34 Beach Wedding Cake Ideas for Your Seaside Soirée

Two-tiered blue wedding cake decorated with natural sea elements — Photo by Nichole Livingston; Cake by Huckleberry Bakery

Between the white, sandy beaches, blue-hued waters, and beautiful color palette options, beach weddings can easily be some of the dreamiest celebrations for nuptials. Beach wedding details don’t always need to include seashells and beach chairs, though. Rather than going over the top with classic nautical elements, there’s beauty in focusing your decor on the location, colors, and level of formality you’re planning for your wedding. That same concept can certainly apply when deciding on your beach wedding cake.

“Wedding cakes have changed so much that while they are a part of the event, they can also take inspiration from the overall design without being kitschy,” says Janderyn Makris, owner of Earth and Sugar. “The word 'coastal' can take on many life forms when it comes to design, but I always encourage couples to take their style with a more careful approach so the overall design is more curated than literal.”

Meet the Expert

Janderyn Makris is the owner and cake artist behind Earth and Sugar, a custom cake studio based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

According to Makris, many couples love the idea of sticking with aqua tones and cream colors. In addition, Makris loves to work with muted blues, grays, and soft neutrals to evoke a more modern feeling. The addition of simple greenery, palm leaves, or lovely florals can also add a beautiful touch to your coastal dessert.

When choosing a cake design for your beach wedding, think about your event's tone and aesthetic. Incorporate bright hues and cute elements for a casual beach party; for a more formal style, opt for subtler, natural elements like oyster shells, sand dollars, and artistic crashing waves.

Ready to get your beach wedding planning started? Read on for 28 cakes to inspire your seaside design.

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Focus on the Theme

Three-tiered white wedding cake decorated with a palm leaf and miniature pineapple — Photo by Lauren Fair Photography; Cake by Nosara Dulce; Florals by Stylos & Flores

Accomplish a “clean and simple” look by pairing a white wedding cake with tropical leaves and a mini pineapple. Even better: Accent it with a tropical fruit filling, such as passionfruit, pineapple, or coconut, as this couple did at their wedding in Costa Rica.

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Mimic Beach Waves

Wedding cake decorated with ocean wave details made from sugar — Photo by Amanda Crean; Cake by Jasmine Rae Cakes

This is the most incredible representation of ocean waves—and guess what? It's made completely out of sugar. For a more contemporary celebration, choose a modern cake design to complement your overall style.

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Show Off Sea-Inspired Surprises

Four-tiered white wedding cake decorated with seashells, starfish, sand dollars, and pearls — Courtesy of Earth and Sugar

Yes, incorporating seashells and starfish into a cake can be absolutely beautiful. You just have to find the right color palette! Here, whites and neutrals present a stunning design that doesn't make too big of a splash.

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Look to Leaves

Two-tiered white wedding cake decorated with pink flowers and neutral leaves — Photo by Julie Livingston Photography; Cake by Jim Smeal

Why not add a bit of contrast to your color palette? This seaside confection makes a subtle statement without incorporating too many colors. The neutral leaf detailing paired with a pop of color from a small cascading floral display makes for a beautiful balance.

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Elevate With Orchids

One-tiered semi-naked cake decorated with white orchids — Photo by Kama Catch Me; Cake by Gitte Laulau Kama

This cake gives off some serious tropical vibes. At the base, a rustic, semi-naked cake provides the perfect structure for a bold display of orchids and foliage on top.

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Bring In Blue Hues

One-tiered white wedding cake with a blue ombre sculptural decoration — Courtesy of Venus Kwan Cake

Doesn’t this cake design just make you want to dance among the waves? The wispy design of this single-tiered cake is awe-inspiring. We love the palette of blue hues against a clean, white canvas.

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Channel the Tropics

Two-tiered, semi-naked chocolate wedding cake topped with blackberries and decorated with mini flamingos — Photo by Gillian LeBrun; Cake by Enjoy Cupcakes

Talk about a fun way to celebrate warm weather and sunny skies! This semi-naked chocolate cake incorporates fresh blackberries for a stunning look, while a few cute flamingos take it to the beach in the most beautiful way.

