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50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat

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50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat

By Sarah Schreiber

July 27, 2011

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Emilia Jane Photography

These picture-perfect confections are serious dessert inspiration.

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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 cakes 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 confections are 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."

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Marble Leaf

Jenny Soi

Discover More Elegant Marble Wedding Ideas

This incredible dessert, made by Paper Heart Patisserie, looked like peeling sheets of Carrara marble, speckled with gold.

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Barely Blush

Lee Yen Photography

Flour and Flourish used moss, oversized blooms, and sugar leaves to connect this confection back to its woodsy surroundings.

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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.

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Blush, Lavender, and Gold

Luna de Mare

Discover Incredible Dessert Tables from Real Weddings

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.

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Tiny Accents

Abby Jiu Photography

A trail of miniscule gold-covered blooms brought this plush-looking cake into subtle relief.

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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.

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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.

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Asymmetrical

Damaris Mia Photography

Beveled edges gave a modern feel to this illustrated confection.

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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.

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Dimensional Vines

Lisa Lefkowitz

The sugar vines coming off this picturesque wedding cake perfectly matched the hand-painted 2D ones.

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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.

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Gold-Tipped

Judy Pak

Love Deckled Edges? Check Out More Cakes That Use the Trend

The deckled edges of this pale mint wedding dessert were lined in shimmering gold.

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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.