If you’re planning a wedding that doesn’t involve all the traditional big white details you probably won’t want to opt for a traditional cake either. In fact, the classic fruit cake covered in royal icing is rarely seen in modern weddings, couples are now looking for fun and modern alternatives. My clients often want something more representative of them as a couple; put more simply, why have a fruit cake if you don’t actually like fruit cake?! So why not look at some alternative wedding cakes…
So! We’ve scoured the wedding web to bring you our ultimate list of alternative cakes for your big day, and have also included some rather affordable options (incluing one from M&S), in case you’re conscious of your budget.
A Macaron Tower
If you’re looking for an elegant and feminine cake, a tower of macarons can’t be beaten. Choose colours that compliment your wedding theme and decorate the stand with frilly blooms for a pretty effect.
Image source: Pinterest.
A Croquembouche
A croquembouche is a perfect alternative to a wedding cake, especially if you love all things French. These also work incredibly well at any pastel themed or stately home wedding thanks to their Marie Antoinette vibe.
Image source: Harpers Bazaar.
Cheese Cake
Not a fan of sweets? Try a tiered cheese cake instead. These large wheels have been styled up with fruit that complement cheese perfectly, all that’s left to add are the crackers and oat cakes… What a feast!
Image source: Laura Trevey.
Meringue (and Gluten Free)
Meringue is a great gluten free classic that’s also a real crowd pleaser. Another bonus of meringue is that it lasts a really long time if kept in an air-tight container, so you can do a lot of the cake prep beforehand. A particularly easy one to DIY at home or get friends and family involved in. Add some cream and some edible flowers and you’re good to go!
Image source: Weddbook.
Pancake Stack
We love this idea if you’re having a brunch-themed wedding, but it would also suit a garden party – or any wedding any time around Shrove Tuesday! (Usually around mid-February.) Make sure you have plenty of topping options (sweet and savoury) to keep your guests happy.
Image source: Sweet Violet Bride.
Waffles – Lots!
Continuing on the brunch theme! This stack of waffles is a great option if you would love a relaxed day devoid of stuffy traditions. Have a few large stacks piled on top of pretty cake stands for a more “wedding” look.
Image source: Brit.co.
Pork Pie(s)
This is one for all your meat lovers out there, plus it’s from M&S so it’s easy to get hold of and it’s affordable – win, win, win. All you’ll need to organise is a selection of chutneys and perhaps a few pickled onions. Ideal for a drunken snack later into the evening!
Image source: Marks and Spencer.
Ice Cream
Hello, is that ice cream cake? A nostalgic treat to take you back to your childhood, and a perfect option if you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted cake idea. To make this cake look a little more grown up, pop on a cake topper, fruit or some flowers for decoration.
Image source: The Kitchy Kitchen.
Doughnuts
Everyone loves a doughnut, plus this pile of goodies can be iced to match your wedding colour scheme. To make things look slighty prettier you can add a few blooms that match the rest of the wedding flowers as per the pic above.
Image source: The Knot.
Oreo Stack
Possibly one of the easiest wedding cakes you can put together is this Oreo stack. Go for your favourite biscuit (or maybe two favourite biscuits if you and your partner can’t decide!) and layer them up on a pretty cake stand. The only hard part is figuring out how many biscuits you need!
This is also a cute idea if you have lots of little guests, serve up with mini milk shots for them – just don’t leave this unattended or your could end up with much more of a mess than just crumbs on the dance floor!
Image source: Bridal Guide.
Mini Cakes
This last cake is the closest you could get to a traditional tiered wedding cake without it actually being a traditional tiered wedding cake! This offering of mini cakes and macarons is a great option if you still want that real wedding feel whilst also offering your guests something a little different. Much easier and quicker to serve, too, and a welcome alternative to the cupcake tower trend of the early 2000’s.
Image source: Rock My Wedding.
We hope you found this post inspirational and useful, do let us know if you’d like to see more alternative wedding ideas posts.
Happy planning!
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