Groom's Cake Ideas to Find a Fun and Unique Design He'll Love

Originating in 19th-century England and a popular Southern wedding tradition, a groom’s cake is a wedding cake entirely influenced by the groom’s tastes, hobbies, and personality. It’s one wedding detail that is entirely all about him, with many grooms choosing their favorite flavors on the inside, as well as highlighting their likes, hobbies, favorite team, et cetera on the outside. Whether served at the rehearsal dinner or during the wedding reception, the groom’s cake continues to be a cherished tradition that adds a personal and flavorful touch to the festivities by reflecting the groom's love for specific hobbies or interests.

As an accompaniment to the more formal main wedding cake, the groom’s cake is free to represent you and anything that makes you happy. Again, this is the one element of a wedding that is just for the groom! When it comes to groom’s cake design, the sky is truly the limit. Many groom’s cakes don’t even resemble a traditional cake, but rather sports stadiums, pets, hobbies, and cars.

While many grooms take an active role in designing their cake, others are surprised at the wedding by their brides, who worked with their cake designer on the sly to create the impressive confection. Cakes can also be themed around the groom’s occupation, with designs inspired by professions like medicine, firefighting, sports writing, and more!

Groom's Cake Ideas – In Addition to the Main Wedding Cake

Whether the groom’s cake features your groom’s love of sports, the great outdoors, his favorite hobby, or his favorite movie, we’re sharing some of the groom’s cakes from real weddings that were either dreamed by the happy couple or presented as a surprise for the groom on the big day! The groom's cake can be displayed on a separate table to highlight its unique design and significance.

Sports-Themed Groom's Cakes

As a nod to the groom’s home team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the cake was inspired by the stadium and rested on top of a layer frosted to look like a baseball. The couple decided to incorporate elements that reflect their shared love for the team. Photo by Bob & Dawn Davis Photography; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; From Real Wedding: Oceanfront Ceremony & Opulent Pink and Metallic Reception

The groom’s alma mater is the University of Oklahoma, so he wanted his cake to represent their new football stadium. Though it hadn’t been built yet at the time, the cake designer used renderings and building plans to create the confection. Photo by Thisbe Grace Photography; From Real Wedding: Gorgeous Tented Wedding in Texas with Neutral & Gold Color Palette

A groom’s cake in the shape of an Oklahoma State football helmet was one of the many dessert options for guests to choose from at this Dallas wedding. Photo by Carter Rose; From Real Wedding: Colorful Spring Wedding with Stunning Floral Details in Dallas

In honor of this groom's favorite college team, the groom's cake displayed a replica of the LSU Tiger Stadium. Like this couple, other pairs can also incorporate their wedding date into the cake design on the Jumbotron or somewhere else within the cake design. Photo by Kelly Hornberger Photography; From Real Wedding: An Elegant Black, White, and Gold Wedding in Houston, Texas

This bride surprised her groom with a groom’s cake inspired by his favorite sports team: Manchester United. “Our DJ accommodated a last-minute request to play a fan chant as the cake rolled out to the dance floor,” she adds of the addition for her husband's love of soccer (or football). Photo by Jeanie Jang; From Real Wedding: A Romantic Pastel Wedding at an Iconic Rooftop Venue in New York City

While the bride's cake featured four round tiers wrapped with gold ribbon and topped with fresh flowers, the groom's cake paid homage to his favorite college team: the Florida Gators. Photo by Berit Bizjak Photography; From Real Wedding: Gatsby-Inspired Jewish Wedding with Purple & Gold Décor in New York

This groom's cake at this wedding in Austin, Texas, was designed to look like the football field and stadium for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas at Austin. Photo by Jacqui Cole Photography; From Real Wedding: Timeless, Luxury Wedding with Personalized Details in Austin, Texas

In honor of the groom's beloved Cleveland Browns, the bride surprised him with a groom's cake designed to look like the stadium. “It was an unforgettable day!” gushes the groom. “I was in awe of my wife’s surprises.” Photo by Sarah Kate, Photographer; From Real Wedding: Outdoor Fall Ceremony + Opulent Tented Reception in Dallas, Texas

