Choosing a wedding cake is such an exciting part of the wedding planning process. There’s not much else that can satisfy us more than a good wedding cake can – both in taste and in style.
A beautiful wedding cake can be a real focal point at your wedding reception, adding to your wedding theme and really making a statement. It will also make a seriously Instagram-worthy wedding photo idea which you’ll love to look back on for years to come.
And it’s not just appreciating (and eating) the finished product that’ll bring you joy. Gathering inspiration for your wedding cake is so much fun, too. Whether you’re dreaming of a rustic semi-naked wedding cake or you’re after something simple and modern, hours can pass scouring the web for ideas.
If you’re a bohemian bride, consider leafy vines entwined around your bake as well as earthy tones and a rustic cake stand. If your style is more contemporary, geometric shapes, marble-effects, geode wedding cakes or celestial-inspired designs would be among the most perfect of choices.
Understated couples or couples looking to save money on their wedding budget should consider single-tier wedding cakes, while those dreaming of a classic affair may wish to update the traditional ivory wedding cake with hand-painted florals and watercolours.
You could even take inspiration from Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020 and go for a super on-trend ‘Classic Blue’ marble-effect design. The choice is entirely yours!
Whether you’re baking your own wedding cake by way of saving money or you’re enlisting the help of a wedding cake maker, we’ve got 63 wedding cake ideas for you to take inspiration from. Now all that’s left to do is decide on your favourite…
1. Pink Pearl Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @tort_annako93
We can’t get enough of this pearl-encrusted wedding cake. It’d be perfect for a classic and traditional celebration!
2. Abstract Paint Smudge Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @soulcakeshop
Paint smudge wedding cakes are a huge 2020 wedding trend, and this lovely colour palette would work perfectly at so many styles of wedding.
3. Rustic Semi-Naked Wedding Cake
Image: Jackson’s Catering via Rock My Wedding
Visibly imperfect semi-naked icing gives an otherwise simple wedding cake a serious edge.
READ MORE: 45 Breathtaking Rustic Wedding Ideas
4. Floral Installation Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @cake_ink
Make your simple wedding cake pop by decorating it with a bold floral installation.
Remember to ensure you choose flowers which match the flowers in your bouquet!
5. Pastel Spatula Painted Wedding Cake
Image: Sweet Lion Heart
We fell in love with this pretty pastel design as soon as we laid our eyes on it. Three tiers of pure perfection, if you ask us…
6. Blue Ombre Wedding Cake
Image: Burgh Brides
This wedding cake idea combines two huge wedding trends: marble-effect and ombre icing.
If you have multiple tiers, we love the idea of flavouring each one differently.
7. Rustic Gypsophila Wedding Cake
Image: Virginia Photography via Love My Dress
Adding sprigs of gypsophila can transform an otherwise simple rustic wedding cake. Displaying your bake on a log slice cake stand is another fabulous idea.
8. Berry & Chocolate Drip Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @nyuta_zelenskaja
This chocolate drip wedding cake almost looks too good to eat, don’t you think?
9. Doughnut Stack Wedding Cake
Image: Enchanted Wedding Photography
Who says you need to have a traditional wedding cake on your big day? Consider a doughnut stack if you want something which is much easier to share around.
This doughnut stack has a small cake on the top tier, so you’ll still be able to cut the cake in front of all your guests!
10. Rainbow Flower Wedding Cake
Image: Casey Avenue Photography via Rock My Wedding
One way to make a simple, semi-naked wedding cake feel more unique is to add lots of colourful flowers to the stand and the top tier. The more colours, the merrier!
11. Modern Dried Floral Wedding Cake
Image: Carley Jayne Photography
Pampas grass is a huge 2020 wedding trend, and we love its inclusion on this modern wedding cake. Ghost layers are all the rage.
12. Pink Marble-Effect Wedding Cake
Image: Cake Central
Marble-effect wedding cakes might be our favourite wedding cake idea, like… ever. If you’re a lover of all things pink, this could be the sweet treat for you.
13. Best Day Ever Rainbow Wedding Cake
Image: Mary Costa Photography
An acrylic or glitter cake topper makes for a contemporary take on the traditional wedding cake topper.
