When it comes to the drinks, meals, and desserts you decide to serve at your nuptials, there are a number of different decisions to make. As you work with your caterer to craft the menu for your rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour, and reception, you may opt to take a personal approach to the culinary offerings, wanting your guests to enjoy some of your and your partner’s favorite dishes and beverages. You may also pay homage to the season in which your wedding takes place—serving fresh local produce for a summer fête or peppermint espresso martinis at a winter celebration.
While a wedding cake is a classic tradition, you can take the same personalized approach to selecting your dessert by fusing your unique taste with the aesthetic of your celebration. For example, you and your future spouse may opt for a decadent, over-the-top tower cake, wanting the dessert to serve as a sweet treat and a showstopping focal point at your reception. However, if you’re planning a more laid-back event, you may decide to embrace a trend-forward sheet cake—or a one-tier, heart-shaped confection. Yet, some modern couples are opting to add another layer of individuality to this time-honored dessert by decorating the cake themselves.
“Couples are craving more immersive, personal moments within their weddings,” says Beth Helmstetter, the founder and creative director of Beth Helmstetter Events. “Decorating your own cake is a charming, tactile way to add intimacy and storytelling to your day. It brings you back to the joy of creating something together. It also aligns with the broader movement we’re seeing: less polish, more personality.” Rather than just selecting their confection and having the final product revealed to them at their reception, brides and grooms are opting to put a modern twist on this traditional element, making the presentation of the dessert an interactive experience that’s uniquely their own.
Below, we break down why more couples are deciding to decorate their own wedding cake—and explain how to do the same at your own nuptials. Read on for more.
Photo by Ruby Olivia Photography
How to Decorate Your Own Wedding Cake: 3 Key Steps to Follow
Staging this personal moment requires some preparation prior to your big day. In addition to considering how you’ll want to decorate your confection, you’ll want to make sure your cake designer and planner are aware of your desire to execute this activity at your reception. Below, we explain the three key steps to take in advance of your celebration.
Select the Right Cake
If you’re interested in decorating your own wedding cake as part of your reception, it’s important to select the right type of confection. For example, a five-tier tower may not be the easiest to ice without expert-level skills. Ultimately, in order for this activity to go smoothly at your celebration, opt for a one-tier cake, such as a millefoglie. This traditional Italian dessert is made from puff pastry and topped with powdered sugar and fresh fruit. And as a table cake, it features a large, flat surface, making it the ideal treat for amateur bakers to decorate. Another option to consider? A small cutting cake. You and your partner can inscribe your own words—or a special phrase shared between the two of you—onto the treat before slicing into it.
Photo by Wilken Weddings
Have a Conversation With Your Cake Designer
In addition to selecting the right kind of confection for this activity, make sure to discuss your plan with your baker. Be transparent about your vision, Helmstetter says. “Let your caterer or cake designer know well in advance so they can prepare the cake to be ‘assembly-ready’ and provide all necessary components, whether that’s piping bags, fresh fruit, edible florals, or powdered sugar,” she adds. “They’ll also help ensure the structure is stable and the timing works with refrigeration needs or any temperature-sensitive elements.”
Choose the Right Time for the Moment—And Rehearse It
“If a couple is decorating their cake, particularly something like a millefoglie, it’s important to treat it as a thoughtful moment, not a last-minute surprise,” Helmstetter says. “We typically stage this during the reception, shortly before dessert is served. It can be woven into the flow of the evening, similar to a Champagne tower or first dance, something guests gather around to witness and celebrate. Logistically, it’s essential to rehearse or walk through the process in advance to ensure it’s seamless and stress-free.” Prior to your big day, make sure to discuss with your partner what you want this activity to look and feel like. Should it be playful and silly? Or romantic and sentimental? Ensure that the two of you are on the same page before you reach for the piping bags.
