When it comes to tiers and buttercream, the options are endless. (Hell, you could even ditch the tiers and buttercream all together.) That’s why we spoke to the best wedding cake designers and bakeries in the country—and selected the best almost-too-pretty-to-eat cake trends of 2016. These designs are predicted to, well, take the cake this year. (We couldn’t resist.)
Naked Cakes
Photo: Milk Bar.
Like mason jars and "Here Comes the Bride" signs, naked cakes are a wedding trend that can't stop/won't stop. If you haven’t seen one, it's a cake with unfrosted sides, allowing guests to see (and salivate over) every detail. And yes, that means the fillings matter even more. Take a cue from Milk Bar in New York City and feature foods like pretzels and marshmallows for added elements of texture.
Metallic Cakes
Photo: Jennifer Roach.
Just about every baker we spoke to agrees: Metallics are maj. “The metallic finish lends a touch of elegance that you just can't get any other way,” says Carmela Tracy, owner of Loveletter Cakeshop in New York City. Subtle hits of silver, bronze, and gold are all fair game, but if you really want to make a statement, pair gold with saturated jewel tones.
Textured, Monochromatic White
Photo: Jennifer Roach.
If you’re not much of a blingy bride, there’s a trend for you too. “Couples who want to keep it clean and simple (but not boring!) are incorporating texture into otherwise plain buttercream cakes,” says Jennifer Roach, head cake designer at Cescaphe Event Group in Philadelphia, who has been getting an increasing number of requests for spatula marks. Elegant yet effortless.
Black Details
Photo: Cake by Amy Beck Cake Design. Photo by Jolie Images.
Want a design your guests can see from the bar? We have two words for you: black accents. “It’s a bold choice for couples who don’t want the details to go overlooked,” says Amy Beck of Amy Beck Cake Design in Chicago. “Plus, there’s a larger trend of vintage weddings happening right now, and black and white conjures up old fashioned thoughts.”
Deconstructed (Non-Tiered) Cakes
Photo: Magnolia Bakery.
Go long: Lots of brides are scattering each cake layer across their table, instead of having traditional tiers stacked on top of each other. New York City’s Magnolia Bakery is seeing more and more couples curate a mismatched (but cohesive) dessert table filled with smaller cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and cookies.
Geode Designs
Photo: Cake by Sainte G. Cake Company. Photo by Corbin Gurkin.
Bakers have been recreating elements from nature for decades {Uh, flowers, anyone? } but the latest trend in wedding cake design ups the wow factor by recreating rocks and crystals so real you won’t believe you could eat them. “Geode cakes look natural, glamorous, and uncontrived—all at the same time,” says Krista Juracek, founder of Sainte G. Cake Company in San Francisco. “It's a very exciting trend.”
Painted Cakes
Photo: A White Cake.
“Hand-painting provides a water color look and makes the colors feel almost like they’re glowing,” says Lauren Bohl White, founder of A White Cake in New York City. “Hand painting is also a great way to incorporate graphics from the invitation, which often ties the cake into the overall look of the wedding.” This particular cake features “I love you” in different languages. #love.
Geometric Patterns
Photo: Made in Heaven Cakes.
You've seen 'em on jewelry. You've seen 'em in home decor. And now you'll see 'em on wedding cakes. Geometric patterns—think: sharp angles and repetitive shapes—are making more appearances on modern wedding cakes. We love the tiny triangles on this one from Made in Heaven Cakes in New York.
Want to try your hand at baking? Here’s how to pipe leaves and roses.