wedding cake..my friend has asked me to make hers and I need some ideas.

[earthtomummy]

It's only a very very low-key do, and the cake is just for the family going to the registry office. My friend doesn't want a fruit cake and we saw an attractive looking coconut cake in a Delia book, covered in grated coconut. I'm wondering if anyone has alternative ideas for a simple, unfussy and tasty cake that has visual impact without requiring the talents of Jane Asher when it comes to icing. Worried that it'll end up loooking like my childrens' cakes!! My friend and her DP like lemon cakes, chocolate - actually, anything. The appeal of the coconut is the icing and decoration. Also, can you tier cakes that aren't fruit and covered with rock hard icing?? And if so, how?