Each tier of this wedding cake has been iced in a different way, but every contrasting layer has been tied to the others with metallic details.
14. Dessert Stack Wedding Cake
Image: Erika Ellis Photography
How about stacking all your favourite desserts onto one wooden cake stand? Think cupcakes, chocolate brownies and miniature doughnuts!
READ MORE: Our Favourite Dessert Table Ideas
15. Rustic Orchid Wedding Cake
Image: With Love and Embers
A simple wedding cake can pop with elegantly placed flowers. This wedding cake would be perfect in any season.
16. Simple Citrus Wedding Cake
Image: Jessica Jaccarino Photography
Pick a motif from your wedding decor or breakfast – like oranges or lemons – and strategically place one on each tier of your wedding cake.
17. Pampas Grass Wedding Cake
Image: Cathy Lessard
All hail pampas grass! The trend has made an appearance again, this time on a seriously cool three-tiered cake.
READ MORE: 17 Ways to Use Pampas Grass in Your Wedding
18. Modern Gothic Wedding Cake
Image: Ayelle Photography
If you’re hosting a gothic wedding, this monochrome and marble wedding cake would be perfectly fitting.
19. Minimalist Tropical Wedding Cake
Image: Cari Courtright
This simple wedding cake pops thanks to the addition of palm leaves and flowers. Now all you need is an opulent gold cake stand!
20. Mint Macaroon Wedding Cake
Image: Winifred Kriste Cake
Brides and grooms with a sweet tooth will love this wedding cake which is finished with a tower of macaroons.
We love the juxtaposition of flowers and geometric outlines.
21. Single-Tier Marble Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @duchess.bakes
Metallic leaves and pretty roses make this single-tier wedding cake feel totally whimsical.
22. Traditional Autumn Wedding Cake
Image: Cupcakes and Counting
Perfect for an autumnal wedding, this three-tier wedding cake features cascading flowers and berries.
23. Navy Blue Wedding Cake
Image: ADJ Brown
Inspired by Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020, this Classic Blue wedding cake boasts textured icing with silk flowers and metallic edging. It looks so luxe!
READ MORE: 30 Ways to Include Pantone’s Colour of the Year in Your Wedding
24. Pretty Pastel Wedding Cake
Image: Julian Angel
Rainbow wedding cakes aren’t just for kids birthday parties, you know. This design wouldn’t look out of place at a unicorn-themed celebration but we love it all the same.
25. Black Marble Wedding Cake
Image: Jessie Shultz Photography
This black wedding cake proves the marble-effect trend is still going strong.
26. ‘Classic Blue’ Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @ninecakes
This impressive five-tier wedding cake has everything from Pantone-inspired icing to cascading icing sugar roses and metallic accents… yet it still doesn’t feel too busy.
27. Modern Monochrome Wedding Cake
Image: Jimmy Raper
Who knew a wedding cake decorated with black roses could look quite so chic? Your guests will be wowed if this is the bake you choose.
28. Glamorous Countryside Wedding Cake
Image: Pear & Bear Photography
You can still make an impact with your wedding cake even if you go for a simple design.
Keep every tier plain except for one, as this couple have done. The oversized flowers provide the perfect accent.
READ MORE: The Best Country House Wedding Venues
29. Cube-Shaped Personalised Wedding Cake
Image: Kyle John Photo
We’re obsessed with this cube-shaped wedding cake. Not only does it throw the idea of traditional circular tiers out of the window, but it displays the couple’s wedding date too!
30. ‘Living Coral’ Single-Tier Wedding Cake
Image: Aurora Grey Photography
This bold and vibrant wedding cake takes inspiration from Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2019, Living Coral. One tier is all you need if your cake is this beautiful.
31. Single-Tier Wedding Cake with Over-Sized Flowers
Image: Instagram @historiasdelciervo
We’re not sure what we love more in this snap – the marble-effect icing or the chic, gold cake stand.
32. Simple & Romantic Personalised Wedding Cake
Image: Jeffrey Gleason Photography
Keep things simple with a single-tier wedding cake and personalised cake topper. A cake like this won’t break the bank yet still looks totally fab.
