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Often when I'm scrolling through Pinterest, I come across articles from wedding planners, bloggers, and bridal magazines that list "Wedding Cake Trends for 2019" (or whatever year we're in). I always read them, of course, and I'm always amused by them! These "trends" are usually influenced by who wrote the article, the company paying the writer, geographic region, and who is sponsoring their posts. Certainly, there are trends that come and go each year in the wedding industry. But my advice is to not get too hung up on what the bloggers and magazines say. Trends are different in every state, and the Lehigh Valley is so diverse that we see a little bit of everything here. I personally feel you should just do what YOU really like for your wedding cake so that you can look back at your photos one day and say, "Our cake was awesome! It was totally us!" 

That being said, almost every engaged couple we meet asks us what the most popular trends are and what other couples are doing. So, I thought it might be helpful to let you know what trends we're seeing at our bakery. To follow is a list of what we've been booking (and not booking) for 2019 and 2020 weddings:

• Rustic is still IN - "Rustic" weddings are still very popular in the Lehigh Valley. From barn weddings to country club weddings, we get a lot of requests for rustic cakes. What makes a cake rustic? They are not fussy, but more simplistic with the texture being the main focal point. These cakes are often done in buttercream, with a horizontal or vertical ridge texture, or a free-form "spackle" texture (similar to how Great-Grandma used to ice her cakes). An accent color is often added in the form of a few sugar flowers - not too many - just 2 or 3 clusters on each tier to accent the cake and give it a little something special. Because they are more simplistic, these cakes are the most affordable.  I read recently on one blog that "rustic is out", but I can tell you with certainty that is NOT the case in the Lehigh Valley!
• Naked cakes are fading out - Requests for naked cakes (cakes with no icing or barely iced) have become rare. And the number one reason for this is that the cake dries out. Without buttercream to seal it off from the air, the cake gets stale fast. This is common sense really - if there is nothing to protect the cake, of course, it will dry out. It's like leaving a piece of bread out on the counter overnight. And because wedding cakes are finished the day before the wedding, and then delivered 4 to 5 hours before they will be cut and served, there is a lot of time that the cake is exposed to air. Yes, we can brush it with a simple syrup, but honestly, if it is not covered in icing, it has about a 2-hour window of time that it will stay fresh. And really, no one wants to eat dry cake.
  
• Gourmet flavors are IN - Years ago, "back in the day", wedding cakes were always a white cake. Maybe, if you were a rebel, you picked marble. Thank goodness that's no longer the trend! Couples love surprising their guests with unique cake flavors and fillings. And often, if the cake is large enough, it will provide multiple flavors. This is why cake tastings have become a "thing"... couples have more options now and want to sample their favorites before choosing what to serve their guests. We still get plenty of orders for our vanilla cake (often with a fruit filling). But here are some of the other favorites we've been booking for this year and next: chocolate with Bailey's, chocolate with peanut butter, chocolate chip, lemon with raspberry filling, red velvet, carrot, orange creamsicle, coconut, banana, and pumpkin spice. No boring cake flavors here.
  
• Traditional is IN - There is something to be said for good old-fashioned tradition. And many couples are opting for a classic, elegant and traditional wedding cake design. They want their cake to stand out at the reception. The modern twist to traditional cake design is using fondant - it allows for more unique embellishments that can be painted in a metallic accent color (see the photo above). However, we still have lots of requests for buttercream cakes, iced smooth with piping and sugar flowers. Monograms are very popular as well.
  
• Groom's cakes are still a thing - We do a lot of these, and often they are requested for the rehearsal dinner. Usually, they are a surprise for the groom (ordered by the bride or parents of the groom) and reflect one of his hobbies or interests. 
  
• Metallic colors are super popular - Almost every wedding we do has some sort of metallic accent color - gold, silver, and rose gold are the most popular. If budget doesn't allow for the metallic color to be incorporated into the cake design, then we cover the cake board with a matching metallic foil. This is an easy way to incorporate that accent color into the cake presentation. 
• Tall cakes are preferred - Couples are wanting tall and slim tiers. I've had so many couples tell me they dislike the look of a short, wide cake. Risers are being used more to increase the height.
  
• Blush pink and deep jewel tones are favorites - Of all the wedding colors, "Blush" is the number one most requested shade for wedding cake flowers. It is often combined with ivory and white. We see this combination for so many spring and summer weddings. For autumn weddings, the favorites are a deep burgandy and/or plum.
  
• Sugar flowers are getting LOTS of love - Almost every single cake we do has sugar flowers incorporated into the design. The most popular sugar flowers are roses, hydrangeas, freesia, baby's breath, lilies, succulents, and greenery. And just recently, I've had multiple orders for sugar peonies. (I can't wait to make these!) The advantages of sugar flowers is not having to worry about pesticides, bacteria, pollen, or toxic flowers on your cake. For example - every part of the hydrangea plant is toxic to humans, yet we often see them stuck into or placed on wedding cakes. Sugar flowers are completely food safe, designed specifically for cake decorating, and the bonus is that they can be kept long after the wedding. Place them in a bell jar or covered display box, and they make a beautiful keepsake. 
  
•  Cupcakes seem to be waning a bit - We still get requests for cupcakes with cutting cakes, but we don't get nearly as many requests for these as we had in previous years. I think they will always be popular, but perhaps not as much as they were several years ago when the trend first started. 
  

Keep in mind - this is not meant to be an authoritative list of what's trending; we are just sharing our observations from our corner of the Lehigh Valley. Choose what you love and what's right for you!