Looking at wedding cake accessories from a broader point of view allows you to be traditional and unique at the same time.

When you think of wedding cake accessories, you probably think of wedding cake serving sets, maybe with some personalized message on them – and indeed, that is partly what they are. But we can go further than that.

After all, your wedding should be unique...and traditional all at the same time. This may sound confusing but bear with us for a second.

The key to successfully using unique wedding ideas (in any part of your planning) is to be different without ignoring tradition. If you just want traditional, there’s no harm and no foul in that. But if you try to be too different, you can run the risk of appearing irreverent and at the extreme end, trashy. So how does this apply to the simple subject of wedding cake accessories?

To find out, let’s do a little exercise. First, know this. Nearly EVERYONE will be stopping by your wedding cake table – people love to go there, take pictures, talk about it, eat more than their share of cake…..Okay, we didn’t mean to put pressure on you.

For a moment, think of the table where your wedding cake will stand at the reception. When you think of wedding cake accessories, you’re probably thinking about the serving set, maybe a cake stand, or something like that. Now step back, way back. And imagine what the table looks like from a distance. There’s the wedding cake and perhaps a groom’s cake and some serving plates.

For the “traditional” element, there is indeed a special cake serving set (for more on the traditional aspect of wedding cake accessories, click here) of your own or provided by your baker or reception hall.

Another traditional wedding cake accessory you might see is a cake stand (again, your baker or reception hall might provide this for you).

Now for the unique part. Imagine what you want the rest of the table to look like. This is the creative element of wedding cake accessories that we've been talking about.

• Are there votive candles flanking your cake, decorating it with flickering light?

• Do you have mirrors under candles for more effect? Or any other reflective materials on or around the cake?

• How about a small tiered display of cupcakes for the little ones at your wedding? Some people are even using well displayed cupcakes as a complete cupcake wedding cake.

• Do you want cake jewelry, or a traditional, or monogram wedding cake topper?

• Are there flower petals strategically scattered around/on the cake? Or do you prefer a cascading floral decoration?

• On the rest of the table, you might have pictures of you and your spouse and perhaps friends and family.

• This is a great place to relocate your wedding guest book in case some people didn’t have time to sign earlier.

• It’s an even better place to set your signature guest book frame or guestbook platter if you are using those unique wedding ideas.