Wedding Cake Ideas: a Guide to Choosing the Best Cake for Your Big Day

Choosing the right wedding cake is an important decision that can make or break your wedding day. With so many options out there, how do you know which kind of cake will be best for you? After the most important things are organised, such as choosing the perfect dress and booking a stunning venue, you can turn your mind to the next showstopper – the wedding cake.

Whether you want a traditional white cake or are looking for something more daring, we’ve got you covered. Check out our guide for inspirational wedding cake ideas.

Wedding Cakes FAQs

Whether you’re just starting to think about wedding cakes, or you’ve been planning for months, you’ve probably got a lot of questions. What kind of cake do I want? How do I decorate it? Will there be enough cake? We’ve got your back.

Here’s everything you need to know about wedding cakes, from how much cake is right for your guest list to what kind of flavours and fillings are best for different tastes.

How to Decorate a Wedding Cake?

Whether you’re dreaming of a simple traditional white wedding cake or a huge multiple tiered cake covered in gold leaf, there are endless ways to decorate your wedding cakes and bring your dreams to life.

A good way to start is by looking at some photos of cakes that have been decorated by professionals. While some people prefer the rustic look, others like things more elaborate and ornate.

If you want something simple but elegant then consider using fruit as decorations instead of flowers or other edible items like ribbon candy or even chocolate shavings!

How Long Do Wedding Cakes Last?

Wedding cakes typically have a short shelf life of three to four days. After that, the cake will start to dry out and lose its flavour. If you want it to last longer than this, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to six months.

Can You Freeze Wedding Cake?

Yes, if properly wrapped in clingfilm you can preserve your cake slices in the freezer, the length of time you can preserve it depends on the ingredients used in your cake and the method of storage.

How to Choose Wedding Cake Flavours?

Traditionally wedding cakes have been fruit cakes but the wedding world has changed and we now see everything from chocolate cake to individual cupcakes as a great alternative.

How Much Wedding Cake Do I Need for 100 Guests?

The answer depends on the size of your cake. A traditional 3-tier cake with 12, 10, and 8 inch layers will serve roughly 100 people.

How Long Does a Wedding Cake Stay Fresh?

A wedding cake typically lasts around 3-4 days. If you’re planning on keeping your cake for longer than three days, you’ll probably have to put it in the refrigerator—but even then, it’s not likely to last more than a week.

How to Preserve Wedding Cakes?

If you want to preserve your wedding cake so that it can last the long haul, first, you’ll want to make sure you keep it in a cool place keeping it away from direct sunlight and heat sources like ovens and radiators. If you live in a hot climate, be sure to store your cake in the refrigerator.

If you’re planning on eating your wedding cake on your first anniversary, then consider freezing it until then. You can wrap it in plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container before freezing for one year.

If you freeze the cake top tier only, then box it up with more plastic wrap and place this inside another container with yet more plastic wrap around the outside of that one as well—then you’ll have an excellent chance of avoiding freezer burn!

How to Transport a Wedding Cake?

The thought of transporting your precious cake cargo can be nerve-wracking and rightly so as it can go horribly wrong if you’re not fully prepared. But there are a few things that you can do to avoid disaster striking!

When transporting your wedding cake, the journey needs to be as easy and smooth as possible, choose a simple route where you can drive slowly avoiding speed bumps and sharp corners.

Never transport your wedding cake without a sturdy base and transport accessories like non-slip mats, cake stands and ice packs to prevent it from shifting around. And never transport place it on a lap, it must stay absolutely flat!

How Far in Advance to Book Wedding Cake?

When it comes to booking wedding cakes, we always advise to book them as soon as you’ve secured your venue and know the date of your wedding. Cakes for special occasions like a wedding can take a very long time, not to mention skill to make.

And the best cake designers are often in high demand, especially in peak season, and even more so if you want to have a more customised wedding cake design such as one with hand-painted floral or unique flavours.

How to Save Money on Wedding Cake?

At Arches Beach Wedding venue we host DIY weddings at which many couples choose to bake and decorate their own cakes or have family members make them as their wedding present.

If you want to keep it simple then go for plain cakes with a few decorations like flowers or bows on top of them. If you are looking for something more elaborate then you could go for something like fondant covered cake with multiple layers of icing between each layer of sponge.

