As with most fashionable items, wedding cakes evolve over time. It’s no longer all about the appearance, with the eating experience of a wedding cake holding just as much value as the aesthetics.

The ritual of saving the top tier of a wedding cake for the christening of a newborn is no more and we’ve also seen a major decline in fruitcakes and fondant icing. Instead of receiving the sliver of fruitcake on the big day, we are eating the cake as dessert, so there is an underlying need for variety, and couples are seeking a modern alternative to the traditional wedding cake.

Naked cakes are big news for weddings. These exposed cakes are layered with mousse and buttercream but free of frosting. With an array of flavours and shapes, naked cakes prove incredibly versatile for catering to dietary requirements. When it comes to the finishing touches, bakers are steering clear of icing decorations and opting for fresh flowers, chocolate spheres and fruit. The shift can be reflected in the changing nature of the baking industry. Traditional frosted wedding cakes were made mostly by an industry of women who built up businesses working from home. The labour involved in delicate lace work and flowers was phenomenal, which is why the low overheads of home-based businesses worked well.

“Fashion has a massive pull on the design, texture and colour of a wedding cake,” said Mel McGrath, owner of La-de-da Cakes and events manager of the Australian Cake Decorating Network.

“I take a lot of inspiration from the catwalk and contour that design into the cakes. Whether it’s a traditional round cake or a modern geometric shape, it can take one dress to inspire the next trend,” she says.

While couples are becoming more adventurous with their choice of wedding cake, there will always be demand for the traditional element. The classic chocolate mudcake appeals to the majority of guests on a big day. You can go as decadent as you like and add seasonal fruit as we enter the summer months.

Mudcakes with white, milk and dark chocolate layers are increasingly popular for weddings, especially with a large attendance. So far we have witnessed geometric cakes, painted cakes and metallic, but naked cakes and chocolate cakes are here to stay.