As far as wedding-related tasks go, choosing your wedding cake has to be one of the most fun. Who wouldn't be excited to taste a variety of different cake and frosting combinations, all created by an expert baker? But it's not all fun and games; you will have to make some decisions along the way.
When choosing a wedding cake, the first thing you'll need to determine is the size you’ll need to feed your guest list. In general, you can assume that only 75 to 85 percent of guests will reach for a slice of cake. Next, you'll have to choose your flavors. Do you prefer classic white cake with white frosting, or do you want something a little more unexpected? The options are as limitless as your tastebuds. Finally, it's time to select your design. If you’re planning a rustic wedding, it's only fitting that your cake should match in style.
"The rustic wedding cake movement is rather broad, from fully covered with a rustic or textured finish to totally exposed with cake icing contained only within the layers," says wedding cake baker Jo Hameister. "ForThe Cake & I,the in-betweensemi-nakedhas been the most popular. A very thin layer of icing exposing only some of the cake layers peeking through."
Meet the Expert
Jo Hameister is a wedding cake designer and artisan focused on individually handcrafting each confectionary piece. She is the owner of The Cake & I, located in Perth, Australia.
If you're looking for thematic accents, layers of textured buttercream, dried foliage, and pressed wildflowers are all great options for rustic cakes. "Fruit, especially figs and pears, are so divine," adds Hameister. Ultimately, there's no right or wrong way to decorate a rustic wedding cake—so long as you and your spouse feel it fits your vision, you're on the right path.
Below, find 30 rustic wedding cake ideas that might inspire your own dessert direction.
55 Beautiful Wedding Cake Ideas to Inspire You
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Go for Greenery
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This lightly frosted white wedding cake byThe Cake & Iwas perfect for a rustic reception. Greenery accents and a wooden barrel for display drove the aesthetic home. "I look at this cake and honestly cannot believe this was my first attempt at a naked cake," says Hameister. "It was for a 'shed' wedding on a farm, and it has been my only delivery that I've been able to reverse straight up to the cake table (wine barrel)!"
02of 35
Choose Dried Accents
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A quick and easy way to give an otherwise white wedding cake a rustic touch? Have your baker add dried elements, just like Migalha Doce did here. A variety of different natural grasses can provide so much texture and visual interest.
03of 35
Add the Right Floral Details
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Sprinkle & Dashdecorated this naked wedding cake with a swag of pastel-hued flowers and greenery, elevating the otherwise simple design. "Rustic doesn't mean badly made," explains Hameister. "The secret to a really beautiful naked cake is that it's still perfect—straight sides and top. There is nowhere to hide in a naked cake."
04of 35
Play With Pressed Flowers
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This cheerful wedding cake, created by Martis Camp, bridges the gap between rustic and romantic. Pressed greenery and flowers lend a delightfully whimsical vibe to the dessert, but the overall design still feels natural and unfussy.
05of 35
Keep It Simple and Textural
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The beauty of a rustic wedding cake often lies in its simplicity. This three-tiered, semi-naked cake didn't need any other decorations to make a statement. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to drive your rustic aesthetic home.
06of 35
Try Chalkboard Accents
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Alliance Bakerycreated this charmingly youthful birch-inspired wedding cake, then adorned it with a chalkboard monogram. While the cake itself is decidedly rustic, it's the display that really drives the vibe home—we love the idea of showcasing your own rustic cake on a swing stand.
07of 35
Get Creative With Cake Colors
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Lucky Bird Bakery used layers of chocolate cake and vanilla buttercream to create this striking three-tiered naked confection. Small, understated sprays of flowers were the only accents it needed.
08of 35
Wrap Greenery Around Tiers
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There's no rule that says rustic cakes can't be tall and statement-making. If you need to feed a crowd, a multi-tiered cake, like this one by Zingerman’s Bakehouse, can easily be accented with rustic touches to suit the overall aesthetic of your day. Greenery, delicate flowers, and dried grasses were used to subtly drive the vibe home.
09of 35
Be Bold With Color
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Naked and white wedding cakes aren't your only options for rustic desserts. If you like color, you should feel empowered to use it. Natural tones, like the terra-cotta used on this Miss Red's Catering Co. cake, work well with a rustic aesthetic and still make a statement. Sage green or a natural tan are other good options if you want something a bit more subdued.
10of 35
Mix Different Rustic Accents
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Natural details are must-haves for rustic wedding cakes. This single-tiered cake by Big Delicious Planet was decorated with pressed wildflowers and honeycomb, which added plenty of visual interest to the otherwise white treat. The secret to this dessert? Beneath the layers of white wedding cake sat a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, proving that any cake flavor works for a rustic celebration.
11of 35
When in Doubt, Go Simple
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Planning a rustic celebration doesn't mean you can't serve a traditional white wedding cake. Consider a semi-naked cake, which feels less fussy than one topped with perfectly smooth frosting, and pair it with greenery and white flowers, just as The Pink Oven did here.
12of 35
Wow With Wispy Accents
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A natural wood cake topper and dried elements were the perfect additions to this otherwise simple white wedding cake from Sweet Serendipity. Those understated accents perfectly transformed an otherwise classic cake to fit the aesthetic of the day, proving that it doesn't take much to create a thematic wedding cake.