DIYing wedding cakes is a great way to save money as you don’t need to hire a professional baker. Alternatively, you could also opt for cupcakes if you don’t want something too large (or expensive) but still want something that looks impressive and tastes delicious!

Do I Need a Cake Stand For My Wedding?

If you want your cake to make a statement on your dessert table, having the cake lifted up on a stand will definitely help. Though not absolutely necessary, a cake stand does look great in photos!

How Many Layers Should a Wedding Cake Have?

Your wedding cake can have as few or as many tiers as you’d like, though tiered wedding cakes typically have at least two tiers. When deciding how many layers to have on your cake, consider the size of your wedding party and how many guests you expect to attend.

If you’re having a smaller wedding with only a handful of guests, it’s likely that a single-tier small cake will be more than enough to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. However, if the guest list is longer or there are lots of kids in attendance, it might be worth investing in a larger cake with multiple tiers.

How to Decorate the Wedding Cake Table?

Wedding cake tables can be a combination of all things sweet and beautiful, or they can be a little bit of a let down.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your linens are ironed and perfectly smooth, you don’t want to be looking back on the photos of your wedding cake and realising that no matter how much effort you put into the cake the table linens look awful.

Next, decorate your table with fresh flowers, leafy vines and metallic details such as a gold cake stand to add a touch of glamour to your wedding cakes table. You can also add other details like tea-light candles, paper lanterns or white fairy lights which will give off a warm glow that will set the mood for your guests.

Can You Eat Wedding Cake After 2 Years?

The short answer is no, you probably shouldn’t eat your wedding cake after 2 years. Even if the cake does not smell or look bad, there’s still a chance that it could have harmful bacteria in it.

Can You Make Your Own Wedding Cake?

Yes, it is absolutely possible to make your own wedding cake. However, you might want to strongly consider if a day or so before your big day you want the additional stress of also making, decorating and transporting the wedding cake?

If you are able to find someone who can help you make your cake, then that’s fantastic! But if not, then it’s important to make sure you have time to do this before your wedding day. If you don’t, then you may want to consider purchasing a cake from a local bakery or grocery store instead.

What Type of Cake Is Best for a Wedding?

A simple white wedding cake covered in sugar flowers with a fruit centre is the traditional type of wedding cake. But if you’re looking for a modern wedding cake think outside the box!

Drip cakes with interesting flavours, rich dark chocolate ganache and white chocolate icing, and naked cakes softly dusted in icing sugar, are all great ideas for alternative wedding cakes with a modern twist.

What Is the Most Popular Cake Flavour at Weddings?

The most popular wedding cake flavour is currently vanilla. This isn’t surprising: plain white cakes are the go-to choice for many brides and grooms. If you’re looking to spice up your wedding cake with something new, why not try a carrot or coconut flavoured alternative!

What Is the Most Popular Wedding Cake Filling?

While you can choose any filling for your wedding buttercream is the most popular wedding cake filling because it is easy to work with and tastes great. Caramel is also very popular as a wedding cake filling because it adds a sweet taste to any cake.

Chocolate is another great option if you want something sweet but still want something different than caramel or buttercream. Chocolate is often used in conjunction with caramel to make other types of fillings such as chocolate ganache or fudge frosting.

Strawberry is another common choice for wedding cakes because it has a fruity flavour that goes well with many different types of cakes such as strawberry shortcake or strawberry pie.

Ideas for Wedding Cakes

There’s more to a wedding than just the ceremony and reception—it’s also about the cake! And when it comes to your big day, you want your cake to be as unique as you are.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a traditional cake. But if you’re getting married on the beach or in a barn, maybe you don’t want a traditional cake—you might want something that reflects your sense of style and personality.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of ideas that are sure to wow your guests. They’re all delicious, but they also look amazing!

Beach Wedding Cake Ideas

Take inspiration from the azure waters of The Amalfi coast by having a blue cake for your beach wedding, flavoured with salted caramel and decorated with dried grasses to evoke the feeling of being on the beach.

Autumn Wedding Cake Ideas

Create a rustic vibe with pressed wildflowers and pine cones for wedding cakes with an autumnal vibe.

Winter Wedding Cake Ideas

White flowers can look stunning on wedding cakes but in winter you might want to consider a floral-painted cake so you don’t need to pay a premium for fresh flowers.

Wedding Cake Ideas for Spring

Orange ranunculus and other country flowers can look beautiful at a spring wedding, adorn your cake with colourful blooms and ribbons.

