It's hard NOT to be impressed by Designs In Sugar. Really! If you could taste the sugar flowers and gumpaste figurines (and you can!), you would quickly realize why brides all across Collierville, Tennessee are looking for reasons to order another cake!

Designs In Sugar is Collierville's best kept secret! Myra Govea de Arce is the sugarcraft genius behind the handmade sugar flowers and edible figurines crafted out of gum paste (gumpaste). For those who aren't familiar with gum paste creations, gum paste is a sugar dough used to make figurines much like those made with ceramic or porcelain. The difference between them?? Gum paste is edible!

This is great news for brides wanting unique and edible cake toppers as well as edible cake decorations. Most brides are familiar with fondant when they order a wedding cake. Similar to this but with the brilliance of Designs In Sugar infused, gum paste flowers and sugar flowers are the key to a gorgeous and entirely edible wedding cake.

Throwing a party instead of a wedding? Call Designs In Sugar anyway! Every cake deserves the sugarcraft confections from Designs In Sugar. Need a happy ballerina monkey for a little girl's birthday cake? Call Designs In Sugar. Want a unique baby shower cake, over the hill cake, or some other tasty treat? Call ahead and reserve your sugar art from Designs In Sugar.

Myra goes out of her way to make sure that each of her creations is above board, above par, and above your wildest expectations. In fact, whatever you're expecting when you first see her gum paste creations on the cake should be disregarded. Those expectations will be far exceeded. Anything less is, well, just not something you'll find at Designs In Sugar.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I'm getting married here but I'm not from here so I have no idea what to expect when I go to pick out my wedding cake. What kind of wedding cakes do people like around here? Thanks ~ Geneva

The Celebration Advisor: First of all, congratulations on your wedding Geneva! How exciting! As far as popular wedding cakes in Baton Rouge go, your best bet is to go with what you like. That sounds a little generic, I'm sure, but I'd actually advise any bride to go with her gut first. For example, you may be crazy about carrot cake but it's not very popular in Baton Rouge. If that's the case, go with what you want and give your guests a thrill because it's a rarity at local weddings. Everyone wins. *smile*

If you're thinking more along the lines of popular flavors of wedding cakes for Baton Rouge LA brides, here are some ideas to consider:

• French culture is big in Baton Rouge LA so go with rich, creamy icings such as vanilla buttercream.
• Think French Vanilla cake or icing. It's a warmer scent and a more sensual flavor.
• Traditional wedding cake flavors such as white, golden butter, chocolate and confetti are popular.

It's Baton Rouge so play off of the atmosphere of the city that most people instantly think of. As Baton Rouge is one of the larger southern cities, you can play off of southern heritage and find a Baton Rouge bakery willing to make a wedding cake with an antebellum feel. You can play off of the French heritage and go with something more decadent. Whatever you choose, make sure to make it yours. It's your wedding so have fun with it and go with what your gut–or rather your tummy–tells you.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: You probably get this a lot but I just moved to Gulfport, Mississippi for work. I'm trying to plan my wedding but I've had to switch all of my plans and have no idea where to start looking for a good bakery here. Help! ~ Lisbeth

The Celebration Advsior: Lisbeth, sorry about your plans getting interrupted so swiftly but there is no need to worry about hiring a bakery in Gulfport to make your wedding cake. You're in good hands because they make some deeeeelicious cakes.

My suggestion is to find Gulfport's wedding cake bakery that is closest to your location in town or the location of your wedding. (The cake delivery fee may be smaller.) Once you have a few choices in mind, sit down with your friends that live in Gulfport and ask their opinions. Your friends will be able to tell you honestly where you can find the type of wedding cake that you want in a budget and time frame that fits you best.

If you don't have many friends in Gulfport yet, ask your coworkers. This will give you a chance to get closer to them while learning some valuable information. They've been there and lived through many wedding receptions. Even if they can't tell you who created their favorite wedding cakes, they can still offer helpful information about the type of wedding cakes that are popular in Gulfport, MS.

Your wedding cake is a big deal so it is important to choose the right cake bakery. Gulfport has more than their fair share of incredible bakeries so it will not be difficult to find someone to create your dream wedding cake. Best of luck!

New Orleans is famous for a lot of things but it should be famous for its wedding cake bakeries. New Orleans has the richness of French heritage in its corner, and we all know how famous France is for their desserts. With that being the case, you know that New Orleans wedding cake bakeries will rock your taste buds.

