Display Cakes: A Stunning Choice That Could Be the Perfect Solution

When it comes to planning a wedding, the cake is often one of the most anticipated elements. But what if your dream cake isn't actually cake at all? More and more couples are opting for display cakes—also known as dummy cakes—either as a way to achieve a stunning design without the worry of structural integrity or to explore alternative presentation options. But is a display cake the right choice for you? Let’s break down the benefits and considerations.

A Sugar Flower Covered Artificial Cake, Perfect for a Marquee Wedding

The Benefits of a Display Cake

• Stunning, Long-Lasting, and Stress-Free - A display cake allows for elaborate designs that might be impossible with a real cake, especially for outdoor weddings where heat and humidity can cause real cakes to melt or collapse. Unlike real cakes, which can be accidentally smudged, dropped, or ruined by heat, a display cake stays picture-perfect throughout your wedding day. Additionally, since a real cake has a limited window for decorating to ensure freshness, a display cake can be made well in advance, giving cake artists more time to perfect every detail.

• Allergy-Friendly Solution - If you have guests with allergies or dietary restrictions, you can opt for a display cake and serve alternative desserts that cater to everyone's needs.

• Display Tiers for the Best of Both Worlds - Some couples choose a hybrid approach, incorporating display tiers alongside real cake tiers. This allows for an extravagant design while keeping part of the cake edible for guests. This is especially useful for very tall cakes, where the top tiers may be purely decorative while the lower tiers are real and ready for serving. Additionally, display tiers allow for grand, towering cakes at smaller weddings without leaving excessive leftovers. This way, couples can enjoy the visual impact of a multi-tiered cake while serving the appropriate amount of real cake for their guest count.

• Safe Use of Toxic Flowers - If your wedding features flowers that are toxic or not food-safe—such as foxgloves, eucalyptus, baby’s breath, or ranunculi—you can incorporate them into a display cake without any concerns. This allows you to have the floral aesthetic you love while ensuring that no harmful elements come into contact with edible cake.

Gateaux Cakes: A Unique Offering

I created our Gateaux cake option for couples who want to serve cake as dessert without the hassle of cutting a large tiered cake. These cakes feature flavour combinations similar to those in our taster boxes but are served as pre-cut sheet cakes, allowing for components that typically require refrigeration, such as panna cotta or cheesecake layers. They come pre-sliced and ready for service, ensuring perfect, neat portions every time.

Pre-sliced portions of Strawberry and White Chocolate Gateaux Cake.

Why Choose a Gateaux Cake?

• Effortless Storage and Serving: These cakes can be stored in the fridge until needed and are cut while still chilled, making them easy to handle and serve.

• Ideal for Caterers and DIY Weddings: Since gateaux cakes come pre-sliced, caterers won’t need to cut them during service. For DIY weddings, there’s no need to assign someone to slice the cake.

• Flexible Presentation: Serve as sweet canapés during arrival drinks or as a refined plated dessert.

• Preserve the Display Cake: With a display cake on show, guests can admire it throughout the evening while enjoying a delicious pre-portioned dessert.

• Perfect Complement to a Display Cake: These cakes can be ordered alongside a display cake, offering couples more flexibility in how they present and serve their wedding cake.

Incorporating a Display Cake into a Dessert Table

A display cake doesn’t have to be a standalone centrepiece—it can be beautifully integrated into a dessert table setup, creating a visually striking and indulgent experience for your guests. Here’s how:

• A Stunning Focal Point: The display cake can serve as the centrepiece of the dessert table, tying together the aesthetic and making a statement while guests enjoy an assortment of delicious sweet treats.

• Complementary Desserts: Surrounding the display cake with a selection of treats, such as gateaux cakes, tartlets, eclairs, and seasonal desserts, allows guests to enjoy a variety of flavours and textures.

• Perfect for Pacing the Evening: With a dessert table, guests can enjoy sweets at their leisure, whether it’s after dinner, alongside drinks, or as a late-night indulgence.

• Enhancing the Theme: The display cake and dessert table can be styled to match the wedding’s theme, incorporating fresh flowers, elegant cake stands, and seasonal décor.

• Seamless Service: Since the display cake remains untouched for the entire event, caterers can focus on serving pre-portioned desserts without the hassle of cutting and plating a traditional tiered cake.

Things to Consider with a Display Cake

• Keeping the Cake-Cutting Tradition Alive - For many couples, the cake-cutting ceremony is a cherished moment. Display cakes are designed with a hidden real tier or a concealed cake portion within the cake, allowing you to still enjoy that special tradition and capture those beautiful cake-cutting photos.

• Ensuring Guests Get a Delicious Experience - One of the joys of having a wedding cake is sharing it with guests. If you choose a display cake, you then have the option of serving beautifully plated slices of a separate real cake, such as a gateaux cake, or other desserts to enhance the experience.

• Coordinating the Cake Service Seamlessly - Since a display cake isn’t edible, you have more freedom of when to serve the real cake or alternative desserts. For example, when photos are being taken and people are feeling snacky, as dessert right after dinner, or as a late-night treat. 

• Most Guests Won’t Know the Difference - Display cakes are incredibly realistic, and most guests will be none the wiser that the cake isn’t entirely real. Many of the grand, multi-tiered cakes you see on Pinterest are actually made with display tiers or are completely fake—would you be able to tell the difference? Display cakes allow couples to achieve that luxurious, extravagant look without worrying about excess cake or structural limitations.

Is a Display Cake Right for You?

A display cake can be a fantastic option for couples who want a show-stopping centrepiece without the risk of disaster. If you love the idea of a grand cake display but also want to enjoy a delicious dessert experience, a combination of both real and display elements—such as using display tiers or serving gateaux cakes—can provide the best of both worlds.

Ultimately, your wedding should reflect your personality and priorities—whether that means a breath-taking display cake, a hybrid cake with real tiers, or a fully edible masterpiece, the choice is yours!