Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Wedding Ceremony & Reception
  4. Wedding Reception Ideas
  5. Wedding Cakes & Toppers
  6. 25 Wedding Cake Ideas That'll Wow Your Guests
Martha Stewart Weddings

25 Wedding Cake Ideas That'll Wow Your Guests

By Sarah Schreiber and Nashia Baker Updated March 16, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Pin
white cake on table surrounded by floral arrangements
Credit: Michelle Lange Photography

These confections aren't just delicious—they're beyond artistic.

Start Slideshow

1 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
white cake on table surrounded by floral arrangements
Credit: Michelle Lange Photography

Your wedding cake baker is so much more than a dessert expert—most of them are true artists. They sculpt edible pieces of art that stun on the big day and, if they're anything like the cakes you're about to see, long after the last crumb is consumed. Their expertise is something that's honed, cultivated, and refined. Believe us, they weren't able to create the masterpieces you display at the reception overnight! If you're a couple who's thinking beyond the standard white three-tier, you're probably interested in the most inspired wedding cake ideas your genius cake baker has to offer.

Here, you'll find a comprehensive list of wedding cake ideas that prove that this form of artistry is all about the technique. From deckle-edge frosting and wavy buttercream to embossed fondant, these beauties are pretty hard to cut into—they're that gorgeous. Some of these cake designs were subtler than others—take this Palermo's Bakery confection, for example, which was studded with florals to match the epic mantel behind it (Blue Pansy Floral Design Co. handled the magnificent blooms). We also loved how one baker transformed a confection into a hexagonal two-tier, covered in marbled fondant (talk about lifelike). Another standout? A cake iced with small, feminine rosettes, which felt right at home at a garden wedding.

The bolder designs were just as stunning. One confectioner used candy melts to create feathered brush-stroke adornments, which dressed up a simple cake. Another attached delicate butterflies onto a four-tier treat, taking the muted pink confection to new heights. Whatever your taste—and whatever the style of your big day—these wedding cake ideas are sure to inspire.

1 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gold Vines

three tiered light blue frosted with gold flake accent wedding cake
Credit: Sophie Epton

If you are intrigued by the idea of sugar leaves and vine work (both majorly up your confection's wow factor), consider using this Emma Cakery by Niloofar wedding cake as a source of inspiration. The baker used stunning gold leaf accents, which served as bold contrasts to the light blue icing, and finished the confection by adding a dainty touch: white faux flowers.

2 of 26

3 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blue Tier

white and blue wedding cake with flowers
Credit: Desiree Gardner

Another way to make your confection stand out? Add in a colorful tier, just like Bonne Vie Specialty did here. The middle layer offered the "something blue" in this watercolor wedding dessert, which also had red velvet, caramel, and buttercream flavors inside.

3 of 26

Advertisement

4 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Butterfly Effect

gillian tyler wedding butterfly cake
Credit: Jose Villa

If you want to include elements of nature in your big day, draw inspiration from this butterfly-adorned confection by Jasmine Rae Cakes. The dessert felt connected to this wedding's overarching theme and played up its signature motif—the colorful critter—during dessert.

  • Trending Now: Butterfly-Inspired Wedding Décor

4 of 26

5 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Citrus

three tier wedding cake with citrus and floral decorations
Credit: Tailor James Photography

Emulate this fruity, three-tier treat, courtesy of Michelle's Patisserie, if you would like to bring a bright, delightful touch to your reception. The baker accented the raspberry cake with climbing citrus and florals atop the buttercream icing.

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

5 of 26

6 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Art-Inspired

four-tiered wedding cake with corgis cake toper and flowers
Credit: Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu

This Fluffy Thoughts wedding cake looks like something straight out of an abstract art museum, thanks to the whimsical ribbon-inspired accent—which replicated the event's ceiling installation—that surrounded its three vanilla tiers.

6 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Dotted Indents

<p>This fabric-inspired confection, created by Melissa's Fine Pastries, was subtly statement-making. Its icy hue also gives new meaning to "something blue."</p>
Credit: Greer Gattuso

This fabric-inspired confection, created by Melissa's Fine Pastries, was subtly statement-making. Its icy hue also gives new meaning to "something blue."

  • These Fabric-Inspired Wedding Cakes Make for Fashionable Desserts

7 of 26

8 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Brush Stroke

cake designs sarah libby
Credit: Sarah Libby

Want to recreate the brush-stroke look of this creative cake? Your baker will need follow Amy Cakes' lead; thin out candy melts and let them dry before attaching them to your masterpiece.

8 of 26

9 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lace

cake designs blaine siesser
Credit: Blaine Siesser

Take a note from Sweet Heather Anne and let your wedding dress's fabric inspire your reception's pièce de résistance.

9 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tiled

cake designs sarah libby
Credit: Sarah Libby

Grooved squares—we love how Amy Cakes included three tiny silver slivers, just at the base—are a subtle way to transform a classic cake.

  • Modern Wedding Cakes

10 of 26

11 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Carrara

cake designs hannah snyder
Credit: Miramar Photography

Slabs of marble block or a wedding cake? With this futuristic confection, it's pretty difficult to tell.

