So we've very nearly made it to the end of January. We've tried our darnedest not to talk about wedding cakes for a whole month, but today, we cracked.
Because there's a trend we've admired for a while now, that we couldn't hold off on sharing any longer. Small, mighty, and entirely chic, it's one-tiered wedding cakes.
These cool cakes are enjoying a moment right now. And at a time when weddings are becoming more about personal touches, rather than lofty statements, we think this striped back touch is the perfect example of how to pare back your day without scrimping on style.
Cake by Merely Sweets, Photo by The Great Romance via Style Me Pretty
Despite the tradition for wedding cakes being at least three tiers high, (or like, 17, if your names are Kate & William), the truth of it is, a lot of that delicious cake ends up uneaten.
Now that fruit cake is a less popular choice, wedding cakes don't last as long as they used to, and how many of us will really freeze the top tier for our first child's Christening?
In some cases, when dessert is also served at your wedding, the cake gets overlooked, and for others, a larger wedding cake is just too big for the number of guests. With wedding cakes costing upwards of 200 or 300 quid, that's a lot of eggs, flour and cash going to waste.
Food waste is a major problem with modern day excess, particularly in hospitality, so as with all catering choices you make, it's important for couples to asses how much food they'll really need at their wedding, and avoid the impulse to go overboard.
And while a smaller wedding cake is still a work of art that has a valuable pricetag, chances are a one-tiered wonder will cost you less on the bottom line than something more elaborate.
Cake by Rabalais Bistro, Photo by Jack & Hannah Film & Photography via Bridal Musings
If you're planning to DIY your wedding cake, a single tier is a no brainer. By stacking up a layer cake, you can still ensure your bake has height, grandeur, and enough icing to fill your guests, without all the construction and transport logistics of a multi-tiered cake.
Aside from the practical, financial and ethical reasons to choose a one-tier cake, there are also a lot of aesthetic ones too. Smaller cakes allow you to be really creative with colours, textures, and toppings, and to play around with different techniques, flavours and fillings, without the worry of being able to stack it, or recreate it to scale.
Oh and the best thing about choosing a single-tiered wedding cake? You can always have more than one!
Be inspired for your own one-tiered bake, with 25 of our favourite takes on the trend…
1. Textured Blue
Cake by Flour & Flourish, Photo by Emilie Ann Photography via Bridal Musings
2. Gold Leaf
Cake by Pylon Cake, Photo by Chris Isham Photography via Swooned
3. Coconut & Barley
Cakes by Jaime Scripps & Heather Motz, Photo by Cat Mayer Studio via Bridal Musings
4. All Scream for Ice-Cream
Cake by Kind Ice-Cream
5. Luxe Bake
Photo by Natashia Nicole Photography via Style Me Pretty
6. Ombre Love
Cake by Olofson Design, Photo by Marianne Taylor Photography via Bridal Musings
7. Bundt Banter
Photo by Feather & Twine Photography via Wedding Party
8. Clean Palette
Cake by Pylon Cake, Photo by Chris Isham Photography via Swooned
9. Barely Iced
Cake by DreamCakes, Photo by Jason Wasinger via Bridal Musings
10. Delicious Damask
Cake by M Cakes Sweets, Photo by KT Merry via Flutter Mag
11. Dark & Opulent
Cake by A Bake Shop, Photo by Rachel Solomon via Style Me Pretty
12. Say It With Swirls
Cake by Rabalais Bistro, Photo by Jack & Hannah Film & Photography via Bridal Musings
13. All That Glitters
Cake by MariaVCreative, Photo by Vitalic Photo via Ruffled
14. Floral Topper
Cake by Paper Heart Patisserie, Photo by Samantha Kirk Photography via Bridal Musings
15. Shades of Purple
Cake by Magnolia Bakery, Photo by Mary Costa Photography via Green Wedding Shoes
16. Pretty in Pink
Cake by Blissfully Sweet Cakes, photo by Jenny Sun Photography via Style Me Pretty
17. Chocolate Drizzle
Cake by A Squad Bakeshop, Photo by Izzy Hudgins Photography via Bridal Musings
18. Confetti Cake
Cake by Momofuku Milk Bar, Photo by Cassi Claire via Elizabeth Anne Designs
19. Sweet & Simple
Cake by Three Sister's Bake, Photo by Dasha Caffrey Photography via Bridal Musings
20. Mad Hatter's Cake
Photo by Tin Sparrow Studio via The Knot
21. Polka Dot Dessert
Cake by Miss Cupcake Bakery, Photo by Olga Thomas Photography via Bridal Musings
22. Deep Purple
Cake by Call Me Cupcake
23. Forbidden Fruits
Cakes by Trillium Caterers, Photo by Henry + Mac via Style Me Pretty
24. Italian Meringue
Cake by Pasticceria D’arte, Photo by Les Amis Photo via Elizabeth Anne Designs
25. Elegant Appliqué
Cake by Little Bear Cakery, Photo by Sanshine Photography via Bridal Musings
So much choice!
I just love the look of the pink and purple ones, and the idea of going for a different texture, like Bundt cake or cheesecake is pretty cool too. Those drizzle cakes look divine as well.
Right, we're off for cake…
Get more Wedding Cake Inspiration.