The groom's cake was modeled after Busch Stadium (as a nod to the groom's hometown), a cooler featuring his favorite beer, and logos symbolizing his favorite sports teams. Photo by Karlisch Studio; From Real Wedding: Classic Ceremony at SMU Chapel + Ballroom Reception in Dallas

In keeping with Southern tradition, a groom's cake representing the Nashville Predators – and the hat the groom has worn to many games – was savored by guests at this Texas wedding. Photo by John Cain Photography; From Real Wedding: Classic Wedding with Personalized Details and a Pink + Gold Palette

Fashion & Accessories Groom's Cake Ideas

Megan Wollover surprised her husband, actor Tracy Morgan, with a groom's cake modeled after a Rolex watch – one of his favorite pieces of jewelry. Photo by Jeff Tisman Photography; From Real Wedding: Tracy Morgan & Megan Wollover's Elegant Wedding at an Estate in NJ

This classic groom's cake design showcased a chocolate base with a cowboy hat on top for a traditional look. Photo by Chris Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Ann Whittington Events; From Real Wedding: Open-Sided Tent Wedding at the Bride's Family Ranch in Texas

Because the groom is a professional football player, his cake resembled his Jordan shoes. Inside: red velvet cake and Nutella frosting! Photo by J. Cogliandro Photography; From Real Wedding: NFL Tight End Owen Daniels' Houston Wedding

Groom's Cake Ideas Inspired by His Favorite Hobby

This groom chose a groom's cake that represented a hunting dog and quails as an homage to his father, who had taken him quail hunting since he was a child. For another idea, a groom's cake designed to look like a tree stump, adorned with natural elements like antlers and leaf cookies, can also be a unique choice for nature or hunting enthusiasts. Photo by Jerry Hayes Photography; From Real Wedding: Alfresco Ceremony and Reception at Central California Vineyard

The groom’s chocolate Rice Krispies® cake was topped with a custom cake topper featuring the couple shown with their hobbies – shopping and basketball. Photo by Milanés Photography; From Real Wedding: Glamorous White & Gold Wedding at a Private Estate in Georgia

As the groom is an avid duck hunter, his groom’s cake featured a duck with shotgun shells as well as “The Hunt Is Over” details. Photo by Erin Wilson Photography; From Real Wedding: A Vineyard Wedding with Blue-and-White Décor in Arkansas

This groom’s cake featured some of the groom’s favorite things, including tennis balls and a racket! Photo by John Cain Photography; From Real Wedding: A Luxury Southern Wedding with Light Blue Décor in Dallas

Cake Ideas Inspired by the Groom's Favorite Things & Places

As this groom is from Texas and “any good Texan knows a wedding must include a groom’s cake,” laughs the bride, guests enjoyed a chocolate and raspberry cake in the shape of Texas for Jack. “We wanted to have fun with our wedding cakes!” she adds. Photo by Amanda Callaway Photography; From Real Wedding: An Elegant Storybook-Inspired Outdoor Wedding in Napa Valley

As a born-and-raised New Yorker, the groom requested a cake that resembled the New York City skyline and included a replica of the apartment building he grew up in. Photo by Jerry Hayes Photography; From Real Wedding: Romantic Neutral-Hued Wedding at a Paso Robles, California Vineyard

This groom’s carrot cake was in the shape of a Dom Pérignon bottle and surrounded by champagne grapes for an elegant design. Photo by Gina Taro Photography; From Real Wedding: Cliffside Wedding Overlooking Monterey Bay 

The groom’s cake was designed to look like a record player with an “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles record. Photo by Emilia Jane Photography; From Real Wedding: Fairy-Tale Garden Wedding at a Luxurious Estate in Nashville

Guests enjoyed a hazelnut-crunch groom’s cake designed to look like a Yeti cooler with personalized stickers featuring the groom’s favorite things at this Atlanta wedding. Photo by Amy Arrington Photography; From Real Wedding: Hometown Winter Wedding with Gold Details & Modern Décor in Atlanta

