Many of us have the fervour to label ourselves ‘food connoisseurs’, but when faced with the difficult decision of choosing a wedding cake, there are a litany of colours, flavours and styles to choose from. Wittkowsky began her venture into the wonderful world of cake by pursuing her passion for creating delicious works of art. “I have always loved baking and when my carrot and nut cake came first at the 2014 Royal Perth Show, there was no stopping me,” Wittkowsky says. “I love that cake is always part of a celebration and those happy moments in life.”

A Little Lustre

Metallic cakes have stepped into the limelight, due to their modern guise and aesthetic of opulence. You could opt for a simple design, with classic colours like gold or silver acting as an accent on one or two layers. “Stencil with metallic paint looks amazing, [or opt for] metallic drips,” Wittkowsky says. In terms of decorating your cake, Wittkowsky reveals an important tip: “if you’re going to add solid blocks of metallic colour to a cake, there should always be some negative space above and below it.” Alternatively, be a little adventurous and select shades like copper, bronze, or an illuminating rose-gold for a modern twist. “You can paint an entire tier, or apply pieces of silver or gold leaf,” Wittkowsky explains.

Afternoon De-Luxe

Gold is the emblem of royalty and will undoubtedly add an essence of luxury to your wedding cake, but if you don’t want to go too over the top, you can embed small elements of gold into the design. There is so much you can do to an otherwise simple cake to make it stand out. Gold and silver leaf takes the cake as Wittkowsky’s favourite decorations. “You can create texture on fondant and then paint metallic over that to really bring out the texture. [It looks great when you use] metallic paint on wafer paper and add that to the cake.” Interestingly, gold leafing is actually made of real gold! It will always amount to at least twenty-one carats due to food safety regulations.

Edible gold leaf is also vegan and can transform the most basic cake into a masterpiece. The most common forms in which gold leaf is available are sheets and flakes. Work with your baker to decide which form will best suit your confectionaries. Flakes work well for small sweets like macaroons or cupcakes, while sheets can be taken advantage of for larger designs, and will offer a seamlessly luxe look. There is perhaps too much choice, but having choice when it comes to something as delicious as cake isn’t such a terrible predicament to be in!

There are so many miniscule details that can be imbued into cakes to make them pop. “I love adding texture and painting directly over it,” Wittkowsky relays. “I also love adding metallic accents to my sugar flowers, like painting some of the leaves gold and also painting the edges of the petals with a hint of gold.” Metallic edible sequins also adds an element of glamour that is hard to miss, while tiers covered in gold cachous are more festive and ornamental. While glitter is a tool every child-care worker and parent dreads, edible glitter is an excellent material to use on a cake. The ties glitter has to childhood and fun will also remind your guests of their youth, a time many look back on with fond memories.

With Complements

Cakes have personality, with their towery heights and intricate detailing, and should reflect your own personality as well. If you don’t want the cake to look out of place, try adding elements of metallic into the design of the venue. “It’s really important that there are metallic features in your style of wedding so that the cake fits in seamlessly with your special day,” Wittkowsky says. If you’re after an elegant mystique, consider adding pearls and edible beads to your wedding cake. You could even match the beads to your dress for a more personable touch.

Your wedding cake can also pair nicely with your floral arrangements. “Most flowers look great with gold and silver,” Wittkowsky explains. “Covering an entire tier in gold or silver leaf looks amazing – I love to add it around the other design elements like near the flowers.”