Weddings always tend to hold a strong sense of nostalgia, which makes it hardly surprising that the term “vintage” can be found in just about every aspect of the industry. This is especially true when it comes to the business of wedding cakes.
Especially in the past few years, the idea of vintage-inspired weddings has become an enormous trend; however, how do you create a true vintage wedding and avoid the abundance of overused and over-modernized styles?
It’s important to try to see past these so-called “vintage” trends and look directly to the past instead. This doesn’t mean creating an exact replica of your grandmother’s wedding cake - it simply means taking inspiration from it.
Many modern cakes tend to contain three or four tiers - even those that claim to be retro; however, most brides from the 1950’s through the 1980’s tended to have their cake layers displayed on individual levels, attaching them with columns to give extra height.
Grace Kelly, for example, amazed guests at her 1954 wedding to Prince Rainier III with a wedding cake spread out upon columns to six tiers high, and standing taller than the groom himself.
Flowers tended to be a special favorite of wedding planners past. Charlotte Green, of Langs of London, says that flowers were symbolic in weddings up until the 1970’s. Roses and orange blossoms specifically were thought to promote love, marriage and fertility, and so were generally at the top of the list. Sugarcraft versions of these blooms are a viable alternative to the more authentic display of fresh flowers between each tier.
Everyone recalls Kate Middleton’s lacy little number from her marriage to Prince William - apparently she’s a fan of authentic vintage wedding styles, as well. If you truly want to make your lace vintage, however, search for a classic design authentic to the era you’re aiming for, especially noting the intricacy of the patterns at the time. Lace is even sometimes used as an addition to wedding cakes - if you choose this route, make sure you work the lace into the actual decoration of the cake.
In order to truly get a feel for vintage style, it is also important to consider the events that were happening at the time. Food rationing, for example, ended after the war in 1947, which meant the reinstatement of supplies for bakers. This is the time when wedding cake decorations became all the rage. Forego the smoothness of fondant and instead pile on the frosting and royal icing. You can even add ruffle trims, shell borders and pearl details if you truly want to go all out. Jackie Kennedy’s wedding cake was known for its absolutely over-the-top amount of sweet frosting.
It’s also important to note that wedding cakes from the 1950’s through the 1970’s were exclusively fruit cakes. The best muscovado sugar, fine quality fruits and premium liquors were the main ingredients in these delicious delicacies - and if you truly wish to make it authentic, dare to bake your cake three months in advance of the wedding, in order to really let that brandy soak in.
Do you have wedding plans in the making? Dunn’s Bakery is one of the most experienced and highest quality wedding cake bakers in the country, with five generations of master baking experience - they are truly the experts in vintage wedding cake creation. See their range of designs for yourself, and let them bake you the wedding cake of your dreams.
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