Cake Toppers Are Getting Creative!

Caroline Wolfe Papocchia - In the world of weddings there are a million details to consider, but few so small and precious as the wedding cake topper. Popular since the 1950s as a symbol of togetherness, most cake toppers figuratively represent the couple. Lovebirds in an ornate nest or smiling, upright brides and grooms are the most traditional styles.

As with many wedding details, however, the cake topper has been appropriated by couples wishing to personalize their wedding. These days the options are nearly endless, but two unique styles recently caught our eye.

Day of the Dead cake toppers, realized in skull or skeleton form, are a deliciously macabre way to enhance any tower of tiers. These colorful and detailed pieces don't require a themed event or cake; in fact, they would pop on simple white buttercream or fondant.

Day of the Dead cake topper by DNA Creations

Day of the Dead Red Skulls cake topper by Sweetie Cake Toppers

Mexican Day of the Dead cowboys by Sweetie Cake Toppers

Porcelain animal cake toppers are another irresistible trend. The Aesop's Fables-inspired whimsy of these pieces is pulled out of childishness by the plain white porcelain finish, resulting in a topper that is sweet and elegant.

Four Footed Fete Cake Topper from BHLDN

Deer cake topper by MelaboWed

Wolf and Giraffe cake topper by MelaboWed

The wedding cake topper may be a small detail, but it's also a creative opportunity. Inspired by the ghoulish motifs and colors of the Day of the Dead and fanciful anthropomorphic creatures, these toppers are sure to delight couples and guests alike.

This article was reprinted with permission of the Sheffield School. Are you interested in planning weddings and sourcing delightful details like these cake toppers? The Sheffield Wedding & Event Planning course teaches everything you need to know to orchestrate a memorable event, from creating a guest list, to hiring vendors, to creating a beautiful wedding design.

Bring Out Your Favorite Summer Blooms for Weddings

June is one of the most popular months for marriages in the US, and has been for decades. With the near-assuredness of summer warmth without the heat and humidity of July and August, June is a dainty lady. Outdoor weddings are popular in June, as couples take full advantage of some of the year's best weather.

Perhaps more than any other reason, however, June and July appeal to brides for their incredible floral abundance. While modern farming and shipping allows for almost any bloom, at almost any time, anywhere, seasonal blooms are preferred for cost reasons. In the US there are few months, if any, that offer more seasonal blooms than June and July.

Delphinium, a beautiful purple-blue flower popular in large, English-style gardens, blooms in early summer and makes for a dramatic wedding flower. A hardy, long stem supports endless clusters of the delicate petals, perfect for a draped bouquet. Delphinium comes in shades of lavender but can be found in a rich, cobalt blue - a rare flower indeed, and hard to beat for drama.

(Delphinium via Aunt Owwee on Flickr)

(Delphinium bouquet)

Another long stem June/July beauty perhaps unparalleled for drama and romance is the Calla lily. Calla lillies, most popular in pure creamy white, offer an architectural foil to multi-petal flowers. With their long green stems and delicate, bell-shaped flowers, Callas punctuate bouquets but look incredible on their own. A simple cluster of stems tied with a simple ribbon exudes a refined elegance. If the stems are short, the bouquet is a bit prim. If left long and draped over the arm, a calla lily bouquet is the ultimate for a modern bride.

(Calla lily bouquet)

(Long stem calla lily bouquet)

Hydrangeas, with their big, fluffy heads of tiny petals, are very popular for summer centerpieces. Their size alone means a single bloom can fill a lot of real estate (and fill it well) and their abundance keeps the price relatively low. Happy brides who love the preppy romance of hydrangea are even happier to know that white (and a very pretty white at that) is one of hydrangea's natural colors. Brides looking for a little more punch can opt for shades of baby pink, fuchsia, and occasionally, purple and Dutch blue.

(Blue hydrangea via Wendy Cutler on Flickr)

(White hydrangea bouquet)

Cosmos, a delicate, symmetrical flower, is almost an archetype. With its center surrounded by big looping petals, cosmos is the real version of the flower any 4-yr old might draw. This simplicity and familiarity lends a sweetness to this hardy plant, and few brides can resist cosmos' straightforward appeal. Cosmos is readily available in shades of baby pink, rich pink, white, and more - but one variety stands above the rest and makes for a perfect bouquet flower for brides looking for serious drama: chocolate cosmos. As their name might suggest, chocolate cosmos are rich burgundy ranging to deep chocolate brown. The texture of their petals combined with the color gives the impression of luxurious fabric.

(Wild cosmos)(Chocolate cosmos bouquet)

Colorful and hardy dahlias are an excellent choice for a late June/July summer wedding. Grown all over the US and North America, this popular flower comes in an almost endless variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, from tiny to almost 10" wide. Even better for a bride? They can last up to a week after cutting.

(Dahlias via Muffet on Flickr)Of course, a June/July wedding is not a real wedding without the incomparable rose. Roses have a reputation that precedes them, which is both good and bad. Some brides may turn their nose up at what they perceive to be an overly popular plant - popular in the bad sense - but roses are famous because they are beautiful, and come in endless varieties and colors sure to complement any taste.

(Rose via Suchitra on Flickr)

(Rose bouquet via Muffet on Flickr)

(Pink rose via elvissa on Flickr)

Feeling overwhelmed by the beauty? It doesn't stop. These are just a handful of the many, many flowers available for June and July weddings. It is no wonder that brides can't resist celebrating their nuptials amongst such an abundance.

This article reprinted with permission from the Sheffield School. Interested in planning weddings and wedding flowers? The Sheffield Wedding & Event Planning course teaches everything you need to know to orchestrate a memorable event, from creating a guest list, to hiring vendors, to creating a beautiful wedding design.