Spring Wedding Cake Ideas

Make your wedding cake a slice of springtime

By Glyn Sheridan

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Spring is a breathtaking time to tie the knot, and the spring bride has a wide array of seasonal choices for her wedding cake. When selecting cake flavors and designs, traditional spring themes, combined with the bride's own style, will ensure that her wedding cake is a centerpiece of the reception.

Colors

Pastels are customary for spring wedding cakes, but toned-down hues of any color, when applied sparingly, can highlight the cake. Favorites are yellow, pink and orchid. Although white icing is traditional, consider covering the cake in a light pastel and using white as an accent color in the design elements.

Flavors

Fruit and citrus flavors top the list of spring cake fillings. Berry, lemon or orange fillings will complement white, strawberry or yellow cake layers. Whipped white chocolate ganache is a silky, decadent alternative, and you may tint it to match the bride's colors. Avoid dark layers, such as red velvet or chocolate and heavy custard fillings at this time of year.

Icing

Buttercream is the time-honored icing choice for a spring wedding cake, but pure white or light pastel-colored fondant is acceptable if the bride wants a satiny smooth look. Cake decorators can add super-white coloring to pastel fondant to brighten up the cake.

Spring Blooms

Cherry blossoms, tulips, daffodils and magnolias add a distinct touch of spring to the cake, but many brides will want to match the flowers in their bouquet. The classic rose, both in full bloom or in its budding state, is always welcome on the wedding cake. The bride may choose delicate sugar-crafted flowers, or she may decorate her cake with fresh blooms. Certain flowers are edible, but the cake decorator should use food-grade holders to ensure all other blooms do not touch the cake.

Design

A tiered wedding cake with crystal columns is an elegant choice for a formal spring wedding, as is a cupcake cake, with tiny individual cakes arranged on tiered plates. Piped icing scrolls and Swiss dots add a light touch to the spring wedding cake.

Elements

Fountains, placed above or below the base layer, may trickle with clear or lightly tinted water. Ribbons and lace are acceptable both on the cake stand and on the cake itself. A single white or pastel ribbon around the base of a fondant-wrapped cake layer is simple yet refreshing and elegant.