Wedding Cakes 3: Shapes

Choosing the shape of your wedding cake is not as easy as it used to be. Nearly any shape of cake will stack, and most will tier so no matter how you want your cake to be structured the shape is negotiable. If you have not read the first two segments, go back and look them over…

Wedding Cakes 1

Wedding Cakes 2 

Mostly you see round wedding cakes. But it totally does not have to be that way. As I mentioned in the Wedding Cakes 2 there are:

• round
• square
• hexagon
• oval
• heart
• petal
• paisley
• castle (yeah a stand up castle!)
• rectangle

There are probably more you an find with a little research. Not only can you use one shape pan in several sizes but you can mix and match to get a very individual cake. For example, you can use a rectangle cake as a base and then use round, square or oval tiers, or stacks on it. There are many variations, so keep that in mind.

Here are some links to cakes in different shapes to get your creative juices flowing.

Squares and Rectangles:

• elegant square offset cake- look how the layers were stacked on this. Rather than stacking them the same direction they turned some of the layers for a unique and elegant look.
• unique large cake without many stacks- this is a great idea. The cakes are arranged individually to look like gifts. This is great if you don;t want to do alot of stacking, and makes it easier to transport.
• square offset stack cake- in this cake they offset each layer at a different angle for a simple, contmeporary look.
• a romantic version of the same style cake- add some scrolls and red roses and this cake is more traditional.
• offset squares in alternating colors: the decoration is simple but because of the way color is used it looks very detailed.
• This adorable suitcase stack is made of rectangles: a great nontraditional cake for a couple with a sense of humor.

Round and Oval:

• unusual shaped round :this shape is created by cutting out part of a small round cake to fit when pushed against the bigger round.
• elegant round stack: cala lillies and black ribbon make a very classic cake.
• several round smaller layers :put together make up the bottom layer on this cake, while larger rounds are stacked and tiered. This gives it a deep scallop around that bottom that is unusual.
• round stacks and raised tiers make an eleganly traditional cake for many guests.
• traditional tiers for each separate size layer. This is really not as hard as it looks, and will not topple.
• offset oval stack: is elegant and simple. the beauty if from the unusual shape of the cake.

Shape Combinations:

• a combination of offset square and round stacks- this is a whimsical cake due to its decoration but a beautiful combination of round and square.
• you thought I was kidding about 400 cupcakes?
• more cupcakes.
• cupcakes: seriously, even I thought that I was kidding.
• offset round on a square base.
• this cake on a cakestand illustrates how beautifully a cake stand will work.
• squares with a round in the middle make a unique stacked cake.
• this stack is made up of round, hexagon and petal shaped layers. The end result is beautiful because of the simple color and design.
• this raised tier cake uses the castle cake pan as well as the round.

Heart:

• Classic tiered heart :ivory and red for Valentine’s wedding. Elegant and romantic.
• this is the most unique stacked heart cake I have seen. Just beautiful.

Petal:

• Victorian elegance: this draped cake uses a petal pan to make the drapes stand out.
• another petal design.

Hexagon:

• a simple stacked hexagon: real roses on a plainly frosted cake is simple but beautiful because of the shape.
• another simple stacked hexagon: but with a sweet, country look.
• another hexagon stack.

I tried to find pictures of the paisley cake but could not…sorry! I hope that these pictures have given you some ideas of your own.

Next…how to put the cakes together!

Image: Morguefile