Wedding Cake Ideas for Summer

Fresh roses mixed with sugar flowers or pressed flowers can create a romantic wedding cakes that are perfect for the summer season.

Traditional Wedding Cakes

Having an all-white cake with a fruit filled centre with around three tiers is the most traditional style of wedding cakes. This type of cake will look stunning in any colour scheme and is perfect for any wedding.

Modern Wedding Cakes

Geode wedding cakes, edible sequins and geometric print icing are all styles that add a modern twist to your big day instead of the traditional cakes.

Rustic Wedding Cakes

If you’re dreaming of a rustic wedding cake, a naked cake covered in fresh bloom and a little confection sugar usually not larger than two-tier is a great option for a more minimal and rustic aesthetic.

Funny Wedding Cakes

For a fun look, you could ask your cake maker to use their imagination and create a show-stopping realistic portrait cake or an edible replica of the venue or even how you met!

Elegant Wedding Cakes

White wedding cakes covered in edible flowers always look elegant and make a great choice, bringing more class to your elegant wedding theme.

Country Wedding Cake Ideas

Consider having another kind of cake like a Victoria sponge or lemon drizzle cake instead of a ‘wedding cake’ if you want to create a more country style to your wedding day.

Quirky Wedding Cake Ideas

Consider the option of painted wedding cakes with the bottom layer different in style from the top. You could also have a two-tier cake with different styles of icing such as an iced with deckled edges to look like a ruffled wedding dress underneath a totally smooth cake tier.

Another creative idea we’re seeing more frequently is to have a black wedding cake for striking alternative aesthetics.

Alternative Wedding Cake Ideas

Cupcakes, dessert stations and doughnut stations are all popular alternatives to traditional wedding cakes. You could also consider going for a fruit tower with hand-punched shapes of fruit as decoration instead.

Wedding Cake Price Guide

Wedding cakes are one of the most important parts of a wedding, and if you’re planning on having one you’ll want to be sure it’s the perfect fit for you and your partner. If you’ve decided to go ahead and have one, you’re probably wondering how much it’s going to cost.

In the UK wedding cakes vary wildly in cost as there are endless combinations of flavour, style and bakers. The good news is we’ve got you covered with our handy wedding cake price guide so that you can make an informed decision about what kind of wedding cake is right for your big day.

How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost?

The cost of wedding cakes is determined by a number of factors. The most significant factor is the ingredients used, followed by the skill level of the baker. There are many other factors that contribute to price, including transportation costs and any additional decorative elements. In addition, some bakers charge a fee for the time they spend customising the cakes.

What Is a Good Budget for a Wedding Cake?

The average price range for a three-tier wedding cake with frosting is between £350 and £550. If you want something fancier than just frosting on top (like fondant or other decorations), then expect an increase in price from there.

A luxury bakery in the UK usually charges from £450 to £750 for a wedding cake made with fresh ingredients and decorated with real flowers. Designer wedding cakes could easily cost up £800+ depending on what kind of design elements were involved—but don’t worry. There’s still hope if money’s tight!

How Much Cake Do I Need for 150 Guests?

You need a minimum of one slice per person, a professional baker will be able to advise how much to prepare for your wedding reception as slice size can vary depending on the kind of cakes you want (and whether or not there are other desserts present).

How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost for 200 Guests?

For 200 guests we recommend a 4-5 tier option so that you have enough for everyone, these are typically on the more expensive end of the spectrum so expect to pay at a minimum £600.

How Much Is a Wedding Cake for 75 Guests?

There are many factors that determine the price, such as the size and whether it is decorated, but in general, you can expect to pay between £400 and £700 for a wedding cake for 75 guests.

How Much for 3-Tier Wedding Cake?

The starting price for simple cakes with three-tiers is typically £350. The price can vary depending on the design, size, and ingredients used in the creation process.

How Much for a 2-Tier Wedding Cake?

Two tier wedding cakes have a starting price of around £250. This price is based on a single flavour, with the average size of each tier being an 8-inches.

How Much for a 1-Tier Wedding Cake?

One-tier wedding cakes typically have a starting cost of £150. They are a great option for those who want something simple and elegant.

How Much Is a Naked Wedding Cake?

A naked or semi naked cake will typically cost the same as comparable dressed wedding cake as it takes a high degree of skill to make this deceptively simple-looking style look slick.