35 One-Tier Wedding Cakes Perfect for Small Celebrations (2024)

ByBlythe Copeland

Clear Winners

Acrylic stands filled with florals displayed three unique white cakes at a backyard garden wedding.

Pretty Peonies

At an intimate Denver wedding, fresh peonies topped a pretty buttercream-iced carrot cake that was made from a family recipe.

A Tongue-in-Cheek Topper

Buttercream flowers and gold flecks wrap the sides of this one-tier cake, while a topper reading “Friggin’ Finally” adds a cheeky accent.

Flavorful Trio

Choosing to display three individual cakes allowed a couple to offer treats in three distinct flavors, including almond, chocolate, and blood-orange.

Red Alert

Vibrant red flowers provide a dose of bright color against a small, semi-naked wedding cake.

Top With Sugar

Don't want to add to your floral budget? This single-tiered design was topped with a lush bouquet of flowers—all made with sugar.

Lovely Leaves

Want a design that is simple and sweet? Take note of this smooth white cake, which was decorated with tiny pressed wildflowers and leaves. The cake even coordinated with the printed linens.

Something Blue

At a coastal microwedding, a single-tier, semi-naked vanilla rum cake was topped with bold blue flowers and emerald leaves for a colorful pop.

Pressed to Impress

One-tier cakes won’t stop your baker from including intricate decorations, like the fresh-pressed flowers set by hand on this honeycomb-topped confection.

Branching Out

Give a single-tier cake more height and width with an architectural adornment, like the cherry blossom branch on this watercolor cake.

Garden-Inspired Sweet

A small garland of fresh flowers and understated texturing add visual interest to this cream and genoise cake from a Portugal celebration.

Fruit Forward

Textured buttercream and abundance of fresh berries, vines, figs, and flowers make this cake well-suited for an outdoor wedding.

Three of a Kind

A trio of single-tier cakes in different flavors were displayed on individual stands and surrounded by cheerful yellow florals at a bayside Alabama wedding.

Neutral Territory

A semi-naked Funfetti cake on a simple wooden stand was decorated with white and terracotta flowers to complement a wedding's earth-toned aesthetic.

Dog Day

Opting for a single-tier cake allows you to choose a cake shape that wouldn’t easily stack. Take note of this wedding bundt cake, which was decorated with a custom topper of the brides’ dogs at their Texas nuptials.

Center Stage

A frosted cake surrounded by blush-toned florals serves as a pretty centerpiece for a colorful cupcake display.

Name Plate

This simple, semi-naked cake gets a boost of personality from vibrant flowers, a blue cake stand, and a shimmering topper with the couples' names.

Petal Pusher

At a minimalist outdoor wedding, a single-tier cake decorated with edible flowers was a rustic after-dinner delight.

Fruit-Topped Treat

A small cake with carefully piped filling complements a more traditional single-tier frosted cake at a New Orleans wedding's dessert table.

Bold Black

While you might think a black cake has no place at a wedding reception, this bold frosting color creates a super-chic contrast against fresh flowers or vines.

Marbled Magic

Green and black marbling on this small chocolate-truffle cutting cake stood out against white linens and an industrial venue at a San Francisco celebration.

Big Blooms

An oversized white flower and vibrant green leaves complement this cake’s green drip icing topper.

Going Green

Vivid greens and fresh succulents give this one-tier cake a nature-inspired aesthetic.

Chic Chocolate

Adding a single-tier, semi-naked chocolate cake to your wedding day dessert spread allows you to satisfy every type of sweet tooth.

Square Deal

A meringue and berry cake drizzled with frosting is an unexpectedly modern single-tier dessert option.

Leveling Up

Make a memorable presentation of your single-tiered cakes by draping them with oversized flowers and securing the confections on raised stands.

Seasonal Hues

A beautiful burnt orange cake topped with autumnal blooms is perfect for a fall wedding.

Pretty in Pink

Add rosy and citrus-hued blooms to a semi-naked cake to create a punchy accent at a summer reception.

Simple and Elegant

Asymmetrical grasses placed on top of this smooth white cake were a subtle callout to a wedding's Wyoming ranch venue.

Put a Ring on It

A homemade one-tier spice cake dripping with simple icing gets a dose of sparkle from silver adornments, two rings, and a glittering "Mrs. and Mrs." topper.

Filled With Love

Gold leaf accents, heart-shaped macarons, and light pink fondant combine to create a sweet treat that’s all about love. This design is perfect for a Valentine's Day wedding.

Sage Advice

On a scallop-edged cake, gold leaf and antique-toned blooms stand out against sage green frosting for a bohemian vibe.

Flowing Flowers

Pastel flowers and draping blooms are organic accents atop this semi-naked olive-oil cake with vegan buttercream.

Sweet Sprinkles

A single-tier confetti cake decorated with chocolate sprinkles puts a fun and festive twist on traditional wedding cake at a glamorous Baltimore wedding.

Packed With Petals

At a wedding in the Dutch countryside, a petite, single-tier cake made a big impact when presented on a tiered stand with purple hydrangea petals.