Summer weddings are known for their long, golden evenings, outdoor ceremonies, and celebrations that make the most of the beautifully long days. Gardens are in full bloom, and venues are filled with natural light. The overall atmosphere feels relaxed yet undeniably romantic.
Thoughtful design, seasonal flowers, soft colour palettes, and light, refreshing flavours all contribute to a cake that feels timeless, elegant, and perfectly suited to a summer celebration.
Summer weddings offer endless inspiration for cake design, colour, and flavour. Here's how I approach creating wedding cakes for summer celebrations, and the elements couples are loving most.
Summer Wedding Cake Design Ideas
When designing a cake for a summer wedding, I'm always drawn to delicate details that blend seamlessly with an abundance of flowers.
Delicate fondant ruffles and subtle stencilled textures, or gentle movement in the design, are popular choices. The details catch the light beautifully and add interest without overpowering the cake's overall look.
Summer venues flooded with natural light really allow these details to shine. The way light plays across a finished cake can elevate the entire display.
The Best Flowers for Summer Wedding Cakes
Summer is an absolute dream when it comes to florals, and this is where wedding cakes truly come into their own.
Some of the most popular summer wedding flowers I work with include:
Roses, Lavender, Sweet peas, Stocks, Hydrangea, Cosmos
These flowers lend themselves beautifully to sugar and wafer paper work, allowing the cake to echo the florals used throughout the day. Peonies, while always breathtaking, have a short season in early summer, making them an excellent choice for couples marrying at the very start of the season.
Whether you choose flowers cascading down the tiers or opt for more minimalist arrangements, summer flowers always add romance and movement that feel completely effortless.
Summer Wedding Cake Colours: From Soft Pastels to Brighter Shades
One of the joys of summer weddings is the freedom around colour. Unlike winter celebrations, where deeper tones often take centre stage, summer allows for a much broader palette.
From soft pastels to brighter shades, almost anything works beautifully. Blush pinks, soft blues, gentle lilacs, buttery yellows, and fresh greens are ever-popular choices. Even stronger colours can feel perfectly at home when balanced with elegant design and floral details.
The Best Wedding Cake Flavours for Summer Weddings
When temperatures rise, couples often gravitate towards more light, refreshing flavours, cakes that feel indulgent but not heavy.
Some of the most popular summer wedding cake flavours include:
Any Lemon-based sponges
Classic vanilla
Cookies and cream
Cherry Bakewell
A particular favourite of mine, and a newer addition to my menu, is lemon and raspberry. It proved incredibly popular at a recent wedding show and is ideal for summer celebrations: fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced.
Image credit: Tony Hart photo