By Audrey Oman

The wedding cake — more than a simple pastry — is the center
attraction of the reception (except for you, of course). As Franck
says in Father of the Bride, “Because the cake more often determines
what kind of wedding that you end up having.”

But this summer’s
cakes are taking a twist on the ordinary — they’re bursting with color
as never before. Instead the traditional white, brides are adding funky
flair to their frosting. Call it Mad Hatter. Call it Dr. Seuss. Call it
topsy-turvy. But whatever you call it, one thing is for sure — these pastries are bold, daring and demand attention.

“It takes a very brave bride to do it because they’re so out of the ordinary,” said Barbara Wachs, owner of Exclusive Wedding Cakes. “One that has confidence and wants something different and is willing to go for it.”

Janna Ellis, coordinator at Granite Bridal Showcase, said her bakery specializes in custom wedding cakes and will give anything a try. “It’s just a fun, unique, totally different look. Not formal, not traditional,” she said.

And what statement does a topsy-turvy cake make? “Here I am!” Wachs said. For brides who aren’t sure if a more wild cake will match their elegant reception, it may be a way to show their personality.

One recent bride opted to go with a Dr. Seuss cake even though the reception site was gracefully designed with chair covers, crystal chandeliers and linen napkins. Wachs said as she was setting up the cake, she laughed to herself and thought, “Here is this Dr. Seuss cake in this elegant room.” The bride walked in and said, “I love the cake. I had to have something that was me. My wedding is so stuffy.”

Artsy additions to the cake usually include bright colors, topsy-turvy tiers, big bold polka-dots, criss-crosses and frosting diamonds. For brides who desire the topsy-turvy look but want the cake to still appear traditional, Ellis suggested toning down all the colors. Trade in the bright pink and green for pastel shades; keep the diamonds and other décor.

And for a little excitement, consider this fun pastry for the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or groom’s cake. Ellis said the rehearsal dinner is a clever idea for Dr. Seuss cakes. “There’s less people who want the wedding cake to be more traditional,” she said. “There are not as many people at the dinner so it doesn’t have to be so large and it’s not as formal of an even as the wedding day either.”