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26 beautiful wedding cake ideas

Get inspired for your big day with these amazing creations.

Wedding cake options are seemingly endless – and it’s not just flavour to consider! There’s the type of icing, the colour, the design, any toppers or decorations, even the shape… no doubt about it, picking a wedding cake can be a real process.

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The theme of your wedding will likely play a part in the look of your cake – for instance, naked and semi-naked cakes beautifully suit a rustic wedding; simple wedding cakes topped with a few fresh blooms fit the vibe of a small, intimate wedding, while you might want to choose something more abstract for a very contemporary city-style wedding. 

Wedding cake flavours

Gone are the days of nothing but fruitcake; if you can dream up a flavour for your cake these days, you can probably get it! From chocolate, white chocolate and caramel mud to sponge (traditional and flavoured), passionfruit, red velvet, banana and carrot, or even cheesecake, the sky really is the limit.

Traditional wedding cakes were usually covered in fondant, but a lot of people aren’t a fan of the thick, sweet icing, and opt for buttercream instead. An advantage of buttercream is that it can be flavoured. Coconut cake with passionfruit icing? No worries!

Wedding cake prices

It can be hard to lock down a price for a wedding cake without a consultation, as cost is usually dependant on the size and complexity of the cake; but wedding cakes can cost anywhere from less than $100 up to anywhere in the thousands! Once you have an idea of what you want, book in a consultation to get an idea of price.

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Faye Cahill Cake Design shares some fantastic tips for keeping costs down online, for example,  comparing quotes on handmade sugar flowers with fresh flowers supplied by your florist; ordering a simple unfrosted style or plain iced tiers that you can style with your own toppers or embellishments; keeping to the size you need for your serving numbers, rather than adding foam tiers for dramatic impact; and finding quirky or sweet non-edible figurines instead of having a custom-made sugarpaste bride and groom.

How big should I go?

Again, this depends on the number of guests and how big you want the portions to be. Most bakers will give you a quote for dessert portions (around 2.5cm x 5cm x10cm) or smaller coffee portions (around 2.5cm x 2.5cm x 10cm). If you’re serving cake as dessert, you’ll likely want to go the bigger option; however, if dessert is included as part of the meal, and guests are served cake as part of the coffee course, you might like to choose the smaller option. Again, your cake specialist will be best positioned to tell you how much cake you’ll need. 

The very best place to start your wedding cake journey? With a little bit of inspo… 

26. Purple accents

purple wedding cake
(Credit: Angel Wedding Cakes) (Credit: Angel Wedding Cakes)
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The addition of fondant decorations is a great way to add elegant colour without using fresh blooms – and they look just as beautiful.

This four-tiered, fondant-covered cake from Adelaide’s Angel Wedding Cakes features delicate handmade lilac and lavender flowers.

From $590.

25. Squared away

square wedding cake
(Credit: Hansel and Gretel Cakes) (Credit: Hansel and Gretel Cakes)
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There’s no rule that says a cake has to be round! Square and rectangular options are sleek and gorgeous. 

This two-tier square creation from Hansel and Gretel Cakes in Brisbane is modern glam at its best.

Two-tier cake from $500.

24. Chocolate heaven

Chocolate ganache wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/magnoliakitchen) (Credit: Instagram/magnoliakitchen)
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If you thought your wedding cake had to be white, think again! Chocolate ganache is delicious and looks just as chic on your wedding cake as a traditional ivory icing.

Magnolia Kitchen in Auckland, New Zealand, created a vanilla bean and strawberry cake layered with dark chocolate ganache and strawberry compote, finished with a sprinkle of freeze-dried strawberries.

Contact for pricing.

23. Black beauty

Black wedding cake
(Credit: Hansel and Gretel Cakes) (Credit: Hansel and Gretel Cakes)
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For something seriously striking, tip tradition on its head and opt for black icing for your wedding cake. There’s no question it will get your guests talking

This Hansel and Gretel Cakes offering features three tiers, and clusters of white blossoms provide stunning contrast against the icing. 

Three-tier cake from $800.

22. Pink & red velvet

Red velvet sesmi naked wedding cake
(Credit: Black Velvet Cakes) (Credit: Black Velvet Cakes)
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Gone are the days where fruitcake was your only option! In fact, we’ve even moved beyond simply chocolate and white chocolate mud (not that there’s anything wrong with those!), with red velvet cake becoming a popular choice.

“Adorned with the softest of pink roses, sugar crystals of clear and pink hues, premium gold leaf placements and playful pink and white candies and macarons”, and with pops of ruby-red shining through the icing, this semi-naked cake by Black Velvet Sydney is a tonal dream.

From $125 (small). 