33. Painted Single-Tier Wedding Cake
Image: Julian Angel
If you don’t think many of your guests will fancy a slice of cake after all that wedding breakfast food, stick to one tier. We love the additions of fresh strawberries and macaroons on this cake.
34. Celestial Wedding Cake
Image: Alex Mari Photography
Astrology-themed parties are set to be huge in 2020, so pay homage to the trend with a celestial-inspired wedding cake like this one. Once you’ve checked what your wedding will be like according to your star sign, of course.
35. Simple Celestial Wedding Cake
Image: Instagram / @aliceandrosa
Keep things simple with a single-tier wedding cake like this one. The repeated celestial motif makes for a stunning finish.
READ MORE: 9 Things That Could Go Wrong on Your Wedding Day According to a Wedding Planner
36. Tropical Mr & Mrs Wedding Cake
Image: Z Create Design
From the orchids to the tropical flower garland and laser-cut cake topper, there is so much to love about this wedding cake.
37. Ripple Wedding Cake with Statement Cake Topper
Image: Our Labour of Love
The visibly imperfect icing gives this three-tier wedding cake a serious edge.
38. Bird of Paradise Flower Wedding Cake
Image: Angie Diaz Photography
Striking, vibrant and colourful, this bird of paradise wedding cake will look stunning in your wedding photographs.
39. Statement Tropical Wedding Cake
Image: Studio Baron Photography
Just when we thought we couldn’t love palm print more, we stumbled across this palm-print wedding cake. Obsessed.
READ MORE: The World’s Best Beach Wedding Destinations
40. Simple Hooray Wedding Cake
Image: Whipped Bake Shop
Keep your wedding cake simple and let a cake topper do the talking. Check out our round-up of funny wedding cake toppers if you want to make your guests giggle.
41. Purple Fig Wedding Cake
Image: Especially Amy
This purple wedding cake looks so delicious – our mouth is watering just looking at it! Replace the figs with any fruit which is in season when you get married.
42. Ombre Initial Wedding Cake
Image: Minted
The addition of the initials in the bottom corner of this wedding cake is such a cute touch.
43. Colourful Naked Wedding Cake
Image: Maytree Photography
Choosing different flavoured sponges for each tier is a great way to add a bit of interest to your naked wedding cake.
All that’s left to decide is whether you’ll go for a slice of lemon or a slice of chocolate…
READ MORE: 31 Ways to Make the Most of a Summer Wedding
44. Modern Orange Wedding Cake
Image: Amy Kate Photography
Modern wedding cakes don’t have to be decorated in muted colours. This vibrant orange shade works seriously well.
45. Lilac Country Garden Wedding Cake
Image: Francesca Hill Photography
There are just as many non-edible parts to this wedding cake as there are bits you can eat… but we kind of love that.
46. Cheese Wedding Cake
Image: Cassandra Lane
How about ditching the traditional sweet wedding cake altogether and opting for a cheese wedding cake? This set-up is something we can totally get on board with…
47. Safari-Themed Wedding Cake
Image: Ashlee Hamon Photography
If you’re a lover of animals, adding dainty animal wedding cake toppers to your bake is a subtle way of nodding towards your theme.
48. Chocolate Brownie Wedding Cake
Image: Damian Brandon Photography
Oh – wait. We’re pretty obsessed with this chocolate brownie wedding cake, too.
Remember to dust your brownie stack with icing sugar to make it look extra-rustic!
READ MORE: 37 Awesome Wedding Cake Alternatives
49. Pressed Flower Wedding Cake
Image: Kacy Hyder Desserts
Scattered rose petals that match the flowers in the bride’s bouquet make this wedding cake look so pretty.
50. Blue Geode Wedding Cake
Image: Hope Helmuth Photography
We’ll never get bored of geode wedding cakes. Not when they look as impressive as this.
51. Hand-Drawn Abstract Wedding Cake
Image: Pinterest
Artistic couples will love this abstract wedding cake. This could be adapted to match any colour scheme.
52. Abstract Textured Buttercream Wedding Cake
Image: Whipped Bake Shop
The touches of purple really make this abstract wedding cake pop.
READ MORE: 50 Simple Wedding Dresses for the Modern Bride
53. Winter Wedding Cake
Image: Kalabasa
We feel festive just at the sight of this winter wedding cake. Pine cones, orange and cinnamon sticks make it feel extra Christmas-y.
