5 Non-Traditional Wedding Cake Ideas For Fall Weddings

The quintessential wedding cake consists of several towering tiers of creamy frosting with nondescript bride and groom figurines proudly standing aloft the top-most layer. While this approach is traditional, it is also extremely forgettable, as a standard-issue wedding cake will hardly make an impression on your guests or stand out at your reception. This is especially true for fall weddings, where you want the cake to help establish the overall aesthetic and act as a centerpiece for the entire celebration.

Below is a list of fun cake ideas will not only satisfy your taste in style but also your appetite, covering all the bases for your fall wedding. These designs run the gamut, whether you are looking for a high-fashion delicacy or a cake that ties your theme completely together.

1. The Fruit Cake - The term "fruit cake" usually has a negative connotation, whether you are discussing a crazy person or the seasonal treat that tends to get trashed during the Christmas season. If done right, you won't be regifting this cake, as you can ask your designer to use marzipan to create seasonal fruits - think apples, berries and even pumpkins - that can be placed on the tiers of your cake. The flavors on each level can reflect a different fruit used in decoration, allowing the cake to be as beautiful as it is delicious.

2. Off-Balance Cake - For those who like pushing the extremes of cake architecture, this design will definitely leave a lasting impression. Instead of a structure composed of tiers that gradually decrease in circumference as they go up, have your designer layer similarly sized cakes one over the other with each piece centered near the edge of the one below it, achieving an almost spiral effect. Accent it with delicate orange and yellow flowers reminiscent of those in season to tie in the autumn look.

3. Candy Plus Cake - While you may not be embracing the entire Halloween theme at your fall wedding, 

autumn and winter are undeniably the busiest times of year for candy makers, and incorporating your favorite sweets into the reception is something everyone will appreciate. Go for a smaller wedding cake and have a candy bar surrounding it that features either your favorite seasonal confections or a few gourmet variations - think cupcake-sized Reese's cups. This will give your guests some variety and supply that sugar kick everyone needs to get on the dance floor.

4. Chocolate Cake - It's true that you are playing it safe by sticking with a vanilla cake, as chocolate isn't everybody's cup of tea, but with shorter days and longer nights, it's alright to go a little darker with the decor at the reception - including the cake. A rich chocolate frosting will be stunning if accented appropriately with designs like cream-colored scrolls or piping. You can even integrate some subtle marzipan foliage into the presentation if you feature warmly colored decor throughout your venue.

5. Wedding Pies - Apple, pecan and pumpkin pie are quintessential fall deserts, and for a crowd pleasing favorite at your reception, opt out of cake all together.  Create a pie stand that mimics the ascending structure of a traditional cake and place your bride and groom toppers accordingly.

Regardless of the cake style you choose, you'll want to add fall wedding napkins personalized with the bride and groom's name and wedding date to your cake table. Cake table napkins can designs with colors and designs to perfectly compliment your wedding cake.

Have fun at your wedding and surprise your guests with a fall-themed cake that will truly leave an impression.

Image Credits: Fall wedding cake, Fall candy bar

Add a Touch of Fall To Your Wedding Cake

Fall has become one of the most popular times of the year for weddings and brides are always looking for new and fun ways to add the feeling of fall to every part of the wedding. Here are few ways to add a unique seasonal touch to your fall wedding cake:

When you think fall you automatically think pumpkin! Pumpkin or spice flavored wedding cake would be a great way to incorporate the season into your wedding cake. Some other flavors that can be used for fall would be coffee, butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon or apple. Wedding cupcakes have become increasingly popular. This is a great way to incorporate several flavors of cake and also offer your guest a variety.

The color palette for fall of course is orange, red, yellow and brown. Not all fall weddings have to be this color. If you want to match your cake to your wedding colors, simply think fall shapes. You can add fall leaf shapes, or acorns to the cake without the color. Ask you baker to make ivory, white or gold marzipan acorns, leaves or pumpkins to embellish the cake. A simple but beautiful ivory cake with sugar maple leaves is another way to go.

Another great ideas is to use the same flowers that you are using in you bouquet on the wedding cake. If you are using burnt orange calla lilies, sunflowers, yellow roses or even acorns you can incorporate those flowers into the cake design to add a special touch of fall.

If you have decided to not go with a seasonal cake design at all you can always think of other ideas to add fall into the dessert. Serve a scoop of pumpkin flavored ice cream on the side of the cake or you can incorporate a fall themed candy buffet with lots of caramel, butterscotches and candy corns and other yummy treats of the season. Just make it special for you and it will be a fall wedding you will always remember.

Carrie