Along with the beaming newlyweds, the wedding cake is the crown jewel of any reception. Whether outfitted with extravagant tiers or featuring a low-profile silhouette, filled with unique flavor combinations or that classic wedding cake taste, it’s the perfect end to such a celebratory, momentous occasion—and the first of many shared traditions as a married couple. In 2025, wedding cake trends are all about sidestepping norms and leaning into hyper-personalization.
Nostaglic Buttercream Piped Cakes
Walls Trimble Photography / Yip Studio NYC
In 2025, we’re seeing more couples veer away from the traditional tiered structure and pastel hues often associated with wedding cakes. In their place are bold colors—like deep red—and structural shapes.
“Couples feel excited to reflect their passion and love, choosing lush, deep-red wedding cakes that steal the moment,” says Carol Guedes, founder and principal planner for Flying Little Birds. “These nostalgic buttercream piped cakes, with unexpected shapes and adorned with cherries and berries, bring a modern flair” to nostalgic cakes.
Italian Millefoglie Cakes
Jessica K Feiden Photography
No need to venture to Italy to partake in this delicious 2025 wedding cake trend. Translated to “a thousand layers,” the Italian millefoglie cake is having a moment, with some couples even joining in the assembly of the cake as it’s made in front of their guests.
“The dessert is an oversized single tier of layers of puff pastry and vanilla pastry cream, topped with berries or fresh fruit and powdered sugar,” explains Gina Jokilehto, owner and creative director of Shi Shi Events. “We love how the name reflects the layers of love in a partnership and marriage.”
Interactive Cake Painting
Couples looking for an interactive experience for their guests will love the truly unique trend of interactive cake painting. “The painting is done directly on a plain cake with edible colors and food-safe brushes,” explains Carmen Davila, creative director and CEO of Events by Carmen.
Throughout the reception, the couple and guests can add brushstrokes to the dessert, creating a delicious masterpiece to enjoy together after dinner.
Drape Cakes
Abby Jiu Photography / A. Cakes Bakery
Draped cakes are another wedding cake trend that sidesteps tradition. “We all know that drapery is huge right now, and that doesn’t stop with the wedding cake design,” says Armana Christianson, cake artist and owner of A. Cakes Bakery. “More couples are choosing drape cake designs where the fondant creates the illusion of fabric draping down the cake.”
While soft and romantic, these cakes will certainly earn an “ohh!” moment upon their unveiling.
Maximalist Showstoppers
Walls Trimble Photography / Yip Studio NYC / Flying Little Birds
From gravity-defying cakes to desserts flooded with flowers, embellishments, and textures, it’s safe to say that maximalism is in for weddings—dessert included. This comes after years of quiet luxury and minimalist trends.
“Couples are bringing back larger-than-life, over-the-top wedding cakes, and the bigger, the better,” says Emily Reno, owner of The Vegas Planners. “These statement cakes are designed to wow guests and serve as a major focal point at the reception.”
Extra-Long Single Tiers
Calen Rose Photography
With more couples seeking alternatives to tiered cakes, we’re seeing a rising trend of ultra-long, single-tier cakes and desserts that span the entire length of a table. These can be made of traditional cake or an alternative with a topping that unites all the pieces together. (For example, the 8-foot-long “cake” pictured here is made of key lime pie squares and whipped cream.)
“Couples opt for this for two reasons,” explains Kate Hickey, owner of Sunshower Weddings. “The first is that not everyone is a cake person. For couples who want to feature a dessert other than cake, but still want the wow factor of a big dessert showpiece, this is a great way to do it.”
The second reason is cleverly economical: “In a recession, dessert bar squares decorated with frosting or whipped cream are incredibly affordable without sacrificing aesthetics,” notes Hickey.
Floral Infusion
Hailley Howard Photography / A Cakes Bakery
Cakes may not seem an obvious way to incorporate nature into your wedding day, but the effect is downright gorgeous. From tropical displays to dreamy wildflowers, infusing fresh flowers into your wedding cake design continues to be a major trend in 2025. It’s also a great way to add a burst of color. “This is just another example of how the cake is becoming its own focal piece, and couples are wanting to take advantage of that,” Christianson explains.
Sequined Cakes
Carmela Joy Photography
Talk about a wedding day showstopper. Sequin cakes are a labor of love since every edible sequin is hand-placed, but that also means the design options are endless.
“Couples are choosing to mimic design details like dress sequins or invitation patterns to further incorporate their cake into the fold of their overall wedding design,” Christianson says. “Having the opportunity for a cake artist to replicate the bride’s dress pattern for instance, highlights how special chosen elements like the dress are while also giving the cake its spotlight.”
