Persian fantasy-inspired cake with hand-painted pomegranate floral motifs, sculpted gumpaste pomegranates, fantasy gumpaste flowers and coconut palm trees and fronds.

Bonnie Gordon Cakes; Photography: Michael Kohn Photography

With new approaches in design, the cake is reclaiming itself as the piece de resistance.

The wedding cake is one of the first things that a guest sees at the reception and one of the last things they get to experience. Inspired by the floral arrangements, color palette or china pattern, the cake can be an edible extension of the wedding decor.

While cake artists are incorporating more tiers, hand-painted details and three-dimensional confections, they are continually returning to simple, but elegant concepts with a twist reflective of the contemporary bride and groom. With these new approaches in design, and of course delectable flavor, the cake is reclaiming itself as the piece de resistance.

Written by Jessica Latimer; Edited by Yanni Tzoumas