35 Two-Tiered Wedding Cake Ideas

Two-Tier Watercolor Wedding Cake With Painted Florals — Photo by Sarah Folsom Photography

While the celebratory cake cutting is a time-honored wedding tradition that many newlyweds follow, serving a decked-out confection is also an opportunity to make a jaw-dropping statement and indulge in a sugary delicacy on your big night. If this type of sweet treat is your wedding dessert of choice, you’ll need to select one that suits your soirée—in terms of the aesthetic and the size. In addition to deciding on the color palette, type of frosting, and stunning decorations you’ll include, it’s pivotal that your confection accommodates the number of guests who have RSVPed “yes”—so everyone gets a slice, but so there aren’t heaps leftover, either.

If you’re throwing an intimate affair with a smaller guest list or you’re supplementing your wedding cake with additional sweets, a multi-tiered confection will certainly be a showstopper, but it might go to waste. And while a single-tiered cake might work for a smaller-scale event, a two-tiered design offers a bit more flexibility. Depending on the height and width of each layer, a two-tiered wedding cake can serve anywhere from 20 to 50 guests. With two stacked cakes, you can also embrace the tradition of saving the top tier for your first wedding anniversary, while having enough to feed your group.

Another perk of a two-tiered wedding cake? It has more surface area than a one-tiered cake, so you can showcase awe-inspiring designs. But it has less space than a multi-tiered cake, so the moderate height won't obscure the level of detail. With a two-layer confection, you can flaunt so many gorgeous garnishes, from hand-painted flowers and architectural butterflies to pressed blooms and multicolored fringe. Or you can skip the decorations and exhibit a no-frills, all-white cake. The base itself offers plenty of room for customizations, such as adjusting the shape and size of each tier, opting for a textured or colored background, or varying the types of frosting. For an original display, each tier can even sport a completely different design.

Ready to find a striking two-tiered wedding cake for your celebration? Whether it’s a simple, two-layer cake design or a statement-making, colorful one, here are 35 ideas to inspire you.

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Serve a Heart-Shaped Confection

Small 2 Tier White Wedding Cake With Black Ribbons With White Roses Underneath — Photo by Simply Adri

For a vintage-inspired confection that has a romantic feel, consider a heart-shaped wedding cake. The all-white design, decorated with Lambeth piping, will nod to the 18th century and offer a blank canvas for additional garnishes to shine. Take, for example, this couple who had their heart-shaped design by Nicole Bakes Cakes adorned with black ribbons for a delicate touch at their modern nuptials in California.

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Settle on a Watercolor Base

Two-Tier Wedding Cake With Watercolor Base and Hand-Painted Floral Design — Photo by Sarah Folsom Photography

The color of each tier can help you make an impression, and watercolor backdrops are one of the most vibrant and visually intriguing. Opting for a colorful base is all you need to make a statement, but you also have the option of including details. Even though embellished designs thrive on neutral backdrops, a light watercolor background, such as this pink-and-blue medley by Flour and Bloom Cakes at this lush affair in wine country, will actually bring the features to life.

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Increase the Number of Cakes

Three colorful, two-tier wedding cakes on wooden table decorated with flowers — Photo by Shannon Moffit

If you’re throwing a larger event with more mouths to feed, you can always serve multiple two-tiered wedding cakes, rather than exhibit a towering confection with several elaborate layers. With a handful of smaller cakes, you have the opportunity to showcase a variety of different designs—varying the hues, shapes, sizes, and trimmings—which a tall, single cake doesn’t provide. At this sherbet-colored soirée in Virginia, the couple chose a trio of sweets by Cakes by Rachel: a taller confection with colorful mountain ridges in the middle, flanked by two smaller desserts with color-blocked pastels.

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Evoke Vibrancy

Two-tier cake with shag-inspired bottom tier in pink, purple, yellow, and orange, and a watercolor pink top tier with florals and dried foliage on top — Photo by Hannah Baldwin Photography

Looking for a two-tiered wedding cake that’s fun and playful? Take cues from this vivacious creation by Sarah McCook, which appeared at a disco-inspired fête in Maryland. While the bottom tier flaunted a coat of technicolor fringe, the top layer revealed a watercolor design that was topped with fresh flowers and dried palm leaves. While the decorative elements were aesthetically alluring, the shades of purple, pink, orange, yellow really stole the show.

