Post-Big Day Renovation with BHS
The confetti has settled, the thank-you notes are being written, and the whirlwind of wedding planning is finally...
25 wedding cake ideas to make you drool
Ah the wedding cake... it's a tradition we love for obvious reasons! Historically, sharing a wedding cake symbolised the newlyweds' shared future and prosperity. It's also tremendously versatile, making it money well spent. It acts as a showstopping centrepiece tying your theme together when you display it with flair at your reception, plus it can be served as your wedding breakfast dessert, dancefloor fuel, or as a treat to take home allowing guests to leave with a part of your day.
And let's face it, who doesn't love cake? Oh, you don't? Fear not, amongst our 25 showstopping big-day bake ideas we've included some inspiration for those of you without a sweet tooth or for those who'd rather their sweet treats came in a different form.
So, if you're looking for wedding cakespiration, we hope you find something here to get the ideas flowing ready for your consulation with your cake maker.
1. ALL WHITE
An all white wedding cake is an elegant affair suiting any style. Texture can be added to mirror the lace in your dress, or using wafer paper sales or white sugar flower to dramatic effect.
An all white wedding cake is an elegant affair suiting any style. Texture can be added to mirror the lace in your dress, or using wafer paper sales or white sugar flower to dramatic effect.
2. HIDDEN MEANING
We love this rainbow reveal for an LGBTQ+ pride wedding. Reveal cakes also come in the shape of multi-tiered bakes decorated elegantly, and traditionally at the front and all fun at the back to reveal your inner geeks!
We love this rainbow reveal for an LGBTQ+ pride wedding. Reveal cakes also come in the shape of multi-tiered bakes decorated elegantly, and traditionally at the front and all fun at the back to reveal your inner geeks!
3. BLACK AND GOLD
Want all of the drama AND all of the pretty? This could be for you!
Want all of the drama AND all of the pretty? This could be for you!
4. GOTHIC ROMANCE
Not for the faint of heart!
Not for the faint of heart!
5. DRIP, DRIP, DRIP
There's something about a drip design that really makes the mouth water! Plus, extra macarons? Don't mind if we do.
There's something about a drip design that really makes the mouth water! Plus, extra macarons? Don't mind if we do.
6. PALETTE PERFECTION
Painting with a palette knife creates a loose, almost oil-paint look, arty design. We love this meadow vibe painted in bright colours.
Painting with a palette knife creates a loose, almost oil-paint look, arty design. We love this meadow vibe painted in bright colours.
7. DRIED FLOWERS
Adorning your cake with dried flowers adds a wonderfully rustic look.
Adorning your cake with dried flowers adds a wonderfully rustic look.
8. MONOGRAM
Go all-out maximalist and bougee with an overabundance of flowers - sugar or fresh - along with your couple monogram.
Go all-out maximalist and bougee with an overabundance of flowers - sugar or fresh - along with your couple monogram.
9. CHEESE PLEASE!
The one for savoury lovers. Pop along to your artisan cheese boutique and pick our your favourites for a cheesy stack of deliciousness. Serve it in the evening with crackers and chutneys.
The one for savoury lovers. Pop along to your artisan cheese boutique and pick our your favourites for a cheesy stack of deliciousness. Serve it in the evening with crackers and chutneys.
10. GET FRUITY
A lovely one for a summer wedding. Adorn your big day back in seasonal fruits. Red berries are the perfect option for a summer picnic theme, which figs as pictured are a great idea for an early autumn celebration.
A lovely one for a summer wedding. Adorn your big day back in seasonal fruits. Red berries are the perfect option for a summer picnic theme, which figs as pictured are a great idea for an early autumn celebration.
11. BUTTERCREAM
This is example is neat and elegant, but buttercream is also used to ice semi-naked bakes for a romantic rustic look. Just be careful to keep your cake out of direct sunlight as summer temperatures will cause it to melt and collapse.