Nevermind the king cake. If you're getting married in New Orleans, all you need is a local bakery and your bar-setting wedding cake is ready in a jif. Whether four tiers of treasured buttercream bliss or a fountain wedding cake flowing from delicious to thrilling, you cannot go wrong with a wedding cake baked by a New Orleans bakery.

Get Lost In The Flavor of New Orleans Wedding Cakes

New Orleans wedding cakes are something to be desired for sure! Wedding cakes are a treasure regardless of the city but there is something special about New Orleans wedding cakes. Every piece is like a little slice of heaven only infused with the richness of flavor and texture that you would expect from the finest French bakeries. Instead of traveling across the seas to find the perfect wedding cake, all you have to do is visit a wedding cake bakery in New Orleans Louisiana! It's that simple. It's that easy.

One taste and you're hooked. One bite and your'e returning to the wedding cake table for another slice. One single solitary whiff of the fresh icing over warm flavored cake and you might as well give up the battle to eat just one piece. After all, who wouldn't want to continue tasting a piece of what are often considered the most scrumptious wedding cakes in Louisiana?

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I need to know who can make me a Halloween wedding cake, as well as favors and Ideas, and decoratons for my wedding. Most particularly the cake. for 200ppl? and a price in Calgary. Thank you. ~ Carmen Turning Robe, Calgary Alberta Canada

Celebration Advisor: Of course you can find all of that and other great wedding supplies in Calgary AB!

In fact, I know of a few places where you can find theme cakes, wedding cakes and (imagine this) theme wedding cakes in Calgary. For starters, try Cake Creations. They're incredible! Their wedding cakes are elegant regardless of the theme. All you have to do is ask! Theme cakes as well as wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes so be specific about what you want. Just let your wedding cake bakery know the size, general theme, and amount of people eating the cake and you're good to go!

As far as wedding favors and ideas go, that's greatly dependent upon the type of ceremony that you are having. It sounds like you're having a really fun Halloween wedding–congrats! That sounds like so much fun! I would start by speaking with the professionals at Claudia's Mementos. Though not located in Calgary, wedding favors from here are bound to be awesome. They always do an incredible job of hooking you up with the wedding favors that YOU want.

If you want a cool idea to start with for your wedding favors, try this one that my friend is using at her Halloween wedding this year. Our wedding favors are placeholders which are going to be little skulls, monsters, and ghosts with our names written on their heads. It took her a long time to choose those over chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing decorated like webbing and our names written in red icing over that. Somehow I knew she'd go with the haunted cemetery wedding favors instead! *grin* I'm sure these will taste great with the wedding cake. Have guests bring a sweet tooth!

Wedding decorations aren't quite as tricky. The only thing you really need to figure out is whether you want this to be more like a Halloween wedding or a Halloween party. If you're wanting the more upscale, ask a local Calgary wedding planner to help you come up with something that will celebrate the holiday and the occasion at the same time. If you want more of a party atmosphere, go all out with black tablecloths, creepy decorative lighting, blood-colored punch and other party foods, jack-o-lanterns and other spooky decorations. It just takes a little imagination! If you want some ideas, check out these great Halloween party pictures.

Together, your choices of wedding cakes, wedding favors, and wedding decorations is immense when you use the local  wedding suppliers that you have right there in Calgary!

Thanks for your question Carmen. I look forward to seeing the pictures of your wedding!

There are several wedding cake trends gaining popularity this year. These high fashion fondant creations are sure to catch the eye of every guest and make mouths water from miles around. Consider these ideas when meeting with your wedding cake consultant.
1. Black and White Pattern Wedding Cakes. It seems everywhere you look you'll see the Parisian wallpaper trend. So, why not in the wedding scene? This design is very elegant and quite stunning on a round tiered wedding cake. To blend this trend in with your other wedding decorations, use the pattern on other things such as napkins or tablecloth overlays.

2. CHOCOLATE!!! Forget traditional vanilla, switch it up! This year several brides are choosing dark chocolate truffle wedding cakes with beautiful detail and glamour. Give chocolate a chance! If you’re scared of the rich flavor, serve fruit along side such as raspberries or strawberries.

3. No Flowers Needed Just Crisp Details. Arts and crafts has gone chic in the wedding world this year. Crisp lines, exposed stitching and seamstress inspired details top the cake trends this season. Add detail to a light hued cake with vintage fondant buttons and fancy piping for a high fashion quilted look.

4. No Ordinary Shape Will Do. Brides are exploring their wedding cake shape options cakes this year. Oval tiers, cube tiers, and even asymmetric tiers (this can be complicated). These new styles are fresh and creative ways to spice up the otherwise ordinary cake shapes. Some of these new styles do compromise the amount of cake you get. So these might be great ideas for small, intimate weddings.

