11 Beautiful Wedding Cake Trends to Inspire Your Celebration's Dessert

Ruffles, bows, pearls, and metallics are just some of the cake designs that wedding insiders say are going to be big.

Planning a wedding includes thinking about a ton of details—the dress, the shoes, the venue, the food. One major detail is, of course, the dessert, which is often a wedding cake. But in 2024, couples are blowing past the wedding cake designs we've seen over the past couple of years and bringing back some of the most timeless—and fun—elements of the '70s and '80s, incorporating small details like pearls, and adding a touch of glam with metallics.

Consider these rising wedding cake trends if you're planning your own nuptials this year and are looking for a stand-out wedding dessert your guests will talk about long after the party is over.

Related: 17 Wedding Trends You'll See Everywhere in 2024, According to Experts

Pearls

Elegant, old-fashioned, and ever-popular in bridal fashion, pearls are jumping to wedding cakes. "Pearl-encrusted cakes are everywhere—meticulously placed edible pearls create such a luxe look on a cake and they’re a great way to tie in details from the other elements of your wedding into the cake design," says wedding cake designer Celeste Scott of Butter Bakery.

Textured Finishes

Brides are opting away from perfectly smooth finishes in favor of something with a little more texture, which can take a variety of forms. "This trend moves away from the perfectly smooth surfaces of traditional cakes, embracing instead the tactile allure of ruffles, ridges, and waves," says wedding photographer Charles Moll. "Textured frosting adds a layer of depth and sophistication, allowing for a play of light and shadow that transforms the cake into a stunning visual element."

Related: 29 New Takes on Traditional Wedding Cake Flavors

Metallic Details

Don't forget about your cake when thinking about the glam factor—wedding professionals are seeing metallic details on the rise in wedding cakes. "Metals and particularly silver are making a comeback," Scott says. "I’m seeing lots of silverware used in wedding styling, which is about to make its way into cake design. Silver leaf, shiny sprinkles, and edible glitter could all be big this year."

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

Fresh Florals

Flower motifs aren't new to the wedding cake world, but more couples are beginning to lean heavily on fresh florals for their cake design. "Instead of expertly placing statement flowers on the cake or adding traditional toppers, bakers are covering their creations in florals, curating a look perfect for garden-inspired or eclectic-feeling weddings," says Cameron Forbes, founder of Forbes Functions. "Bakers can utilize pressed and dried florals to lay flat on the cake and combine these with fresh flowers to create depth and dimension on the wedding day."

Lambeth Piping

What's old is new again with this particular style of cake decor, which is characterized by maximalist flourishes—on cakes large and small. "In 2024, couples can expect to see the Lambeth style of decorated cakes, as well as other vintage styles of piping," says wedding planner Kimberly Lehman. "These styles of piped icing are featured on classic white cakes, as well as colored iced confections."

Bows

Bows are big in wedding trends this year, from bridal fashion to cakes. "Bows are everywhere and I think will make their way to wedding cakes in fun and creative ways," says Jove Meyer, an event and wedding planner. "From a series of many small bows to one large bow, bows will be here for a little while for sure!"

Nature-Inspired Cakes

Flowers, greenery, branches—these all can have a place in your cake design this year. "Opting for a cake with elements like hand-painted flowers, cascading foliage, or even incorporating real blooms is the perfect way to add a touch of natural beauty to your special day," says wedding planner Carissa Kruse. "Lavender, olive branches, and eucalyptus leaves are some of the most popular choices that couples are requesting for their wedding cakes this year."

Vintage Tiered Cakes

The '70s and '80s are back, baby, and so are the tiered wedding cakes that your parents probably had. "Many of my 2024 brides are opting for vintage-style cakes," says Jennifer Hines, event planner and owner of Tie a Bow. " And '70s-inspired tiered cakes separated by pillars have made a comeback. I think today’s bride appreciates the fun additions of lace, bells, and bows as a nod to the types of cakes their parents might have served."

Related: 12 Retro Wedding Trends That Are Making a Comeback, According to Event Planners

Heart Shaped Cakes

Alongside those tiered confections, retro heart-shaped cakes are also popping back up. "The heart cake is also big, especially a heart cake with vintage piping around the perimeter," says Meyer. "Cake shapes are also changing and couples are embracing the less perfect more funky shapes and textures, imperfectly perfect cakes are on the rise."

Maddie McNabb, owner of Maddie About Cake, agrees, adding that she's made heart-shaped cakes out of macarons as well, like the cake shown above. "Couples particularly like the heart-shaped Lambeth-style cake because they can still cut it like a traditional cake for the photo-op," she says. "They are also a great option for gluten-free couples and guests."

Nontraditional "Cakes"

While a lot of attention is given to a wedding cake, you don't necessarily need to have traditional cake—you can opt for something like a macaron tower, which also doubles as a gluten-free dessert option. "Some couples are stepping away from the cake trend altogether, even forgoing the cake-cutting scene entirely," says McNabb. "I make a lot of macarons for weddings, typically for a dessert table and favors. However, I’ve seen an increase in inquiries for my macaron cakes."

Related: Wedding Cake Alternatives for the Couple Who Just Doesn't Like Cake

Sheet Cakes

We know what you're thinking, but those sheet cakes you find at the grocery store are actually having a major wedding cake moment this year. Wedding photographer Kathryn Yeaton notes that "more is more" when it comes to cakes, and single-tier is no exception. "They are larger, lengthier (especially with the current popularity of table-length sheet cakes), and more adorned than ever," she says.

"Length is the new height!" says Scott. "Couples looking to make a real statement are opting for super-long cakes rather than towering tiers. Think giant sheet cakes elevated with beautiful decorations such a flowers, edible pearls, and fruit."

Related: 21 Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Sheet Cakes for Any Occasion

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.