Beach Wedding Cake Topper

Getting married on or near the beach? Then consider a beach wedding cake topper. It would be the perfect complement to your beach wedding cake.  

Sea Shells – beaded periwinkle, Florida cone, and maculated ear moon are some of the most prettiest sea shells for decoration. Pieces of coral is also another great choice. Shells can be real, or can be made from a variety of icing, confections or chocolate. They can be used subtly or as the main design of the cake. The starfish wedding cake topper is probably the most common. See our seashell cake topper page for ideas.

Marine Wild Life – Use enchanting sea creatures: anemones, turtles, tropical fish, sea lions, jellyfish, sea stars, dolphins, whales, or sea horses. We did a wedding in Monterey a few years ago, the reception was at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, which is right next door to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The entire wedding party visited the aquarium the day before the wedding – it was the perfect inspiration for the theme of the cake. The cake designer subtly incorporated some of the sea creatures next door into the dessert. The topper was a pearly clam with jewels and pearls pouring out of it and down the side of the tiers. (not real pearls, but fondant balls covered with pearl dust!)  We love this beach wedding cake topper.

The Surf – Cascading waves trimming around the cake, most perfect for those who surf! Does not need to be puffy foaming waves, just subtle. Can be white, possibly with some blue. Incorporating some blue by airbrushing gives a real nice effect. Add in a surf or paddle board, and you’re set. 

Tropical Flowers – Hibiscus, cymbidiums, tuberose, or any of your tropical favorites. They can be used as a topper, cascade down the side, used sparingly throughout, completely cover the cake, or used just on the base. Wherever placed, they will dress up the most plain and dull cake – and make it instantly gorgeous. This is the most common of the beach theme wedding cake toppers that we've seen. See our flower cake toppers section for more ideas.

Sandcastle – Sandcastles on wedding cakes, are usually used as a toppers. But, we have seen entire cakes shaped like castles, or at least the top half of the cake shaped like a castle. Sprinkle with some graham cracker crumbs and they’ll be instantly sandy. See our castle cake topper page for some style inspiration. 

Palms and Coconuts – To remind you of your beautiful location, how about a subtle design of palm leaves circling the outside cake? A few coconuts as garnish? A cake topper oasis? There’s so many to choose from!

Buried Treasure – The beach wedding cake topper could be a treasure chest with gold coins and jewels pouring out of it and cascading down the side. If you’re in love with Pirates, make figurine cake toppers of bride and groom…one as Captain Jack Sparrow, and a fair maiden. Elizabeth Swan.

Bamboo and Tiki – Coat the outside of layers with bits of bamboo. Incorporate Tiki masks. We once attended a luau wedding and the cake had miniature tiki torches sticking out of the cake at an angle. When the bride and groom cut the cake, tribal drums were playing in the background.

Ocean Activity - Snorkeling, diving, boogie boarding, kayaking, whatever you fancy. A bride and groom figurines fishing for wedding rings off of a pier? This would be easiest to incorporate into a cake topper, but don’t forget figurines can be anywhere on the cake!

Sea birds – In flight, in love, necks forming a heart. Best as a beach wedding cake topper, but can be incorporated throughout the cake tastefully.

Lighthouse – Is your wedding near a really cool lighthouse? We’ve seen a lot of lighthouse cake toppers, but we also had a client who did the entire cake as a lighthouse. Another client had the two bottom layers of the cake as tiered rounds, and the top half of the cake was molded into a lighthouse and its surrounding area. A very cool beach wedding cake topper.

Sand – Not real sand! Many bakers use crushed crumbs (like graham crackers) or brown sugar. The base of the cake can be covered with “sand”, or the top of each exposed layer…or the entire cake! Our favorite, is when a pile of “sand” is formed at the base, and something is written in it, i.e. “Charlie and Beth Forever”, or “CV + BE 9/12/08”. You get the picture.

Go Nautical – Anchors, ropes, bouys, wooden docks, life preserver rings, etc. These can be made from marzipan, subtly sprinkled around the cake or used as a cake topper.

Relaxation – Our absolute favorite is 2 Adirondack chairs as the cake topper, with 2 pairs of flip flops beneath them. Figurines can be used or not. A hammock or lounge chair can also be used. One of our other favorites was a figurine bride and groom snoozing in a large hammock as the cake topper.

Swimming Pool – A top layer of the beach wedding cake made to look like an endless pool - with bride and groom’s heads sticking out of pool or floating on floaties with cocktails, shades and sun hats. A lip can be cut off the top of the cake to simulate an endless pool. If you’re getting married at a resort with an endless pool, the cake can be designed to simulate it.

Hawaiian - How about leis as a beach wedding cake topper? Hula bride enticing the groom as the cake top? Wrap the cake with a sarong, with beach umbrellas as the cake top?

Just want to use beach themed colors? Stick with blue, tan, off-white and white. Blue can be subtle, as the color of the frosting, or air brushed for a blended or accented look.

You can also tie in your beach wedding cake’s decor to your beach wedding dress, or another aspect of your coastal wedding.

Remember the chocolate candy when you were a kid that looked like rocks? That's what's used on the cake below. Any beach wedding cake topper is fun!