5. Small Makes A Big Statement. All the rage this year, mini cakes have become popular practically overnight. These mini cakes or personal cakes are part of the wedding decor. They surround the wedding cake and are adorned with a contrasting color to create a visual delight and a tasty treat. Mini cakes can also become gifts for guests. Package these cakes in favor boxes to send home with guests for wedding favors. (Two bird’s with one stone!)

Take these ideas along when you meet with your wedding cake consultant or baker and explore the options of a high fashion wedding cake for your 2009 wedding! Happy eating!

Let Your Heritage Add Spice To Your Wedding Cake

Cultural wedding cake themes are seeing a big rise in popularity as wedding ceremonies reflect the ethnic traditions of the bride and groom. As more and more couples tap into their heritage to inspire their celebration, wedding cakes are also following suit with an increase in cultural wedding cakes. This could include a red and white wedding cake for Chinese couples following the traditions of lucky colors and other similar practices. When heritage and ethnicity play an important role at the wedding, discuss how to incorporate many of these traditions with your wedding cake bakery.

A Seasonal Theme Deserves A Seasonal Wedding Cake

Seasonal themed wedding cakes are also very popular. Fall wedding cakes make excellent use of bronze, amber, burnt reds and similar colors. Falling fondant leaves cascading down tiers of colorful wedding cake is a portion of the wedding reception that no autumn bride should be without.

Seasonal wedding cakes are also appropriate and beautiful for the other seasons of the year. Winter wedding cakes, summer wedding cakes, and spring wedding cakes each bring their own unique set of shades to the palette but every pairing is as beautiful as the next. Each hue creates a unique dimension that brings to life the season of the wedding. What a great way to celebrate the day and the time of year!

Make It Funky-Unusual Wedding Cakes Are In Now

Unusual wedding cakes are also becoming very popular. Tiers that appear to be skewed are a fun alternative to traditional pieces. Heart shaped wedding cakes add an extra dose of romance and flair to the reception. Whatever the shape and style, unusual wedding cakes are seeing a big boost among brides wishing to have a truly unique wedding.

Celebrate Your Roots With A Location-Specific Wedding Cake

Don't forget location specific themes for the wedding cake! Everyone loves a good bit of dessert, but themed wedding cakes stand out with their fun and quirky appearance. Beach destination weddings are very popular as are the beach wedding cakes that come with them. Another popular style remains with western wedding cakes. A fondant cowboy boot atop buttercream delight is a tasty way for everyone to celebrate nuptials. Don't be scared to contact your local wedding cake bakery about the many different location-specific themes for your cake.

Wedding cakes come in many shapes and sizes. However, did you know that wedding cakes also come in many flavors? Now it’s ok to save the plain white for the wedding dress and opt for more bold flavors with the wedding cake. Chocolate and white cake are the standards but there are many other flavors that the modern bride may wish to choose.

• “For Richer or Poorer” – The richer the better for some and chocolate wedding cakes are a huge hit because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like chocolate cake?
• “Forsaking All Others” – For the sake of yummy vanilla wedding cake. “Plain white” though it may seem, this decadent dessert is just as tasty as many others which is why it has remained a standard.
• “To Have and To Hold” – Have your cake, eat it too, hold it in your hand and shove it in your groom’s mouth. Marble which blends two or more flavors, spice, carrot, red velvet and other flavors are perfect for this standard part of the wedding reception.
• “In Sickness and In Health” – If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, why not try an apple wedding cake?
• “Til Death Do Us Part” – It’s easy to feel this attached to popular wedding cake flavors such as banana, pumpkin, lemon, orange, and coconut.

Whichever favorite flavor the bride chooses, wedding cakes are a huge part of the reception. Whether a standard like chocolate or a fresh idea like butter pecan, wedding cakes flavors help the bride savor another part of her wedding. When the first anniversary rolls around and it’s time to revisit the top layer, the bride will be reconnected with special moments from the big day.

Wedding traditions are charming ways we hold on to our heritage and ethnicity. When we are able to incorporate even minute details of our heritage it makes our wedding day that much more special. But what if you don't have a direct relationship to a particular heritage or ethnicity?  Can you follow their traditions?  Remember imitation is the best form of flattery.  So why not incorporate the traditions of an ethnicity or  culture that you admire.  For me some of the wedding traditions that began with the Italian culture are the most special.