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Integrate a Custom Topper

wedding cake with topper — Photo by Larisa Shorina

To give your two-tiered wedding cake a personalized feel, adorn it with a custom cake topper. A miniature replica of you and your spouse dressed in your wedding attire, such as the iteration at this glamorous Brooklyn affair, is a sentimental addition. Make sure to choose an all-white cake design, like this confection by Buttermilk Bakeshop, so your topper is the guaranteed focal point.

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Feature Ferns

Two Tier Whit Wedding Cake With Fern And Purple, White, and Yellow Flower Patterns Displayed on a Bed of Moss and Silver Cake Stand — Photo by Jenn Emerling

Weddings with botanical aesthetics or organic settings call for an all-natural cake. Freshen up your two-layer design with pressed ferns and edible wildflowers, situated on top of a bed of moss—this couple’s were even hand-picked from a family friend’s garden for their woodland celebration in California. The living greenery and interesting textures will help you create a cohesive event.

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Separate Each Tier With Piping

Two Tier White Wedding Cake with Flower Details — Photo by Corbin Gurkin

The surface area of each layer gives you plenty of space for designs, but you can also add texture and detail in between each tier. Adding piped buttercream around the base of each cake will emphasize the distinctive layers and disrupt a consistent design. A collection of fresh flowers, such as the autumnal blooms by Moon Canyon at this western-chic bash on a Wyoming ranch, will also accomplish this.

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Select a Monochromatic Design

Two Tier White Wedding Cake With Cascade of White Flowers — Photo by St. Chelle

An all-white cake will look simple and sophisticated on display at any wedding. If you want to spotlight textured additions, consider a monochromatic design. These intentionally placed sugar flowers by Sheila Mae at this fashion-forward California wedding gave an otherwise classic look an elevated, structural feel.

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Elevate a Blank Canvas

classic white wedding cake with red florals — Photo by Mashaida

Instead of working with just one shade of color, you can always opt for all-white fondant, paired with eye-catching decorations. One example is this classic confection by The Butter End, which was trimmed with foliage in fiery red, delicate pink, and moody black hues. The rich shades juxtaposed with the airy tiers resulted in an effortless-yet-bold look at the couple's modern nuptials in California.

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Coordinate With the Setting

Two-tier turquoise beach wedding cake — PHOTO BY NICHOLE LIVINGSTON

If you're saying "I do" on the coast, channel the setting into your two-tiered wedding cake design. Set against a sea blue hue, piped buttercream and beaded accents in various shades of blue and white will mimic the movement of the waves crashing against the shore. Top it off with seashells and coral, like this confection by Huckleberry Bakery, and voilà.

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Show Off Splashy Shades

Two-tier colorful wedding cake — PHOTO BY NICOLE DONNELLY PHOTOGRAPHY

Buttercream detailing doesn't have to be all florals. Opt for a slender two-tiered cake, and command attention with a splash of color on both tiers. This iteration by Nicole Bakes Cakes exhibits brushstroke designs in orange and pink that give a flat surface dimension. Go all out with a cut flowers in the corner.

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Display Painted Flowers

Blue two-tier cake with buttercream flowers — Photo by Sean Cook Weddings

Hand-painted florals are one of our favorite ways to elevate a two-tiered wedding cake, especially for spring nuptials and garden venues. This two-layer confection in baby blue by Sweet Heather Anne provides the perfect foundation for vibrant buttercream flowers to command attention.

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Include 3D Facets

Two-Tiered White Wedding Cake with Butterfly Details — Photo by For the Love of It

This structural composition proves that a two-tiered wedding cake with a clean, minimalist background is anything but boring. At their dinosaur-inspired bash in California, this duo wanted 3D butterflies to cascade down each tier and "fly" from the top tier, a concept that Roobina’s Cake Inc. beautifully executed. In fact, the inspiration for the elegant insects came from the bride's wedding dress.

