Wedding cakes have evolved from a standard look of white frosting and fresh or frosted flowers into unique, personalized works of art. Couples could save a few bucks by opting for the "generic cake made by the venue (as offered in the venues contract)," says wedding photographer Laura at Dean Michael Studios in Madison, New Jersey; however, we're no longer in an era of icing a Styrofoam form but then cutting and serving a sheet cake hidden back in the kitchen. (Yes, that was a budget-saving method widely employed years ago.) Now, couples want their cakes to reflect them as a duo and impress in both artistry and taste. So, more creativity and budget are being given to the cake.

"Yes, we want our cake to impress our guests, as a focal point in the room, complete with intentional staging and lighting," says bride Carol Torrance of Savannah, Georgia. "But we love the new trend of cutting our cake off to the side, not stopping the celebration or music for guests to watch us cut the cake and feed it to each other. We'll have a cake that's 'our style,' reflecting our interests, and our guests lose no momentum in the reception."

Designing a cake that reflects the wedding couple's style opens doors of tremendous creativity, with a top trend being a fusion of themes, such as a 1920s/book-themed reception or a rustic/floral theme. Couples have looked to architecture, such as art deco style, or fashion, such as fabric effect, eyelet lace or metallic drapes of sugar frosting. The cake often showcases the couple's favorite things, and since they may have many favorite things, a groom's cake is still popular to show off the simplicity of the couple's love of, say, chocolate mousse (since that may have been the dessert they shared on their first date). Desserts, too, can carry a theme, such as towers of cultural sweets like beignets, cannoli, mini-pastries and mochi.

Wedding photographer Christin sees countless wedding cakes each season: "When taking a portrait, I personally like multiple props and height. I feel that the photo here shows height, simple elegance with the details of the icing/flowers, and the candles below set a nice mood -- kind of like accented props in a way. This venue was an overall 'over the top' vibe and this cake fits into that category. When photographed with the couple it towers over them, making it a big 'showpiece.' Cakes that are big and over the top can be outdated depending on the couple's personality and wedding theme, but at the end of the day (their location) is known for BIG weddings. I think this cake grabs a lot of attention, which is great for social media photos."

Some other ways to personalize the cake:

*Lettering artistry on the cake itself, or on a sugar-paste cameo

*Lots of sparkle, with edible glitter, strips of rhinestones as 'jewelry' for the cake and glittery platforms on each layer

*Cake flavors derived from the couple's love story, such as a lemon buttercream that was in the first cake the couple ever made together

*Photos featured on the cake, such as movie motifs or travel icons

*The addition of a special-dietary cake, such as a flourless or vegan cake for the couple and the crowd to enjoy

*Seasonal colors and florals on the cake

*Design props, such as florals and candles placed around the cake, on the cake table

"One design choice that stood out to me," says Torrance, "was the cake table displaying the couple's favorite relatives at their own weddings, a common 'family photo' idea from long ago, but these parents, grandparents and special friends appeared in framed photos with their own wedding cakes, an homage to their unique cake designs. It's something new that everyone loved to see."