This is example is neat and elegant, but buttercream is also used to ice semi-naked bakes for a romantic rustic look. Just be careful to keep your cake out of direct sunlight as summer temperatures will cause it to melt and collapse.
12. CENTREPIECE DISPLAY
Display you cake with aplomb and it'll add a further element to your venue styling. Cake meadows are popular with the cake proudly stands on its table surrounded by an abudance of blooms. Decorate to complement your theme and it'll create a focal point for your reception space.
Display you cake with aplomb and it'll add a further element to your venue styling. Cake meadows are popular with the cake proudly stands on its table surrounded by an abudance of blooms. Decorate to complement your theme and it'll create a focal point for your reception space.
13. YOU'RE THE TOPS!
Don't forget the cake topper. Opt for something simple like the classic 'Mrs & Mrs', or 'Just Married', or go for something quirky and totally you. 'Finally' was a popular option after lockdown. What about personalised models of the two of you with your beloved pet?
Don't forget the cake topper. Opt for something simple like the classic 'Mrs & Mrs', or 'Just Married', or go for something quirky and totally you. 'Finally' was a popular option after lockdown. What about personalised models of the two of you with your beloved pet?
14. TALL TIERS
Weddings were restricted for a long time during and after the pandemic, with most couples having no choice but to keep their celebrations small and intimate. While intimate celebrations have now become a trend, so has the maximalist ideal. Now we can, let's go for it! So, tall multiple-tier showstoppers are a vibe. If you can't afford a seven-tier cake, or don't have the guest numbers to warrant it, talk to your cake designer about icing dummy tiers.
Weddings were restricted for a long time during and after the pandemic, with most couples having no choice but to keep their celebrations small and intimate. While intimate celebrations have now become a trend, so has the maximalist ideal. Now we can, let's go for it! So, tall multiple-tier showstoppers are a vibe. If you can't afford a seven-tier cake, or don't have the guest numbers to warrant it, talk to your cake designer about icing dummy tiers.
15. GEOMETRIC PATTERNS
Geometric patterns can create a modern or retro vibe. This example is undoubtedly oh-so modern but if you were to opt for an orange and brown palette, hey presto, you have a 70s feel. Alternatively, geometric designs were core to the Art Deco aesthetic - uber chic and a nod to the Jazz Age.
Geometric patterns can create a modern or retro vibe. This example is undoubtedly oh-so modern but if you were to opt for an orange and brown palette, hey presto, you have a 70s feel. Alternatively, geometric designs were core to the Art Deco aesthetic - uber chic and a nod to the Jazz Age.
16. FRESH FLOWERS
Fresh flowers are a popular way to decorate wedding cakes, but do leave it to the experts. Some varieties aren't food safe, so brief your cake designer and florist to ensure they match your wedding florals and above all ensure your big-day bake is safe to consume. They'll generally be happy to collaborate for you to ensure the creation looks its big-day best.
Fresh flowers are a popular way to decorate wedding cakes, but do leave it to the experts. Some varieties aren't food safe, so brief your cake designer and florist to ensure they match your wedding florals and above all ensure your big-day bake is safe to consume. They'll generally be happy to collaborate for you to ensure the creation looks its big-day best.
17. SINGLE TIER
As we mentioned intimate celebrations remained a trend after the pandemic, not out of necessecity but because couples realised just want they could do with fewer guest numbers and more budget to focus on aesthetic or other elements. A single tier bake is a great option when you don't have enough guests to warrent multi-tier bake. Plus, a taller tier makes for a bigger slice - we think about these things!
As we mentioned intimate celebrations remained a trend after the pandemic, not out of necessecity but because couples realised just want they could do with fewer guest numbers and more budget to focus on aesthetic or other elements. A single tier bake is a great option when you don't have enough guests to warrent multi-tier bake. Plus, a taller tier makes for a bigger slice - we think about these things!
18. SUGAR FLOWERS
Sugar flowers are a safe and foolproof alternative to fresh flowers, ideal if the bloom you yearn for to adorn your bake isn't food safe. Some specialists are so talented, you won't be able to tell the difference anyway! Cake designers will go through intensive training to create these beauties, it's a true art from in sugar.
