- One color is associated with the 40th anniversary--ruby red. A cake covering can be made from white fondant or tinted pale red. Shapes cut from fondant can be added anywhere on the cake, even over the sides. Hearts, flowers, geometric shapes and even the number 40 in varying sizes and fonts would be a great idea.
- The flower of the 40th anniversary is a nasturtium. Ask your florist to make a small nosegay to use as a cake topper. Using small glass tubes, available from a florist, you can place fresh flowers anywhere on the cake. Nasturtium flowers are edible, so you don't have to be as careful about making sure the flowers don't touch the cake. Silk nasturtiums are an option as well as gum paste or sugar flowers, if you prefer them to be edible. Nasturtiums, however, don't come in a true red color, so ruby red roses have become an alternative flower.
- The 40th anniversary gemstone is the ruby. Sugar gemstones are available to decorate the outside of your cake in shimmer and shine. You can make sheets of poured red sugar, break into smaller pieces and use these to make a red sugar mosaic on your cake. You also can surprise your spouse with a gift of real gemstones as a cake topper.
- Think back over 40 years for significant events, such as buying a house, having a child and grandchildren, travel and graduations. Look in craft stores for miniatures to place on the cake that represent those events. You can buy or make wire photo holders with photos of these events or just favorites photos from the first 40 years to stick in the top and sides of the cake.
