A cut above the rest

Liz Connor pores over seven decades of confectionery trends

THE ritual of the wedding cake in this country can be traced back to medieval times. Traditionally, we still think of couples jointly cutting into old-fashioned fruit cakes. But today’s edible creations are works of art in their own right; featuring watercolour flocking, gold leaf applique and exotic ingredients from far-flung destinations. Here Hamish Shephard, founder of Bridebook (bridebook.co.uk), looks back at some of the trends that have defined the humble wedding cake over the decades.

THE 1950s

The decade was a big turning point for weddings. Food rationing ended which meant that cakes could be more detailed and ornate. The affordability of plastic also saw a boom in the traditional bride and groom toppers, while bakers had more freedom to experiment with piping and floral decorations.

THE 1960s

Influenced by celebrity nuptials like Elvis and Priscilla Presley, bakers used plastic pillars to precariously pile extra tiers onto their bakes, helping them to reach dizzying new heights. But although the cakes were tall and tiered, fruit cake was still the common choice. Its sturdiness allowed for stacking several tiers on top of one another, and the long life of the cake also meant nothing went to waste.”

THE 1970s

“Once tall cakes had their moment, decoration and styling became more of a feature,” says Hamish. Bakers concentrated on sugar flowers, hand-painted details and intricate piping in pastel hues, as well as arranging fresh flowers on top and around the cakes.

THE 1980s

“The Eighties saw the first real break from tradition with a completely new style,” says Hamish. “Charles and Diana’s cake is easily the most famous and weddings across the world emulated the new and striking hexagonal style. Having flat edges as opposed to rounded allows for more decoration and statement accents.”

THE 1990s

Novelty cake toppers, heart-shaped bakes and lashings of lavender icing - “Nothing was too much in the Nineties,” says Hamish. “The era of course saw all sorts of new and exciting wedding cake styles,” he continues. “More complex features, that some may cringe at today, were a staple, like miniature fountains on the cakes and complex architectural arrangements.”

THE 2000s

The Noughties saw the start of a major cupcake craze in the US. Some couples artfully arranged them around their wedding cake, while others did away with a traditional iced bake and opted for American-style cupcake towers instead. “The start of the Noughties saw the first move away from wedding cakes and towards ‘alternative cakes’,” says Hamish. “Whether it’s a doughnut wall, a cheese tower, or personalised cupcakes, couples are able to add personality and break tradition in ways they never have before.”

THE 2010s

There are pretty much no rules around what your wedding cake should look or taste like today. “ww The introduction of Instagram changed the game for weddings and wedding cakes,” says Hamish. “The rising pressure to have an ‘Instagrammable’ wedding has meant that decoration has gone above and beyond. “Specialist wedding cake makers are more skilled and artistically talented than ever before, with stunning watercolour, geode and drip cakes becoming a must-have for the millennial wedding.”