Key Takeaways
- A simple wedding cake can be stunning with touches like flowers, fruits, or greenery for unique styles.
- Consider surprising flavor combinations like lemon with raspberry jam to make your cake memorable and delicious.
- Don't be afraid to mix textures or go semi-naked for a more modern, rustic, or chic cake look.
We’re all for a statement-making cake, but understated cakes can go a long way. Enter the simple wedding cake. Lightly adorned and often wrapped in white buttercream, simple wedding cakes tend to trend more classic than anything else. But you can still keep things minimal while spicing up the tradition—adding a monstera leaf for a tropical twist, edging layers with pearl-like fondant, or infusing metallic foil as a glitzy touch.
And there are other ways to go bold without decking out your cake! Opt for multiple single-tiered cakes to create a lavish table spread. We also love the idea of filling a traditional-looking cake with a surprising flavor inside, like banana or raspberry jam.
Simple wedding cakes are perfect for an informal, intimate wedding—but also if you’re a couple who prefers a minimalist look or timeless touch. Besides the elegant simplicity of these cakes, there’s another bonus: the less fuss, the lower the cost (typically).
Below, 43 simple wedding cake ideas that will do the trick.
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Go Minimalist
Photo by Wendy Laurel Photography; Planning by Couture Events; Cake by Cake Fanatics
Drape a simple white wedding cake in greenery and place it in a shallow bowl for a minimalist, organic effect. Inside, the red velvet cake is paired with cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting.
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Add Florals
Photo by Lacie Hansen; Planning by Rincon Events; Cake by Lele Patisserie; Floral Design by Jenn Sanchez Design
A vine of earth-toned flowers and vivid greenery dresses up frosted tiers and seminude layers. The look, like the rest of the wedding, was inspired by the bride’s grandparents’ safari honeymoon. We love a nostalgic nod!
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Evoke a Tuscan Feel
Photo by Jenn Byrne; Planning by Tymm Rodriguez; Cake by Carol Bojarsky of Cake Bloom
A simple two-tiered white cake gets a Tuscan twist with wreaths of olive leaves and fresh orange slices. Set it on a wood charger and finish it off with a wrought iron cake topper to complete those rustic Italian countryside vibes.
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Pick an Unexpected Flavor
Photography by Braedon Flynn; Planning by Jesse Tombs of Alison Events; Cake by Flora Farms
This fondant-pleated confection looks classic on the outside with its three white tiers, but the inside surprises with an unexpected banana flavor. Adorn it with a swath of ferns and white blooms for a botanical touch.
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Build a Tower
Photo by Olivia Rae James
This towering confection is a showstopper. Lanky brushed tiers emit an artsy, disheveled effect, while tropical blooms and greens create a feeling of paradise.
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Combine Looks
Photo by Olivia Rae James; Planning by The Burlap Elephant; Cake by WildFlour Pastry; Floral Design by Flowershop
A four-tier, vanilla wedding cake with fresh strawberries and Italian buttercream frosting has a classic-meets-modern look when decked out with pastel-colored flowers and perched on an ornate silver pedestal.
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Give a Personal Touch
Photo by Whitney Neal Studios; Planning by Laurel and Rose; Cake by Tinker’s Cake Shop
This three-tier cake includes three flavors: white chocolate raspberry, chocolate champagne, and lemon cream cheese. It also includes a personal touch: a fondant portrait of the couple’s black cat, Toast!
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Keep It Clean
Photo by Olivia Rae James; Planning by Calder Clark; Cake by Minette Rushing
Business on the outside, party on the inside. Sometimes, a cake shines best without any adornments, like this classic five-tier cake boasting textured stripes. But slice that baby open, and you’ll find a Funfetti surprise.
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Break Tradition
Photo by Norman & Blake; Planning by Bash Bozeman; Cake by Collective Yellowstone
Ditch the classic white wedding cake in favor of a naked cake sandwiched between layers of decadent frosting. Top it off with strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a punch of color and flavor.
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Act Sweet
Photo by Rodeo & Co. Photography; Planning by Ruby McDermott Designs; Cake by 111 Maine
Decorate the rim of a white buttercream two-tier cake in delicate pearl-like fondant for a sweet, feminine touch, and complete the look with a clematis vine. This confection features a chocolate cake with a ganache filling, a lemon berry cake, and a lemon custard filling.
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Offer Multiple Cakes
Photo by Cassidy Carson Photography; Planning by Fête Nashville; Cake by Dessert Designs
What's the upside of a simple wedding cake? If you go all out in simplicity with a single-tiered cake, it’s easy to have more than one! This couple had five, offering five different cake flavors: almond amaretto, caramel, white wedding cake, and vanilla bean.
