Welcome Back to The Wedding Edit
Happy New Year, Ottawa! We are back, kicking off the New Year with our first “Tasting Tuesday,” exploring everything from vintage-style cakes to interactive gelato carts for your big day. Welcome to 2026, a year we are already declaring as the most “sweet and fruitful” one yet for our incredible wedding community in the National Capital Region.
If you got engaged over the holidays, a massive, heartfelt congratulations from Moi and the entire Ottawa Wedding Magazine team! You are about to embark on one of the most exciting journeys of your life. And if you’re in the thick of planning for a 2026 or 2027 wedding, welcome back to the fold. I’ve missed you, Pinterest boards have been refreshed, and are bursting with new inspiration to help you navigate the local wedding landscape.
While I may have taken a little breather to recharge (and shop), and maybe even drink way too many festive cocktails, I did do my due diligence to observe where the industry is heading. The verdict? 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined by intentionality. It’s less about doing what’s “expected” and more about curating an experience that feels authentic to you. It’s about fruitful planning—making decisions that yield joy rather than stress—and sweet rewards.
And speaking of sweet rewards, what better way to kick off our first “Tasting Tuesday” of the year than by diving fork-first into the world of wedding desserts? Gone are the days when a dense fruitcake encased in concrete fondant was your only option. Today, the final course of your wedding meal is a statement piece, an interactive experience, and a reflection of your culinary personality as a couple. Whether you are a traditionalist dreaming of that perfect tiered confection or a modernist looking to break the mould with something unexpected, we’re breaking down what’s trending and what to expect when it’s time to taste.
The 2026 Vibe: What’s Trending in Sugar?
Before we get into the logistics of tasting, let’s look at the dessert mood board for 2026. We are seeing a clear shift away from “bigger is better” toward “quality and experience are everything.”
- The Return of Vintage Piping (Lambeth Style)
What’s old is definitely new again. We are seeing a massive resurgence in intricate, over-the-top, Victorian-style piping. Think Marie Antoinette vibes. These cakes are often smaller in scale—perhaps two tiers or even a single “cutting cake”—but they are absolute showstoppers in design. They photograph beautifully and offer a sense of nostalgic romance.
- Interactive Dessert Stations over Plated Courses
Couples are craving movement and interaction. Instead of a slice of cake dropped at every setting (half of which often go uneaten while people are on the dance floor), we’re seeing dynamic dessert stations. Think gourmet s’mores bars with artisanal marshmallows, live crepe stations, or even a late-night upscale cereal bar. It turns dessert into an activity.
- Nostalgia with an Elegant Twist
Comfort food is having a major moment in weddings. Couples are elevating their childhood favourites. We’re talking about towers of gourmet macarons that taste like breakfast cereal, elevated “pop-tarts” with flaky pastry and real fruit fillings, or personalized cookie sandwiches. It’s playful, unexpected, and deeply satisfying.
The Classic Experience: Demystifying the Traditional Cake Tasting
So, you know you want the cake. You want the moment where you and your partner cut that first slice, the beautiful focal point in the reception hall, and the tradition it represents. Amazing. Ottawa has some incredibly talented cake artists.
But if you’ve never planned a wedding, the “cake tasting” can feel intimidating. Here is what to expect at a traditional consultation:
The Setup:
A traditional tasting is usually a private appointment with a baker in their studio or bakery. Most high-end bakers charge a tasting fee (typically $40-$75), which is often credited toward your final balance if you book with them. Do not expect a free buffet; this covers their ingredients and time!
The Flavours:
You won’t be able to taste their entire menu. Usually, you will pre-select 3 to 5 flavour combinations when booking your appointment. This is the fun part! Don’t just stick to vanilla; try Earl Grey and lavender, lemon-raspberry, or rich salted caramel chocolate. Pay attention to the sponge’s texture and the buttercream’s sweetness.
The Design Consultation:
While you eat, you talk business. You’ll discuss the number of guests (which dictates the size), the venue’s climate (crucial for summer weddings in Ottawa—buttercream melts!), and your aesthetic. Bring photos of your dress, your florals, and your colour palette. The baker will sketch out a design that harmonizes with your overall vision.
The Takeaway:
The goal of the traditional tasting is to finalize the structure, flavour, and visual design of a single, cohesive centrepiece. It’s an intimate, focused experience.
The Modern Twist: Breaking the Mold
Perhaps the idea of a giant tiered cake just doesn’t excite you. Maybe you and your partner aren’t “cake people.” That is perfectly fine! 2026 is the year to embrace the alternative.
If you opt for a modern twist, the “tasting” experience changes dramatically. It becomes less about designing one object and more about curating a menu of delights.
The Dessert Table/Grazing Style:
Instead of one baker, you might be sourcing from two or three specialty vendors. Your “tasting” might involve visiting a few local bakeries to sample their best mini-cheesecakes, tarts, and brownies to create a diverse grazing table. The focus here is on variety—giving your guests 10 delicious options instead of one.
The “Savory Cake” Alternative:
We are obsessed with this trend. For the couple without a sweet tooth, behold the “Cheese” Cake. This is literally wheels of artisanal cheese stacked to resemble a tiered wedding cake, decorated with grapes, figs, and greenery. The “tasting” for this is fabulous—it involves visiting a local cheesemonger and sampling cheddars, bries, and blues to build your perfect savoury tower for late-night snacking.
The Mobile Experience:
Nothing says summer wedding in the capital like hiring a vintage gelato cart or a gourmet popsicle stand to roll in after dinner. The tasting process here is simple and fun: visit their cart around town, try their flavours, and book a two-hour window. It offers an excellent photo opportunity and a refreshing treat that gets people out of their seats.
A Sweet Start
Whether you choose a towering masterpiece covered in vintage piping or a rustic wall of gourmet doughnuts, the most important thing is that the end of your night tastes like you. This year, we encourage you to be bold with your flavours and intentional with your choices. We can’t wait to see what sweet confections grace the wedding venues of Ottawa in 2026. Welcome back to The Edit. Let’s make this year delicious.
Your Wedding Expert,
xoxo Nindi For TastersHUB Catering & Events
“To love someone is nothing, to be loved by someone is something, to love someone who loves you is everything.” -Bill Russell
