22 Decadent Chocolate Wedding Cakes

Published on 05/04/21

Choosing your wedding cake design, whether going with a classic white cake or incorporating a modern motif, might be the simplest part of deciding your wedding desserts. The more difficult challenge, however, is landing on what flavor of cake you’re planning to serve your guests. And while a nice almond, lemon, or simple vanilla cake is sure to delight, there certainly are other options.

“Your wedding should reflect your taste, so go with what you love!” says Moriah Tulier, owner of Wildflower Cakes. “Your guests will be excited to try your favorite cocktail, your favorite dessert, and hear your favorite song come on. Embrace the things that reflect your couple style, food included, and your guests will walk away feeling a closer connection to you as a couple."

Meet the Expert

Moriah Tulier is the owner of Wildflower Cakes, a cake studio based in Denver, Colorado with a focus on custom-designed luxury wedding cakes.

Plus, there are so many incredible ways to make a chocolate wedding cake your own. “Simple and classic with fresh flowers, gilded dramatic gold leaf, hand-painted details, and monograms are all beautiful ways to decorate any wedding cake,” says Tulier. “Determine your wedding style and let that guide you when it comes to the design.”

If you still want a classic look, vanilla buttercream or fondant can completely seal a chocolate cake. “This also provides the perfect blank canvas to design,” Tulier adds. "From there the sky’s the limit! It’s also fun and unexpected to cut into a white cake only to see a rich chocolate cake underneath.”

If you’re planning a chocolate wedding cake, don’t be afraid to get creative on flavor pairings. According to Tulier, raspberry, hazelnut, matcha, coffee, mint, and lavender are all great options to complement chocolate.

Think a chocolate wedding cake is the perfect fit for your big day? Read on for 22 of our favorite designs.

01 of 22

Commission a Handpainted Masterpiece

painted chocolate cake — Courtesy of Nevie Pie Cakes

This three-tiered cake offered a delicious salted caramel and chocolate combo for those who enjoyed it. And while that flavor pairing is certainly enough to please a crowd, it's the handpainted detailing on chocolate buttercream that truly makes a beautiful statement.

02 of 22

Go for Semi-Naked With Florals

chocolate naked wedding cake — Photo by Carrie King Photography; Floral design by The Perfect Petal; Planning by Laurel & Rose; Cake by Wildflower Cakes

We love the look of this rustic-meets-urban vibe. With chocolate cake as the base, paired with vanilla buttercream and plenty of bold blooms, this sweet is certainly reception ready.

03 of 22

Keep It Simple

chocolate cake with raspberries — Photo by Christine Glebov Photography; Cake by Renaissance Cakes

There's no shame in displaying a chocolate cake and totally owning it. This sweet paired two tiers with chocolate textured frosting for a simple look. Topped with a few berries, and paired with blooms, it's effortless, yet beautiful.

04 of 22

Top With Plenty of Fruit

single tier naked cake — Photo by Jo Bradbury; Cake by Queen Bee Cakes

A chocolate wedding cake certainly isn't boring, but this design takes it to a whole new level. With a single-tier chocolate cake, semi-naked frosting, gold detailing, and plenty of fresh fruit and flowers, this small cake is nothing short of show-stopping.

05 of 22

Decorate With Edible Flowers

chocolate cake with flowers — Courtesy of Blushing Cook

Love the look of a wedding cake decked out in edible flowers? The same design can work for a chocolate cake! We love the way bright, pretty florals add contrast against this chocolate confection.

06 of 22

Make It Playful

chocolate truffle cake — Photo by Tara Bielecki Photography; Floral design by Flora by Nora; Cake by Wildflower Cakes

Chocolate lovers might just have more fun, and there's no shame in that! Bring a playful element into the mix by decking out a chocolate cake in chocolate truffles for an unexpected look.

07 of 22

Cover It With Fondant

marble wedding cake — PHOTO BY ARI SIMPHUKHAM; Cake by Branching Out Cakes

Want to be sure your chocolate wedding cake is a complete surprise when you cut into it? Ditch the semi-naked or rustic look and ask your baker to cover it in fondant. We love the idea of a beautiful, bold design like this marbled masterpiece.

08 of 22

Go for a Decadent Drip

chocolate drip cakes — Courtesy of Lael Cakes

Planning a moody fall wedding? A rich, decadent drip is the perfect look. Pair plenty of cake layers with a chocolate drip, gold detailing, and fresh figs and berries.

09 of 22

Press Pretty Petals

cake with edible flowers — Courtesy of Lady in the Wild West

A beautiful chocolate cake provides the perfect light brown background to pair with white and sunny yellow hues. With pressed dried florals, this charming cake is ready to sit on display at a spring or summer wedding.

