No matter how many weddings we’ve attended, regrammed real wedding photos of, or written about, whenever the cake cutting comes around, we can’t help but eat it all up 😋. And why not? It’s one of the sweetest, happiest moments of the day, reducing us to tears… over the tiers. There’s usually a cheesy, yet relevant song playing in the background, a debut display of the couple’s together-forever teamwork in that premiere, perfectly-coordinated cut, and adorable, frosting-fated kisses amidst the first few bites of wedding cake. What can we say? #WeOnlyCameForTheCake (kidding, we came for the couple, but stayed for the promise of buttercream-enrobed layers of love by the end of it).
It’s truly a focal point of the fete and one that’ll be documented in, oh, a dozen or so pictures from your photographer, so apart from having the cake deliver on flavor – be it vanilla cake laced with with strawberry champagne mousse or a hazelnut almond cake layered with dark chocolate ganache – it’s got to deliver on design. And that means the whole cake table, not just the cake. Whether you want to create a modern, hyped-up mood complete with a scripted “how sweet it is” neon sign above your heads and sparklers burning out the top tier, or prefer something more classic and romantic with fresh flowers commingling with the sugar flowers and lots of candles covering the rest of the table, you really can make the whole thing deliciously tasty.
Again, we subscribe to the [wedding] cake for breakfast kind of life, so we’ve made sure our cake table toppers for the reception are way beyond delightful. One great cake vignette can change the world, that’s why you’ll also want to make sure you nibble on some of these supporting looks for your nuptials!
Photography by Tenth & Grace Photography
Because, really, they tie your whole table together. Fresh cake, fresh flowers, it’s a mood.
Photography by Sally Pinera
Sometimes leaving champagne and cream to the sips and whips (that buttercream whip) is the best way to go. Punchy linens provide a great contrast to an otherwise simple, neutral cake color palette.
Photography by Oliver Fly Photography
Flowers – yes; vivid linens – yes; well, how about something that kills both birds? Blanketing the tablecloth with bright petals is such a stylish and whimsical way to dress up your dessert destination.
Photography by Cassie Claire Photography
The table itself doesn’t have to be basic, either. We actually love it when brides and grooms use platforms like wooden or glasstop tables, vintage bar carts, or hanging installations (extra points for that upside down / anti-gravity trend) over traditional sweet stands.
Photography by Ether and Smith
Don’t get us wrong, we live for couples using toppers that may have been passed down from generation to generation – and thus a little dated, but still to-die-for for the sentiment – but we’re also huge fans of modern looks. Maybe it’s the couple’s new shared last name, maybe it’s a trio of wire photo hearts, or maybe it’s just gold wire letters that spell out L-O-V-E .
Here are some of our favorites from the all-new Style Me Pretty shop. Not to sound the least bit like we’re describing Pokemon, but yes, you’ll want to collect them all.
Think of the whole table as your cake canvas – how are you going to make that beauty shine? Candles always do it for us. And our dual-tone tapers actually remind us of an ombre frosted cake…
Blush Taper Candles| Gold Metal Tealight Holder, Photography by Sarah & Ben, Floral by Ever After Vintage Weddings
Whether you have your cake stand tall on a glass, ceramic, or lucite stand won’t matter, but it’s got to look 😍. We suggest something clean like a bright white plate adorned with quotes around the rim (that aerial shot is on-point!). You’ll also need a matching serving set and a gorgeous pair of cake plates and fancy utensils. You might not be royalty, but your cake cutting ceremony can certainly make you feel that way.
Photography by Sarah & Ben | Cake by Hands On Sweets | White and Gold Cake Serving Set
Because a great cake table needs some bubbly to be complete. No one would question that, right?!? You can do it with bride and groom flutes OR coupes, both of which photograph scrumptiously.
Toasting Coupes, Photography by Sarah & Ben, Floral by Ever After Vintage Weddings | Toasting Flutes
Shop with us now for everything you need to have your [wedding] cake and eat it, too! Anyone else have 🦋🦋🦋, or is it just us?
Photography by The Nelsons Photography
Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.
