25 Cupcake Wedding Cake Ideas

Multiple displays of cupcakes — Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography; Desserts by Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.

Having cake at a wedding has definitely been a long-standing tradition. But what’s a couple to do when their wedding plans are more casual and they can’t accommodate a full cake cutting? After all, this task really takes some work and careful calculation, dividing up pieces for all of your delighted guests. But cupcake wedding cakes provide the ideal alternative, avoiding the mess while still serving up a delicious, beautiful bite of cake.

Cupcake wedding cakes are the ideal option if you’re hoping to avoid all that comes with cutting a traditional wedding cake, even eliminating the need for plates and forks. Plus, they’re a fun way to set up a display that will really make a statement.

With so many options for flavors, colors, and ways to showcase these cute mini cakes, cupcake wedding cakes might just be the perfect fit for your nuptials. Read on for 19 unique ideas to get your inspiration started.

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Play With Florals

Floral cupcakes on white and gold display — Photo by Lani Ohye Photography; Desserts by Lucky Rice Cake

What a stunning display in a gorgeous color palette! This simple white-and-gold cupcake tower pairs buttercream florals with real buds for a beautiful set-up.

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Make Macarons

Macaron and cupcake tower with small cake on top — Photo by Quarter Moon Co.; Desserts by Nutmeg Cake Design

Switch things up to offer multiple options on your display. This stunning tower is the perfect size of cake for a traditional cutting, plus it's paired with macarons and cupcakes to match.

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Decorate With Flowers

Mini cupcakes on a tower — Photo by Lindsay Hackney

Don’t be afraid to bring multiple flavors into the mix if you’re choosing a cupcake wedding cake. Part of the beauty is that you won’t have to choose just one!

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Consider Buttercream

Mini cupcakes on tiers with small wedding cake — Photo by Absolutely Loved; Desserts by A Cake Life

The naked cake on top of this tower is simply stunning—especially when paired with fresh florals. That said, the buttercream-decorated cupcakes are just as swoon-worthy.

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Mix Up Glassware

Cupcakes on different plates — Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography; Desserts by Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.

Part of the beauty of offering cupcakes is bringing variety to a display. And you can even do that with your glassware and decorative items as well! We love the way this table includes multiple sizes and shapes of platters.

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Showcase a Statement Piece

Cupcakes on gold shelving — Photo by Clark Brewer Photography; Desserts by Enjoy Cupcakes and Sweet Baking Company

Switch up the typical display and go for something bold that utilizes a shelf. Take it to the next level (get it!) by serving mini cakes on coordinating gold stands.

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Ramp Up the Romance

Cupcakes with naked wedding cake — Photo by Wild Whim; Desserts by Enjoy Cupcakes

If you don’t want to choose between the traditional tiered cake and cupcakes, there's no need to. Here, this display pairs the two together in the most beautiful way, creating a dessert table decorated with florals for a cohesive look.

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Garnish With Greens

Cupcakes with greenery and small wedding cake — Photo by Femina Photo & Design

What a gorgeous display! This set-up pairs a chocolate cake with cupcakes, offering a flavor everyone will love. We love the way greenery, thistles, and small flowers tie into the rest of the reception décor.

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cakes

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Keep It Simple

Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with pink wedding cake — Photo by Mariel Hannah Photography; Desserts by Sift Dessert Bar

A cupcake wedding cake can truly be anything you want it to be. And you don’t need to go overboard with a huge display if you don’t need that many cupcakes. This simple display features a small cake with red velvet, cheesecake, and s’mores cupcakes, all surrounded by lovely greenery and florals.

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Go For Floral

Tower of floral cupcakes — Photo by Alicia Wiley Photography; Desserts by Flavor Cupcakes

This tower is an absolute dream, bringing in elements of rustic design. The icing on these cupcakes even mimics real flowers and greenery.

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Channel Rustic Chic

cupcake wedding cake with rustic tree stand — Photo by Simply Sweet Photography

This tree trunk cupcake stand is seriously beautiful, and with a small cake and several flavors of mini cupcakes, it presents something delicious for every guest to enjoy.

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Pair With Pink

Mini cupcakes on white tiers with pink rosette wedding cake — Photo by Klaire Dixius Photography; Desserts by Flavor Cupcakery

This single-tier cake is simply stunning with its pink rosettes and perfectly paired florals. We love how the cakes are left plain to let the garnishes shine en masse.

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Customize Cups

cupcakes in lace liners — Photo by The Cake Witch

Even if you’re planning to serve multiple flavors, there are plenty of ways to create a cohesive presentation. This display was put together using the same cupcake liners for every flavor for a lovely lace look.

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Think Next Level

cupcake tier with small cake surrounded by Pampas grass — Photo by Rachel Parsell Photography; Desserts by Hey There, Cupcake, Florals by 651 Studio & Floral Design

This tower is a standout, with a chic one-layer cake surrounded by decorated cupcakes. We also can’t get enough of the décor—the tall pampas grass perfectly frames the display!

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Incorporate Berries

cupcakes accented with eucalyptus — Photo by Cake by Brenna

There’s nothing better than when simple décor details come together in the most beautiful way. Case in point: these sugared blueberries and eucalyptus accents.

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Try Garden Party Chic

Tower of cupcakes with wedding cake topped with flowers — Photo by Laura Ivanova Photography; Desserts by Koei Bee Catering

These cupcakes were made for a garden party reception. With a small cake, a full display of florals, and pink-and-white cupcakes, it's just too sweet.

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Experiment With Color

Assortment of mini cupcakes in different colors — Photo by Trent Bailey Photography

What a way to make a statement! This stunning cupcake display fills up an entire table—and with plenty of pops of color (pink, yellow, and white!), it's nothing short of eye-catching.

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Serve Multiple Treats

Different cupcakes with small wedding cake on top — Photo by Especially Amy; Desserts by Le Papillon Patisserie

Create a "wow" dessert moment featuring a cake, cupcakes, and macarons. Yum!

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Make It Monochromatic

White wedding cake and cupcakes — Photo by Gabriella Santos Photography; Desserts by Baby Makes Memories

While we love experimenting with unique cupcake set-ups, there's something to be said about simplicity at its finest. This sweet white cake proves that, featuring baby's breath and white rose petals for a look that's classically elegant and beautiful.

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Complement the Cake

Assortment of cupcakes with white wedding cake — Photo by Peyton Byford

Mini cupcakes can complement the look and flavors of the wedding cake, so you can have the best of both worlds on your wedding day.

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Design a Dessert Bar

Large cupcakes with other handheld desserts — Photo by Holtz Wedding Photography

You don't need to limit your wedding desserts to only cupcakes. Offer guests an assortment of handheld treats so they can sample a selection of sweets throughout the night.

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Celebrate Your Wedding Location

Seashell-themed cupcakes — Mark van Dam/Getty Images

Your dessert is the perfect way to celebrate your wedding's theme or locale. These cupcakes are perfect for beach vows.

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Add a Topper

Cupcakes with two grooms topper — Rosanna U/Getty Images

Just because you're forgoing the traditional wedding cake doesn't mean you have to skip the topper. Find a personalized option to display on the top of your cupcake tier.

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