Beach Wedding Cakes

Interested in beach wedding cakes? The surf is up! What makes a cake so by the shore? We’ve rounded up lots of ideas that we’ve included below.

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.

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!)
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. They don't even have to be real flowers, they can be made or marzipan or gumpaste.

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.

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 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.

Make sure to include your own beach wedding cakes in our comments area far below.

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 beach 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 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.

Sand – Not real sand! Many bakers use crushed crumbs (like graham crackers) or brown sugar. The base of the cake can be covered to look like 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 fondant, 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 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.

Ah...beach wedding cakes...we love them.

Remember the chocolate candy when you were a kid that looked like rocks? That's what's used on one of our favorite beach wedding cakes below. Fun!

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