11 of 26

12 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Abstract

cake designs this modern romance
Credit: This Modern Romance

Talk about a work of art. Ultra-fine waves of fondant give The Butter End Cakery's confection an airy, ethereal quality.

  • 14 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Cake Baker

12 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Moody Texture

cake designs jennifer skog
Credit: Jennifer Skog

Unblended gray-and-white buttercream give this small two-tier, by Ma Petite Maison Cake Design, a moody feel.

13 of 26

14 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Layered

white and green wedding cake
Credit: Branco Prata

The best part about T Bakes' out-of-this-world wedding cake isn't the subtle ombré. How amazing is it to watch this beauty go from smooth on the top to deckle-edged on the bottom?

  • Trending Now: Deckle-Edged Wedding Cakes

14 of 26

15 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Beaded

cake designs michael and carina
Credit: Michael and Carina Photography

Tiny pearls outline each tier of this traditional confection, by Graul's Market.

15 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hexagon Ombré

cake designs emily wren
Credit: Emily Wren

Geometric shapes, that deepen from pale green to cerulean, bring a touch of the contemporary to this Cake Life confection.

  • The Prettiest Ombré Wedding Cakes for Couples Who Love Color

16 of 26

17 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Trellis

cake designs zosia zacharia
Credit: Zosia Zacharia

Sugar flowers and a silver trellis are the final touches on this botanical-themed wedding cake idea, from Cakes by Krishanthi.

17 of 26

18 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Alternating

cake designs kelli durham
Credit: Kelli Durham

This Who Made the Cake five-tier switches from smooth strips of buttercream to overlapping smudges but the entire treat is tied together with a cascading floral vine.

18 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Croquembouche

white and gold wedding croquembouche
Credit: Lisa Ziesing (Abby Jiu Photography)

Not all wedding cakes are stacked. Croquembouche, a French dessert consisting of choux pastry balls piled into a caramel-filled cone, is one way to take your dessert to the next level. Get inspired by this gold-flecked one by Buttercream Bakeshop.

  • Wedding Cake Alternatives for the Couple Who Just Doesn't Like Cake

19 of 26

20 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blue Ombré

white blue ombre wedding cake
Credit: Rachel Solomon

Stripes of fondant fade to blue on this pretty cake—tiny balls form halos around each tier.

20 of 26

21 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ocean-Inspired

vivi yoga bali wedding cake
Credit: Erich McVey

Gradient blue coloring and nautical elements transform a classic white cake into something otherworldly. On this one, created by Lenovelle Cake, the fondant looked like the ocean's waves while the upper tiers were covered in shell-like details.

21 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Textured Strips

blue wedding cake
Credit: Lisa Blume Photography

This sapphire-hued confection looks as if it were pieced together, one stunning strip of hand-painted fondant at a time.

22 of 26

23 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smudge Sash

wedding cake
Credit: Allison Kuhn Photography

Chartreuse, emerald, magenta, and blush smudges turn this Wow Factor stunner into an artist's paint palette.

23 of 26

24 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Feathered

blue wedding cake feathers
Credit: Connie Whitlock

For this ice-blue beauty, the design is all in the feather details.

24 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bundt Drip

chocolate drip cake
Credit: Lauren Fair Photography

Feeling a wedding cake design that's completely nontraditional? Stack two Bundt cakes on top of each other and drizzle it all with chocolate ganache.

  • Trending Now: Drip Wedding Cakes

25 of 26

26 of 26

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Textured Crepe

cake designs tamara gruner
Credit: Tamara Grüner

The crepe-like base tier of this stunner by Elysia Root Cakes is only one unique part of the cake's overall look. Textured fondant and three major blooms bring the drama up top.

  • Six Fresh Ways to Decorate Wedding Cakes With Flowers

26 of 26

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Sarah Schreiber and Nashia Baker

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • These Brides Brought Their Romantic, Secret Garden-Themed Wedding to Life at An Art Museum
    • 5 Ways You're Jeopardizing Your Relationship With Your Daughter- or Son-In-Law—and Your Child
    • In Addition to Duke and Duchess, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Hold Other Royal Titles for Life
    • The 20 Best Dresses to Wear as a Wedding Guest This Summer
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 26
    2 of 26 Gold Vines
    3 of 26 Blue Tier
    4 of 26 Butterfly Effect
    5 of 26 Citrus
    6 of 26 Art-Inspired
    7 of 26 Dotted Indents
    8 of 26 Brush Stroke
    9 of 26 Lace
    10 of 26 Tiled
    11 of 26 Carrara
    12 of 26 Abstract
    13 of 26 Moody Texture
    14 of 26 Layered
    15 of 26 Beaded
    16 of 26 Hexagon Ombré
    17 of 26 Trellis
    18 of 26 Alternating
    19 of 26 Croquembouche
    20 of 26 Blue Ombré
    21 of 26 Ocean-Inspired
    22 of 26 Textured Strips
    23 of 26 Smudge Sash
    24 of 26 Feathered
    25 of 26 Bundt Drip
    26 of 26 Textured Crepe

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    25 Wedding Cake Ideas That'll Wow Your Guests
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.