In fact, Italian wedding traditions are easily incorporated into any wedding celebration. If you’re a bride who Read the rest of Infusing Italian Wedding Traditions Into Your Special Day »

Have Your Cake and Top Too!

Colors! Cake! Flowers! Music! So many decisions! Anyone who has witnessed or is planning a wedding can attest to the multitude of design decisions to be made when planning a ceremony and reception. It’s a list that goes on and on. The location sets the tone for the event; the flowers add whimsy; photos, pets, and music add personality. Today, the amount of the opportunities for conveying individuality is ever increasing as the wedding industry has begun to acknowledge and cater to the qualities of each couple rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all ceremony.

Almost every aspect of a wedding day is available for tweaking. This includes the flowers, vows, bridesmaids dress, and endless other details. The reception carries this trend with everything from centerpieces to entrées, and even napkins. However, few parts of this day can be preserved and taken home as a souvenir of the launch of a new life.

One item that has become a shining example of personalization-meets-tradition is the wedding cake and more specifically the wedding cake topper. It was once the epitome of mass-produced tackiness that was the demise of past wedding ceremonies, and it is now a traditional piece used to display the couple’s identity, whether it is goofy, geeky, or glamorous.

The official origin of wedding cake toppers is unknown, and there are as many stories as there are choices. However, most historians agree that cake toppers can be traced back to the 19th century when the tradition of the bride and groom in formal attire symbolize atop the cake began. The trend took hold in America in the 1940s and has become a staple in wedding cake design ever since.

Like many elements of today’s weddings, the demand for unique wedding cakes and wedding cake toppers has led to a tremendous amount of choices ranging in everything from the quirky and humorous to the elegant and traditional. Even once a couple decides on a direction for their cake topper, they’re still left with a dizzying array of choices to further enhance their wedding cake design.

A popular option for many cakes today is to top them with a monogram of the either the couple’s combined initials or the first letter of their last name. It is a sophisticated way to display individuality and the uniting of two people. Couples can choose the font, size, and material of the piece. Ideas monogram toppers include for etched glass, cut mirror, or metallic materials. Some choose to take it a step further and add rhinestones, flowers, or crystals to add extra glitz to their cake.

For a wedding on a beach, a tropical-themed cake topper would be a great way to tie-in the wedding cake with the nature of the ceremony. Ceramic figurines depicting a couple in their favorite beach attire is a light-hearted touch to a normally casual event. There are also sculptures of beach scenes and items like shells and palm trees in a variety of materials. Like most other toppers, the design of these can be incredibly detailed, showing facial expressions, sand on the beach, or patterns in clothing, or they can be monochromatic, lyrical pieces full of movement and grace.

Wedding cake toppers for an avid hobbyist are ideal for laid-back ceremonies or grooms’ cakes. Golfers, baseball fanatics, and car enthusiasts can all find a topper to suit their interests and are sure to make guests chuckle. Geeks can also find their niche by choosing geeky groom toppers such as sci-fi themed or techie options. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect topper to match a matchless personality!

Other themed wedding cake toppers choices include those for the sportsman, fisherman, musician, and the farmer. The list never seems to end! A great idea for a musician is a microphone-shaped cake topper or a music note. And the fisherman is sure to get a kick out of a bride and groom donning waders and fishing poles! Brides who enjoy shopping can find a number of choices of shop-a-holic brides, and grooms who enjoy a friendly game of golf can find a golfing groom to complement his game.

Religious cake toppers are another choice for couples who are devoted in their beliefs and want a wedding cake that reflects their faith. For example, grooms wearing kippahs are available for Jewish ceremonies, and lovely items, such as crosses and doves, are offered for Christian weddings.

What’s more, members of the military can even find a cake topper to suit their needs. If the groom wears his dress blues in his wedding, he can find a cake topper to match. Usually, highly specialized cake toppers such these are sold alone. By opting for the interchangeable cake toppers, couples can find a perfectly suited arrangement the fit their personalities to a tee.

Every couple is unique and together they possess a dynamic unlike any other. Modern wedding planning seeks to display that special something that makes them work so wonderfully together. Each aspect of wedding can contribute to this goal, including the cake. Choosing a wedding cake topper is another step towards making a wedding one-of-a-kind.

Contributor: Ashley Slayton

Looking for more helpful wedding or party information?

Wedding and Party Network can help you with all you wedding and party needs.

Learn more about Wedding Traditions, Wedding Tips, Party Tips and Ideas, Party Themes, Etiquette and more on our the Wedding and Party Network blog.