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Go Monochromatic

Four-tiered white wedding cake with textured frosting, decorated with white peace lilies — Photo by Norman & Blake; Cake by Angela Michel

This cake definitely has an island feel, with buttercream ruffles to set the tone. Topped with cascading florals from a peace lily, this design is a simple way to celebrate the tropics.

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Incorporate All the Colors

Two-tiered square wedding cake with hand-painted palm leaves on the base, decorated with brightly colored flowers — Photo by Charla Storey; Cake by Shannon Star

Welcome to the tropics! This cake showcases fun pops of color without going too overboard. The hand-painted palm leaf detailing is simply stunning, especially when paired with a cascade of punchy florals.

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Set the Base

Three-tiered white wedding cake subtly decorated with sugar flowers and greenery — Photo by Kate Osborn Photography; Cake by Flour & Flourish

Sometimes, simple and chic go a long way. On this cake, we love how the bright buttercream tiers make a statement without adding color. The two modest sugar flowers are a perfect option for a beach wedding, but this design could easily be adapted to fit any style.

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Create Cascading Blooms

Five-tiered geometric wedding cake decorated with cascading neutral florals — Photo by Lindsay Vann Photography; Cake by Autumn Nomad

Just because it’s a beach wedding doesn’t mean florals can’t be the star of the show. This multi-tiered confection does just that, utilizing neutral tones in such a gorgeous way for an unexpected beach theme.

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Showcase Simple Seashells

One-tiered white wedding cake with textured frosting, topped with mussel shells — Photo by Fortuna Photography; Cake by Totally Charmed Parties

What a charming way to incorporate seashells from the seashore! The texture of this buttercream cake makes an ideal canvas for a simple display of blue-hued mussel shells.

For a nod to the beach that's not tacky, utilize natural elements in your cake design. An all-white cake topped with cleaned seashells, sand dollars, or even sea glass can make a beautiful statement.

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Look to Your Surroundings

Four-tiered hexagonal white wedding cake with hand painted blue florals and cascading flower decoration — Photo by Alex Bramall, Lucy Burkhead; Cake by Madison Lee's Cakes

For a delicate display of modern simplicity, consider a hexagonal cake with intricate detailing. This cake is stunning—we especially love how the hand-painted blue hues match the sprawling florals, which are paired with elegant greenery.

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Decorate With Succulents

Five-tiered white wedding cake decorated with succulents and seashells — Courtesy of Earth and Sugar

This is a beach wedding color palette we don’t see very often, and we’re definitely here for it. With the tiniest shells, starfish, and succulents, the detailing on this cake is absolutely incredible.

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Create Texture

Three-tiered sand-colored wedding cake with textured frosting design, decorated with neutral florals and figs — Photo by Joey & Jase; Cake by Marina Machado Cakes

The beach is all about sand, so why not replicate that in your design? This cake is the perfect example of a neutral color palette that is anything but boring. Plus, the texture is absolutely dreamy.

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Embrace Seaside Elegance

Three-tiered white wedding cake with a blue watercolor base and gold-painted coral decoration — Photo by Mandy Ford Photography; Cake by Incredible Edibles Bakery

A metallic touch can elevate any cake design. Here, a touch of gold-painted coral does just that, adding a dainty touch of the sea to the watercolor-washed bottom tier.

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Get Inspired by the Ocean

Looking for a beautiful way to incorporate traditional beach details into a wedding cake without making it look kitschy? Check out this cake, which features cascading wave details with the tiniest bit of sand and metallic detailing.

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Consider a Semi-Naked Style

Three-tiered semi-naked wedding cake decorated with white flowers and greenery — Photo by Heather Waraksa; Cake by Sugar Sugar Custom Cakes

There’s nothing more classic than a semi-naked cake decked out in florals. Thanks to its neutral base and flowers, this cake is definitely ready for a beach party.

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Add Blue Accents

Four-tiered white wedding cake with turquoise seashell, starfish, and seahorse decor — Courtesy of Earth and Sugar

Even the smallest seaside details can pull off a beachy look. The simplicity of this white-frosted cake with light turquoise seashells nails that vibe.

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Go Asymmetrical

Three-tiered, asymmetrical white wedding cake decorated with white flowers and pearls — Photo by Heather Waraksa; Cake by The Cloister at Sea Island

Want to make a statement with palm leaves? Look to this three-tiered cake, which features pearled details alongside an asymmetrical display and bold backdrop, for inspiration.

