25 Over-the-Top Wedding Cakes We Can't Get Enough Of

haylie bradley wedding louisiana white chocolate chiffon cake
Photo: A Bryan Photo

These confections are—quite literally—larger than life.

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haylie bradley wedding louisiana white chocolate chiffon cake
A Bryan Photo

There are so many ways to make a major statement on your wedding day, but one of our favorite details to go all out on is the wedding cake. We have a feeling that you agree, since we're seeing more and more lavish confections at celebrations these days. While many couples still opt for a rustic naked cake or a small cake just for the ceremonial slicing—coupled with a large dessert buffet, of course—there's something to be said for going grand. As for the details that go into these next-level treats? Think multiple tiers with intricate details, like fondant appliqués, edible metallic foil, cascading florals, and buttercream frosting featuring ruffles or intricate texturing.

From hand-painted details and sugar flowers to gilded accents and towering layers, there are several ways to go big without sacrificing elegance, as evidenced by the wedding cakes on the following slides. Ahead, you'll find a number of larger-than-life confections from real events. Whether it's through ornate decorations or just sheer size, these cakes were over-the-top in the best way possible. Just take this jaw-dropping six-foot-tall white-chocolate chiffon cake by Melissa's Fine Pastries—and, yes, it's all edible!—for example. It certainly made guests stop and stare.

While you may choose a smaller-scale cake for your own big day (especially if your guest list is on the smaller side), you can still ask your baker to include some of these high-impact elements—we are particularly fond of one of the ahead confection's statement tier that is an easy (and eye-catching!) addition to any big day dessert. Another option? Bookmark one of these cakes for your baker to reinterpret in their own way.

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Wide

large white wedding cake
Oliver Fly Photography

While we're used to seeing tall, over-the-top cakes, this five-tier treat from Elena Pensini wowed due to the width (not height!) of its tiers.

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Completely Floral

wedding cake with fresh flowers
Brocato Photography

Ask your baker and florist to work together to create a bloom-covered masterpiece like this one. Pure Cake Nola created this three-tier, while Kim Starr Wise handled the garden rose arrangements that covered the base and the spaces between each section.

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Monet

floral wedding cake
KT Merry

For this Monet-themed wedding, the Biltmore crafted this flower-covered six-tier—it looked like it was pulled right out of one of the artist's paintings.

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Towering

large white wedding cake
Jennifer Lindberg Weddings

Simon Lee Bakery created this massive 12-tier cake. White sugar flowers cascaded down each side of the confection.

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Regal Design

lily-jonathan-wedding-california-65650009-s112482.jpg
Jose Villa

This couple had Sweet and Saucy Shop decorate their white, four-tiered wedding cake with their monogram—the confection was inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake.

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Lace Overlay

eyelet lace overlay wedding cake
Boswick Photography

Along with gold accents, Petal Dust Cakery also infused vintage elements like a lace design and muted sugar flowers onto this navy blue creation.

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Focal Point

large wedding cake with ruffles
Greer Gattuso

Guests eyes were drawn to this Melissa's Fine Pastries confection, which was situated at the front of the reception space. It's clear why: The cake consisted of six tiers covered in white ruffled icing.

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Ruffled

four-tiered cake with sugar flowers and buttercream
Anna Peters

Lilac Cake Boutique created this textured confection by using icing to mimic peeling sheets of thin paper. The two middle tiers featured a muted, watercolor painting. To top it all off, the team crafted the a life-like sugar flowers that jutted out from different portions of the dessert.

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Pink

large pink wedding cake with flowers
Zosia Zacharia

Although this Thirty One Cakes confection had a big presence thanks to its six tiers, its blush colorway, along with its fresh flowers, softened the look.

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Statement Tier

wedding cake
Brittany Mahood

Each section of this Jenna Rae Cakes design was its own work of art—but it was the gilded tier in the middle that really caught our eye.

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Silver Printed

large wedding cake with printed tiers
Mychelle LeVan Photography

This towering confection by Sinfully Sweet Cake Design stood six tiers high. As for its details? The pros printed silver roses directly onto the cake, then asked Always Floral to accent the design with a mix of orange-and-white blooms.

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Gold and Marble

large wedding cake with gold and white tiers
Caroline Tran Photography

Everything about this dessert, which was covered in gold fondant and a subtle marble pattern, screamed luxury.

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Bright Additions

wedding cake with fresh flowers
love is my favorite color

Bold floral installations from A Very Beloved Bloom not only added a natural touch to this four-tier by Demel, but also a vibrant pop of color.

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Bed of Flowers

large wedding cake on floral base
Michael Carr Photography

Plants n' Petals ensured this large white-and-peach-accented confection by Susie's Cakes & Confections had an equally extravagant display. That's why they covered this table in garden roses and plenty of greenery.

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Gold

wedding cakes statement tier
Charla Storey Photography

We're loving the gold micro-tiers that were featured in this regal treat by Sugar Bee Sweets. The metallic color referenced the other gilded moments that graced the different parts of the dessert.

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Bride's Own

jamie and michael wedding cake
Sally Pinera

This creative bride drew up her own vision for her big-day confection. It included bas-relief detailing, golden snakes, and butterflies. Grace and Honey Cakes were the pros who brought her design to life.

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Sculpture

ashley samantha wedding cornwall ny cake
Corbin Gurkin

To nod to this wedding's sculpture garden venue, Madison Lee's Cakes sponged color onto fondant to make it appear as if the confection was chiseled from stone.

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Waves

kaitlin dan wedding cake
KT Merry

Midori Bakery created this epic, white seven-tier by overlapping layers of ripped fondant to mimic the waves at this wedding's waterfront location.

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A Royal Cake

mmallory-diego-wedding-texas-white-cake-087-s112628.jpg
Mustard Seed Photography

This all-white cake, by Simon Lee Bakery, was modeled after Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake. It consisted of five tall layers, featuring the couple's monogram front and center and unique fondant appliqués on each layer.

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Simple Elements

black wedding cake with floral details
Rebecca Yale Photography

Although this Superfine Bakery dessert used a small amount of hand painted details and fresh flowers, its large size still gave off an extravagant vibe.

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Trailing Vines

large white wedding cake
Jose Villa

Fresh green vines wound their way up this substantial five-tier cake by Perfect Endings.

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Gold Etched Cake

ginny-andrew-wedding-cake-0731-s112676-0216.jpg
Erich McVey

This couple cut into a five-tiered lemon and lavender cake from Edith Meyer Cakes and saved the top tier for their anniversary. The cake itself featured five golden-etched tiers decorated with fruits like pears and grapes, and it was topped off with a gold crown.

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Emerald

emerald and gold cake
Kelli Durham

A shimmering gold vine helped support this Shelby Elizabeth Cakes treat and provided a stunning color complement to the confection's deep emerald hue.

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Royal

large blue and coral wedding cake with crest detail
Roberta Facchini

If we didn't know any better, we would have thought this Elizabeth's Cake Emporium cake was seen at a royal wedding. With its stature, official crest, and intricate designs, it would look right at home in Buckingham Palace.

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