The coolest 2026 wedding cake trends

Wedding cakes have come a long way from the traditional white-iced, tiered classic. These days, anything goes. And modern couples can treat themselves to everything from sculptural masterpieces and dramatic illusion cakes to pared back ‘naked’ styles or even Mr and Mrs Colin the Caterpillar cakes. However, with so much choice, it’s hard to know where to start. So, we’ve rounded up the very best 2026 wedding cake trends to tempt your tastebuds…

1. Towering tiers

For maximum drama a super tall cake is the way to go, as shown by Priyanka Chopra who had a mammoth seven tiers at her wedding to Nick Jonas. However, for a more contemporary and affordable version, why not try adding height with decorative elements instead of mountains of cake? “Tiered cakes with visible gaps and decorative spacers are great for drama and elegance,” says Emily at Prop Options, the luxury cake stand brand. “Our faux tiers allow for floral placement, lighting and more, and deliver impact without the added cost of extra cake.” 

Wed2b couple, Hannah and Matthew, had a beautiful three-tier cake in white and emerald green with one clear perspex layer, for extra height. The whole cake, including the clear layer, was decorated with real flowers and greenery to match their theme. “My partner is a landscape gardener and my favourite colour is green, so we tried to incorporate it into the day,” says Hannah.

2. Modern florals

Decorating wedding cakes with flowers isn’t a new thing, but there are now exciting new ways of displaying your beautiful blooms. We love these crown stands, that let you surround a simple cake with single stem flowers to create a floral design with a difference.

Alternatively, keep your look simple and modern by adding just a few carefully placed flowers on a relatively plain cake, like Rachel and Tom. Their understated naked cake was decorated with small sprigs of flowers and foliage, to match their soft blue and cream colour scheme. This was complemented with vintage jars of similar flowers on the table settings. 

3. Affordable minimalism

Striking minimalist cakes in one colour with clean lines and little to no detailing, can add real wow factor to your day. What’s more, depending on the design, it can be a more affordable option than an intricately decorated style. For example, this simple white iced cake with a bow has clear layers filled with fairy lights and would look amazing at a black tie evening reception.  

Brodie and Jack kept their cake stylishly minimal, while incorporating the colours of the beautiful scenery at their wedding venue on Lake Como in Italy. “The colour scheme was baby blue with hints of gold,” says Brodie. “I wanted baby blue as it was my late grandad's favourite colour and it also tied in beautifully with the lake and the venue.”

4. Illusion cakes

To make a real statement, how about an illusion cake with a magical ‘floating tier’? It will definitely give guests something to talk about! Plus, this effect is actually easier to create than you think, using a clever floating separator disguised with flowers.

Alternatively, this superhero-loving couple played a different trick on their guests with a cake that may look like a classic style but... “Our tables were all named after different superheroes and our cake was traditional looking on one side, with dots, blue ribbon and yellow flowers, but on the other side there were four superhero layers; Iron Man, Spider-Man, Superman and Batman,” says Joanne. “Everyone loved it as much as we did!” 

5. Modern Vintage

Vintage is a trend that isn’t going anywhere and period dramas like Bridgerton have played a part in the current trend for Lambeth piping, which involves creating intricate and multilayered designs using royal icing. “Think romantic piping, heirloom tones and ornate detail,” says Emily at Prop Options. “Other traditional and vintage-inspired styles are also emerging, including decorative tier shapes and the use of Roman or carousel pillars.”

We love Kenner and James’s perfectly piped, three-tier cake, which had just the right amount of old-style elegance for their manor house wedding. Archana and Pras also chose a chic vintage design to go with their Bridgerton-style venue and theme.

6. Fruity fun

For a different vintage feel, forget the flowers and decorate your cake with fresh cherries, figs and citrus fruits instead, which add flavour but also rich colours and visual appeal. Choose piles of berries and dark fruits for an abundant autumnal feel or summery options, like strawberries or lemons, for relaxed Mediterranean chic, displayed on a fun spiral stand.

Sarah and John's simple cake was covered in berries and figs, which was perfect for their cosy winter wedding. “Our cake blew us away, as my lovely friend made this for us,” says Sarah. “I still cannot get over how perfect it looked and how absolutely amazing it tasted. It felt extra special for our cake to have such a personal touch.” 

7. Cake Installations

Lastly, why have just one cake when you can have two, three or even more? “Cakes are becoming installations, photographed and featured like art,” says Emily at Prop Options. “We're seeing increased demand for stands, separators and custom displays. These allow bakers and planners to stage cakes as the visual centrepiece.”

Real bride Abbie loved her showstopping retro cake, which she displayed surrounded by lots of matching cupcakes and vases of flowers in complementary colours. "It was just an absolute dream of piped ribbons in pinks and blue, topped with cherries,” she says. "It wasn’t your normal wedding cake, but who wants normal? The cake was then surrounded with cupcake puddings, decorated beautifully with lots of different colours.”

A few iced gems

So, we hope you’ve been inspired by our pick of the best 2026 wedding cake trends. However, when it comes to cake, there really are no wrong choices. Start by looking at styles that work with the theme of your day and complement your dress and venue. However, if you want something fabulous and retro like Abbie or a stack of your favourite doughnuts like these newlyweds below, just go for it. Your wedding day is one of those very few times in life when you can, literally, have your cake and eat it! 

Click here for lots more 2026 wedding cake trends from our brilliant real life brides. Also, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.