Contemporary or Modern

What It Is: A hip take on the traditional cake — it’s taller (tiers are four to six inches high) and design-heavy, with repeated patterns on the sides or the top. (The motif above is the double wedding ring, often used by quilters.) Tastewise, these cakes are usually bold. Flavors range from red velvet to hazelnut to hummingbird (a variation of carrot cake, with a twist of pineapple).

What to Know: You can ask for any design that piques your interest. A baker can create silhouettes of butterflies, birds, flowers, and more by hand or with pastry cutters.