Not a fan of fruitcake or thick white icing? Nor us. Of course, the big traditional white wedding cake will never go out of style. But if you’re opting for a barn wedding venue or a festival-style wedding, you may want to choose a wedding cake that’s a little more relaxed or quirky. Here are some alternative wedding cake ideas.

Summer fruits semi-naked cake

©LunaWeddings

It’s true that not everyone likes fruitcake. But cake with fresh fruits is another matter. Summer fruits work really well and look particularly good with a tiered semi-naked wedding cake. So choose blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries and just let them cascade down. For something a little different, serve with a scoop of creamy Devon ice cream.

Ruffled icing and edible flowers

©Olivia Whitbread-Roberts

If the idea of tiered white cake still appeals, opt for ruffled icing for a more modern laid-back look then top it off with real edible flowers. Flowers like pansies have a mild flavour and work well with any cake. Hibiscus flowers have a tart, berry flavour, while begonias have pretty pink petals and a surprising citrus flavour. Not all fresh flowers are edible of course. So talk to your cake maker about choosing the right flowers for your wedding cake.

Personalised cakes

©LunaWeddings

Every part of your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. And that includes your wedding cake. More and more couples are choosing to be immortalised in icing on top of their cake in an outfit that represents a special occasion or in fancy dress, rather than in full wedding regalia.

©MichaelWellsPhotography

Decorate the rest of the cake with references to film, travel, music or sport or anything that’s personal to you. It’s fun and quirky and absolutely one of a kind.

Pretty pastel macarons

©TobyLowe

Everyone loves macarons. Packed with sweet vanilla buttercream, macarons come in all sorts of flavours and colours, from rose and lemon to pistachio and mocha. So you can choose macrons to match your wedding colour scheme or opt for a range of rainbow colours. Stack your macarons in a tower. Or put in vintage glass bowls and place a bowl on each table. Perfect with coffee or fizz.

Gluten free cakes

©LunaWeddings

Not so much an alternative wedding cake idea but certainly an additional type of cake. Gluten-free people and coeliacs tend to miss out when it comes to cake. So if you can, cater for those with allergies and have a gluten-free cake available too. Why not take care of your vegan guests at the same time and make the cake dairy-free as well? 

Brownies stack wedding cake

©TobyLowe

If you or your partner are chocolate lovers, then brownies are an absolute must as a wedding cake alternative. You can pile your brownies into a tower or pyramid. Or for something a bit nicer, simply display your wedding brownies on a cake stand and garnish with juicy strawberries. One brownie is never enough though. So make sure there’s plenty to go round.

Cake table

©MichaelWellsPhotography

If standing in front of your guests wielding a 12 inch knife doesn’t hold much appeal, why not opt for a cake or dessert table and let everyone help themselves? There are no rules here. Simply opt for your all-time favourites from brownies and cheesecake to lemon drizzle cake and red velvet sponge. Cupcakes are always popular too and can be decorated to match the theme of your wedding.

Cheese wheel wedding cake

©EvolvePhotography

And now for something completely different. If you don't have a sweet tooth, skip the sponge wedding cake idea altogether and opt for a cheese wheel cake instead. Any cheese works. Just remember, hard cheeses go on the bottom and soft cheeses on the top. So start with a wheel of English Cheddar or Stilton before working your way up to a Cornish Brie or goat’s cheese. Serve with pots of locally made chutney and a glass or two of port.