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Choose a Playful Topper

One-tiered white wedding cake with gold flamingo cake toppers — Photo by Everence Photography; Cake by Hometown Desserts

Don't forget the power of a special cake topper! And what's more perfect for a beach wedding than a pair of flamingos?! Consider a metallic hue if pink isn't in your color palette.

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Mix In a Metallic Tier

Four-tiered wedding cake decorated with palm leaves, gold accents, and fresh flowers — Courtesy of Earth and Sugar

Add a glam note to a tropical wedding by pairing palm leaves with a metallic touch. Shown here, the result is a taste of the tropics, but in the most modern way.

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Make a Statement

Three-tiered white wedding cake decorated with a single palm leaf and peach-colored flower — Courtesy of Ashley Cakes

This sophisticated look shows how one tall statement leaf can go such a long way. Set against an incredibly smooth three-tiered cake, it's the perfect example of less is more.

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Affix Tropical Blooms

Two-tiered white wedding cake decorated with pink peace lilies — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography; Cake by Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Pink peace lily flowers are also known as flamingo flowers. What could be a more perfect bloom to incorporate into a tropical cake than that?

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Wow With Waves

Three-tiered blue watercolor wedding cake with white chocolate drip and fresh flower accents — Photo by Mari Sabra Photography; Cake by Cake Bar

We’re obsessed with how this design pairs beautiful blues with boho vibes. The watercolor details make the tiers look just like waves, while the decadent white chocolate drip completes the design.

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Select a Simple Design

Four-tiered white wedding cake with palm leaf icing design — Photo by Allan Zepeda Photography

For a simple and classic look, stick with the basics for your beach wedding cake. This four-tiered white cake's understated palm leaf icing design was the perfect tropical addition that complemented the couple's color palette perfectly.

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Mix Gold and Greenery

Two-tiered white wedding cake with greenery and gold flecks — Photo by Paige Jones; Cake by Paulina Cevedo

For this couple's boho beach wedding in Cabo, the brides opted for a semi-naked cake with adornments of gold flecks and simple greenery. The subtle metallic touch was the perfect contrast with the otherwise organic design.

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Stay Neutral

Three-tiered neutral wedding cake with textured layers and floral icing design — Photo by Valorie Darling; Cake by The Buttered End

To mimic the pure, white sands of Laguna Beach at their seaside nuptials, this couple opted for a neutral cake with tons of texture. The wave-like design of each tier is reminiscent of the waves of the ocean, while the monochromatic floral adornments add a touch of whimsy.

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Pick a Pastel

Two tier pink wedding cake with florals and pampas grass — Photo by Beatrice Howell

A spring or summer wedding is the perfect time for pastels. This two-tier pink wedding cake, wrapped with multi-colored flowers, is almost too pretty to eat.

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Introduce Some Yellow

Three-tier white wedding cake with white and yellow flowers — Photo by Thanasis Kaiafas

Yellow is a bright and cheery color for a beach wedding and can easily be incorporated into your cake through fresh flowers. Mix and match them with complementary colors.

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Go Glam

Seven-tier white wedding flowers with cascading flowers and floral base — Photo by Elizabeth Austin Photography

A beach wedding doesn't have to be casual. In fact, you can go full-on glam for your reception. Check out this seven-tier (!) confection with cascading fresh flowers and a lush floral base.

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Keep It Small and Sweet

Single tier semi-naked cake with neutral flowers — Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography

If you plan on serving an assortment of desserts, you might want to opt for a single-tier wedding cake. This semi-naked creation, topped with neutral blooms, is simple but still stunning.

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Mix and Match Shapes

Four-tier white wedding cake with round and square tiers and blue stenciling — Photo by Twah Dougherty

Bring your beach wedding cake to the next level by mixing and matching shapes. This four-tier white cake boasts round bottom tiers, while square tiers top things off. The blue stenciling adds a feminine touch.

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Add Delicate Details

Multi-tiered pink wedding cake with small roses and monogram — Photo by Kaity Brawley

While fresh flowers are beyond beautiful, delicate roses made with fondant can also be a showstopper. This cake is a true trifecta: pink frosting, small florals, and a monogram.

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