There are many ingredients that make a wedding day special – and as the type-A personality planner knows, each one has been thought, jotted down and researched to the nine. The metaphorical cherry of a gorgeous day, of course, goes on top of the cake. The wedding cake might seem to the onlooker as a minor detail, but it is the creme-de-la-creme part of the loving celebration that says ‘I can have my cake and eat it too.’
In 2022, the world of wedding cakes considers itself as part of the more imaginative eras of love.
The pandemic played its tune of course, as lockdown encouraged many to tap into more creative styles and baking wonders.
Here are 9 wedding cake trends we can’t wait to take a bite of in 2022:
Pearl Wedding Cakes
Pearls can truly dress up any aesthetic – from veils to icing finishes. Glistening white sugar pearls are set to grace many weddings in 2022, and the best part is that they go with any icing colour. Whether they are dotted along the various tiers, crisscrossed or used to dote the centre of a pressed or frosted flower bud, sugar pearls are a luxurious finish to play up or epitomise your wedding.
Bas Relief Detailing
Upon hearing the term ‘Bas Relief’ you’d be forgiven for wondering if your cake will have anything to do with the art of sculpting – as this artistic technique is where the term is borrowed from. As it is in the world of sculpting, bas relief refers to a pattern raised or projected from its surface. The technique makes for fabulous intricate designs and is the perfect ode to Roman art in centuries gone by. If you have a flair for ancient art styles and want to bring that same artistic energy to your wedding, this is the perfect cake trend to get excited about. Pro tip: The technique is most effective when the detailing and the icing are the same colour.
Geode Wedding Cakes
If you are someone who carries crystals around at any given time, you’ll definitely be on the right path with Geode Wedding Cakes. Create the illusion of rock formations with hidden gems inside – namely candy crystals that you can eat. Geode wedding cakes are one of the more unique cake trends to try, but the effort of such intricacy on a special day is always worth it. Not sure which gemstone to mimic? Rose Quartz are the gemstones most linked to love, and the baby pink hues will certainly be a show stopper.
Small Wedding Cakes
Sometimes less is far more lovely than more. The small wedding cake trend hopped onto the scene last year when many people opted not to postpone grand ceremonies, but to turn them into micro-weddings. It’s all the glamour, just on a smaller scale. Singl or double-tier wedding cakes are an ideal choice for the happy couple looking to actually finish their wedding cake – making it a top-tier choice for smaller weddings. The best part about small wedding cakes is that more effort can go into the design.
Pressed Florals
Fairytale wedding dreamers or those wishing for a garden wedding will love the pressed florals trend that has continued to remain popular throughout time. Simple and gorgeous, pressed flower wedding cakes can give either bohemian or luxurious energy, depending on the flower choices. For a bohemian feel, try pressed daisies, while if you want something a little more suave, try lavender assortments.
Translucent Isomalt Designs
They say that transparency is fundamental for any relationship, and so it comes as little surprise that translucent isomalt designs are on the rise in the era focused on communication in relationships. Isomalt is a medium that is often used to create clear art for cakes in a divine, sugary way. The cakes are art themselves, and the pale colour choices make for gorgeous colour blocking if you really want your wedding to be an extension of your bright personalities.
Individual mini-cakes
What about a wedding where everyone can have their own individual wedding cake? The mini-cakes trend is one of the most creative ways to limit contact and truly share the love. Whether you opt for individual cakes per table or for a cupcake assortment, this is the perfect way to ‘let them eat cake.’
Impressionist Detailing
The impressionst artistic era is easily one of the most bespoke in art. And now, the era of monet can feature on your special day. What does art taste like? Well, you’ll surely find out. The abstract-esque nature of these wedding cake creations is all-too delicious for a non-traditional wedding where creativity reigns.
Drip Wedding Cakes
Drip cakes have been on the rise in popularity and endorsed by the likes of Martha Steward. Dressed in fun, its the perfect design that can be coupled with most others – from pearls to flower arrangements. These are some of the sweetest wedding cake designs hot in the wedding world right now and are well suited for the fun-loving couple who believe that cake should look like a dessert and not a sculpture.
Feature Image: Pinterest
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Ryan Reynolds may be married to Blake Lively, but he’s the internet’s husband now. The Marvel actor has left women around the internet swooning after his adorable reaction to Blake’s colour-changing Versace dress.
And deservedly so. The dress is a beautiful ode to the Statue of Liberty and the theme for the Gala titled: “Guilded Glamour.”
The dress is perfect, mesmerising, beautiful, and a shiny example of glamour:
The pictures of the dress “changing colour” is equally as beautiful, it’s hard not to see why anyone would have an awe-inspiring reaction:
While it would’ve been incredible to see a dress changing colour before our eyes, it was actually a top layer that was expertly removed by a crew of handy individuals half way up the stairs.
Here’s a peek at the stunning reveal:
— #MetGala (@21metgala) May 2, 2022
And here’s a peek at Ryan’s adorable reaction:
Talk about a fashion moment. We love a husband that supports his wife in all things!
Feature Image: Met Gala 2022 Twitter
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We may have to suffer through load shedding and constantly increasing petrol prices on a regular basis, but one of the many things you can admire South Africa for is its natural beauty – a titbit that can be so important when shopping around for the perfect wedding venue.