Sugar flowers are a safe and foolproof alternative to fresh flowers, ideal if the bloom you yearn for to adorn your bake isn't food safe. Some specialists are so talented, you won't be able to tell the difference anyway! Cake designers will go through intensive training to create these beauties, it's a true art from in sugar.
19. HAND-PAINTED
We love hand-painted wedding cakes. Fondant icing offers these talented cake designers a blank canvas for their artwork. Where palette knife flowers create the feel of oil paints, this style is more reminiscent of watercolour. So dreamy.
We love hand-painted wedding cakes. Fondant icing offers these talented cake designers a blank canvas for their artwork. Where palette knife flowers create the feel of oil paints, this style is more reminiscent of watercolour. So dreamy.
20. DECONSTRUCTED
Another trend is the deconstructed cake. Instead of multiple tiers stacked on top of each other, this option offers several single tiers, often creatively displayed or spread out around a dessert table. This is a great idea if you can't settle on a single design!
Another trend is the deconstructed cake. Instead of multiple tiers stacked on top of each other, this option offers several single tiers, often creatively displayed or spread out around a dessert table. This is a great idea if you can't settle on a single design!
21. SWEET TREAT TOWER
If you have a sweet tooth, but don't fancy sponge cake or the like, opt for a tower of something sweet instead. Macarons, profiteroles, cupcakes, brownies and doughnuts are all popular options.
If you have a sweet tooth, but don't fancy sponge cake or the like, opt for a tower of something sweet instead. Macarons, profiteroles, cupcakes, brownies and doughnuts are all popular options.
22. CHOCOLATE DECADENCE
Cake flavours are so varied now, you don't have to go for traditional fruit or plan vanilla sponge. If you can dream it, your cake designer can probably create it. Although do check that first! Our favourite, of course, is chocolate, which along with caramel is a great warming flavour for the winter. For the summer, you might plump for lighter, fresher flavours.
Cake flavours are so varied now, you don't have to go for traditional fruit or plan vanilla sponge. If you can dream it, your cake designer can probably create it. Although do check that first! Our favourite, of course, is chocolate, which along with caramel is a great warming flavour for the winter. For the summer, you might plump for lighter, fresher flavours.
23. VINTAGE INSPIRED
Lambeth cakes have become a trend. They're quirky, cute and super-fun, reminiscent of a bygone age.
Lambeth cakes have become a trend. They're quirky, cute and super-fun, reminiscent of a bygone age.
24. YOU BETTER SHAPE UP
Cicular tiers are without doubt the most commonly seen, but did you know it's not essential. Hexagons or squares allow you to switch things up a bit, particularly when layered with the traditional round tiers.
Cicular tiers are without doubt the most commonly seen, but did you know it's not essential. Hexagons or squares allow you to switch things up a bit, particularly when layered with the traditional round tiers.
25. DESSERT TABLE
A dessert table is another sweet showstopping alternative if a wedding cake isn't for you. Fill it with all your favourite treats telling the story of your romance. His 'n' hers options, treats inspired by your travels together or by your love story. Best of all you can colour match them to your palette for the ultimate in edible beauty. It'll look too good to eat, but that won't stop anyone for more than a heartbeat! Make sure your photographer captures in on camera before the onslaught!
A dessert table is another sweet showstopping alternative if a wedding cake isn't for you. Fill it with all your favourite treats telling the story of your romance. His 'n' hers options, treats inspired by your travels together or by your love story. Best of all you can colour match them to your palette for the ultimate in edible beauty. It'll look too good to eat, but that won't stop anyone for more than a heartbeat! Make sure your photographer captures in on camera before the onslaught!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Cake Creations Southport
Cake On The Lake
Mama Mia Cakes & Cupcakes
We All Love Cake Limited
Cake Creations Southport
Cake On The Lake
Mama Mia Cakes & Cupcakes
We All Love Cake Limited
