Tuesday, 18 January 2011 16:08 | The Golden Girlz

Diary of a Cake Designer: Cake Toppers

Options, tips & need-to-knows for choosing a cake topper

Story by Toronto-based wedding cake designers, The Golden Girlz

The history of a Wedding cake topper can be dated back to the mid 18th to 19th century; making its mark in the social scene in the late 19th century.  Although culturally differences in traditions and types of cake toppers used to adorn the wedding cake, it is apparent that the wedding cake topper is used globally; signifying the couples love and togetherness as a united pair.

Today, the cake tops can fit every wedding theme and reflect every couples taste. The Wedding topper selection only begins with the traditional figurines, whimsically detailed to vintage inspired adornments. The couple may want to incorporate a comical topper to reflect personality, a cultural symbol or a monogrammed initial.  If the wedding decor is influenced by beautiful blooms, an explosion of fresh or hand-crafted sugar flowers may be the perfect cake topper. For a glamorous wedding gala, bring on the bling!  Cake jewellery is trending in the wonderful world of confection and a sparkling custom topper awaits this Bride-to-be. The happy couple can even commission a hand-crafted sugar character in their likeness or reflecting a shared interest.

Monogram toppers

Available in a variety of fonts, colours and styles.  With an endless selection of font types, choose from a decorative, modern or scripted font in a fabulous brushed metal encrusted with sparkling crystals, radiant rhinestones or opt for a custom embellished acrylic.  Planning a whimsical themed wedding, wired love notes in select wording and monogram letters may be the perfect top for a whimsical cake design (fashioned by local artisans or a DIY project for the artsy Bride-To-Be).   traditional Bride & Groom, the Sugar Flower Bouquet, fresh florals and Comical Sugar Characters to the display the couple’s personalities, shared hobbies and passions.

Cake Jewellery

For the Bride, who loves her Bling, think beyond the wearable gems. Continue your love for all that sparkles and shines and fall in love with cake jewellery. Jewelled cake top designs can highlight your love for glitz; adding style and beauty to your wedding cake. Top your tier with a beautiful crown of jewelled flowers, the timeless rhinestone tiara, crystal and pearl sprays and trendy cake wires. Cake wires are an inexpensive way to  add dimension and style to the top tier

GG Bride Savvy TIP |  Add a decorative element to the end of the cake wire, rhinestone butterfly, vintage dragonfly, antique brooches, or reclaimed crystals from chandeliers of the century).  Although custom cake jewellery pricing depends on size and ornate detail of interest, the cake jewellery can be kept as a beautiful keepsake memory and looks fashionable on display.  As an alternative, the edible, stunning confection known as the Sugar Diamond (gems). The edible sugar diamond is a stunning adornment as a cake topper and can be worked into the tiers on any custom design.  Available in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.  Add to any individual dessert and transform any ordinary cupcake into a designer treat and allow your tiered cake design to sparkle in edible fashion. 

GG Bride Savvy TIP | When choosing your custom acrylic, jewelled or metal cake topper, ensure that food grade metals/plastics are used in the fabricated design.

Fresh Flowers

Fresh flower cake toppers can enhance any simple wedding cake design while complimenting the weddings floral decor and centerpiece designs.

Keep in mind; pricing depends on the size, type and quantity of flowers used to adorn the top tier of your wedding cake. 

Although flowers are beautiful, when placing them on an edible top tier, there are important facts to consider ensuring the safety to all invited wedding guests.  Prior to fresh flowers selection, make sure they are pesticide free and non-toxic. 

Below, a list of safe/unsafe flowers that are commonly used in Wedding bouquets/centerpiece designs...

Safe Flower Selection includes:
Apple Blossom, Begonia, (most tuberous), Begonia X tuberhybrida
Borage, Borago officinalis(must remove hairy sepals from center)Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus
Daisy (English), Bellis perennis,Freesia, Fuchsia X hybrid,Geranium, Pelargonuim spp.Hibiscus
Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica,Impatiens, Impatiens wallerana,Johnny-Jump-Up, Viola tricolor,Lavender, Lavandula angustifola,Pansy, Viola X Wittrockiana,Rose, Rosa spp.Tulips,Tulipa spp.Violet, Viola odorata

Some Toxic Flowers and Plants:
Amaryllis, Hippeastrum puniceumAnenome, Anemone spp.Autumn or Meadow Crocus, colchicum autumnaleAzalea, Rhododendrun spp.Belladonna lily, Amaryllis spp.
Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia reginaeBleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis
Buttercup, Ranunculus spp.Caladium, Caladuim bicolorCalla Lily, Caladuim bicolor
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia spp.Clematis, Clematis spp.
Crocus, Dutch, Crocus vernus.Daffodil, Narcissus spp.Datura, Datura spp.
Delphinium, Delphinium spp.Foxglove, Digitalis purpureaGlorious lily, Glorious spp.
Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophyllaIris, Iris spp.Jessamine, Gelsemium spervirens
Lantana, Lantana spp.Larkspur, Delphinium ajacis,Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria majalis
Lupine, Lupinus spp.,Monkshood, Aconitum spp.,Narcissus, Narcissus spp.
Oleander, Nerium oleander,Periwinkle, Vinca spp.,Poinsettia, Euphorbia (Poinsettia)
Rhododendron, Rhododendron spp.Star of Bethlehem, Orinthogalum spp.
Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratusWisteria, Wisteria spp.

GG Bride Savvy TIP | If you decide to adorn your top tier with a flower selection that may be considered unsafe for human consumption, ensure it adorns a styrofoam dummy tier.  The dummy tier can still be decorated by your cake designer with edible sugar product; it just won’t be consumed by the wedding guest.

Coming Soon | The Diary of a Cake designer: Part Deux-A Tale of many choice toppers:
•    An explosion of Sugar Blooms to top your Wedding Cake; sugar artistry at its finest
•    Figurines: Canadian retailers, current trends and pricing
•    Sugar Character: the details, design process and available options