with special mementoes, orange blossom was the most popular flower for wedding cakes. Flowers were everywhere wedding bouquets measured up to two feet across until the First World War, a smaller version of the wedding bouquet was often copied on the wedding cake this was expensive and not everyone could afford to have there cake professionally iced.

With World War One wedding became smaller and simpler flowers became far less prominent and wedding cakes less ornate. After the war there was an introduction of a wider range of flowers Lilly of the Valley, Gardenias and Orchids were some of the moulded varieties as cake makers became more adventurous.

The Roaring 20’s

In the 1920 cakes were cut in different shapes instead of the traditional square, the most popular shapes were bells and horseshoes. White was still the most popular colour.

Hollywood and the 1930’s

Every bride wanted to look like a film star among the social set open house parties were popular. Cake decorations became more dramatic and overstated extensive piped work and large flowers were popular, as were 2, 3 and 4-tiered designs. In 1937 the sweetheart neckline appeared and cakes were cut into shapes to match the joined heart design brought back the tradition of one cake for the bride and one for the groom.

Also in 1937 ‘plastic’ icing was introduced which today is know as fondant icing, the advantage of the icing was that it remained soft for long periods so the bride could be assured of cutting the cake easily. Intricate flowers such as carnations were being moulded for the cakes.

With the outbreak of the Second World War there was not time to have rich fruit cakes iced with a sugar decoration, sugar was an extremely rare and precious commodity. Decorations were in the form of fabric or moulded bread flowers; hand moulded and painted bread flowers were considered just as beautiful as sugar decorations.

Post War 40’s

With the war over and rationing at an end the full social wedding with all of the trimmings and a multi tiered cake returned, Queen Elizabeth The Second's marriage in 1947 brought back many of the old ways, white gowns, large bouquets and large wedding cakes all followed in royal style.

The swinging 50’s and 60’s

In the 1950’s elaborate sugar decorations became essential as a keepsake for the bride to keep for her children and grandchildren, couples first started having photographs cutting there wedding cake. In the 1950’s and 60’s a notable feature was ornate centre pieces including miniature bride and grooms made from plastic also miniature churches, shoes and flowers in all shapes and sizes these ornaments were removed before the cake was cut foot he bride to keep.

The 1970’s

The 1970’s followed much the same design as the 1950’s and 60’s royal icing was still being used, as were the bride and grooms, horseshoes, shoes and moulded flowers.

The 1980’s

In the 80’s fondant icing became more popular cakes were still elaborate and the ‘garret frill’ was first introduced. Sugar flowers became more popular with roses and carnations being a firm favourite, a replica of the bridal bouquet made in sugar was favourite choice.

The 1990’s to 2000

The 1990’s saw a rises in the popularity of sponge wedding cakes often a bride would choose a different flavour for each tier. Chocolate wedding cakes decorated in chocolate decorations, fresh fruit or flowers came very much into there own especially towards the late 1990’s.

Another popular choice were novelty cakes like suitcases with hand modelled figures of the bride and groom on the top.

Cakes stacked on top of each other were very popular instead of the pillars separating the tiers.

Lots of sugar flowers were used especially lilies and orchids.

The new millennium has carried on where the 90’s left off, wedding cakes are becoming simpler in design there are lots of fresh flowers being used in contemporary designs. Another popular choice is individual cakes so each of your guests has a cake each, also fairy cakes are a popular choice tiered up on a display stand and elaborately decorated.

<< Planning a Wedding Cake