Wedding cakes are available in as many sizes and shapes as there are colors in the rainbow.  Cake sizes can be large enough to feed gatherings of hundreds of people or small enough to feed the bride and groom alone.  Some cakes adhere to the traditional round shape while others break the norm and feature a more modern square shape.  There are no hard and fast rules about what a wedding cake should look like so brides and grooms are free to choose something that appeals to them.

The most traditional style of wedding cake is undoubtedly the round wedding cake.  In some form or another, wedding cakes have been using the round shape for decades.  However, the way those round cakes are put together have changed over the years.  Some weddings feature round wedding cakes that are built upon a system of pillars to achieve great height.  Another way to use a round-shaped wedding cake is to stack increasingly smaller cakes directly on top of each other until the cake has reached the desired size.   Even small weddings that only require a small, single layer cake often choose a small round cake.

For a sleeker, more modern take on the traditional wedding cake, some couples are turning to square-shaped confections.  Square wedding cakes can be stacked and layer in many of the same ways that round cakes are created.  However, square cakes are easier to cut and serve making them a caterer’s dream.  In addition, square or rectangular sheet cakes are a wonderful alternative for a bride and groom on a budget.  A large sheet cake is inexpensive and can feed many guests.

Particularly romantic weddings often present the bride and groom with the perfect opportunity to select a specially-shaped wedding cake.  For instance, a single layer of heart-shaped wedding cake is an especially sweet touch for an intimate wedding.  That doesn’t mean, though, that heart-shaped cakes can’t be used for larger receptions.  They can also be stacked or mounted with pillars in the same fashion that their more traditional cousins are displayed.

Of course, not every wedding cake is built around a symmetrical shape.  Some wedding cake bakers specialize in a type of cake that seems to defy gravity:  the topsy-turvy cake.  These cakes appear to lean one way, then another, as the layers are added.  Hidden rods inside the cake, however, ensure that this delightful creation is as stable as any other wedding cake.  Usually accompanied with bright colors and fanciful designs, topsy-turvy cakes are a sight to behold for wedding guests as well as the happy couple.

In any shape and size, wedding cakes are a welcome addition to any wedding reception.  By serving as part of the wedding’s décor, as well as part of the wedding’s refreshments, the right wedding cake will become a memorable part of the celebration in the minds of everyone in attendance.