21. Coastal chic

Beach fondant wedding cake
(Credit: The Sweeter Side) (Credit: The Sweeter Side)
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For a a coastal wedding, a beach-themed cake takes the seaside vibes into the night!

Perth’s The Sweeter Side has crafted a three-tier offering wrapped in traditional white fondant, with fondant seashells and delicate pastels detailing that elevate the look.

Contact for pricing.

20. Naked & natural

Naked banana carrot wedding cake
(Credit: Cake Date) (Credit: Cake Date)
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Naked cakes are definitely having a moment, and are a perfect match for a rustic or country wedding. Simple and chic, they can be dressed up with additional fresh flowers or kept simple – to speak for themselves

This rustic two-tiered creation by Cake Date in Perth even features two flavours – the bottom tier is carrot cake and the top tier is banana cake – and the cake is decorated with succulent flowers.

From $95 (12 serves).

19. Brushstroke brilliance

Caramel and vanilla sponge wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/katherinesabbath) (Credit: Instagram/katherinesabbath)
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Sydney-based cake queen Katherine Sabbath is known for her colourful designs, and this three-tier wedding cake is no exception! Coloured buttercream painted onto the outside of the cake gives a memorable artistic effect. 

“Layers of caramel and vanilla sponge cake filled with freeze-dried strawberry and lemon curd Swiss meringue buttercream,” Katherine writes on Instagram of this creation. 

Contact for pricing.

18. Incredible croquembouche

Croquembouche wedding cake
(Credit: Croquembouche Pâtisserie) (Credit: Croquembouche Pâtisserie)
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If you haven’t had a croquembouche before, picture this: a tower of custard- or cream-filled choux pastry drizzled in golden toffee and studded with fresh strawberries. Yum! 

As will as this Strawberry & Toffee Croquembouche, Sydney’s Croquembouche Patisserie has lots of different options, including chocolate and white chocolate and even one studded with lollies for the sweet-tooth couple!

From $75 (for a traditional croquembouche).

17. Modern masterpiece

Modern wedding cake
(Credit: A Little Cake Place) (Credit: A Little Cake Place)
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Why not add a coloured tier as your ‘something blue’?

Four tiers featuring different colours, textures and finishes make for a thoroughly modern design in this stunning piece by A Little Cake Place in Brisbane. The hexagonal detailing creates a sense of continuity, tying the tiers together beautifully. 

Pricing guide $1290 to $1640 (for four tiers; contact for consultation).

16. Classic elegance

Classic wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/hey.there.sugar) (Credit: Instagram/hey.there.sugar)
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If you’re a fan of tropical fruits, forget the mud and fruit cake, and try something like this showstopper from Hey There Sugar in Sydney: layers of coconut cake, passionfruit curd, lychees and passionfruit buttercream.

Contact for pricing.

15. Cute creation

Cupcakes wedding cake
(Credit: A Little Bit Fancee) (Credit: A Little Bit Fancee)

Wedding cupcakes are cute, fun and oh-so easy to serve; plus, there’s no confusion when it comes to getting numbers right – just order as many as you need for your number of guests (with a few to spare as leftovers!) 

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If you like the cake-cutting tradition, a small top-tier cake, like this one from A Little Bit Fancee in Melbourne, gives the new Mr and Mrs that option.

Cupcake prices start at $3.50. Minimum order of 24 cupcakes of the one design.

14. Something small

Classic elegant wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/theartfulcaker) (Credit: Instagram/theartfulcaker)

A cake doesn’t need to be sky high to have dramatic impact – and if you’re having a small, intimate wedding, you probably won’t need several tiers.

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Simplicity is a statement in itself, and this beautiful single tier cake topped with roses and greenery by Sydney baker The Artful Caker is sophisticated and sleek.

Contact for pricing.

13. Cheese please!

Cheese stack wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/fromagethecow) (Credit: Instagram/fromagethecow)

Not a fan of sweet treats? If an after-dinner cheese course is more your style, a stack of bries, camemberts and blues could be the perfect ‘cake’ for you.

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Pair a cheese ‘cake’ with fine crackers and dried fruits and decorate with flowers as you would a traditional cake – just as Brisbane-based Fromage The Cow did.

12. Marvellous marble

Marble effect wedding cake
(Credit: Cakes Of Heavenly Indulgence) (Credit: Cakes Of Heavenly Indulgence)

A marble visual effect is elegant and provides a beautiful talking point for guests.

Apply the effect to just one tier, or create an ombre effect like Hobart’s Cakes Of Heavenly Indulgence by fading out the pattern gradually from bottom to top.

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Contact for pricing. 

11. Vegan delight

Vegan wedding cake
(Credit: My Little Panda Kitchen) (Credit: My Little Panda Kitchen)

Yes, you absolutely can have a delicious wedding cake with all the trimmings that is free from animal products!

