FOOD + DRINK
First it was naked wedding cakes with pared back detailing. Then it was hexagonal masterpieces with marbled icing … and now, wedding cakes have gone from being barely iced to decadently decorated. For 2026, vintage wedding cakes are in vogue – they’ re the cakes the‘ cool couples’ are asking for, and they’ re as beautiful as they are edible.
From Bridgerton-inspired blues to city-sleek monochrome, these cakes are popping up all over our social media feeds – and for good reason. They look great on camera( hello adorable cake-cutting shot), are a talking piece and if you’ re after a vintage aesthetic they’ re the perfect partner.
Fancy a slice of the action yourselves? Kent Wedding Awards Cake Designer of the Year 2026, Miranda from The Pretty Petal Cake Co., gives the lowdown on how to marry vintage and contemporary cake styles...
Couples have been leaning back into nostalgia
As with most things, styles have a habit of coming back around— especially the ones that were loved the first time. Vintage, Lambeth-style wedding cakes date back to 19th-century England, where beautifully detailed piping and decorative flourishes were a real celebration of skill, luxury and the ultimate special occasion. For a while, everything shifted towards very clean, modern, minimalist cakes, but recently couples have been leaning back into nostalgia. They want something romantic, traditional with a modern twist and that’ s where these vintage styles can really shine. Traditionally, these cakes were made using royal icing, but now we can recreate the same look using sugarpaste which gives a flawless, precise and stable finish that holds its shape beautifully, even in warmer venues or during long wedding days, so couples can relax and just enjoy it.
Ask for traditional piping and your cake designer will know what you mean!
I’ ve created several over the last year or so and have a couple more in the pipeline for this coming season. But they’ re not by any means the same! This style still has room to be designed with personal flair for each couple which is what I’ m all about. No two wedding cakes should ever be the same. In terms of what to ask for if you’ d like this style,‘ Lambeth’ is generally the term we associate with this look now. But if you were to say traditional piping style, cake designers will absolutely know what you mean!
There is no right or wrong when it comes to the flavour of a vintage cake
I recommend going with what YOU love. It’ s your wedding, do it your way! There is no right or wrong when it comes to flavour choices. Some couples try to please the masses and opt for‘ safe’ or‘ popular’ choices that everyone will know and love, like good old trusty Victoria sponge, while others may like to go with flavours to match the seasons so fruity and zesty for summer months or warm and comforting like spiced carrot or rich chocolate for the winter months. Each tier can be a different flavour so you can have a great mix and cover all bases when it comes to your cake menu!
They work brilliantly for couples who want to blend tradition with something more contemporary
Vintage-style cakes really suit couples who love a traditional wedding- that classic, romantic look. But what’ s lovely is that they’ re actually really flexible and don’ t have to feel oldfashioned at all.
They work brilliantly for couples who want to blend tradition with something more contemporary. I created a beautiful one at Goodnestone Park where I used very subtle coloured tiers to match each of the bridesmaids’ dresses, and added handwrittenwording to tie in with the couple’ s book-themed décor. It felt vintage, but still really personal and modern.
I also created one for a black-tie wedding at Broome Park, where I added hand-tied black ribbon bows and echoed that with sugarpaste bows worked into the Lambeth detailing. It gave the cake a really chic feel while still keeping that classic piping style.
Sometimes couples want just a hint of that look rather than going full Lambeth, and that works beautifully too. I’ ve added sugarpaste piping-effect details to elegant designs with sugarflowers, which gives a nod to tradition without going full hog. And you can absolutely go bold with this style as well. For a styled shoot at Frasers I used a white, red and pink palette, which really showed how striking and playful vintage cakes can be.
That’ s what I love about this style, it still leaves so much room to be unique, especially when you’ re working with an experienced cake designer who can adapt it to the couple and the overall wedding look.
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