There was a time, not too many years ago, when having a wedding cake without a wedding cake topper was unthinkable.
Back then toppers ranged from quaint to cute and beyond to wild.
Most wedding cake toppers in that era were made of plastic, though they certainly weren't limited to plastic.
In fact, artisans from a wide variety of backgrounds often made wedding cake toppers to order, often coming up with stunning works of art to crown the artistic masterpiece that is your wedding cake.
Today, wedding cake toppers tend to be more limited and it is not uncommon to find a wedding cake without a special topper.
Why?There are probably quite a few correct answers but ultimately, I would like to suggest, it comes down to a matter of tastefulness.
Simply put, placing a piece of art on top of another (and much bigger) piece of art runs the risk of diminishing both the wedding cake and the wedding cake topper.
Because of this, today's bride often chooses for a simpler wedding cake topper.
Often it's fresh flowers.
Sometimes the bride chooses to skip the wedding cake topper all together and thereby let the cake stand alone.
Sometimes the wedding cake topper is something the bride commissions the pastry chef to create out of royal icing, fondant,or gum paste to ensure that the wedding cake topper is integrated into the artistic design of the wedding cake (After all, second only to you and your husband, it is the centerpiece of your reception).
Another option, which is gaining in popularity, is to use the couple's first initials in silver monograms sitting atop the cake as the proverbial wedding cake topper.
Regardless of what you choose, brushed silver monograms, fresh flowers, a gum paste flower or bow, or some beautiful or whimsical creation, take the time to ensure that your wedding cake topper is the perfect finishing touch for the wedding cake you've commissioned.
The artisan that is your pastry chef should be able to help you - and you'll be glad you made the effort.