You probably spend hours researching bakeries and tasking cakes to find the perfect confection for your wedding. Something as special as your wedding cake serves its moment in the spotlight, which is why couples put more emphasis on the cake table decor.
Whether you’re planning a courthouse wedding in Los Angeles, CA, celebrating in a local hotel, or getting married in your own backyard, a few special touches will put the cake on center stage. From accessories to table decorations, here is how to decorate a cake table for a wedding and make it an unforgettable and stunning part of the event design.
Change Your Definition of “Table”
When planning your wedding cake display, you don’t have to use a regular table covered with a cloth. You can draw attention to the cake by putting it on a unique surface that matches the style and theme of the day. Use a vintage metallic bar cart as a cake table when you want to add some sophistication and glamour to the decor, or choose an antique side table for a romantic and nostalgic setting.
If you’re going for a rustic look, consider using a wooden ladder as a cake table. Placing boards across the rungs gives you several levels to work with, so you can add additional decor or desserts while still keeping the cake as a focal point.
Whatever surface you select for your cake table, match accessories like the stand and serving pieces for a cohesive look. Discuss cake stand options with your baker and work together to find one that matches the overall aesthetic of your wedding.
Personalize the Display
No event is more personal than a wedding, and if you’re wondering how to decorate a cake table for a wedding, you can’t go wrong when you add personal and unique elements. From custom, personalized cake toppers to family heirlooms and keepsakes, there are plenty of ways to add these special touches to the cake display.
One idea showing up in the wedding trends of 2024 is arranging photographs of the couple’s parents, grandparents, or other family members cutting their wedding cakes. It’s a lovely way to acknowledge tradition and include older generations in the celebration.
Think Small
Another wedding trend this year is the inclusion of all things mini in the wedding reception. From appetizers served in adorable mini containers to pint-sized floral arrangements, couples are opting for scaled-down elements to add a charming touch to their celebrations.
In terms of how to decorate a cake table for a wedding, this miniature trend can mean serving several smaller cakes in different flavors or arranging smaller desserts, like cake pops, cookies, and mini cupcakes around the cake. The cake table layout should emphasize the primary cake, but placing miniature desserts on tiered stands or trays creates a beautiful focal point.
Focus on the Background
Putting your wedding cake on a table in front of a beautiful backdrop also helps turn it into a decor focal point and captures guests’ attention. Consider putting the cake in front of one of the venue’s unique architectural details, like an archway or a pretty window, which will highlight the cake’s design and details — and enhance photos.
If the venue doesn’t have any good options, get creative with the cake backdrop. Placing it on a mirrored tabletop or putting an ornate mirror behind the display can give the table design more depth and add a glamorous touch. Mirrors also reflect light, which can draw attention to the table and provide different views of the cake.
Play With the Lighting
Speaking of lighting for cake tables, you don’t want to overlook this critical detail. You want everyone to see the cake you so lovingly selected, right?
Candles are always a romantic choice for lighting your wedding cake display; choose battery-operated candles for safety. You have limitless options for bathing the cake table in golden candlelight, from flickering tea lights and classic candlesticks to dramatic candelabras.
Other lighting options to consider include twinkle lights, neon signs, and lighted letters or words that highlight the cake and add a personalized element to the table.
Add Greenery and Flowers
If you want to know how to decorate a cake table for a wedding with maximum impact without breaking the budget, you can’t go wrong with natural elements like flowers, vines, and leaves. Whether you choose a minimalist approach with small arrangements of delicate blooms or surround the cake with lush foliage, adding greenery and natural elements can tie the entire table display together.
When adding flowers to a wedding cake display, choose blooms that match your wedding color palette and incorporate elements of your bouquet and table decorations to ensure a cohesive look. Try draping garlands around the table (weave twinkly lights through the leaves or branches for an attention-getting statement), and allow them to spill over the sides to tie the display together and create a stunning focal point.
Play Up Your Theme
If your wedding has a theme, let that guide the cake table decor. Bowls of shells or candles nestled into hurricane lamps or vases filled with sand reflect your beach theme. Displaying your cake on a wooden pedestal and surrounding it with greenery and moss brings woodland flat to the reception site.
Whatever your theme, you can add cake table accessories and decorative items that provide a cohesive look and carry the theme through every element.
Explore More Ideas for Your Dream Wedding
If you’re planning a wedding and need more ideas about how to decorate a cake table for a wedding, want customized wedding cake ideas, and need advice on making your city hall or courthouse wedding as romantic as possible, even on a budget, check out the resources on City Hall Weddings. We help couples plan weddings all over the country, offering advice, information, and tips so you can plan your perfect wedding without stress.
For more insights and creative ideas, read our blog, or get in touch with us directly for more assistance. Let us assist you.