This groom's cake represented the Maserati the groom drove when he picked up his bride for their very first date. Photo by Fred Marcus Studio; From Real Wedding: Opulent Dallas, Texas Wedding Inspired by the Gardens of Versailles

This groom’s “infamous” Jeep represented the couple’s love for adventure and thrills. Photo by Walters & Walters; From Real Wedding: Duke Alumni's Chic All-White Wedding in North Carolina

Groom's Cake Ideas Inspired by His School or Profession

To honor George Springer's recent World Series win with the Houston Astros, his groom's cake featured a baseball hat design with him in his uniform on top. Photo by Brett Hickman Photographers; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; From Real Wedding: Luxe Wedding of Houston Astros Baseball Player George Springer III

To honor Caleb's profession, his groom's cake featured a bronze sculpture of a calf roper in action crafted by the bride's grandfather. The confection, itself, was designed to resemble wooden crates with leather trim and binding. Photo by Michael Carr Photography; Planning & Design by Ann Whittington Events; From Real Wedding: Romantic Lakefront Ceremony + Elegant Tented Reception in Texas

As this wedding's groom is a firefighter, the bride asked her baker for a cake that replicated his fire truck. The cake decorator also added their two dogs for a personal touch! Photo by Michael Segal Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic-Elegant Wedding in Ojai Valley, California

The elaborate groom's cake at this wedding was a stunning replica of the groom's beloved fraternity at his alma mater, the University of Texas. Photo by John Cain Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic Fall Nuptials with Custom Details in Beaver Creek, Colorado

For MLB player Cody Wilson, a surprise baseball-themed groom’s cake featured bobbleheads of the bride and groom, as well as baseball- and golf-inspired details. Photo by Jack Bates Photography; From Real Wedding: MLB Player Cody Wilson Weds His First Love in Florida

Funny + Replica Groom's Cake Ideas

The couple at this wedding met while attending Duke University and married at Duke University Chapel, so naturally, the groom’s cake was a bust of legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski! Photo by Millie Holloman Photography; From Real Wedding: Navy Blue, Gold, and Ivory Wedding at Duke University

The groom's German chocolate cake was designed to look like a YETI cooler filled with beer bottles for a fun addition that helped start the party. Photo by Robert Evans Studios; From Real Wedding: An Austin, Texas Lake House Wedding with a Natural Color Palette

The groom's cake was inspired by the movie "Steel Magnolias." It featured a red velvet armadillo atop a tree trunk adorned with moss and succulents. Photo by Carter Rose for F8 Studio; From Real Wedding: Classic Southern Wedding with Movie-Inspired Details in Texas

Dog or Pet-Inspired Groom's Cakes

While not the groom's pet per se, this groom's cake featured a bulldog wearing a sweater to honor the University of Georgia's Bulldogs sports teams. Photo by Sarah Kate, Photographer; From Real Wedding: Childhood Sweethearts Say "I Do" at Luxury Wedding in Dallas, Texas

This couple's second wedding cake was a replica of their adorable pup, shown sitting down with a red collar. Photo by Sarah Kate, Photographer; From Real Wedding: Traditional Catholic Ceremony + Festive New Year's Eve Reception

At the wedding of Alan Jackson's daughter Ali Jackson, the bride and groom each had their own tent featuring design elements inspired by their likes and dislikes. Sam’s tent, which incorporated his love of nature, included a 30” replica of his beloved Labrador retriever as a groom’s cake. Photo by Kristyn Hogan; From Real Wedding: The Luxurious Backyard Wedding of Country Star Alan Jackson's Daughter

The groom’s cake was in the form of the couple’s cherished puppy, Penny. Photo by Chip Gillespie; From Real Wedding: Classic Jewish Wedding at a Synagogue in Houston, Texas

For more ideas, visit our Groom's Cakes inspiration board on Pinterest! 

Opening photo by Sarah Kate, Photographer; From Real Wedding: Childhood Sweethearts Say "I Do" at Luxury Wedding in Dallas, Texas