10 of 22

Add a Caramel Drip

chocolate naked cake with caramel drip — PHOTO BY FLORA & FAUNA; CAKE BY SIMPLY SWEET BERKSHIRES

Chocolate pairs well with so many other flavors, and this cake definitely proves it. Embrace the look of a tall, semi-naked chocolate cake but add a luscious caramel drip and fresh fruit to the mix for a pop of color.

11 of 22

Add a Playful Topper

chocolate cake with flamingo toppers — PHOTO BY GILLIAN LEBRUN; CAKE BY ENJOY CUPCAKES

Chocolate may be a little out-of-the-box, and that's okay! Embrace choosing something a bit different and take it one step further with beautiful decor and a fun topper.

12 of 22

Top With Plenty of Blooms

single tier chocolate wedding cake — PHOTO BY JESSICA LORREN PHOTOGRAPHY; CAKE BY EARTH AND SUGAR

Keep a chocolate cake understated with simple vanilla frosting, but amp up the look with plenty of blooms. We love the look of this mini cake totally covered in fresh flowers.

13 of 22

Make a Tall Statement

Tall naked chocolate cake — PHOTO BY PHIL CHESTER; CAKE BY EDUARDO KOHLMANN; FLORAL DESIGN BY MARÍA LIMÓN

If you're going to go for chocolate, you might as well go all in, right? More than 20 layers of chocolate cake made up this incredibly tall statement dessert.

14 of 22

Go Nearly Naked

Naked chocolate wedding cake — PHOTO BY SASITHON PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE WEDDING ARTISTS COLLECTIVE; PLANNING BY JOVE MEYER EVENTS; CAKE BY LUCKY BIRD BAKERY

We love the way this cake exudes a rustic-meets-refined look with a chocolate cake and semi-naked vanilla frosting. With pretty blooms on top, it's beautifully romantic.

15 of 22

Top With Succulents

Two tier cake with chocolate drip — PHOTO BY MOLLY PEACH; Cake by Copper Whisk Cakes

The way a decadent dark chocolate drip was added to this two-tiered cake certainly adds striking contrast. And while that would certainly be enough for decor, it's the addition of charming succulents that really brings the look together.

16 of 22

Display Pretty Pink Blooms

Chocolate cake with florals — Photo by Sarah Wenban Photography; Cake by Purita Hyam Cakes

The combination of chocolate brown and pink flowers is as pretty as can be, but that's not all there is to love about this cake. This dark chocolate Sacher Torte, a traditional Austrian cake with layers of chocolate and apricot preserves, was displayed in a square for a modern touch.

17 of 22

Balance Moody With Romantic

chocolate cake with chocolate drip — Photo by Rachel Rowland Photography

We think it's safe to say that a chocolate wedding cake can still be incredibly romantic, and this cake proves it. Paired with a chocolate drip for contrast, and topped with beautiful blooms, it's the perfect balance of moody and charming.

18 of 22

Embrace Plenty of Color

chocolate cake with pink roses — Courtesy of Stacy Brewer Cakes

If you're already going out-of-the-box with chocolate, don't be afraid to go over the top. Play with color and make a splash with a naked cake topped with bright berries and beautiful roses.

19 of 22

Make It Mini

Chocolate cake with greenery — PHOTO BY KRISTEN MARIE WEDDINGS + PORTRAITS; CAKE BY ROLLING IN DOUGH; DESIGN BY EMILY RENO EVENTS

Don't want to go all out with a big chocolate cake? Make it mini to add a bit of flavor into the mix. This single-tiered chocolate cake may be small, but with a leafy branch and blooms on top, it's full of personality.

20 of 22

Pair Chocolate and Vanilla

chocolate and vanilla wedding cake — Photo by Lightbulb League; Cake by Whisk Bakery

It goes without saying that chocolate and vanilla are the perfect pairing, so why not embrace it with your cake? This decadent delight combined naked layers of chocolate cake with one bright white frosted tier for a unique juxtaposition.

21 of 22

Mimic a Dessert

lamington naked cake — Courtesy of Stacy Brewer Cakes

This beautiful naked cake, decked out in berries and blooms, looks almost too good to eat. And while its beauty is striking, the flavor is just as good. Inspired by a classic lamington treat, the cake was assembled with sponge cake, an outer layer of chocolate, and decked in coconut.

22 of 22

Serve Multiple Flavors

romantic rustic chocolate cake — Courtesy of Lady in the Wild West

This design is simply beaming with rustic romance. And with a chocolate tier paired with a vanilla layer on top, it's the perfect way to offer a choice of cake flavor for your guests.

33 Delicious Alternatives to the Classic Wedding Cake