13of 35
Consider Dried Branches
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Trip & Co. decorated this two-tiered white wedding cake with sugar-dried branches and flowers, proving that less is often more when it comes to rustic desserts.
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Add in Fruit
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Belmond Hotel Caruso's in-house caterer whipped up this simple white cake and decorated it with mini fruits and assorted greenery in a variety of muted tones, proving that rustic desserts can still feel elevated.
15of 35
Top With Texture
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Naked wedding cakes aren't the only way to get textural desserts. If you want something different, take note of this Copper Whisk Cakes treat: The design featured a subtle spread of dove gray frosting at the base of each tier to create dimension while burgundy and orange ranunculus and roses brought color to the mix.
16of 35
Choose Cupcakes
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A cupcake tower is a great option for a rustic wedding—these casual, single-serve desserts feel just right for a celebration with a laid-back aesthetic. These mini treats, which were paired with a semi-naked cutting cake, were dressed up with plenty of greenery to create an inviting dessert station.
17of 35
Layer in Greenery and Flowers
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Desserts By Deena created this floral wonder, which would look perfect at any rustic celebration. Though this treat included a variety of different pressed flowers and greenery, feel free to use any organic elements that tie into your overall wedding design—grasses, twigs, and berries are other beautiful ideas.
18of 35
Opt for Dried Flowers
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As far as dried flowers go, lunaria is one of our favorite options for a rustic celebration. Cakes for All Seasons used the silver-hued dried elements to add a rustic touch to this otherwise simple white wedding cake.
19of 35
Play With Rustic Color Palettes
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It's possible to achieve a rustic look strictly by relying on color. The proof? This cake, which was coated in pale tan buttercream and topped with a rust-colored rose, fit the vibe without relying on any other details traditionally associated with rustic celebrations.
20of 35
Don't Be Afraid of a Little Gold
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Are you planning a rustic wedding at an industrial venue? Match your cake to the theme with a cake made of semi-naked tiers accented with gold detailing, just like this one created by Luckybird Bakery.
21of 35
Try Hand-Painted Tiers
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This hand-painted cake, created byLady in the Wild West, was designed to look like the wedding's backdrop. The color palette and texture were pulled straight from the venue's landscape.
22of 35
Request Foraged Accents
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As the finishing touch on this couple's gray-blue wedding cake by Cake-aholics, their florist affixed a petite spray of foraged grasses, greenery, and berries across the front. Using natural elements local to your wedding venue is a simple way to tie the overall look of the day together.
23of 35
Opt for Edible Flowers
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Edible flowers, like pansies, make for a great rustic wedding cake decoration. This single-tiered confection was dressed up with nontoxic blooms in an array of rustic hues to match the overall aesthetic of the day.
24of 35
Pick Donuts Over Cake
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Rustic wedding cakes don't always have to be made of, well, cake. Donuts are a great alternative if you want something a bit more casual. Plus, you can use different frosting and accents to nod to your rustic aesthetic; here, The Flour Potdressed up the display with chrysanthemums in a variety of different colors.
25of 35
Consider Faux Bois
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For a rustic wedding, there's nothing more fitting than wood-inspired details. Lake Tahoe Cakes created a petite cake with a birch-inspired faux bois design, then "carved" the couple's first names into the frosting. A tree slab was the perfect substitute for a traditional cake stand.
26of 35
Pair Dark Palettes With Neutral Accents
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A black wedding cake can work for a rustic wedding, as evidenced by this single-tiered confection from Sift & Gather. Deckled edges and dried elements helped keep the cake from reading as too modern.
27of 35
Give Earth Tones a Try
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Earth tones will always fit a rustic theme, no matter how you choose to incorporate them. For this cake, created by Whippt Kitchen, the flowers were made from sugar.
28of 35
Choose Cheese
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Not a fan of cake? Choose a cake made of cheese instead. These stacked cheese wheels gave off a rustic, European vibe; greenery, thistles, and petite flowers served as the perfect subtle accents.
29of 35
Go Tall and Green
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If you start with a semi-naked wedding cake, you're already well on your way to a rustic dessert. To take it up a notch, add simple greenery, ferns, and small flowers—these natural accents fit with a rustic aesthetic without looking too polished.
30of 35
Make It Wintry
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We love the rustic elegance of this stunning Bella e Dolce cake. The exterior faux bois design was painted to match a birch tree's unique characteristics, while pine cones and a few dainty branches served as the ideal finishing touches.
31of 35
Bring in Roses
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Add some wow to a basic white cake with roses of different colors. Place them not only on the cake but around it to give the dessert table a romantic vibe.
32of 35
Level Up With Lace
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Rustic can also be elegant, especially when you add some lace. This five-tier creation has lace detailing that, while subtle, still offers a wow factor.
33of 35
Add the Unexpected
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This cake will certainly turn heads, with a structure of flowers that seem to float between the first and second tiers.
34of 35
Make It the Focal Point
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Your wedding cake is more than just a dessert—it's a work of art. Surround your cake with matching blooms, and then place it on a large pedestal table to really help it stand out.
35of 35
Complement Your Venue
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Choose a wedding cake that will pair beautifully with your venue. This naked cake instantly becomes perfect for a garden wedding when it's topped with pink blooms.
