Deciding on a cake for any celebration is a pretty fun process. Usually the baker lets you try all the flavors they make. I always loved this blueberry and lemon cake that I styled, made by Jim Smeal of South Carolina and photographed for InStyle magazine by Monica Buck. (Probably because my own wedding cake was the same flavor) This cake looks beautiful with the layers of blueberry, but you can ask about making different tiers of your wedding cake different flavors, or having the filling be a different flavor. This usually works better with a cake that is decorated with flowers, sugar flowers or piping though because when you adorn a cake with a fruit, most everyone will be expecting a flavor to complement it. And as I always say, most ‘wedding’ ideas can be applied to any celebration you are having. Why not treat yourself to a tiered cake as your birthday cake? Or re-create your parents wedding cake for their anniversary- a beautiful cake is appreciated at any occasion. -Lynn Butler Beling

Gossip Note: Jim Smeal baked Reese Witherspoon’s wedding cake.