Plenty of specialist bakers create vegan wedding cakes that taste easily as delicious as their traditional counterparts, and we love this vibrant three-tier dream by Sydney’s My Little Panda Kitchen.

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10. ‘I Do’ Doughnuts!

Doughnuts wedding cake
(Credit: Krispy Kreme) (Credit: Krispy Kreme)

Easy, fun, delicious – there’s nothing not to love about a pile of doughtnuts to celebrate your wedding!

Doughnut chain Krispy Kreme offers the ‘Wedding Dozen’ – hand-dipped and drizzled in creamy white chocolate truffle, and finished with a sprinkle of white pearl sugar, they’re a unique sweet to celebrate big day.

Doughnuts at $35 per dozen, with a minimum order of 3 dozen.

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9. Colour pop

Colourful fun wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/katherinesabbath) (Credit: Instagram/katherinesabbath)

Layers of lemon, blueberry, and buttermilk cake, filled with freeze-dried strawberry Swiss meringue buttercream are wrapped beneath vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream in this incredible Katherine Sabbath creation.

Decorated with colourful white chocolate shards, a fun and beautiful cake like this will wow guests on your special day.

Contact for pricing.

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8. Three times the fun

Three different tiers wedding cake
(Credit: Cake Date) (Credit: Cake Date)

Can’t decide which look you love most for your cake? Go for all of them by opting for different contrasting tiers.

A hammered metal effect is a striking contemporary look, while a unifying feature – like the metallic centre on one of the flowers on this cake by Perth bakers Cake Date – helps tie the elements together. 

Prices start from $140 (single tier).

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7. Stunning chandelier

Chandelier wedding cake
(Credit: A Little Cake Place) (Credit: A Little Cake Place)

The chandelier cake trend is going strong. This upside-down cake hangs from a stand and makes for an incredibly focal centrepiece of the reception. 

Dripping with gold accents and covered in rich, jewel-coloured blossoms, this cake by Brisbane’s A Little Cake Place is the ultimate in lush and luxe.

Pricing can range from $1350 to $3000.

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6. Beautiful boho

Boho wedding cakes
(Credit: Instagram/theartfulcaker) (Credit: Instagram/theartfulcaker)

Not keen on roses but still want something floral? No problem!

This two-tiered gluten-free orange cake with lemon curd and passionfruit Swiss meringue hand-carved buttercream is a beautiful ‘Moroccan boho’ style wedding cake from The Artful Baker that proves vibrant hues have a place at the wedding table. 

Contact for pricing.

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5. Good as gold

Gold wedding cake
(Credit: Faye Cahill) (Credit: Faye Cahill)

If you’re looking for something with serious wow factor, you can’t go past the Midas touch. A three-tiered cake completely covered in gold is something your guests won’t forget in a hurry!

The ombre-effect drip adds a splash of fun and colour to this dramatic offering by Sydney cake masters Faye Cahill Cake Design.

Minimum order $260; up to $1500.

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4. Hand-painted heaven

Hand-painted wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/ivyandstonecakedesign) (Credit: Instagram/ivyandstonecakedesign)

If you’re looking for something completely unique, or you’re looking for a cake that’s a piece of art in itself, a hand-painted pattern or image is the perfect solution. 

With a ganache finish, hand painting and silver leaf, this three-tired beauty from Ivy + Stone Cake Design is beautiful as is, or can be topped with blooms for something extra. 

Contact for pricing.

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3. Total texture

Textural wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/laombrecreations) (Credit: Instagram/laombrecreations)

If you want interesting texture, you’re not limited to fondant. Swiss meringue buttercream icing can also be sculpted to give your cake a very unique surface.

This textural cake with moody blooms by Canberra cake designer La Ombre Cakes is a decedent chocolate with a chocolate Swiss meringue chocolate buttercream.

Contact for pricing.

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2. Coconut passion

Coconut and passionfruit wedding cake
(Credit: Instagram/hey.there.sugar) (Credit: Instagram/hey.there.sugar)

If you can’t choose one cake flavour, go for two… or even three! If you like to stick with tradition, you may want to make the top tier fruitcake and freeze it to eat on your first anniversary. 

In this Hey There Sugar creation, the top two tiers are coconut, lychee and strawberry, and the bottom tier is taro and lychee.

Contact for pricing.

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1. Have a ball

Structural ball wedding cake
(Credit: A Little Cake Place) (Credit: A Little Cake Place)

One word: Wow. This incredible cake is more sculpture than sweet treat and is unquestionably a showstopper. If you want the cake to be the focal point of the day, four spheres piled precariously on top of one another should do the trick!

Created by Brisbane’s A Little Cake Place, the rich dusty red, shiny gold and shimmery, pearlescent white pair together for the ultimate in luxe!

Contact for pricing.

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