Elegant Wedding Cake Designs To Inspire
Designing your dream wedding cake is an exciting part of the wedding planning process. Tasting different cake flavors, frostings, and filling combinations, is something that many couples look forward to as a momentous (and delicious) event. As you meet with different bakers and contemplate designs, there are a few key elements to keep in mind:
Different types of wedding cake icing
Shape and size of the wedding cake design
Details, toppers, and cake display
Price per serving
There are truly no limits to designing the perfect wedding cake for you! If you can dream it, there's a baker who can build it.
Check out these 16 wedding cake designs to inspire!
Traditional Fondant wedding cakes
Made from a mixture of sugar and water, fondant is a moldable paste that creates a smooth finish when draped over cake. The sculptable texture is great for creating fine details and designs such as marble or bark pictured below. Because of their thick consistency, fondant cakes are great for warmer days and outdoor weddings as they're less prone to melting, unlike its buttercream alternative.
Cake 1: Sweet Art Bake Shop | Christine Skari Photography // Cake 2: Frost It Cakery | Angel Sheree Photography // Cake 3: Soft Peaks Cakery | Ashley Cook Photography
Textured Buttercream Wedding Cakes
Between the delicious, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and endless design opportunities, it's no surprise that buttercream frosting is a common choice for bakers and couples alike. It can be smoothed out for a flawless finish, applied with a spatula for a textured effect or used to create beautiful piping patterns and designs. You can easily elevate your buttercream cake with color, gold foiling, fresh flowers or a cake topper if you wish.
"Make sure to coordinate your cake topper with your cake designer. If we are surprised on-site with no knowledge of it beforehand, it can truly make or break your overall cake design!"
- Courtney of Teehan Cake Design
Cake 1: Teehan Cake Design | Klose Up Photography // Cake 2: Kira Bakes | Danielle Bacon Photography // Cake 3: Kira Bakes | Stephanie Fishbein Photography
Naked & semi-naked Wedding Cakes
Another popular icing alternative is the naked cake. Just as the name implies, a naked cake has no outer layer of frosting giving it a "rustic-chic" design. Often topped with fresh fruit, flowers, and greenery, naked cakes gained widespread popularity in the 2010s and have stuck around year after year for their simple yet versatile style. Add a bit of powdered sugar or a thin layer of icing for a more polished, "semi-naked" look.
Cake 1: Soft Peaks Cakery | Belen Isabel Photography // Cake 2: Vanilla Bake Shop | Danielle Bacon Photography
Unique Wedding Cake Shapes & Sizes
A great way to make your wedding cake more unique is to change the shape or height of the tiers. Traditionally, wedding cakes are round but with a little creativity, your cake can be whatever size/shape your heart desires. If you've seen the Netflix show, Is It Cake? bakers create such realistic cakes that they fool the judges into thinking it's real. While you might not be requesting a handbag cake at your wedding, (to each their own!), a square, hexagonal or asymmetric cake may be something to consider. Ask your baker for ideas on different shapes, sizes, heights, and proportions to make your cake stand out.
Cake 1: Vanilla Bake Shop | Simply Adri Photography // Cake 2: Mama’s Artisan Sweets | Kirsten Wilson Photography // Cake 3: Sweet Art Bake Shop | Chelsea Smith Photography
Intricate Eclectic Wedding Cakes
Speaking of standing out, your wedding cake is a unique expression of your style as a couple. For some, that means extravagant designs, bold colors, and intricate details that will be sure to "wow" your guests. With the use of stencils, edible wafer paper, fondant, gold foil, and texture, the options are truly endless! Make sure you find a baker who shares your artistic vision and can bring your design to life.
Cake 1: Cakes By Justin | Ashley Marie Meyers Photography // Cake 2: Teehan Cake Design | Jillian Rose Photography // Cake 3: Foxtail Bake Shop | Anne Blodgett Photography
Multiple Cake Display
For all of my cake lovers out there, this one's for you! Incorporate a multiple cake display at your reception for more variety. Not only does it give you more choice in terms of flavors and fillings, but is great for larger weddings to ensure that everyone gets a slice. Cake ensembles also create a decorative focal point at your reception with the use of different sizes, shapes, and cake stands. This is a newer wedding cake trend, but one that I hope to see more of this upcoming season!
Cake Display 1: Camarillo Cupcake | Caitlyn Alohilani Photography // Cake Display 2: Vanilla Bake Shop | Danielle Bacon Photography
A few final wedding cake tips:
Pricing is determined per serving and will vary depending on the individual baker and design.
Only order cake for about 75-80% of your final guest count (not everyone will have some!)
Decide whether or not you're going to save your top tier. If so, you might need to provide other desserts.
You'll always have the option to serve a sheet cake, so ask your baker about your options to stay within budget!
If you will be using fresh flowers, chat with your florist to see who will be placing them on the cake (the florist or the baker.)
Discuss refrigeration needs with your baker and venue to ensure that delivery time is not too early. This is especially important in the hot summer months!
Think about where the cake will be displayed. For outdoor weddings, you might need an umbrella to keep it out of the sun/heat.
Trust the pros to deliver your wedding cake. It's far too delicate to be handled by someone inexperienced and not worth the risk!