54. Art Deco-Inspired Wedding Cake
Image: Cassandra Lane
If you’re hosting a Great Gatsby-themed wedding day, this art deco-inspired wedding cake would quickly become the star of the show.
55. Tribal Geometric Spring Wedding Cake
Image: Anneli Marinovich via BLoved Blog
Combining a geometric print with a succulent cake topper, this wedding cake idea showcases two of our favourite trends in one.
56. Artistic Painted Wedding Cake
Image: Maggie Austin Cake
Opt for a wedding cake which is a total work of art like this hand-painted beauty. Your guests will be marvelling at it for hours.
57. Chocolate Brushstroke Wedding Cake
Image: Kalabasa
We’re so impressed by this pastel wedding cake which is adorned in brush strokes made out of chocolate. Make sure you get plenty of snaps before cutting into it!
READ MORE: How to Create a Balloon Wall in 5 Easy Steps
58. Mint Green Geode Wedding Cake
Image: Taylor Faith Photography
Thanks to the vibrant combination of mint green and gold, this might be the prettiest geode wedding cake we’ve seen so far.
59. Burgundy & Gold Geode Wedding Cake
Image: Krysten Ashlay Photography
If you’ve been on the hunt for a cake stand for a while but can’t find anything you love, consider using a mirror.
You can write your favourite love quote or your names and wedding date around the edge.
60. Yellow Spring Wedding Cake
Image: Michele With One L
This wedding cake will have your guests feeling as though spring has sprung the moment they set their eyes on it. The bold colour choice has really paid off.
61. Black Floral Wedding Cake
Image: Cobi & Coco
Black wedding cakes aren’t just reserved for gothic weddings. The addition of brightly coloured flowers and one printed tier lift the design endlessly.
62. Bold Floral Print Wedding Cake
Image: Bees Bakery
This impressive wedding cake by Bees Bakery uses contrasting floral prints and artificial silk flowers to add numerous different dimensions to the design.
63. Gold & Pink Fig Wedding Cake
Image: Whisk & Drizzle
If you love pink, order an entire cake iced in it! It doesn’t have to be frosted in icing sugar or covered in ivory fondant icing to count as a wedding cake.
How to Choose a Wedding Cake
Image: Let Them Eat Cakes
If you’re wondering how to choose your wedding cake, we’ve got a few top tips. Take a look!
1. Consider the Size
The size of your wedding cake will depend on how many guests you have attending your wedding.
Remember, you might also wish to have enough wedding cake to enjoy afterwards and for the guests who couldn’t make it.
2. Consider Your Theme
Your wedding cake needs to match your wedding theme, so before you settle on a design, think what style of cake might suit the other décor details you’ve gone for.
A semi-naked wedding cake with real flowers would look great if you’re getting married at a barn wedding venue, while a traditional, ivory bake would look lovely in a stately home.
3. Think About the Flavour
While it is important that a wedding cake appeals to the visual senses, it’s (arguably) even more important that it tastes good.
Whether you want a traditional flavour like vanilla, chocolate or fruit or something a little more exciting like passionfruit or lemon, you’ve got to make sure you’ll enjoy eating it.
If you’re tempted by lots of flavours and you can’t make up your mind, why not flavour each tier differently?
4. Go for a Cake Tasting
You wouldn’t order a wedding dress without trying it on, so why make any sort of final wedding cake decision without attending a tasting?
Once you have a rough idea about the size, design and flavour of cake you might be after, go out and meet a couple of cake makers. You’ll be able to taste their work, chat to them and make sure they’re just as excited about your wedding as you are!
5. Don’t Forget the Weather
There would be nothing worse than choosing a beautiful wedding cake which ends up melting on your big day.
If you’re hosting a summer wedding or getting married abroad, stay away from whipped cream, meringue and buttercream. They melt quickly.
Ask your cake maker about summer icing options, delivery and refrigeration. Summer brides might do well to choose a fondant-iced wedding cake.
READ MORE: The Best Wedding Instagram Accounts to Follow
Now that you’ve chosen your wedding cake, check out these alternative wedding food and drink ideas for more delicious inspiration!