Wedding anniversaries are wonderfully specific things. The cake should be too. A first anniversary may be dinner for two; a 40th can become the reason everyone comes home; a 60th may need enough cake for three generations and several people who insist they only want a small slice.
This guide is for choosing an anniversary cake by milestone, style, flavour, size and level of personalisation. If you are ready to order rather than browse ideas, see our anniversary cakes, made in our London kitchen and hand-delivered across London and Surrey by our own drivers.
Anniversary cake ideas by year
The traditional anniversary materials are useful design prompts, not rules. A cake does not need to look like a greeting-card illustration of the anniversary gift. One colour, texture or small detail is usually enough.
1st anniversary cake: paper
For a first wedding anniversary, paper gives you more possibilities than it sounds. A printed photograph, a copy of the wedding invitation, a handwritten message or the date of the wedding can become the personal detail. A heart cake works well for a small dinner, while our Anniversary Burn-Away Cake can reveal a photograph or message beneath the top layer.
10th anniversary cake: tin
Tin and aluminium suggest cool metallic details rather than an entirely silver cake. Think restrained metallic accents, clean piping, a date and perhaps one line from the wedding speech that has survived ten years of retelling.
25th anniversary cake: silver
A 25th wedding anniversary is one of the milestones where a formal cake feels entirely natural. Ivory buttercream with silver-toned details, soft florals or a simple heart shape gives the reference without turning the cake into a trophy. For larger celebrations, a two-tier design can give the table the right sense of occasion.
30th anniversary cake: pearl
Pearl works beautifully through colour and finish: warm ivory, soft blush, smooth buttercream and delicate piped details. It suits couples who prefer something elegant rather than literal. Add names, the wedding date or “30 years” if you want the milestone to be clear.
40th anniversary cake: ruby
Ruby is one of the strongest anniversary themes because the colour does most of the work. Deep red buttercream, red velvet sponge, cherries, roses or a restrained oxblood detail can all reference a 40th wedding anniversary without needing a large “40” on top. Browse the anniversary cake collection for romantic and milestone designs rather than a birthday cake made to do the wrong job.
50th anniversary cake: golden
A golden wedding anniversary deserves warmth rather than glitter everywhere. Gold leaf, ivory buttercream, caramel tones and soft florals work well. If the celebration includes a large family lunch or party, choose the cake by guest count first and decoration second. The most beautiful cake in the room still needs to feed everyone.
60th anniversary cake: diamond
For a diamond anniversary, white, ivory and reflective details can feel appropriately celebratory. This is also a good moment for a photograph, wedding date or family reference. Sixty years carries enough meaning on its own; the cake does not need to shout.
70th anniversary cake: platinum
A platinum anniversary is rare enough that the cake can be treated as a true centrepiece. For a large family gathering, consider a tiered cake or croquembouche-style showpiece. For a smaller celebration, a beautifully finished single-tier cake with the original wedding date can feel more personal than scale for its own sake.
Romantic anniversary cake styles
Heart-shaped cakes
Heart cakes work because the shape communicates the occasion immediately. Vintage piping can make them playful, while a cleaner buttercream finish feels more grown-up. See our heart cakes for more shapes and finishes.
Floral anniversary cakes
Flowers can reference a wedding bouquet, a favourite garden or simply the colours the couple actually likes. Buttercream flowers are useful when you want a romantic cake without making it look like a miniature wedding cake.
Photo and memory cakes
A wedding photograph, first-home picture, holiday snapshot or family photograph can make an anniversary cake genuinely personal. If you want a supplied image rather than a new illustration, start with our personalised cake options.
Number cakes
A number cake makes the milestone unmissable and works especially well for larger family parties. If the number itself should be the design, browse our number cakes.
Choosing the flavour
Anniversary cakes do not need an “anniversary flavour”. Choose something the couple actually wants to eat. Chocolate is rich and celebratory; pistachio feels grown-up and distinctive; lemon brings freshness after dinner; red velvet naturally suits ruby anniversaries; vanilla works particularly well when the decoration and personalisation are doing more of the talking.
For a couple with different favourites, the practical answer is usually to choose the flavour that suits the event and use the personal detail elsewhere. A good anniversary cake should feel personal without becoming a committee meeting in sponge form.
How much cake do you need?
Start with the number of people who are genuinely likely to eat cake. A small dinner needs a very different design from a party for forty. For intimate celebrations, one tier is often enough. For family gatherings and milestone parties, a larger single tier, two tiers or a statement centrepiece can give you both servings and presence.
Each product page lists the serving sizes available. If you are planning around a specific guest count or venue, our bespoke cake team can help with structure and scale.
Personalised, custom or bespoke?
A short message, names, date or supplied photograph is personalised. Changing the design, colour palette, topper or theme is custom. Starting from a blank page is bespoke.
For most anniversaries, a strong existing cake plus one good personal detail is enough. If you want a substantial design change, see our custom cakes. If the cake should be designed entirely around the couple and celebration, choose a bespoke commission.
Anniversary cake delivery in London and Surrey
Our anniversary cakes are baked to order in London and delivered across London and Surrey by our own drivers rather than parcel couriers. We recommend choosing the delivery day before the celebration where practical, particularly for restaurant, hotel or venue events. Check current postcode coverage and delivery guidance on our delivery page.
Anniversary cake questions
What should you write on an anniversary cake?
Names, the wedding date, the number of years, a nickname or a very short in-joke all work. Short is usually better. The cake should still look like a cake rather than a legal document.
Do anniversary cakes need to match the traditional gift?
No. Use paper, silver, ruby, gold, diamond or platinum as a prompt if it helps, but the couple matters more than the convention. A favourite flower, flavour, photograph or colour is often more meaningful.
Can an anniversary cake be personalised with a photograph?
Yes. A supplied photograph can be used on suitable designs, including our burn-away anniversary cake. For illustrated portraits or more involved artwork, a custom or bespoke route is more appropriate.
What is a good cake for a 40th wedding anniversary?
Deep red, red velvet, roses, dark berries and restrained ruby-coloured details all suit a 40th anniversary. The important distinction is that a 40th wedding anniversary cake should be designed around the couple, not simply treated as a 40th birthday cake.
What is a good cake for a 50th wedding anniversary?
Ivory and gold, edible gold leaf, soft florals and elegant buttercream all work for a golden wedding anniversary. For larger celebrations, choose the correct serving size before deciding how elaborate the decoration should be.
Ready to choose the cake? Browse our anniversary cakes for London and Surrey delivery.
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