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Design a Rustic Masterpiece
Photo by Morgane Lay and Jonny Cocherane of M & J Photography; Planning by Agence Fizzy; Cake by Alix H. Gâteaux d’Exception
This towering wedding cake has layers of vanilla cake paired with fresh berries and meringue for a light and fresh finish. Somehow, it pulls off a look that is both rustically relaxed and stunning.
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Pay Tribute to the Locale
Photography by Norman + Blake; Planning by 42 North; Cake by Vermont Sweet Tooth; Floral Design by Lillibet
Let your wedding cake give a nod to your wedding location. This four-tiered cake features layers of maple bourbon, complementing the couple’s Vermont destination. Cascading, fresh pink blooms complete the look.
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Get Chic
Photo by Phil Chester; Planning by Karen Morlet Eventos; Cake by Eduardo Kohlmann; Floral Design by María Limón
This stylish chocolate cake is a fashion bride’s dream. A half-naked finish combined with fresh peach and white florals has an effortless, chic feel.
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Infuse Springtime Vibes
Photo by Curtis Wiklund Photography; Planning by Alison & Bryan Events; Cake by Simply Sweet by Jessica; Floral Design by Katie Wachowiak
This confection is giving us some serious spring fever. A semi-naked vanilla cake filled with chocolate ganache gets a cheerful flair with a topper of fresh dahlias and a bed of eucalyptus.
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Take Winter Inspiration
Photo by Jordan Voth; Cake by Kim Donker; Floral Design by Jasmine Fuller of Mint Floral|
This three-tiered cake has us dreaming of winter. A semi-naked design featuring layers of cake and frosting looks like it was dusted in snow, complete with a richly hued topper of fresh fruit and florals.
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Look to Art
Photo by Ashley Sawtelle; Cake by Megan Joy Cakes
Cake or artwork? This masterpiece was decorated with thin strips of fondant painted in shades of sage, pale blue, ivory, and soft peach. The result is a hybrid of the Impressionist era’s watercolors and the geometric patterns of today’s modern art.
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Pack a Summer Punch
Photo by Ashley Caroline; Planning by Emily Coulter; Cake by Cakes by Liz; Floral Design by Morrice Florist
A three-tiered carrot cake filled with cream cheese frosting gets a summery touch with colorful garden roses and ranunculus.
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Design a Timeless Look
Photo by Wild Whim; Cake by Enjoy Cupcakes; Floral Design by Bloom Floral and Foliage
Nothing is quite as timeless as a neutral-colored palette, and this naked vanilla sponge cake with lemon and buttercream icing seals the deal. Add some romantic white roses, and we’re head over heels for this confection.
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Choose Blush
Photo by Rebecca Yale; Planning by Callista & Company; Cake by Wild Flour; Floral Design by Wild Bloom Floral
Traditional white dresses have gotten a blush-hued take, so why can’t traditional white cakes? This blush semi-naked cake has layers of champagne vanilla and sparkling rose cake with champagne vanilla buttercream. A grand display, complete with a lavish arch of vines, elevates the look.
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Pick Wildflowers
Photo by Pedro Vilela; Cake by São Lourenço do Barrocal
This traditional Portuguese olive oil wedding cake is topped with fondant, olive leaves, and wildflowers. A cut-out bride and groom topper adds a dash of whimsy.
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Showcase Garden Charm
Photo by Eric Kelley; Planning by Kari Rider Events; Cake by Steve Konopelski; Floral Design by Amaryllis Floral & Event Design
A semi-naked, champagne-flavored cake with mascarpone filling and vanilla buttercream icing gets some garden charm with white roses and eucalyptus. It’s hard to envision a cake more perfect for a spring wedding!
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Pair Prints
Pphoto by Kristine Herman; Cake by Batter Up Cakery
Make a statement by keeping one tier simple and the other textured. How chic is tile-embellished look with a touch of greenery?!
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Show Off Sugar Flowers
Photo by Hana Gonzalez Photography
Add a touch of whimsy to a simple white wedding cake by decorating it with some dainty sugar flowers. You can either match the color of the cake's frosting or add some color to the confection.
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Get Creative With Color
Photo by Alice Vicente
Simple doesn't have to be boring. This wedding cake boasts a middle tier with a blue design that adds an unexpected twist to an otherwise basic look.
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Decorate With Orchids
Photo by Jana Williams Photography
Orchids are a delicate bloom, perfect for a simple yet stunning wedding cake. Placing them on each tier brings some depth—and a touch of drama—to this all-white creation.
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Celebrate a Boho Vibe
Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography
Couples hosting a boho-style wedding will love this single-tier, semi-naked cake. The muted florals add just the right amount of color without going over the top.
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Bring In Baby's Breath
Photo by Adriana Rivera
A simple wedding cake calls for small touches. This multi-tiered cake is topped with a touch of baby's breath, giving it a feminine touch.
