The best show-stopping alternatives to traditional wedding cake

The multi-tiered wedding cake has come a long way since its inception under the reign of King Charles II, when a French chef created the one we know today. Then reserved for the grandeur of royal events, it has now become a centrepiece staple to worldwide wedding celebrations - and an industry worth millions. 

The symbolic stacking of bread, cakes and pies hung around for centuries, with baked goods historically being broken over the bride's head to ensure prosperity, fertility and a blessed marriage. 

Fortunately, cakes and breads are no longer broken over anybody's head. In fact, the traditional white wedding cake, which went mainstream following the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 when sugar became cheaper, no longer reigns supreme when it comes to wedding table-top glory. 

From platters of biscotti and brownies to cheese-wheels and pork pie rotundas - brides and grooms are increasingly opting for wedding cake alternatives. Here's a selection of the best ideas below.

Best alternative wedding cakes

Macaron ‘cake’

Macarons are a timeless dessert that manage to posh up any affair. Not only is it a delicate option, but with so many colours and flavours to choose from, you can play with the display of them to make it a part of the wedding decor. 7Marvels does both towers (from £85) and heart-shaped designs (£65). 

Cupcake column

A cupcake tower almost feels like too obvious an answer, but there’s a reason this alternative is so popular. It allows you the freedom of customisation similar to any wedding cake while having the ease of not being one massive tiered sponge that requires constant cutting. Flavourtown Bakery, which you may have come across in all the popular bridal magazines, offers bespoke wedding cupcake towers. 

‘Cheese’ cake

According to the British Cheese Board, stacked wheels of cheese have been a popular alternative to the wedding cake for about a decade. If you don’t have a sweet tooth and the thought of sharing a floral sponge cake with buttercream filling makes you cringe then this may be the option for you. 

Collection of croquembouche

A dizzying tower of French profiterole desserts held together with caramel, this is an alternative wedding cake that retains the height and wow factor of the traditional three tiers of icing. Madonna had one created by patissier Eric Lanlard at her wedding to Guy Ritchie.

‘Naked’ cake

It’s pretty simple really: your typical layered sponge cake but without the icing. Pile with fresh fruit and edible flowers to make for the perfect rustic-looking dessert for the big day. Fondant and Fox has made it in numerous different ways and prices them by the portion. 

Beautiful biscuits

Pack a tower with homemade - or bakery fresh - cookies of any and every kind or simply present them as part of a table setting. The simple chocolate chip cookie works wonders, as does the more sophisticated shortbread or cantuccini. But, if you're wanting to go that extra mile Honeywell Biscuit Co creates bespoke designs. 

Chocolate tower

You might need to keep this out of reach of the kids if you want it to last, but a chocolate tower is sure to add a little excitement to an already festive day. You could even add some fruit into the mix. Edible Bloom offers beautifully designed chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Work Of Art cakes

Desperately unique, but in the best of ways. Abstract art inspired cakes are piquing the interest of quirky couples looking for something out of the box to have on offer on their big day. Nevie-Pie Cakes makes a hand-painted option that's hard to say no to and still keeps some of that tiered cake design we're accustomed to. 

Doughnut display 

Sugared doughnuts are an essential desert at the flashiest weddings. “It’s an easy way to say ‘We don’t take ourselves too seriously’,” says celebrity wedding planner Mark Niemierko. Ruby The Cake Artist makes beautiful floral vegan and regular doughnuts that look just as fancy as a traditional wedding cake. 

Gingerbread works of art

Wow guests by replicating a place that means a lot to you out of gingerbread. Maid of Gingerbread can create the most intricately designed masterpieces like this one of the Palace of Versailles. 

DIY cake mix

If nobody does it better than you can, then why not get some cake mix and get to creating. Otherwise pop a fancy mix in the gift bags and your guests can think of you as they make their own wedding cakes at home. Lele’s does a vegan gluten-free cake mix so everyone can get in on the fun.

This article is kept updated with the latest advice.