Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Reception Ideas Wedding Cakes & Toppers 50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over 7 years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 17, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Emilia Jane Photography Dessert tables may have gotten more diverse in recent years—think donuts, ice cream sandwiches, and cupcakes—but there's still nothing quite like a wedding cake. Classically white or boldly contemporary, reception confections aren't going away anytime soon. And we have to say, we're relieved. Take one cursory look at the beyond-gorgeous wedding cake ideas you're about to see, and you'll feel the same way. From hand-painted creations and deckle-edged masterpieces to drip cakes and treats adorned with fresh flowers, the following confections represent the best real weddings have to offer. They also represent incredible talent, on behalf of the inimitable bakers that make it happen—just one more reason to choose your wedding cake vendor wisely! Whatever the wedding type, these cakes were the focal point of the reception. Some brought the pretty on the color front, with punchy magenta fondant, ombré moss-green layers, and printed floral designs. Others were simple and refined, thanks to sponged metallic details, fresh flowers, and ripe fruits. The following wedding cake ideas are all different in many ways, but united in one: They're almost too pretty to slice into. While that adorable cake eating photo and the promise of delicious dessert make that cut necessary, these sweet eats are about to give you a whole new perspective on wedding cake. By the time you're finished through, you might stop referring to your confection as "cake," and begin describing it at "art." 01 of 50 Marble Leaf Jenny Soi This incredible dessert, made by Paper Heart Patisserie, looked like peeling sheets of Carrara marble, speckled with gold. Discover More Elegant Marble Wedding Ideas 02 of 50 Barely Blush Lee Yen Photography Flour and Flourish used moss, oversized blooms, and sugar leaves to connect this confection back to its woodsy surroundings. 03 of 50 Subtle Texture Abby Jiu Photography At this three-day destination wedding in Portugal, guests received individual versions of this textured four-tier by T Bakes. 04 of 50 Blush, Lavender, and Gold Luna de Mare Pastel-hued sugar flowers—how lifelike is that anemone?—and a gold-topped tier made this Hey There, Cupcake! beauty the talk of the dessert table. Discover Incredible Dessert Tables from Real Weddings 05 of 50 Tiny Accents Abby Jiu Photography A trail of miniscule gold-covered blooms brought this plush-looking cake into subtle relief. 06 of 50 Brush Strokes Allison Kuhn Photography WOW Factor's brush stroke-inspired cake incorporated this event's color palette—teal, lavender, blush, yellow, marsala, and ivory. 07 of 50 Green Ombré Branco Prata T Bakes strategically layered fondant on the first tier of this beauty, creating a crepe-effect that deepened from pale green to pine. 08 of 50 Asymmetrical Damaris Mia Photography Beveled edges gave a modern feel to this illustrated confection. 09 of 50 Barely-There Color The Grovers This deckle-edged cake got the barest hint of color thanks to a blue-green moment and sprig of fresh flowers. 10 of 50 Dimensional Vines Lisa Lefkowitz The sugar vines coming off this picturesque wedding cake perfectly matched the hand-painted 2D ones. 11 of 50 Floral Crest Elizabeth Fogarty Photography This adorable two-tier treat made by Fluffy Thoughts Cakes took on a sophisticated air thanks to a watercolor floral crest. 12 of 50 Gold-Tipped Judy Pak The deckled edges of this pale mint wedding dessert were lined in shimmering gold. Love Deckled Edges? Check Out More Cakes That Use the Trend 13 of 50 Cerulean Lisa Blume Photography Exaggerated strips of true blue fondant brought texture to this masterpiece. If you look closely, you can see the fine white flowers hand-painted throughout. 14 of 50 Lifelike Lucy Davenport An intricate hand-painted rose vine dressed up this white confection, simultaneously tying it back to the dahlia and rose centerpieces. 15 of 50 Feminine Damaris Mia Photography Tiny gold beads outlined the tiers of this crisp and clean confection by LoveCakes. 16 of 50 Winter Color Scheme Kristen Joy Painted stripes of icy blue, see-through sapphire, and inky jet tied this Las Vegas Custom Cakes creation back to the couple's snowy Nevada venue. 17 of 50 Burgundy Fig Luke and Cat Gold-dripped figs topped this tall ombré confection by Sugary and Chic. 18 of 50 Emerald City Chelsea Denise The inspiration for this two-tiered Amy Cakes confection was the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz. 19 of 50 Kumquats Eric Kelley Spotted with yellow kumquats and wrapped with leafy greens, this cake was the definition of natural. 20 of 50 Mint and Gold Anne-Marie Bouchard The Cake Whisperer created this masterpiece using grayed jade fondant, herbs, sugar flowers, and gold accents. 