Slice of fake wedding cake anyone?

For many couples, their wedding cake can be a very special part of their big day, as one cake maker from the US is well aware.

However, what she didn't realise is that some people want to show off their beautiful and delicious looking cake for the entire duration of their wedding - and that they will happily take a fake one if it means it will look lovely for hours.

Kimberly Aya from Richmond, Virginia, first discovered that there was a market for fake wedding cakes three months ago when she showcased two of her designs at a wedding show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The cakes were decorated with real icing, but were made of Styrofoam. Despite their obvious lack of sponge, cream and jam, the cakes were incredibly popular, and almost all of the brides who came to Ms Aya's stand cited an interest in a fake cake.

She said: "You take fake cakes because they have to sit [at the shows] for three days. It was just insane. Brides were filling up the booth, and 99 per cent kept asking for fake cakes.

As a result of her success at the show, Ms Aya decided to set up a company that rents out fake wedding cakes. CakeRental.com now receives between 50 and 70 enquiries a day, and for $100 to $150 (£50 to £75) plus a $200 (£100) refundable deposit, customers can have a fake cake - that even has a little hatch where the bride and groom can pop two slices of real cake, just for them.