While the traditional wedding cake offers a vision of white, an increasing number of couples are becoming interested in selecting a design, style, and presentation that greatly strays from the norm. Today, wedding cakes showcase elaborately stacked tiers, multi-colored frosting, lively blooms, and decorative fruits. In order to make sure a different take on wedding cake design and construction is accomplished, some couples are now turning towards international creativity and tradition to elevate their reception centerpiece. Below you will find a few worldwide ideas to mull over when it comes time to choose your wedding cake:Caribbean Island Ideas
Sometimes, a couple is interested in infusing a bit of tropical allure regarding their wedding cake. Caribbean newlyweds usually feast upon fruitcakes. Often, the cakes are dark and decorated with dried fruits. Some of the flavors that guests enjoy include rum, wine, and sherry. A rum-laced fruitcake is also a popular selection in the West Indies. In Bermuda, cedar saplings are placed on top of wedding cakes as a symbol of growing love between the newlyweds. After the ceremony, the saplings are then replanted.
Asian Themes
A fun wedding tradition among the Japanese is to display imposter cakes instead of the actual wedding confection. These cakes are made of artificial rubber and iced in wax. When the bride and groom insert their knife into the fake cake, sometimes a puff of steam or another occurrence takes place. At times, elaborately decorated dummy cakes are made of Styrofoam and heavily frosted. In the kitchen, the real cakes are hidden. In China, it is not uncommon to encounter many layers of cake meant to stand for the "ladder of success." In Korea, wedding couples often slice into a tiered sponge cake with non-dairy whipped cream.
European Delights
A sponge cake with a rich nut taste is popular in Germany, which is then laced with liquor or syrup. Sometimes, jam, nougat, or marzipan is used as a filling. Ganache or fondant often tops the cake. Cream-filled pastries with a caramel coating are often erected into a tall pyramid to represent a French wedding cake. The Norwegians enjoy wedding bread topped with cream, cheese, and syrup. In Iceland, a ring-shaped pile of almond pastries are used to create a pyramid for their wedding cake. The center is then filled with candies or fine chocolates.
In Denmark, the cornucopia wedding cake is made of almond and marzipan – shaped like a ring. In the center, candy, fresh fruit, or sorbet is found. To include a wedding cake of the British Isles, you may side with a spiffy fruitcake made with cognac-soaked dates, raisins, currants, prunes, and orange peel. Sometimes, the cake is covered in fondant, brandy butter, or marzipan. Irish and Scottish cakes may include a three-tiered confection with an infusion of bourbon, brandy, or whiskey. An almond paste is often spread between the layers.
Mediterranean Magic
A common Italian wedding cake is filled with chocolate custard, vanilla custard, rum cream, and fruit – comprised of various tiers of pound cake. The elaborate display is then decorated with flowers and royal icing. A Greek wedding cake is made of honey, sesame seed, and quince, which are meant to symbolize the long-lasting commitment couples may share with one another. Additional Greek cake creations include sourdough wedding bread, flourless almond cake, and sliced almond decorations