In my 63-wedding JFP career, I’ve eaten a lot of wedding cake. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the wedding day for me because most of the time I’m on the 7th, 8th or 9th hour of shooting and a nice sliver of delicious wedding cake is like “icing on the cake”…a sweet ending to a sweet day.

However, a sliver of wedding cake isn’t always waiting for me in between the electric slide and cupid shuffle (two of my wedding dance faves!). Some couples are going against the norm and opting out of the traditional wedding cake. I’ve seen everything from a multi-tiered cake covered in rich flowers to a selection of country pies served with ice cream…and no cake. That’s right. Some couples don’t have a wedding cake! So if you’re planning your wedding or putting together an inspiration board on Pinterest for your future wedding, considering breaking the rules when it comes to the wedding cake…

Meredith and Bobby had one of the most beautiful wedding cakes I’ve ever seen. It was simple, elegant, covered in rich flowers and a traditional tiered cake made for such celebratory occasions. If a traditional tiered cake is on your list of things to have at your wedding, definitely consider something like this!

Aly and Justin also had a traditional tiered wedding cake covered in flowers, but it was fake. The form and decorations of the cake were real, but the insides were not and this cake wasn’t edible. Instead, Aly and Justin had a small round cake (that was real) that they’ll share on their one-year anniversary. Guests were then served slices of cake that had been pre-cut by the kitchen staff. Aly and Justin’s cake was also one of the most beautiful cakes I’ve ever seen…and it wasn’t real! I’ve heard this is a great way to save money, by the way. 🙂

Here’s another twist on the traditional tiered wedding cake…no flowers, no colors, just simple white. Even though there were no typical cake decorations, Jackie and Kendall’s cake was still a standout and crowd-pleaser! Don’t be afraid to do something totally unexpected.

Cupcakes are a HUGE trend at today’s weddings, so I’m sure you’ve seen at least a few cupcake presentations by now. Cupcakes are a great way to incorporate many different flavors into your “wedding cake” (I think Brian and I had six!) and appeal to a larger age range…who doesn’t love cupcakes!?! I loved Claudia and Mike’s tiered set-up of Georgetown Cupcakes with a small round cake for the newlyweds to share.

What about taking the tiered cake to the next level? I’ve seen various tiers set up in organized, straight-line displays for weddings “back in the day”…you know, like the ones your parents probably had at their weddings. But here’s a different concept for ya! How about an organized display of various tiers that’s a bit more edgy and a little cuter? 😉 Rachel and David had five different round cakes, each sitting at a different level and spread across a small round table. It was a beautiful set-up that was loved by all the guests! I especially loved the paper pom poms. 🙂

Like Claudia and Mike, Jamie and Kevin also had a combination of cake and cupcakes, but no tiers involved. Their special round cake had peanut butter icing, a handmade pennant banner and blue flowers, so it stood out from the cupcakes and rest of the cake table. The various plates of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were specifically for guests to share. This cake table photographed so well, so if you’re still “up in the air” about what your wedding cake might look like, consider a table display filled with more than just one cake and lots of decoration.

Here’s something similar to what Jamie and Kevin had, but less cupcakes and more sweets! Jess and Jim wanted a wedding cake, so they had one made for just the two of them. Their guests then enjoyed pies, cookies, cupcakes and candy. What a great way to share a variety of sweets to make all taste buds happy! This is also a great way to include some of your family members and friends who make special homemade goodies. Maybe grandma makes awesome chocolate chip cookies and Aunt Suzie makes a mean pumpkin and cream cheese roll. Ask them to treat you (and your guests) on your big day!

While Elizabeth and Chad kept things simple with one cake, the cake itself was not at all simple. This was one of the most elaborately decorated wedding cakes I’ve seen and it fit Elizabeth and Chad’s theme perfectly. They are both nature lovers and that was clearly displayed during their wedding day. Don’t be afraid to put a little extra lovin’ into your wedding cake with lots of details and lots of icing. It’ll be sure to get lots of attention!

Kelly and Chris also had one single cake, but it was an ice cream cake! They’re pretty brave, right?? 😉 They went to Bruester’s, put together their own ice cream flavor and had it made into a cake for their wedding day. How neat-o and appropriately personal is that!?! And continuing with the ice cream theme, they treated guests to an ice cream sundae bar. What a delightful, delicious and unexpected surprise!

Hahaha oh Kelly. 🙂

One last idea for you…how about no cake at all!?! What?? NO CAKE!?!?! Yep, I said it! Sarah and Tom did not have a wedding cake! They served country pies and a tub of ice cream…and guests loved it! Again, another unexpected surprise that fit the wedding perfectly.

So there you have it…not every wedding cake is tiered and covered in flowers (which is totally pretty and appropriate) and not every wedding even includes a wedding cake! Whether you decide to break the rules of tradition or not, make sure your wedding cake is what you want it to be! Go to a tasting or two and have some fun putting some personal touches into this wedding staple. Guests definitely look forward to the sweets at the end of a wedding day, so don’t be afraid to surprise them with ice cream, cupcakes, pies or a super detailed single cake.

If you’re in the northern VA area and looking for a baker, check out Layered Cake Patisserie. They’re part of the family and do fabulous work! I’ve seen some of their recent cakes on Facebook and they always make me soooo hungry!

For the Morgantown area, I suggest The Cupcakerie in downtown. I’ve never been in their store, but I’ve had their cupcakes at recent weddings and they’re delicious! They even make margarita-flavored cupcakes, which I think is totally unique and pretty awesome. 🙂 I need to get down to their store for a visit sometime soon!

And if you’re looking for more ideas for your wedding, more ideas on how to be different and break the rules of tradition, check out my other posts in this series…DIFFERENT bridesmaid dresses, dessert and hors d’oeuvres receptions, groomsmen attire, floral centerpieces.

Have a delicious day!