Getting Married This Year? Discover Which Wedding Cake Trend is Right for You

Did you know that almost 6,000 people get married every day in the United States? With all those weddings happening on a daily basis, it’s no wonder there are so many different wedding cake trends to sift through when settling on the style that’s right for you. Here’s a quick look at some of the latest wedding cake trends and an exploration of how different styles can be customized to suit couples from all walks of life. 

15 major wedding cake trends for 2025

Wedding cakes have long played a central role in nuptial celebrations around the world, with different cultures embracing unique flavors, designs and styles. In today’s tradition, a wedding cake is more than dessert, it’s a centerpiece that paints an aesthetic picture of a couple and their style. 

In 2025, wedding cakes are perhaps more customizable than ever before, with bakeries offering a wide variety of options intended to blend seamlessly into a couple’s special day. Here’s a list of 15 of the most popular wedding cake trends so far this year for couples looking to incorporate a trendy twist on an old classic into their celebration: 

1. Naked cakes
2. Minimalist buttercream cakes 
3. Vintage-inspired cakes
4. Pressed-flower cakes
5. Alternative cakes like Italian-style millefoglie and tiramisu towers
6. Narrow, table-length “long” cakes
7. Chocolate-rich wedding cakes 
8. Two-tier petite cakes
9. Metallic-accented cakes 
10. Hand-painted floral cakes
11. Heart-shaped cakes
12. Sculptural or asymmetrical tiered cakes 
13. Seasonal fruit-inspired cakes and fillings 
14. Mirror glaze cakes 
15. Cake sandwich trends (handheld cake slices with frosting in between)

Many of these trending cake styles balance bold flavors with unique appearances to deliver photo-worthy final products that will leave guests raving for months and years to come. From the delicate, vintage-inspired aesthetic of heart-shaped cakes with piped icing to the simplicity offered by naked or mirror-glazed cakes, 2025 has a wedding cake trend for everyone. 

What is the naked wedding cake trend?

It might be worth it for us to do an even deeper dive into some of the most widely-lauded wedding cake trends of 2025. One such trend is the naked wedding cake trend, which typically features a clean, unfrosted sponge cake with minimal frosting between layers or lightly spread around the perimeter. 

With Tastewise data suggesting growing consumer interest in “rustic” wedding cake styles, it’s no surprise many consumers are seeking out simplistic naked cake varieties like: 

• Vanilla cake with berry-infused frosting
• Lemon cake with mascarpone cream or lemon curd filling
• Almond cake with succulent plants or other greenery as accents

Naked cakes are a great fit for down-to-earth, nature-loving couples who want a cake that delivers on flavor with less of the pomp and circumstance attributed to more maximalist varieties.

Simple wedding cake trends

Naked cakes aren’t the only minimalist styles trending with modern consumers. Other simple wedding cake trends are appealing to an increasing segment of the wedding industry because they put the focus back on the couple rather than on an ostentatious dessert offering. Some popular examples of simple wedding cakes include: 

• Single-tier white buttercream cakes with delicate piping
• Mini cakes with smooth fondant finishes that are meant for ceremonial cutting rather than serving 
• Basic sheet cakes that are intended for consumption and not decoration 

Many simple wedding cakes emphasize function over form and are an attractive option for couples looking to avoid unnecessary expenses or aesthetic distractions during their special day.

Vintage wedding cake trend

Perhaps 2025’s biggest trend in this space was the vintage wedding cake trend. With nostalgia driving consumer behaviors like never before, it’s no surprise that vintage, romantic cakes have taken center stage at thousands of weddings this year. Some popular riffs on the vintage style trend include: 

• Heart-shaped cakes with ornate icing designs and handwriting on top 
• Lambeth-style cakes with intricate borders that harken back to Victorian-era dessert trends 
• Pastel color palettes with pearl and gold-leaf embellishments 

Unlike the simple and naked cake trends described above, these designs embrace a “more is more” attitude while offering a little slice of classic nostalgia during an aesthetic-minded celebration. 

Italian wedding cake trend

Italian desserts across the board have been making major impressions in the food and beverage space, so it’s no surprise that Italian twists on classic wedding cakes have gone increasingly mainstream. Some popular Italian wedding cake riffs include: 

• Tiramisu-inspired cakes with mascarpone cream and espresso-flavored frosting
• Limoncello-infused sponge cakes with lemon curd filling 
• Pistachio cakes that appeal to both Italian-lovers and fans of the Dubai chocolate trend

We’ve also seen a growing number of couples ditching traditional cakes in favor of individual, handheld desserts like cannolis and tiramisu trifles. All of these desserts meet the growing demand for global fusion flavors while delivering high-quality confectionery experiences that any guest would be thrilled to feature on their Instagram account. 

Long wedding cake trend

One fun emerging favorite in the wedding cake space is the “long” wedding cake trend. Building on previous “communal table” trends, this wedding cake variation is designed for banquet-style receptions and features a long, horizontal sheet cake that essentially doubles as a centerpiece. Some unique takes on the long wedding cake trend include:  

• Sheet cakes decorated meticulously with fruits and florals in the couple’s color scheme
• Multi-flavor cake “bars” that allow guests to choose their own adventure 
• Long, simple cakes topped with photos of the couple to provide an edible depiction of their love story 

This communal dessert experience offers additional room for community-building during the event and provides a beautiful backdrop for a variety of photos and social media posts. 

Sales and consumption

According to Tastewise data, social media posts about wedding cake trends have increased by roughly 7.5% in the past year. Interestingly, wedding cake consumers increasingly rank “attractive” as their top consumer need when searching for a wedding cake, which speaks to an overarching interest in aesthetically appealing foods for special occasions. 

The wedding cake market is also a global industry, with roughly 42 million marriages taking place around the world every year. That means there’s plenty of opportunities for forward-thinking bakeries and brands to capitalize on consumers’ desire for new and exciting takes on classic wedding confections. With chocolate cake trends, cake sandwich trends and birthday cake trends all showing their own signs of promise, it’s fair to say the wedding cake industry is standing on a solid foundation, making now the perfect time to experiment with new flavors and styles. 

Future trends: The 2026 outlook

The wedding cake industry is sandwiched between the past and future at any given moment. Even as consumers look for new options that feel uniquely “them,” just as many soon-to-be newlyweds are looking for dessert options that feel classic and evergreen. As a result, we can expect to see ongoing demand for nostalgic indulgences, though this may look more like traditional aesthetics coupled with bold, fusion flavors or traditional flavor combinations baked into ornate and sculptural designs. 

On a more practical level, we can also expect to see more bakeries offering gluten-free or perhaps even keto-friendly wedding cake varieties for couples and guests with specific dietary preferences. Plant-based and vegan frosting options may also add value to this longstanding market by offering consumers more equitable wedding cake experiences, regardless of their dietary needs. 

Final thoughts

The hottest wedding cake trends of 2025 highlight all the ways tradition and innovation can work together to deliver memorable culinary experiences. With fine craftsmanship, unbridled creativity and community-oriented formats, these contemporary twists on classic confections offer new ways for lovers of all tastes to enjoy a little slice of heaven. 

The best thing about wedding cake trends? They’re not going anywhere any time soon. As long as people around the world keep getting married, there will be a need for creative and delicious wedding cakes that tell a story. Brands looking to capitalize on this niche market can take advantage of a wealth of consumer data to stay on-trend and deliver delicacies that speak to the heart and spark life-long memories of connection.