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Welcome a Tropical Flair

Rebecca and Kieran's two-tier white cake topped with anthurium — Photo by Lilly Red

If your wedding has a certain aesthetic, embellishing your cake with complementary details will help create a coordinated, intentional affair. For example, at a tropical soirée, like this island affair in Jamaica, exotic blooms and tiers wrapped in tiki straw will channel the theme, evidenced by Piece of Cake's creation here.

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Combine Distinctive Shapes

two tiered cake in different shapes and with sugar flowers — Photo by Olivia Marshall Photography

Want a two-tiered wedding cake design that stands apart from the rest? Combine multiple shapes. With a square tier on the bottom and a round tier on top, this designed dessert by Samantha Mayfair Cakes is truly one of a kind. With intricate sugar florals, it's the perfect choice for al fresco celebrations.

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Adopt a Naked Look

two-tier naked cake with fresh flowers and grasses — Photo by Kayla Mendez Photography

Sometimes, an unfussy design is in order. A naked two-tiered wedding cake perfectly matches the pared-back feel of a rustic affair. Not to mention, the semi-exposed exterior allows add-ons to take up space, such as the cluster of roses and grasses on this edible masterpiece by Exquisite Desserts—which made an appearance at a midcentury modern gathering in California.

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Emphasize Height

two tiered Swan Princess-inspired white cake — Photo by Beige Weddings

Working with two tiers doesn't mean you have to scale back on height: This design by Cake by Nicole is proof that tall two-tiered wedding cakes are possible—and very impactful. With asymmetrical ruffled designs, this Swan Lake princess-inspired confection embraces innocence and elegance.

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Trim With Gold Foil

marbled two tier cake with matching flowers — Courtesy of Belsize Cakes

For glamorous functions in upscale settings, adding gold foil to your two-tiered wedding cake will elevate the glitz and glamour. While the shiny metallic detailing can work as an accent hue, it can also be the main moment—the shiny accents on this cake by Belsize Cakes stood out against muted shades of gray-blue marble and matching blooms.

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Adorn It With Fresh Flowers

Two-tier white wedding cake with purple flowers — PHOTO BY LAURA GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY

Hydrangeas are the quintessential summer flower, so consider planting a few on your two-layer cake for warm-weather nuptials. The spherical bulbs of textured blossoms will enrich a buttercream cake, such as this one by Roaring Gap Club. With buttercream pearls and a wood cake stand, your post-dinner sugar fix will elicit rustic charm.

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Embrace Texture

White two tiered cake with sugar petals — PHOTO BY AMY ANAIZ

Take a white wedding cake up a notch with whimsical, artistic embellishments. Despite its single-hued exterior, this two-tiered treat by BCakeNY was brimming with texture, thanks to a wash of wispy sugar petals. Decorate your cake table with multi-petal flowers to accentuate this effect.

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Choose a Buttercream Palette Painting

Two-tier buttercream palette cake — PHOTO BY BON PHOTAGE

This two-tiered wedding cake by Cake Envy is certainly innovative with its off-balance shape. However, the palette-knife artistry and soft hues are the details that make it a masterpiece. These buttercream-painted elements radiate soft romance, ideal for relaxed bohemian nuptials.

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Consider Chocolate

Two-tier chocolate wedding cake drizzled with chocolate and florals — Photo by Rachel Rowland Photography

To avoid making a mess and staining you and your guests' outfits, you might be hesitant to serve an all-chocolate wedding cake. But we're here to tell you that this decadent flavor can definitely work for your wedding. With chocolate frosting and chocolate drop, this two-tiered treat by Mediterra Bake House is eye-catching and mouthwatering.

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Showcase Pressed Petals

two tiered cake with pressed flowers — Photo by Serenity Film and Pictures and Hannah Adams Photography

Filled with vitality and elegance, pressed flowers are a beautiful choice for your two-tiered wedding cake décor. To pull off this concept, choose a handful of your favorite blooms and enlist a professional to cover each layer in the compact foliage, such as the above design by Blushing Cook. We love this look for outdoor nuptials in a garden or meadow.

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Vary the Width

Pink two tiered cake with pink flowers — Courtesy of PRETTY LITTLE CAKES

The width of both tiers doesn't need to have the exact same measurement. In fact, varied sizes will create a more unique, interesting design. This cake by Pretty Little Cakes includes a layer that's wide and short, whereas the top tier is tall and thin. And the pink tones and bunny tails infuse a touch of romance and softness.