21 of 50 Dress Up Ashley Kelemen Photography The bride's laser-cut lace wedding dress was the inspiration for this Hey There Cupcake! creation. 22 of 50 Baby Blue Drip Lucy Munoz Photography Beverly's Bakery combined two major wedding cake trends for this bride's confection, with a naked-style base and drip accent. A Wedding Trend We're Loving Now: Drip Cakes 23 of 50 Black Beauty Lisa O’Dwyer Inky black and adorned with sugar flowers, this cake, by Cupcakes and Counting, could have been plucked straight from a fairytale. See More Cakes with Sugar Flowers Too Pretty to Eat 24 of 50 Green Scene Kerry Jeanne Photography A botanical illustration, outlined by an ornate gold "frame," brought vintage vibes to this Honey Crumb confection. 25 of 50 Feathered Connie Whitlock A delicate feather garland and sugar lace detailing were elegant touches on this dusty-blue wedding cake, by Megan Joy Cakes. 26 of 50 Fresh Figs Yasmin Khaljavi Photography Halved figs offered a punch of peachy pink to this barely-frosted cake by Dream Cakes. 27 of 50 Moody Blooms This Rad Love Hey There Cupcake! used a dark and stormy floral print to transform her two-tier into a work of art. 28 of 50 Cascading Florals Carmen Santorelli Photography This smudged gray and cream Hey There, Cupcake! confection looked as if were carrying a bouquet of its own. See More Wedding Cakes Covered in Fresh Flowers 29 of 50 Sugared Fruits Patrick Moyer As if wedding cake wasn't sweet enough, the bride and groom opted for candied and sugared fruits as the confection's toppers. 30 of 50 Berries Sophie Epton Photography Tuscan Wedding Cakes dotted their gold-dipped dessert with bright fondant strawberries for a destination wedding in Italy. 31 of 50 Blue Ombré Rachel Solomon This fade-to-blue beauty was the perfect example of elegant simplicity. 32 of 50 Watercolor Dyan Kethley Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren used watercolors and silver cake paint to bring this floral beauty to life. 33 of 50 Slate Blue Greg Ross This blue-gray two-tier was dressed up with blueberries and peachy pink blooms. 34 of 50 Crowned Justine Milton Photography A cake with slivers of blue, gray, and yellow looked lovely topped off with a greenery crown. 35 of 50 Crystals Let’s Frolic Together Elongated crystal stalks in shades of crimson, pink, and jet tied this Hey There Cupcakes! confection's blush first-tier to its black marbled second and third. 36 of 50 Palm Leaf Les Amis A palm leaf instantly transformed a moody gray confection into a destination wedding dessert. Check Out More Wedding Cakes Perfect for a Beach Wedding 37 of 50 Floral Sash Kerry Jeanne Photography Fresh roses and ranunculus brought dimension and color to this beauty, while a monogrammed cake topper added height. 38 of 50 Fresh and Faux Kylie Mones We loved how the hand-painted florals on Sugar Lane Cake Shop's petite three-tier were artistic representations of the fresh ones used on top. More Small Wedding Cakes with a Big Presence 39 of 50 Ruffled Vintage Kevin Klein Gray-dusted ruffled edges brought a decidedly vintage vibe to this unique confection. 40 of 50 Gold and Thistles Brianna Wilbur Spikey blue thistles contrasted prettily against the metallic gold leaf of this Sablee masterpiece. 41 of 50 Chocolate Drip Julie Paisley Photography Patty Cakes created this little confection—complete with a chocolate drip, gold designs, and white flowers—for a vow renewal. 42 of 50 Cactus Ashley Rae Photography A single in-bloom cactus made this simple confection ready for a desert wedding. 43 of 50 Blues and Blooms Charla Storey Photography Layered Bake Shop decorated this bluish-gray, leather-inspired cake with peonies, roses, and sprigs of greenery. 44 of 50 Wide Confection Kyle John Photography While this white cake was decidedly simple, it's unique shape—elongated oval tiers, a departure from the traditional narrow and vertical style—made it stand out. 45 of 50 Purple Play Bradley James Photography Fresh purple-hued flowers and a topper by Laura Hooper Calligraphy made this Sweet Heather Anne confection the star of the reception 46 of 50 Burgundy Sugar Flowers Katie Lopez Photography The focal point of this Earth and Sugar confection was the lush maroon sugared bloom and textured greens accenting. 47 of 50 Floral Naked Betsi Ewing The only frosting on Frost It Cakery's creation may have been between the layers, but the stunning garden flower topper made any other accent—edible or decorative—unnecessary. 48 of 50 Pink and Red Brianna Wilbur This small wedding cake was decorated with the colors most often associated with love. See More Colorful Wedding Cakes 49 of 50 Gilded De Joy Photography Gold foil, cascading blooms, and a fresh floral topper added flair to this nearly-naked confection by Hollyhock Cakes. Even More Naked Cakes You're Bound to Love 50 of 50 Gray and Gold Betsi Ewing A gold fondant laurel wrapped around this smoky-colored cake by Frost It Cakery. Fresh flowers and pomegranates offered a pop of color. See More Wedding Cakes that Are Covered in Fruit Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit