But a growing number of modern brides and grooms are throwing tradition out the window and opting for cocoa-inspired confections for their big day. “Couples today want to set their weddings apart, and serving a chocolate wedding cake is one way to do that,” says Anne Khoobiar Heap, owner of Pink Cake Box in Denville (973-995-4445; pinkcakebox.com). “It’s perfect for people that don’t want the typical ‘white wedding.’”

While you might think it’s easier to get creative with flavors using a white or yellow cake as the base, the delicious possibilities are also endless with chocolate. Some of Heap’s favorite pairings include chocolate fudge cake with Oreo and cream filling, chocolate with peanut butter filling (“like a Reese’s peanut butter cup”), mocha filling, and of course, the always popular fruit fillings. “I absolutely love chocolate custard filling with strawberries and chocolate ganache with raspberries,” says Heap. Other options include an espresso ganache filling and a white chocolate velvet cake with exotic passion fruit filling (both popular at Cakes Couture, 973-763-9143; cakescouture.com), and chocolate cake with brandy cream filling (a fave at Cake Diva in Hoboken, 201-216-0123; cakediva.com).

When it comes to chocolate, though, less often is more, says Rosemary Littman, owner of Rosemary’s Cakes in Teaneck (201-833-2417). “When the chocolate is very rich, you’re better off choosing a simple filling to complement it,” she explains. Her choice: chocolate cake with almond buttercream filling. “My brides go crazy for it!”

Another unique option is red velvet cake, which is a very light chocolate cake. “Like the groom’s cake, red velvet became popular in the South, but it’s making its way up here,” says Heap. “It’s basically a buttermilk cake with a slight hint of cocoa, so guests that aren’t crazy about chocolate will still enjoy it.”

Despite the trend, choosing a dark color for the outside of the cake is still a risky move, says Heap. “I very rarely get asked to do an all-chocolate cake,” she says. “It’s a bit more popular in the fall when couples want a harvesty feel—I’ll dust the cake with gold, and it looks beautiful.”

Still, couples feel like they have more decorative options with a white cake—after all, it does match with everything. And when you think about it, it really is the best of both worlds: a creative twist with a conventional feel.