This Is the Most Delicious Way to Use Your Wedding China

We think wedding china is for all occasions, from Thanksgiving dinner to take-out pizza. And what better time to break in your new dinnerware than your wedding day, the best occasion of all. Ask your planner or caterer to set your sweetheart seats with your wish-listed pattern and coordinating stemware. At the very least, use your dessert plates for that first slice of cake.

Ten years from now, you may not remember if you chose chicken or fish, but we can almost guarantee you'll think of your wedding every time you set the table. Take this trend a step further and use your dishes as inspiration for your cake design. From boho to modern, we let some of our favorite plates, cups and saucers influence the style and decorative details of these sugary confections.

Boho

Addie Juell

An oversize bloom, a twist on the sugar flower cascade, anchors this carefree design and proves that a single stem can make a big impact. Gold details on the leaves and petals capitalize on the metallic trend and create a luxe feel. "From delicate touches to bold, overall coverage, metallics make a cake unforgettable," says designer Penny Stankiewicz.

Sugar Couture cake, SugarCouture.com ; Mottahedeh tobacco leaf china, MichaelCFina.com

Classic

Addie Juell

For an elegant cake, skip an intricate pattern in favor of a statement-making cascade of sugar flowers. "This china inspired a design that was formal with a bit of fairy-tale magic," says cake designer Cheryl Kleinman. Classic round tiers are the perfect canvas for pale blue roses, Grecian gold leaves and petite circles, giving the confection a timeless feel witha hint of whimsy. "I designed a cake that could share the table with the china and not compete with it."

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Cheryl Kleinman for Betty Bakery cake, BettyBakery.com; Philippe Deshoulieres Arcades Gold china, from $55, GraciousHome.com

Modern

Addie Juell

An eye-catching, graphic pattern is brought to life in an unexpected way on this five-tier confection. Cake designer Lauri Ditunno deconstructed the china's diamond motif, combining glitz with classic quilting. While navy is a prominent color in the dinnerware, it's used only in the details, giving the cake an air of lightness despite the strong hue. The addition of gold-flecked sugar flowers balances the contemporary style, adding a touch of romance. "I love using metallics in edible leaf form and as highlights in a cake's design," Ditunno says. If you're going the geometric route, stick to a similar color palette so the elements don't compete.

Cake Alchemy cake, CakeAlchemy.com; B By Brandie Barbados china, from $26, BbyBrandie.com

Romantic

Addie Juell

Looking for a fanciful cake with a hint of playfulness Mix and match motifs to achieve a blend of styles. This white-on-white design incorporates the china's detailed edges, mimicking the delicate filigree and gold pattern on each tier, giving the cake a look of elegance. Cake designer Orlando León was drawn to the hand-painted tulip of the salad plate—so much so that he re-created the stem on the tallest tier. A 3-D sugar butterfly echoes the flower's coloring, adding a little fantasy. What's inside? "Vanilla cake with matcha-green-tea buttercream," León says. Just another marvelous blend of classic and curious.

Butterfly Bakeshop cake, ButterflyBakeshop.com; Anna Weatherley Simply Anna china, from $43, Bloomingdales.com; Anna Weatherley tulip salad plate, $290, Bloomingdales.com