From hosting a garden extravaganza to listening to the laughter of your guests against the backdrop of the wild African bush, there’s something for every bridal couple, especially in the province of Gauteng. Thankfully, there are a plethora of gorgeous wedding venues to choose from when saying “I do” in the rugged province of Gauteng. Here are a few of our favourites:
Oakfield Farm:
Location: Muldersdrift, Gauteng
With a splash of romance and a heap of old-fashioned hospitality, Oakfield Farm is an award-winning wedding venue that bridal couples can’t seem to get enough of – judging by the gorgeous backdrop – we understand why. The glass-clad wedding venue is nestled between towering trees within an English country garden, with visitors able to explore all that this area has to offer via the venue’s horse-drawn carriage – talk about going old school. Lush greenery provides the perfect opportunity for the perfect wedding pictures while tall glass walls and ceilings offer a great spot for couples to say “I do.”
Shepstone Gardens:
Location: Magaliesburg, Gauteng
Bring the outdoors in with this enchanting space and its glass ceiling, offering a chance to breathe in romance as you say your “I dos” while the sky turns various hues of orange – now that’s one way to enjoy a sunset. The wedding venue also offers a chapel and grand hall for those looking to enjoy a more rustic approach, while the space includes the perfect spots for jaw-dropping wedding pictures.
The Stone Cellar:
Location: Heidelberg, Gauteng
With the spine-tingling sounds of Mother Nature in the background, bridal couples have the opportunity to walk down the aisle of this space’s unique chapel, which was once a milking parlour. The chapel offers bridal couples a wonderful setting if you’re looking for simplicity at its finest – a minimalist’s dream, while the outdoor area offers a wooden frame and the grassy plains as its background – magical no matter which one you choose. The reception venue provides a beautiful combination between rustic and modern with glass, wood and screed finishes that stick to the minimalist theme. The space can seat 150!
Steynshoop Valley Lodge:
Location: Magaliesburg, Gauteng
Breathtaking. That’s one word used to describe this incredible venue. Begin the rest of your life together by walking into this venue’s sprawling thatched chapel and reception hall – perfect for seating 150 guests. There’s nothing wrong with being a hands-off bride and groom, allow the venue’s in-house specialists to handle all the nitty-gritty details of planning your big day – wedding cake and decor included!
The Kitchen L’antico Giardino
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
You can never beat good food and this incredible venue has plenty of it. Allow your guests to relax under a canopy of trees while serving them the most delicious canapes – yum! The space can seat around 120 guests and offers a relaxing atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. An added bonus? The space also includes a gorgeous backdrop with the rugged landscape of Africa – the perfect spot for incredible wedding pictures.
Feature Picture: @anandiphotography
When it comes to finding “the one” and having that movie-magic moment where your bridesmaids break into a sob after just one look of you in the perfect…
If you’ve just made it past the potential minefield that is the guest list, here’s your next challenge: How are you going to seat everyone? Round tables? Long ones? One long banquet table? Goodness.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Get down and boogie:
While your nuptials are all about sharing the love, it’s the dance floor that will have your guests remember your big day. Having said that, this is an excellent starting point. The most popular – and effective – option is to plonk your dance floor in the centre of the room. Then you’ll position the band or DJ against the wall. Of course, there are a whole host of ideas that will have your guests dancing until their feet hurt, and if your venue doesn’t allow for this, you can place the dance floor at one end of the room, centred and backed up against a wall.
It’s all about the size:
Long or round – choose the shape and size of your tables, but beyond this, make sure that the two of you are in the central spot so that your guests can see you in all your glory. A great place to start is to figure out how many guests fit at each table, this will allow you to figure out how many tables you will need.
What’s the plan – the floor plan that is:
We may think that the dance floor is the most important aspect of the wedding celebration, nothing is possible without creating a floor plan that the two of you are happy with. Start with the two most important people – you and your partner as you need to have the best seats and view in the house. Arrange your tables as symmetrically as possible – in a U-shape around the centred dance floor or fill one end of the space (if the dance floor is on the one side).
Don’t forget the VIPs
Reserve the tables closest to the two of you for your immediate families, and set aside tables further from the band/DJ for the older guests. The less desirable seats should be saved for your friends. Keep people together who will enjoy the time together – perhaps there are family members who haven’t seen each other in a while?
The bar area
This will also be dependent on your venue, but as a rule of thumb, the bar should be away from the entrance to avoid possible congestion. If you have more than one bar (one bar with two bartenders for every 100 guests is a good point of measure), then position one close to the dance floor and another one on the other side of the room.
But, how will your guests know
It’s time to dab the sweat that’s been dripping from your forehead and let a little stress go because we have something else on the agenda. How will you let guests know where to sit on the day? Whether you have 150 or 20 guests, displaying their names in alphabetical order is the most convenient option, to eliminate confusion and unnecessary time spent hovering around the seating chart. To make it more exciting, give each guest a refreshing cocktail or glass of bubbly along with their table number – it really sets the tone for a festive reception! Why not go a step further and add a signature cocktail to your wedding reception – here are a few ideas.
Feature Image: Grace Charlotte