48 Small Wedding Cakes with a Big Presence

By Sarah Schreiber
Updated August 27, 2020
Kati Rosado

Mini confections and one-tiered wedding cakes we could just eat up.

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Who says you need to cut into a massive wedding cake at your reception? If you're nervous about the idea of ordering and serving more cake than you and your guests can physically eat (or freeze!), or if your wedding plans have changed thanks to COVID and you're having a smaller soirée than you originally planned, you might want to consider downsizing. Small cakes in all of their forms—single-serving minis, petite one-tiers, Bundts, and beyond—can make just as big of an impression as super-sized confections. In fact, your guests might remember these little desserts more than they would the standard three-tier wedding cake.

Of course, this doesn't have to be an either/or decision. If you want to try out the small cake trend, order a petite version, like these pink drip cakes seen here, just for the head table. Topped with melty ganache, each of the these four-inch beauties serves two, and are meant to be shared. And when you think about it, splitting a dessert is a pretty symbolic way to kick off a new life together! 

Ready to commit to the trend? Take personal cakes a step further by creating single-serving minis for each guest. Or, take a note from one of the brides featured here and place assorted one-tiered confections on every table—and then encourage guests to get up and mingle as they try each one. If you're looking for something tiny and nontraditional, try a cake made from hundreds of crepes, stuck together with Nutella. In short: if you have your heart set on something small, there's an option out there. We've made sure those options are beautiful—with gem-toned fondant, fresh flower toppers, playful textures and more, these little confections prove that bigger isn't always better.

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Pressed Flowers

Kylee Yee

Vanilla + The Bean baked this one-tier confection, with butter yellow patina and pressed wildflowers.

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Abstract Designs

Anna Peters

Kayla Carey incorporated the bride's favorite color with abstract designs atop buttercream icing. A sprig of lunaria and eucalyptus topped off the cake. 

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24 Karat

Kristin La Voie Photography
Metallic Wedding Ideas That Will Add a Little Shine to Your Big Day

Tons of blue thistle flowers bring rich color contrast to this small but mighty, gold metallic confection.

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Ripple Effect

Kati Rosado

The bride's favorite Harlem bakery, Make My Cake, made a one-tiered textured vanilla treat with buttercream frosting topped with real flowers for a fresh, small sweet. 

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Quote Cake

Jenna Henderson Photography

Turn your cake into a tasty wedding sign by adding a favorite quote or verse.

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Watercolor and Gold

Meg Hamilton/Rodeo & Co.

Jewel-tone watercolor and lines of gold studs make this cake, by Jacques Fine European Pastries, perfect for a bohemian wedding.

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Cake for a Queen

Arte de Vie Photography

This "crowned" wedding cake is fit for the Game of Thrones-obsessed bride.

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Mini Series

Justine Milton Photography

Topped with oversized peonies and roses, these sweet one- and two-tiered cakes look like they were plucked from a garden.

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Carved Cake

Kiera Lemonis Photography

This reimagined naked cake has the texture of an evergreen—perfect for "carving" in the lovebirds' initials.

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Stained Glass

Alyssa Ence Photography

A matte black narrow (to keep it on the smaller side) three-tier gets a bejeweled-effect thanks to gem-toned fondant and gold lattice work.

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Individual Cakes with Buds

The Hendricks Photography

Barely-bloomed carnations make these personal wedding cakes even sweeter.

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Naked Cake with Berries

Minh Cao for Lauren Fair Photography

Painted Pie created a naked, petite whipped vanilla layer cake topped with blueberries, blackberries, and chamomile for a stunning dessert.

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Vintage Vibes

Elizabeth Fogarty Photography

This tiny two-tier has a bit of vintage charm thanks to an elegant gold and floral crest. 

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Baroque

Nadia Meli Photography

A spray of moody blooms dresses up this ornate gold and sapphire-blue beauty.

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Lightly Gilded

Erich McVey

The couple kept things simple with a buttercream-frosted one-tier funfetti cake with touches of gold icing. The outside was also dressed with seasonal foliage and flowers.

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Cactus Cake

Tamara Grüner

This vanilla wedding cake from Addie Cakes is decorated with flowers and cacti, chosen specifically to match this couple's desert wedding décor.

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High Rise

Ace & Whim

This tiny Ruze House confection, decorated with a modern topper and bright posies, is the perfect compromise for a bride who didn't want a wedding cake. The cake stand—an upside down basket from Home Goods—gives the tiny cake some height.

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Double-Tiered

Laura Gordon

Villa Le Capanne's catering team baked this small but mighty two-tiered wedding cake dripping in flowers. 

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Sugared Fruits

Patrick Moyer
42 Fruit Wedding Cakes That Are Full of Color (and Flavor!)

Sugared grapes, pears, and figs bring an autumnal touch to this simple buttercream two-tier by Decadence Wedding Cakes. 

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Flower Wallpaper

Jacqueline Campbell

With a hand-painted base and paper flowers, this salted-caramel wedding cake is perfect for a small coastal California celebration.

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Tiered Berry Cake

Leo Patrone

Ringed with sugar flowers, greens, and blackberries, this simple cake brings a little bit of nature to a Washington, D.C., wedding.

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Berryful

Corbin Gurkin

A single layer classic round cake reaches new heights with loads of berries to top it off.

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Cheese Cake

The De Jaureguis

Interpret "cheesecake" literally and replace the groom's cake with a cheese tower topped with citrus. 

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Fall Chocolate Bundt

Steve Cowell Photography

If you're planning a casual fall fête, opt for a less-formal Bundt cake—like this one, here, drizzled with a cream cheese glaze—adorned with rustic blooms.

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Abstract Jewel Tones

Abby Jiu Photography

With smudges of red and streaks of magenta, this cake is the perfect fit for a fashion-forward wedding.

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Nutella Crepe

Elizabeth Messina

This bride and turned your favorite food (Nutella crepes!) into the ultimate breakfast-inspired wedding cake.

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One-Tiered Surprise

Landon Jacob

The flavor of this one-tier was a surprise not just for the guests, but also for the newlyweds, who waited until the reception to taste the raspberry crème and almond cake for the first time.

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Couture Cake

Gina Meola Photography

This two-tiered cake by Classic Cakes and Confections, was inspired by the bride's blush pink Monique Lhuillier gown.

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Momofuku Mini