17 Buttercream-Painted Wedding Cake Ideas Made With Palette-Knife Artistry (2024)

• Randi Smith is the owner of Sugar Euphoria, a custom wedding cake and dessert boutique based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Heather Leavitt is the owner of Sweet Heather Anne, a boutique cake studio based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Create a Color Statement

Celebrate in color! Bright pink and peach tones were painted on this two-tiered cake in a beautiful, abstract design. We love the carefree, happy vibe this gives off.

Incorporate Plenty of Texture

Texture on a cake adds such a romantic look, and this single-tiered confection displays that aesthetic perfectly. Not only do the buttercream-painted blooms provide interest on this cake, but it’s finished with a stunning gold-flecked border on top.

Add Cherry Blossoms

Hello, spring! We can’t get over the incredible detailing on this piece of art. With one square tier topped with a tall round tier and plenty of hand-painted cherry blossoms, this modern cake proves that cake decorating truly is artist’s work.

Make It Bright

Truly want to make a statement with your cake? Choose a bright, bold color of buttercream to serve as the perfect canvas. We love the way these charming florals pop against this sunny-hued backdrop.

Commission a Work of Art

“Buttercream-painted cakes bring an artistic, and possibly unexpected, element to the wedding,” says Smith. Multi-colored buttercream paired with painted florals is an awe-inspiring look for a romantic wedding.

Match Your Color Palette

A buttercream-painted cake doesn’t have to be multiple tiers. It can be sweet and small, perfect for an intimate wedding. We love the idea of using multiple hues to dress up a confection, making a perfect match to a spring wedding color palette.

Opt for Abstract

Choosing an art-inspired design may be the perfect fit for a modern wedding. We love the way this two-tiered confection is splattered with buttercream, with a consistent color palette and stunning blooms to match.

Showcase Spring Blooms

This single-tiered cake may be dainty, but what it lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in personality. We love the way this Monet-inspired sweet incorporated plenty of abstract spring blooms for a beautiful design.

Decorate Blue With Blossoms

This design is nothing short of romantic. With a light blue buttercream background and soft florals, this is such a beautiful motif for any outdoor wedding.

Get Garden-Party Ready

Get ready to celebrate in a beautiful garden setting with this design. According to Smith, the buttercream-painted technique is a great way to add a floral design without adding sugar flowers or fresh florals to a cake. This charming look pulls it off flawlessly.

Keep It Light and Airy

A buttercream-painted cake doesn’t have to be all about color—the color palette can certainly be kept simple. We love the way this confection incorporated intricate buttercream blooms, with only a hint of soft gold and pale blue to round it out.

Embrace Plenty of Bold Blooms

Say hello to bright, bold color and plenty of detail! This two-tiered confection stands tall to make a beautiful color statement, with an entire bouquet of painted florals on display.

Add a Bit of Drama

This black three-tiered wedding cake definitely brings the drama. But paired with effortlessly light florals in a beautiful palette, the overall design of this cake displays nothing but romance and femininity.

Keep It Small

Buttercream painting can truly dress up any size or shape of cake in the most beautiful way. We love that plenty of romance was packed into the design of this single-tiered sweet.

Choose Pretty in Pink

While some cake designs utilize buttercream-painted florals instead of live blooms, this charming sweet combines both concepts into one. The buttercream base was perfectly painted to match the fluffy petals of the peonies on top.

Make It Mountain-Ready

A buttercream-painted cake doesn’t have to be all about floral designs. This outdoor-inspired cake, designed to mimic a wildflower view of Wyoming’s Grand Tetons, proves that it’s a beautiful technique for any wedding theme or location.

Embrace a Boho Vibe

Just looking at a buttercream-painted masterpiece makes you feel immediately relaxed. We love this two-tiered design, with stunning blooms and greenery for a boho-inspired soiree.

Filled With Pride

For their garden wedding, two brides wanted to show off their pride in a watercolor-inspired buttercream painted cake with a surprise rainbow filling.

Make a Statement

While painted buttercream in the wedding’s colorful palette already gave this cake plenty of excitement, one joyful couple decided to also have the word “yippee” iced on top of their three-tier confection.

Autumnal Tiers

This cake at a Minneapolis wedding had buttercream painted in autumnal hues of burgundy and mauve to give the design a unique textural style.