Wedding cakes - are traditional treats back in fashion?

Of all the marriage traditions, the wedding cake is one seen at most ceremonies. No doubt many couples look forward to cutting that first slice as husband and wife, while the guests may be excited to indulge their sweet tooth with a delicious dessert.

But, unfortunately, we all know these things don’t come cheap, especially at a time when a lot of newlyweds could be tightening the purse strings and looking to keep the cost of their ceremony down as much as possible.

So what are they doing to keep within their budget and still have a magnificent pudding to enjoy after the reception meal?

According to Helen Webster, editor at Perfect Wedding magazine, people are increasingly returning to traditional cakes instead of splashing out on elaborate alternatives.

She points out that cupcakes are becoming something of a phenomenon with small, independent bakeries springing up in cities all over the country. Although this is also a "fresh and exciting" option for weddings, the expert claims some couples are rejecting these in favour of cheaper alternatives.

"You can get a really good three or four-tier wedding cake and maybe spend a little bit less than if you bought everyone amazing couture cupcakes, there is a little bit of a cost element there as well," Ms Webster explains.

She also points out tiered desserts give newlyweds the opportunity to experiment with different flavours, as well as trying out different varieties of sponge. Simple fruit cakes are no longer the first port of call and cheesecakes are being chosen by some brides and grooms.

Ms Webster states: "So it's not just about having a white iced fruit cake that your mum might have had."

But it is not only elaborate desserts from professional bakeries couples could be serving to their friends and relatives before they have their first dance at the reception.

Rosemary Shrager, a spokesperson for National Baking Week, says home cooking is becoming all the rage in the UK and it could be that some brides fancy getting stuck in and creating their own pudding.

"Home baking does seem to be on the up as it fits so effortlessly into this new shabby-chic trend where instead of the 'chuck out that chintz' it's more 'in with elaborate' and vintage," she explains.

Ms Shrager describes creating a tasty pudding at home as being "terribly easy" and people should just have a go, as they may surprise themselves.

The beauty of home baking, she says, is that it is thrifty yet tastes a lot better than some shop-bought alternatives. It needn't be a laborious activity, but takes no time at all to develop the skills needed to bake delicious desserts.

With this in mind, it may be tempting for brides-to-be to try baking something themselves, especially as it could save those all important pennies. If they have their heart set on a highly decorative, professional wedding cake, they could even offer their homely alternatives as a cute wedding favour to thank relatives for attending the events.