When it comes to planning a wedding, there are a million things that you need to think about, not simply in respect of the ceremony, but for the reception as well. It scarcely needs to be said, but one thing that no wedding reception would ever be complete without is the wedding cake itself.

Your wedding cake is not simply 'party food', but is a traditional part of the wedding celebration, with the newly married couple cutting the first piece of cake and offering each other a bite.

Clearly you will wish to think about the design of your cake well in advance of the wedding, from the kind of cake you will want to the type of frosting and the wedding cake toppers you will wish to adorn the cake.

Now wedding cake toppers are not of course strictly required and you could do without them. But, putting them on your wedding cake can allow you express your personality and make a significant different to the affect of this focal point of your wedding reception.

But precisely what is a topper?

For many years, wedding cake toppers have been the little figures of the bride and groom that are generally placed on top of a wedding cake as a respresentation of togetherness. Traditional wedding cake toppers depict the happy couple in formal dress and are generally the only part of the wedding cake that can be kept through the years, apart from photographs of course. These toppers were at their most popular in the 1950s, although very many brides and grooms still put them on cakes.

Okay, so just what sort of topper should I pick?

Today, there are a lot more designs for toppers than the plain old bride and groom and these range from the humerous to the elegant. If you want to have wedding cake toppers then select something that is going to be appropriate for the style and theme of your wedding reception and for you. If you are having a formal wedding then consider choosing the time-honored toppers or perhaps use your initials to create a 'monogrammed' cake topper. Simple wedding cake toppers such as these can also be the best choice when you and your fiancé are finding it hard to agree on the right toppers.

If your aim is for a more informal and relaxed wedding reception then you might want to pick a funny wedding cake topper or for something that reflects hobbies that you and your partner have in common. Alternatively, if you have selected a particular theme for your reception then look for toppers that support that theme. For example, nothing can add a nicer touch to an 'aquatic' reception than wedding cake toppers depicting a pair of dolphins playing together.

Just ensure that your toppers will work with the design of your cake and, if you are still in doubt then let the artistry of your wedding cake speak for itself and leave off the toppers.

However, with such a huge range of wedding cakes toppers to choose from nowadays it is almost inconceivable that you will not be able to find the perfect wedding cake topper.

For more information about everything from creating the perfect digital wedding album to military wedding cake toppers please visit TalkingWeddings.com today.