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Photo by Lacie Hansen Photography
While you have likely decided many elements of your wedding’s reception décor like tablescapes and floral arrangements, don’t forget to consider where your wedding cake will be on display. “The wedding cake table is very important because it helps to complete the room,” says event planner Summer Newman. “It is part of the décor and adds to the overall ambiance, which influences the guests’ experience.”
Meet the Expert
- Summer Newman is the owner of Summer Newman Events, a wedding planning and event design company based in Southern California.
- Tamara Stahlheber is the coordination and design director for TOAST Santa Barbara, a boutique event design studio specializing in event and floral design for weddings.
As you consider the best way to display your wedding sweet, start from the beginning. Newman suggests utilizing a linen-covered table and a simple cake stand if your cake is a stunner to let it shine on its own. “If you’re going for more a minimalist cake, rent a beautiful linen or an amazing table that doesn’t need a linen. Many rental companies have pieces of furniture and unique items that you can place a cake on,” she says.
Cake tables can come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and colors, depending on what you’d like on display. Design director Tamara Stahlheber suggests finding a vintage table for a bold aesthetic. “One of the most unique cake tables we've used was a vintage brass swan head table positioned next to the beautiful pond at Grassini Family Vineyards,” she says.
As far as adding decorations to the table? Truly, anything goes. Match your wedding’s aesthetic by adding candles or incorporate plenty of florals. “I love to see florals around a cake table, above a cake table, or on the cake table,” says Newman. “Most florists will be so excited to help you design your florals for your cake table if you have no ideas on what to do." But remember, a cake table can include edible decorations as well. “A cake table doesn't have to only be cake! Include more of your favorite desserts or items that are easy for guests to grab and get back on the dance floor,” adds Stahlheber.
Ready to find inspiration for wedding cake table décor? Read on for 30 of our favorite ideas from real weddings.
Surround With Roses
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Photo by Jessa Schifilliti; Cake by Palermos Bakery
Hosting a timeless all-white wedding? Surround your cake with a table full of white roses for a stunning arrangement.
Have Fun With Florals
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Photo by Lacie Hansen Photography
Balance a simple white cake with a floral arrangement that truly makes a statement. This beautiful display of flowers at a Guatemala wedding almost conceals the cake with its organic placement.
Add Signage
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PHOTO BY KATIE DESSIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Planning to serve multiple cakes with different flavors? Be sure your guests know what's being offered for dessert. A little sign can make a cake table all the more charming.
Choose a Palette
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Photo by Emily Barbee
If you're decorating your cake table with florals, consider leaning into a particular palette to make even more of an impact. This backyard wedding in Alabama used yellow and white flowers to create a lovely and dramatic arrangement around the three wedding cakes.
Use a Bar Cart
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLARK BREWER PHOTOGRAPHY; CAKE BY SWEET BAKING COMPANY; FLORAL DESIGN BY EMMA ROSE FLORAL
Want to roll out your wedding cake into the crowd? We love the idea of showcasing the cake on a bar cart with greenery to really command attention.
Keep It Simple
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Photo by Ryan Ray
For the minimalist couple, don't feel like you need to go overboard with a cake table display. There's nothing wrong with sticking to the basics. Pair a white wedding cake with a white linen tablecloth to keep things simple.
Pair With Potted Plants
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM RYAN SMITH; CAKE BY BAKED
If you are hosting a desert wedding, bring in some potted cacti for an adorable addition to a cake table.
Embrace Romance
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Photo by Lauren Fair Photography; Cake by Katy Pierson Cake
If you're really leaning into florals for your wedding, there's no shame in adding even more to your cake table. Work with your florist to add plenty of lush blooms and greenery for a romantic touch.
Incorporate Natural Elements
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Photo by Laurken Kendall; Cake by Jasmine Rae Cakes
This incredible cake was designed to match the landscape at a desert wedding. While the cake is certainly a showstopper on its own, the addition of sprawling natural grasses and plants turned this display into something truly special.
Let the Cake Do the Talking
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Photo by Joel Serrato; Cake by Lele Patisserie; Design by TOAST Santa Barbara
If you've invested in the design of your cake, your cake table may not need much décor. Incredibly detailed cakes can shine on their own with a simple cake stand and a few candles to enhance the look.
Add Tall Tapers
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Photo by Jenny Quicksall Photography; Cake by Sweet Novelette
Keep things simple and beautiful by incorporating tall taper candles as a nice touch to your cake table.
