10 Vegan Wedding Cake Ideas That Will Make Any Wedding Sweeter

Looking to celebrate your marriage with a vegan wedding cake? To better understand vegan wedding cakes and vegan wedding desserts you may consider integrating into your vegan wedding menu, we spoke with Cara Pitts, Co-Founder of Southern Roots Vegan Bakery, Allia Ortiz, Manager at Valhalla Bakery, Amaris Garcia, head cake artist at Glamaris Cakes, and Saloni Mehra, pastry chef at the all-vegan Millennium Restaurant. These wedding cake experts shared some tips for finding the best vegan wedding bakers to best meet your dessert dreams and some vegan wedding cake ideas.

What Makes a Wedding Cake Vegan?

The main thing that makes vegan wedding cakes different from non-vegan wedding cakes is their ingredients. According to Ortiz, "a wedding cake is considered vegan when it doesn't have any animal products in it; this means no eggs, no butter, no milk, no honey and no refined sugar (as this requires a bone char filter to achieve that clear white color)." Pitts notes that "instead, vegan wedding cakes may use substitutes such as plant-based milk, such as almond or soy milk, vegetable oil or vegan butter and egg replacers, such as applesauce or mashed bananas, to achieve the same texture and consistency as traditional wedding cakes."

Furthermore, when it comes to their decoration, "vegan wedding cakes can be decorated using vegan frostings, such as whipped coconut cream, vegan buttercream, or a combination of vegan cream cheese and powdered sugar. Additionally, many vegan wedding cake bakers use natural food colorings and decorations made from edible flowers, fresh fruit, or nuts to create beautiful and unique designs."

Tips for Finding Vegan Wedding Bakers

Finding a vegan wedding baker to bring your dream vegan wedding cake to life may be a tricky process. However, Pitts provided us with some expert tips on finding the best vendor for your needs.

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Search Online

One of the best ways to find a vegan wedding baker is to do your research. Pitts suggests looking "for vegan bakeries in your local area or those that offer shipping options for delivery. Check out their websites, reviews and social media accounts to get a better understanding of their style, pricing and menu options."

Check with Local Vegan or Vegetarian Associations

Pitts also suggests reaching out to local vegetarian and vegan associations for recommendations as they often have lists of vegan-friendly vendors. The Knot Marketplace is another helpful resource for finding niche vendors as well.

Ask for Referrals

One of the best ways to find a vegan baker for your wedding is via word-of-mouth recommendations. Pitts says that "​​if you know other vegans or individuals who have had vegan weddings, ask them for referrals. They may have worked with a vegan wedding baker in the past or know of one that comes highly recommended."

Attend Vegan Events

One tip that may seem obvious, but is often overlooked is to attend vegan events. Pitts recommends "attending local vegan events such as vegan food festivals or farmer's markets to meet vegan wedding bakers in person. It can be a great way to sample their products, ask questions and get a better sense of their style and approach."

Schedule Tastings

It is not advised to move forward with a vegan baker until you have met in person and have tasted their work. Pitts suggests that "once you have a shortlist of potential vegan wedding bakers, schedule tastings with them to sample their products and discuss your vision for your wedding cake."

Vegan Cake Flavors

When it comes to vegan cake options and flavors, they "aren't limited to a certain group or type of flavor. The possibilities are endless! A vegan cake flavor can be anything that you want it to be. With an evolving world of readily available plant-based foods & vegan options, there are no limits on what can and can't be made vegan. It just means that the cake is free of animal products!, says Garcia. "However, it's always important to find a professional who has experience with vegan baking, to ensure the best experience possible." Although there are a plethora of vegan cake flavors that can be created for your wedding, Mehra says that at more intimate weddings, "couples tend to be more adventurous with flavors and garnishes." Here are some flavors that our experts said are the most common when it comes to vegan wedding cakes.

Vegan Vanilla Cake

Vegan vanilla cake is a popular flavor for wedding cakes as it "is versatile and can be paired with a variety of frostings and fillings," says Pitts.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

If you're wanting a vegan chocolate cake at your wedding, you can expect there to be lots of cocoa powder involved.

