A dazzling cake is one of the most familiar and best-loved wedding icons. But don’t feel wedded to the traditional white icing and bride-and-groom figurines; today’s bakers and brides conjure up confections that reflect personality and style—pleasing to the eyes and to the palate!

Many catering companies provide wedding cakes as part of the reception package. However, you’re usually not required to use their cake. (But do definitely hold a taste test first!) Whether you choose your caterer or an independent baker, select the one most open to your vision, and be sure to ask the following:

• What cake flavors and fillings are available? Most bakers will let you customize your cake to fit your wedding vision—imagine a pineapple upside-down cake for a tropical-themed wedding.
• How far in advance is the cake made? A large catering company or bakery may bake your cake more than a few days in advance—and it’ll taste like it.
• Who designs and bakes the cake? It’s great if you can work directly with the person who’ll eventually be covered in flour.
• How is pricing established, by the slice or by the cake? If you choose to serve several small cakes instead of one big cake, the cost could add up quickly.
• Can they create a custom cake? Some bakers may be able to replicate your cherished family recipe on a grand scale.

Once you’ve chosen your baker, get inspired with ideas from your wedding theme, your dress, or your and your fiance’s shared interests. Expand your horizons beyond boring circular layers by considering octagons, squares, or even a mixture of different shapes. After all the work put into its creation, your cake deserves more than a plain dessert plate: an elegant (and easy to carry) option is to serve each piece in a wine or martini glass.

While style is important, taste is paramount: think of ways to mesmerize your guests’ taste buds with exotic flavors, rich temptations, and unique combinations. Here’s some food for thought: luxe chocolate spiced with cayenne and cinnamon, honey-almond with vanilla buttercream, Meyer lemon with walnut.

The wedding cake is not an afterthought—it’s the centerpiece of your reception. Make it the best it can be with this advice from cake queen Sylvia Weinstock: “The cake must please the eye as well as the palate,” but in the end, “cake is food, and the taste matters.”