Pair Cake and Cookies
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Photo by Alex Lasota
Want to serve a sweet for everybody to enjoy? A two-tier cake and individually wrapped cookies are a great pairing. Surround the table with flowers for a romantic feel.
Look to the Ground
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Photo by Hana Gonzalez Photography
Your cake table floral arrangement doesn't actually have to be on the table. At this tropical Jamaica wedding, tall white flowers and greenery appear as if they are growing from the ground around the display.
Create a Baby's Breath Cloud
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Photo by Magi Fisher
At a whimsical Philadelphia wedding, the vintage white wedding cake design was placed on a table covered in baby's breath. The couple chose this floral because it mimics the confection being surrounded by a cloud.
Opt for Matching Sweets
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PHOTO BY OLIVIA MARSHALL PHOTOGRAPHY; CAKE BY BATTER UP CAKERY
While the cascade of citrus down this wedding cake certainly commands attention, the mini desserts on the table steal the show. Pair your cake with another coordinated dessert option for a splash of color.
Add a Monogram Backdrop
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Photo by Dennis Roy Coronel
Be sure to think about the décor around your cake table as well. A bold background can make all the difference. For a modern vibe, consider adding a monogram in bright, neon lights.
Create a Garden
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Photo by Valorie Darling
While you might not want to place your cake on the grass, you can decorate your table to appear as if it was immersed in nature. At an outdoor Idaho wedding, the cake table was decorated with moss and had cut roses placed as if they were growing from the earth.
Wow With a Wine Barrel
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Photo by Kate Olson Photography; Cake by Ava Bakes Cakes
While dressers, bar carts, and other pieces of furniture are welcome ideas for a cake table, no piece of furniture can make quite the statement a wine barrel can at a winery wedding. Embrace a rustic, romantic vibe with this unique piece as a cake table.
Color Coordinate Your Tablecloth
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Photo by Jose Villa
Try to coordinate your tablecloth color with the design of your cake. The beautiful purple sugar flowers on this multi-tiered confection are perfectly complemented by the velvet fabric covering the cake table.
Sprinkle Pretty Petals
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Photo by Blushing Cook
Pair an incredible pressed floral cake with a table full of even more flowers for a springtime look. The pretty petals sprinkled around the cake table will act as natural confetti.
Invite Meaningful Family Members
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Photo by Catalina Jean Photography
Want to honor passed loved ones and have them be a presence at your wedding? Bring family photos to place on the table alongside your cake for a sentimental touch.
Showcase a Sketch
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Photo by Ashley Cakes
Even if you plan to keep your cake table minimal, it can still tell a story. We love the idea of asking your cake designer for a copy of the sketch they did for your wedding cake to display in a frame on the table.
Use a Mirror
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Photo by Olivia Rae James
While this incredibly tall wedding cake makes a beautiful statement, the cake table adds even more to complete the presentation. We love the way a mirrored platter takes it to a whole new level.
Set the Cake on a Shelf
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Photo by Jen Huang; Cake by Qualcosa Di Dolce
A cake table doesn't always have to be a literal table. This stunning sweet was displayed on a shelf with beautiful linens at an intimate Lake Como wedding for a truly out-of-the-box option.
Incorporate Acrylic
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Photo by Ashlyn Cathey Photography; Cake by Lush Cakery
Want to make it seem like your cake is floating? Acrylic is the answer. Add a modern touch with a tall square stand made from the clear material.
Embrace a Natural Backdrop
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Photo by Valorie Darling; Cake by The Buttered End
Planning a seaside wedding? Luckily, you have a beautiful background built right into your venue. Set up your cake table to face the most remarkable view, with a few décor elements to match the surrounding natural hues.
Play With Florals
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Photo by Aziz Studios; Cake by Sweet Novelette CAKE
If you're hosting a garden wedding, have beautiful flowers appear as if they are growing from the grass around your cake table.
Pair With Cupcakes
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Photo by Peyton Byford
What could be sweeter than incorporating a colorful selection of cupcakes to your cake table? We love how this arrangement is accented with florals and citrus fruit to create an exciting aesthetic.
Bring a Banner
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PHOTO BY TAITT VOSATKA; BANNER BY LINEN AND POPPI
While this cake table incorporates décor elements such as a gauzy linen and tall tapers, it's the banner in the background that brings the look together. We love the idea of including a few sentimental words in the background of your cake-cutting photos.
Frame the Table
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PHOTO BY EMILY CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY; PLANNING AND DESIGN BY SILENT TEA STUDIO
Build around the cake table to really make a statement. A rose gold arch and plenty of blooms frame a selection of wedding desserts for a bold look.