What's your wedding cake style?

How to choose a wedding cake you'll love for years to come

One of the things I hear most often from couples is:

"We just don't know what we want."

And that's completely normal.

Your wedding cake is so much more than dessert. It's a beautiful centrepiece, a reflection of your style as a couple, and part of one of the most photographed moments of your wedding day. With so many designs to choose from, it can feel overwhelming knowing where to begin.

The good news? Choosing your cake design doesn't have to be difficult.

Here are my favourite tips to help you discover a wedding cake that feels completely you.

Start with the practical details

Before thinking about colours, flowers or decorative finishes, it helps to establish a few practical details.

How many guests are you feeding?

The size of your guest list will influence the number of tiers your cake needs. As a guide:

• Around 20–40 guests – a single or two-tier cake

• 50–100 guests – two or three tiers

• 100–150 guests – three or four tiers

• 150+ guests – four or more tiers

If you're serving your cake as dessert or offering generous evening portions, this may also affect the design and size.

Think about the season

The time of year can influence both the design and finish of your cake.

For summer weddings, particularly during July and August, a fondant-covered cake generally copes much better with warmer temperatures than buttercream. Buttercream can soften quickly in the heat, especially if your cake is displayed for several hours.

Your cake designer will recommend the most suitable finish based on your venue and the season.

Decide on your non-negotiables

Do you already know you love a particular flavour? Have a favourite colour palette? Always dreamed of handcrafted sugar flowers? Or perhaps you definitely don't want certain colours or styles.

Having just a few "must-haves" (and "definitely nots") gives your designer the perfect starting point.

Find inspiration beyond cakes

Pinterest is a fantastic place to gather ideas—but don't worry about finding the perfect cake.

Instead, save anything that catches your eye. You might notice you're drawn to soft romantic colours, clean modern lines, dramatic florals or textured details.

Even better, create a mood board that includes more than just cakes.

Think about:

• Your wedding flowers

• Fabric textures

• Stationery

• Venue architecture

• Your colour palette

• Bridal accessories

• Interior design you love

Often these influences tell a much richer story than cake photos alone, allowing your cake designer to create something that's completely bespoke rather than a copy of another design.

Let your wedding style guide your cake

One of my biggest pieces of advice is not to finalise your cake design too early.

Once you've chosen your venue, florist, dress and overall styling, your cake can become a beautiful extension of everything else.

Your wedding dress might inspire delicate lace detailing, elegant ruffles or subtle pearl accents.

Your flowers can be recreated in handcrafted sugar for a timeless display that lasts long after the wedding.

Your venue may call for something classic and refined, or perhaps something contemporary and understated.

Ask yourself:

• Do you want elegant and timeless?

• Romantic and floral?

• Modern and minimalist?

• Colourful and playful?

• Relaxed countryside charm?

• Luxurious black-tie sophistication?

Your cake should feel like it belongs naturally within your celebration.

Don't forget the flavour

Beautiful cakes are wonderful.

Beautiful cakes that taste incredible are unforgettable.

When choosing your design, remember that what's inside matters just as much as the outside. Whether you love classic vanilla, rich chocolate, lemon and elderflower or something more adventurous like raspberry and white chocolate or sticky ginger with whisky butterscotch, choose flavours you'll genuinely enjoy sharing with your guests.

Because everyone remembers a delicious cake.

Trust your cake designer

This is where the magic happens.

A professional wedding cake designer will take all of your ideas—even if they're only half-formed—and turn them into a cohesive design that's uniquely yours.

Rather than asking you to choose from a catalogue, I work closely with each couple to understand their style, venue and vision before creating a bespoke design.

Every cake begins with a digital sketch, allowing you to see exactly how your cake will look before it's made. Together we can refine proportions, flowers, colours and decorative details until everything feels just right.

The result is a cake that's personal, elegant and completely unique to your wedding.

Let's create something unforgettable

Whether you already have a clear vision or you're starting with a blank page, I'd love to help.

Based in Marlow, I create bespoke wedding cakes for couples across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and beyond. From elegant sugar flowers to exceptional flavours, every cake is designed to become a memorable part of your wedding day.

If you're planning your wedding and would like to chat about ideas, get in touch to book a consultation. Together, we'll create a cake that's every bit as special as the celebration itself.