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Focus on Detailing

Two-tier burgundy cake with floral details — Photo by Agnes Lopez

With a two-tiered wedding cake, ornate details will have a much stronger effect than those that appear on multi-tiered cakes. The intricate hand-painted floral design that covers this purple cake by Samantha Mayfair Cakes makes the treat a true show-stopper. The handmade sugar flowers certainly sweeten the deal, too.

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Incorporate Multiple Sweets

cake with macarons on top — Photo by Christy Wilson Photography

Some couples settle on a two-tiered wedding cake as a supplement to a larger dessert spread, but why not combine the two? Consider opting for cake on the bottom and a pastel-hued tower of macarons on top. Guests will marvel at the originality of the design and the ability to savor different types of treats.

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Infuse a Nostalgic Touch

Two-tier wedding cake with mini donuts on bottom tier — PHOTO BY CLAY AUSTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Another variation of the above idea is engulfing one of your tiers in a different sweet. For instance, dousing the bottom layer in doughnuts will look aesthetically pleasing and appeal to your palate. Plus, these pastries will separate the two tiers in a playful, nostalgic way.

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Try Two Different Tones

Two-tier white and yellow wedding cake — Courtesy of Soul Cake

With a duo of tiers, you have twice as many options for colors and designs. This sugar-laden item by Soul Cake brings a bright pop of sunny yellow into the mix, paired with a more subtle white tier, for a lovely spring or summer look.

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Set a Bold Statement With Black

Two-tier black detailed wedding cake — PHOTO BY GARNET DAHLIA

There are very few designs that can make more of an impact than a black wedding cake. But this two-tiered stunner by Floretta Sweet goes even farther, incorporating intricate detailing, figs, and florals. This is the perfect choice for a moody wedding with a gothic aesthetic.

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Keep It Simple

white two tiered cake with flowers — PHOTO BY HENRY + MAC

Keeping your design simple is chic and timeless. The sleek, smooth look of this two-tiered white cake by Cakes for all Seasons is effortlessly elegant. If there's another element on your cake design that you want to appoint as the focus, such as these delicate flowers or velvet linens, a classic cake is your best bet.

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Create Interest With Citrus

Two-tier white wedding cake with blood oranges — PHOTO BY JENN EMERLING WEDDINGS

Planning a summer soirée? Citrus is an apt accent for your wedding dessert. Consider choosing a white two-tiered cake paired with slices of blood oranges, such as this one by A Spoonful of Sugar, for a display that's full of energy and color. You can even heighten the effect by selecting a blood orange filling.

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Go for an Organic Look

Two-tier wedding cake with pressed flowers — PHOTO BY JENNA POWERS PHOTOGRAPHY

Use a simple, two-layer cake design to underscore organic embellishments for nature-focused nuptials. This confection, for example, captures the liveliness, growth, and hope of spring with a variety of blossoms and greenery across each layer.

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Opt for Square Tiers

Two-tier square white wedding cake — PHOTO BY KRISTEN BEINKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Embrace a modern vibe with a two-tier wedding cake that incorporates sharp right angles and sleek lines. Stacking two square shapes on top of one another will create a contemporary feel. With the addition of buttercream detailing, fresh florals, and a wooden cake stand, this confection by Frost It Cakery creates a refined-meets-rustic look.

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Add a Chocolate Drip

Two-tier wedding cake with chocolate drip — PHOTO BY MOLLY PEACH

Adding a drip of caramel, white chocolate, or chocolate ganache introduces a visually appealing element to any two-tier wedding cake design. If you want the sweet add-on to stand out, opt for a white base. And for botanical or desert fêtes, pair yours with succulents, like this artistic piece by Copper Whisk Cakes.

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Make It Moody

Two-tier purple two tiered cake — PHOTO BY BREANNA WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

Who says a two-tiered cake can't show off plenty of design elements? This cake by Flour & Flourish demonstrates that a smaller surface area doesn't limit the number and types of decorations you can feature—the rich purple hue, moody florals, and shiny beads all work together to compose a work of art.

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