Vegan Lemon Cake

Vegan lemon wedding cakes are commonly made with lemon juice and lemon zest according to Ortiz. Pitts adds that lemon cake is a great option for spring and summer weddings with its refreshing and tangy flavor.

Vegan Red Velvet Cake

Made with what Ortiz refers to as "a little bit of cocoa powder, coffee, vinegar and a whole lot of red," vegan red velvet cake is one of the most common flavors for weddings.

Vegan Wedding Cake Ideas

Now that you knot the ins and outs of vegan wedding cakes, it's time to get inspired. We've gathered ten amazing vegan wedding cake ideas to guide you on your wedding dessert journey.

1. White Semi Naked Combo Cake with Fresh Floral

Photography: Allia Ortiz,Baker: Alex Field,Decorator: Allia Ortiz (Valhalla Bakery)

Fresh flowers are a go-to option for decorating any cake but work especially well on naked and semi-naked cakes. Place them towards one side of your cake for a more eye-catching look.

2. Lavender Wedding Cake With a Horizontal Texture

Photography: Allia Ortiz,Baker: Alex Field,Decorator: Allia Ortiz (Valhalla Bakery)

It's not every day that you see a lavender-frosted wedding cake. Enhance your vegan vanilla cake cake by adding some horizontal lines to the frosting for a more textured look. Sprinkle some edible gold leaf for an additional pop of color.

3. Vegan Chocolate Cake With Ganache Drip

Photography: Allia Ortiz,Baker: Alex Field,Decorator: Allia Ortiz (Valhalla Bakery)

If a stylish wedding cake is what you seek, use ganache, icing, or caramel to create a drip that will give your cake a chic look no matter the season. If you're having an outdoor wedding reception, you can cascade some fresh fruit down the cake's layers for a different aesthetic.

4. Square Three Tier Wedding Cake

Photography: Glamaris Cakes,Baker: Glamaris Cakes,Decorator: Amaris Garcia

Instead of the traditional round tiers, you can opt for a square-shaped cake with alternating square tiers for a more modern look. Its faux flowers make for sophisticated accent pieces and stand out beautifully against the vanilla buttercream.

5. German Chocolate Cake With Dried Flowers

Photography: Eve Rox Photography,Baker: Baby Love Sweetery

If you're looking to honor your African roots, this vegan toasted-coconut and German chocolate cake was inspired by an African sunset. If you're wanting to add something extra to your cake display, dried flowers are a wonderful option and complement its vibrant color scheme.

6. White Wedding Cake With a Personalized Topper

Photography: With Love & Embers,Baker: Vegan Treats Bakery

If you want to keep things simple and opt for a white cake, you can still make it your own with a cake topper unique to you. Whether it's a cutout image of you and your partner or one with your last name, it's an excellent way to add some dimension to a classic cake.

7. Autumn-Inspired Wedding Cake

Photography: Glamaris Cakes,Baker: Glamaris Cakes,Decorator: Amaris Garcia

If you're having an Autumn wedding, consider adding an Autumn-inspired floral arrangement to your wedding cake. Not only are the flowers visually appealing, but with a color palette of burgundy, orange and yellow, they will pop against any white cake.

8. Three-Tier Vegan Red Velvet Wedding Cake with Roses

Photography: Southern Roots Vegan Bakery,Baker: Marcus Pitts,Decorator: Cara Pitts

Add roses to each layer for a cake that's romantic and lovely. Complement this cake made for chocolate lovers with generous layers of vegan vanilla buttercream frosting to create a more balanced cake.

9. Simple Vegan Carrot Cake Idea

Derk's Works

Not only was this carrot cake vegan, but it was also gluten-free to accommodate the couple's dietary restrictions. Working with a skilled bakery is the best way to ensure your cake is both delicious and works with the dietary needs of all your loved ones.

10. Three-Tier Vegan Wedding Cake With Vegan Buttercream

Photography: Love is Wild Photography

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Catering: Culinary Productions Inc.

Vegan wedding cakes can still be rich and decadent. This three-tier bake, with l​​ayers of coconut, lemon and strawberry cake, was encased in creamy vegan buttercream.