Wedding cake toppers don't have to be the generic bride and groom figurines.
A bride and groom top the wedding cake at most wedding receptions. However, a generic cake topper does little to express the personality or aspirations of the newlyweds. To add a little zest to the overall aesthetic of the reception, couples can personalize the cake with imaginative and idiosyncratic toppers.
Personalized
Unique wedding cake toppers can be as simple as dates that reflect when the couple met.
If the wife is going to take the husband's last name, express the new union by ordering a specialized cake topper that has the surname written out. Or, stake the initials of the bride and groom in the icing and tie a red ribbon between each person's initials to signify that they are now joined. Another option is to put the date that the couple met on the top, or the date of the actual wedding. For fun, couples can order stand-up cake toppers that spell out the pet names that they have for each other. To add a glamorous touch, order the names, initials or dates in gold or silver and stud them with rhinestones.
Fairy Tale
Using miniature castles as wedding cake toppers can signify that a couple is ready to embark on a fairy tale romance.
Weddings are considered a fairy tale beginning to a life of romance. Express this by putting a crystal castle with gold touches or a castle made of colored Swarovski crystal. You might also put a ceramic Cinderella pumpkin carriage in the center of the cake. Or, take a cue from another fairy tale and order a ceramic or porcelain bride who is about to kiss a frog in her hand. Stick to classic elegance with a miniature princess tiara and a king's crown atop the cake.
Honeymoon
If the honeymoon is a beach destination, use seashells as part of the cake centerpiece.
Couples can use cake toppers to reflect their honeymoon destination. If heading for a tropical location, purchase miniature palm trees from a local craft store and put them on top of the cake. Surround the trees with small seashells. Or, take a large seashell and fill it with sand and glitter. There are also miniatures of city icons that can be used as wedding cake toppers. If a couple is going to Paris, put a small Eiffel Tower in the center of the cake and surround it with rose petals. If New York is the destination, either put an apple in the middle of the cake or a petite replica of the Empire State Building. If the honeymoon site is a ski resort or anywhere else that is cold, have the caterer pile coconut shavings on top of the cake to resemble snow, and add random sized crystal balls to create a winter wonderland theme.
Foods
Since strawberries are filled with natural aphrodisiacs, they are an ideal wedding cake topper.
There are certain foods that are associated with romance. According to Rosemary Black, author of "12 Natural Aphrodisiacs for Women," strawberries are flush with antioxidants that act as aphrodisiacs. One idea for cake toppers is to ask the caterer to artistically array strawberries across the cake's surface. Or, dip the strawberries in chocolate and anchor them in the frosting. You might also take Hershey's kisses and put them in a heart formation, or take heart-shaped hard candies and set them in a pyramid formation.
DIY
Placing a faux diamond next to a rock on a wedding cake can symbolize that a bride and groom each believe they have found their diamond in the rough.
For the crafty couple, there are inventive DIY options with metaphorical overtones. Take a large fake diamond and a large rock and put them side-by-side to symbolize that the bride and groom each feel like they have found their personal diamond in the rough. Another idea is to purchase small leather-bound books. Take gold puffy paint and write such romantic sentiments as "happily ever after" and "once upon a time" on the covers. Arrange them upright on top of the cake. Or, stick a queen of hearts and a king of hearts in the cake, and surround the cards with dice, representing the fact that a couple is ready to take a gamble on love.
Holiday
If a wedding is going to be around Christmas time, consider using a Christmas tree as a cake topper.
Some couples like to plan a wedding around favorite holidays. If the wedding is around Christmas time, put a miniature Christmas tree in the middle of the cake and surround it with small presents or a toy-sized train. For weddings happening around New Year's Eve, couples can pile silver tinsel atop the cake and stick in flags that have the date of the new year on them. Valentine's Day weddings can be celebrated with cupid centerpieces or glass red hearts placed vertically on the cake.
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