You’ve flicked through about a gazillion cake magazines, but nothing seems to be jumping out at you. If you are completely stuck on ideas for your wedding cake, then look no further as we check out some of the sweetest trends from abroad in 09.

1. Parisian Chic - Black and white made an appearance in 08 and will continue to leave a lasting impression in 09. The clean, modern and classic pairing of black and white finds its way through to all the details. From invitations, to dress sashes, down to the little brooch on the bouquet why not extend Parisian chic through to your cake. Swirls of black and white and white on black will add that ultimate luxurious touch to your wedding reception.
   
   
2. Flower free cakes – No, not flour, but flower! The upside of this is that you are guaranteed to save money by not paying your cake decorator to spend hours of intensive time labouring over your sugared roses and lilies. Instead geometric shapes and designs make their way on to the cake, creating striking effects and unforgettable designs.
   
   
3. Mix matched shapes – Gone are the days when all the tiers of the cake must be identical in shape. The jury is in, mismatched cake shapes is a trend we love in 09. Square tiers, on top of circular tiers on top of hexagonal tiers is something that we are going to see more of.
   
   
4. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate - Do you have a weak spot for all things chocolate? Don’t be afraid to let your wedding cake say as much about you as your dress or flowers. You don’t need to have chocolate in your repertoire of colours for the day; this cake speaks for itself in terms of taste.
   
   
5. Letterpress patterns – Don’t think that letterpress is just for stationary. A letterpress motif on your cake is sure to make it stand out from the rest. This really simple but classy effect is perfect for the bride that does not want to go too OTT, but definitely wants to set herself apart from the rest.
   
   
6. Oversize flowers – Rather than have a plethora of smaller flowers resting on the top or the tiers of your cake, think less is more. Two or three larger floral pieces on top of your cake is a much bolder statement, and will be sure to make your guests turn their head when they walk in the room.
   
   
7. Bands & Monograms – Ever thought of combining your initials with your fiancé to create a monogram brand for your day. Stamp your brand on everything from the invitation right through to your wedding cake.  Beautiful bands of ribbon around the base of the cake complete the simple but classy look.
   
   
8. Layers ­– Pillars are definitely out. When you think about tiered cakes, think one tier on top of the other. And if you are concerned about your cake collapsing, don’t be. Dowels are cleverly built in to the cake to support the structure, and to make sure it doesn’t resemble the leaning tower of Pisa.