24 Colorful Wedding Cakes That Are Almost Too Pretty to Eat

A pop of color never tasted so sweet.

Updated 12/03/19

Photo by Charla Storey Photography; Cake by Layered Bake Shop

You’ve got it all figured out—the perfect wedding dress, the best venue, the prettiest flowers, even the place cards you’ll be using on your big day. But sometimes, the last thing you think about when planning your wedding is what kind of wedding cake you want. The choices can be overwhelming, to say the least. Sure, you could go for a classic white buttercream, maybe with some fresh florals. But what if you don't consider yourself a traditional bride? What if you don't want something that's so completely classic? In that case, these colorful wedding cakes will be right up your alley.

While you could forgo the cake altogether and serve a different kind of dessert—pies perhaps?—if you consider yourself both an untraditional bride and you still want a cake, an easy way to modernize the white, tiered, tried-and-true dessert is to make a simple switch. Just add color. Nonwhite wedding cakes can bring a ton of personality and fun to your reception. Plus, they look ahh-maze-ing in wedding photos.

Colorful wedding cakes can come in the form of something bold (we love a deep charcoal—not for the faint of heart) or something more subtle (a pretty pastel). Chocoholic brides can opt for a chocolate buttercream or fondant. And you can even incorporate a nonwhite pattern (such as a pretty and modern marbled base) into your post-wedding dessert for an unexpected use of hues.

A delicious advantage of colorful wedding cakes? These anything but vanilla, big-day desserts allow for you and your baker to create a confection that's truly you. After all, you're already injecting your and your fiancé(e)'s personalities into so many aspects of your big day, so why not your cake as well? If summer is your favorite season or you're throwing a destination wedding, choose a tropical hue for your colorful wedding cake to match your style and wedding theme. If you consider yourself to bear modern sensibilities, an edgy black wedding cake will fit your personal style to a tee. See? There's a nonwhite wedding cake out there for every bride.

A pop of color has never tasted so sweet. Here are some of our favorite examples of colorful wedding cakes.

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Add an Accent Tier

We love the pretty mauve hue of the two top tiers of this colorful wedding cake. And the hand-painted florals on the bottom tier is the perfect finishing touch.

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Birds of a Feather

Blue Cake — Photo by A Heart String Wedding Co.

This blue-hued wedding cake with flamingo toppers is fitting for a summertime soirée.

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A Chocoholic's Dream

Chocolate lovers, rejoice. This rich chocolate cake is even topped with dripping ganache—and plenty of pretty flowers, of course.

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Pretty in Pink Frills

With ombré mauve buttercream and a topping of figs and posies, this three-tiered confection is the very definition of "too pretty to eat."

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Feminine Florals

Black Four-Tiered Wedding Cake with Flowers — Photo by Stewart Uy Photography; Cake by Vanilla Bake Shop

The modern black backdrop of this wedding cake makes the feminine floral print really stand out.

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Watercolor

This three-tiered confection is iced with multiple shades of pink vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream to create a watercolor finish.

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Simply Sweet

Wedding Cake and Cupcakes — Photo by Mariel Hannah Photography

With a blush buttercream and a sprinkling of lavender on top, this single-tiered confection is sweet and simple.

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Something Blue

With four mouthwatering tiers and accenting blooms, this dusty blue wedding cake will add a pop of color to your reception.

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Summertime Citrus

Tropical lemon wedding cake — Photo by A Heart String Wedding Co.; Cake by Nine Cakes

With lemon and chocolate layers, buttercream icing with a color-wash finish, and a cascade of fresh citrus, this colorful wedding cake totes some seriously tropical vibes.

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Oh-So Sweet

Colorful Two-Tiered Wedding Cake — Photo by Red Anchor Photo; Cake by Beverly's Bakery; Florals by Three Petals Design

We love options and this loaded dessert cart certainly has plenty of them. The standout though is definitely that pretty, peach wedding cake.

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A Chic Rusty Hue

Rust colored wedding cake — Photo by Charla Storey Photography

This stunning shade of rusty red could fit any wedding season, from summer bashes to winter "I dos."

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Refined Dusty Tones

Photo by Breanna White Photography; Cake by Flour & Flourish

This two-tiered confection boasts a vibe of refined romance.

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Written in the Stars

Constellation Cake — Photo by Orange Photographie; Cake by Whipped

This wedding cake mimics a romantic night sky, thanks to the moody dark hue and constellation-like frosting.

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Pop of Blue

This beautiful blue hue is rich and unexpectedly romantic. Plus, it will totally pop in photos.

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Moody Marbling

mini marble cake — Photo by Ari Simphukham

Two moody shades—emerald green and a wash of near-black—come together on this single-tiered confection.

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Tile Printed Perfection

Printed cake — Photo by Josh and Dana Fernandez; Cake by Buttercup; Florals by Bramble and Bee; Planning & Design by Belle of the Ball

If you're marrying in a locale with unique architectural details like tiled floors and artisanal touches, consider recreating that look on the cake in a colorful tint.

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Pink Blooms

Pink Cake — Photo by Gianluca Adovasio; Cake by Alexandra’s Cakes

Perfect for a summer wedding or bridal shower, this colorful wedding cake is looking pretty in pink.

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A Wash of Pale Blue

Don't want to stray too far away from the traditional white wedding cake? Try a sheer wash of color, like this pale blue hue.

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Show Your Sensual Side

Fig Cake — Photo by Gabrielle Desmarchais Photography; Planning & Styling by Le Cœur Bohème; Florals by Hellébore Créations Florales

We can't decide what we love more: This cake's cool shape, the decorative figs, or this frosting's sexy hue.

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Tropical Paradise

Photo by Alexandria Monette; Cake by Elise Cakes

Saying your "I dos" in a far-flung locale? With coral watercolor frosting and palm fronds, this wedding cake simply screams "destination wedding."

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Cerulean Pop

Photo by Lucas Rossi Photography; Cake by Frost It Cakery

We're obsessed with the unexpected hexagonal shape of this colorful wedding cake.

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Let Your Inner Rainbow Show

rainbow wedding cake — Photo by Towards the Moon; Cake by Oh Goodness Cakes

For a sweet surprise, you can keep the colors muted on the outside of your wedding cake, but go bold and bright inside. After tying the knot, brides Chelsey and Alyssa cut into their wedding cake, revealing a rainbow of hues.

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Metallic Brushstrokes

Modern Three-Tiered Multicolored Wedding Cake — Photo by Allen Tsai Photography

Purple is the color of royalty and, with gold finishings, this confection certainly looks the regal part.

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Go Glam With Gold

A metallic gold finish is the perfect option for a bride hungry for a colorful—yet glamorous—wedding cake.