In medieval Britain, a newly married couple would kiss over a pile of little cakes brought by their guests. Todays tiered cake dates back to a victorian baker in Fleet Street who created one for his own daughter's wedding. The superstitious believe that a single woman who sleeps with a slice of wedding cake beneath her pillow will dream of the man she will marry.

Your choice of wedding cake may be dictated by the style of your day and the choice is endless. Design, flavour, colour, size, even whether is will be sweet or savoury. Carrot cake, traditional fruit cake, chocolate or hazelnut. Filled with cream, buttercream, fruit puree or lemon curd. Covered with buttercream, royal icing, marzipan or fondant. There are cupcakes, 'crottins'cakes or pavlovas piled high with strawberries and cream.

Savory ideas like a tiered collection of beautiful locally made cheeses makes a wonderful centerpiece, or a tiered pork pie made from local, rare breed pork would be quite a sensation.

Find someone who will make a cake with organic, natural and fair trade ingredients and decorate your cake with local or home-grown organic flowers. If you fancy a topper, search out something unique from family or friends or have a rummage in junk shops for a quirky object of desire.

See here for a list of cake makers using good ingredients