60 Uniquely Southern Wedding Cakes

January 26, 2011
Credit: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco
Simple or extravagant, wedding cakes are always showstopping. Take inspiration from these classic and modern wedding cakes to make your very own everlasting creation.
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Hand-Painted Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Wedding cakes can be simple or extravagant creations. Showcase an iconic Southern flower with a hand-painted design that feels more like a piece of stained glass than a wedding cake. Even the three-dimensional blossom on top is edible.

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Maggie Austin Cake; 202/448-2920

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Monogrammed Wedding Cake

Credit: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Go with an old Southern favorite and monogram your cake with the bride and groom's initials. Dressed in ivory and white, the look is updated by skipping a topper.

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Sweet Cakes Patisserie; 205/746-4427

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Vibrant Green Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Turn up the volume on a classic Southern flower—the spring-blossoming dogwood—by pairing it with icing in a vibrant shade of grass green. Jan Moon of Dreamcakes designed this cake with another twist: oval layers, instead of traditional round ones.

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Dreamcakes; 205/871-9377

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Sugared Anemones Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Yvette Roman Photography

Purple and white sugared anemones give the cake a modern touch.

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Vanilla Bake Shop; 310/458-6644

from the wedding of Lynh and David Wong

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"Just Peachy" Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Kate Headley

Peaches were used to decorate this three-tiered wedding cake, which was placed on an overturned peach basket.

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The Artful Cake; 301/305-3272

from the wedding of Betsy Dail and Hunter Rawley

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Wedding Cake Trio

Credit: Photo: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Skip a single, tiered cake and, instead, place smaller ones at each table for guests to cut themselves. It’s perfect for a casual affair and has an added benefit—the cakes double as beautiful centerpieces.

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Maggie Austin Cake; 202/448-2920

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Ombre Effect Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Incorporate details from your dress and bouquet into the cake, as Washington D.C. artist and pastry chef Maggie Austin did here. Tiny hydrangea blossoms sit atop layers of buttercream icing, reminiscent of a ruffled bridal gown.

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Maggie Austin Cake; 202/448-2920

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Cupcake Tower

Credit: Photo: Gemma Comas and Jim Franco

Treat guests to a luscious tower of cupcakes, where the display is as fanciful as the flavor. Try this idea at a colorful, outdoor wedding. Ask your bakery if they design cupcake pedestals, like this moss-covered one, or try making your own.

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Dreamcakes; 205-871-9377

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Toasted Meringue Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Katie Stoops

As an alternative to frosting or fondant, try covering a vanilla wedding cake with toasted Swiss meringue.

from the wedding of Keli and Nick

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Vintage Stamp Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Kate Headley

Vintage stamps were reproduced on this wedding cake, and an antique suitcase was used as a cake stand to produce a vintage feel.

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Design Cuisine; 703/979-9400

from the wedding of Alison Noelker and Chris Vinciguerra

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Five-Tier Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: A Bryan Photo

This towering five-tier wedding cake was frosted to look unpretentious, and covered in pink and white flowers.

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Jackie Brown of Gracious Goodness Cake Co.; 706/534-1374

from the wedding of Caroline Estopinal and Clark Brewer

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Blush-Colored Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: A Bryan Photo

Instead of an all-white wedding cake, try covering your cake with blush-colored peonies.

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The Cake Stand; 843/991-4446

from the wedding of Caroline Bell and Jon Stowe

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Polka-Dot Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Alisa Lynn

The polka-dots on the grosgrain ribbon inspired the dotted pattern on the cake.

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Ivy Davis of Icing Illusions; 334/395-4444

from the wedding of Hayley Todd and Charlie Sells

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Daisy Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: A Bryan Photo

Adding cascading daisies is the perfect touch for a spring wedding.

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The Royal Cakery; 504/246-2065

from the wedding of Beth Lundell and Josh Garver

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Berry Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Jen Fariello

The wedding cake, decorated with berries, was part of the reception's dessert bar.

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Hot Cakes; 434/295-6037

from the wedding of Leigh Burwell and Scott Beal

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Eight-Tier Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Liz Banfield

This wedding cake towers with eight tiers and an intricate floral motif.

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Maples Wedding Cakes; 615/867-2229

from the wedding of Beth and Graham Patterson

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Climbing Vines Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Adrienne Page

Delicate green vines climb the four-tiered wedding cake.

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Jim Smeal; 843/795-6114

from the wedding of Katie Washburn and Duston Mason

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Cultural Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Whitney Lee

A chocolate cake was decorated in gold hues to reflect the traditional cultural elements.

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Matty Cakes Austin; 512/751-3067

from the wedding of Keya Jayaram and Tom Dannenbaum

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Modern Floral Cake

Credit: Photo: Melanie Mauer

Tiny rhinestones adorn the modern floral cake.

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The Sugar Forest; 859/881-0887

from the wedding of Julie Knorr and Tony Youssefi

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Rustic Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Sharon Clark

In lieu of renting a traditional cake stand, the couple opted for a tree stump to keep with the rustic, countryside setting.

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Laura Wells of All Things Sweet

from the wedding of Katherine Baggott and Brian Hetherington

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Cupcake Tower

Credit: Photo: Michael Howard

A tiered wooden tower held chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cupcakes.

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Gigi's Cupcakes

from the wedding of Anna Krueger and Joe Thomas

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Black and White Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Kate Headley

The couple had a four-tiered black and white wedding cake and a music-themed groom's cake that the groom designed himself.

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Celebration Cakes; 703/371-3247

from the wedding of Jessica Glenn and Eric Hallstrom

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Raspberry-Filled Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

The pastry chef at The Greenbrier prepared the three-tiered cake with raspberry filling.

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Cake & Catering: The Greenbrier, greenbrier.com

from the wedding of Catherine and Greg

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Floral Confection Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

A white gum paste ranunculus and stephanotis and piped vines and leaves were used to decorate the cake. The base of each layer has a triple beaded border.

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Maples Wedding Cakes; jay@jayqualls.com

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Best Dressed Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

The bottom two layers of the cake are covered with a fondant ruffle made to look like the skirt of a wedding gown, and a lace mold was used to create the lace on the top three tiers of the cake, to mimic lace on a gown’s bodice. A Tiffany blue gum paste bow and band resembles the sash on a wedding gown.

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Maples Wedding Cakes; jay@jayqualls.com

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Vine in Bloom Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

The design of the wedding invitation was the direct inspiration for this cake with a flowering vine, hand piped on the three layers of the cake. The large sugar flower, in full bloom, adds a touch of beauty and sweetness.

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Sweet Sensations; 770/252-9117

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Pearl Perfection Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

The design of this wedding cake remains simple and not too fussy but also has an element of glamour to it. A pearl accent creates additional texture on the rest of the cake.

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Maples Wedding Cakes; jay@jayqualls.com

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Pretty Platinum Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

White pairs with the metallic gray base fondant on this cake. Using white gum paste, flower petals were softened on the edges, making the petals very thin and delicate. The petals and the base fondant were brushed with pearl luster dust that turned to a platinum look.

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Maples Wedding Cakes; jay@jayqualls.com

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Cameo Appearance Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

The design for the wedding cake was taken from the bride’s vintage style wedding gown. Each layer was encircled with a small ruffle, and the keepsake cameo was added to the sugar bow for an inherited touch, perfect for a wedding at home.

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Sweet Sensations; 770/252-9117

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Sleek and Chic Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

This tall, narrow four-tiered cake evokes a sophisticated, nighttime city wedding. Inspiration was drawn from a slipcovered chair for the circular embellishments. The brooch adds a touch of Art Deco style. It shows how simplicity can still make a big statement.

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Sweet Sensations; 770/252-9117

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Sugar Magnolia Wedding Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

The buttery yellow fondant swag, like a piece of fabric, adds an accent for the pair of sugar magnolia blossoms on this striking three-tiered cake—an elegant, perfectly Southern wedding cake.

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Sweet Sensations; 770/252-9117

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Swirled Wedding Cake