Sugar, Spice, and Everything NOT Nice: 30+ Wedding Cake Fails That Went Totally Wrong

By: Alec Donaldson | Last updated: Dec 11, 2023

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, especially when budgeting and deciding on all the services are big parts of the process. The cake is one of the most important aspects of any wedding, but even that can go wrong if not properly planned.

Mistakes happen, and surprises pop up when least expected. Here’s our sad showcase of wedding cake disasters that occur when planning goes wrong! Brace yourself for these massive fails. 

Wedding Cake Typo That Stole the Show

One tiny miscommunication can lead to disastrous results, as one bride and groom discovered on their big day. The baker misread the message and, instead of “trust,” wrote “thrust” on the cake, causing embarrassment and shock.

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Source: Reddit

 Although the white letters were camouflaged in the cake, some guests noticed. The incident is a reminder to always double-check communication to ensure your message is conveyed correctly, even if it means spelling it out.

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The Bride vs. Roblox Showdown

Wedding cakes are usually romantic and elegant, but this couple wanted to infuse their unique personalities into their dessert. The result? A cake depicting the groom playing Roblox and the bride trying to pull him away.

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Source: florispaghett/Reddit

While it’s a creative and quirky idea, some guests may question whether it’s a red flag for their relationship. After all, compromise is key in any marriage. However, we can’t judge the bride too harshly; planning a wedding takes two.

When Inspiration Goes Wrong

Choosing godparents is a serious matter, since they care for our children in an emergency. Thus, it’s customary for couples to show their appreciation by ordering special cakes for their godparents.

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Source: Marrone2010/Reddit

However, this groom’s attempt at a pre-celebration cake was a disaster. The cake looked nothing like the original inspiration, with a missing bottom layer and a bow far from the intended design.

When Ordering a Cake Goes Wrong

Ordering a wedding cake can be a nerve-racking experience. Trusting the baker and communicating your vision clearly to avoid surprises is critical.

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Source: Klimny/Pinterest

This couple’s cake, however, didn’t quite go as planned. Perhaps they gave instructions over the phone, resulting in a hilarious mix-up that surprised them. Despite the disappointment, the bride and groom laughed it off, and their guests had a blast with the unexpected events.

The "Why's There a Wedding?" Cake

Oh, the joy of wedding cakes! These masterpieces of sugar and flour are adorned with delicate flowers and ornate icing designs. Then, there’s this “Why’s There a Wedding?” cake, with its charming green inscription that makes you wonder if the decorator was as confused as the bride’s Aunt Carol, who keeps referring to the groom as “that nice boy who works at the bank.”

Source: Reddit

Well, who needs a perfectly executed wedding cake when you have a conversation starter like this one?

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From Dream Cake to Cake-mare

We’ve all heard horror stories of ordering something and getting a completely different product. This poor bride experienced just that with her wedding cake. She had her heart set on a beautiful three-tiered cake, complete with flowers and the classic wedding cake color.

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Source: LunchInABoxx/Reddit

What was delivered? A complete disaster. It looks like someone took a sledgehammer to the cake and then tried to piece it back together. Here’s to hoping the taste made up for the appearance.

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No Trace of Gold Anywhere

Ideally, this cake should have been made entirely of gold. The pastry chef obviously had some problem because the gold tint they were going for ended up looking more like a muddy green. To make matters worse, this isn’t even a particularly attractive shade of green.

Source: wflancaster19/Reddit

One can’t help but wonder how the baker in the confectionery shop achieved that horrible hue. Perhaps the coloring had an adverse response to a component in the cake. Guess we’ll never know! These days, gold is a popular choice amongst customers, so it should be easy to obtain.

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The Realities of Marriage On a Cake

Cake-top decorations are always a fun addition to wedding receptions, and they may be molded into whatever the happy couple wants to symbolize their unique personalities. The couple in this situation appeared to be very genuine. 

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Source: blazze_eternal/Reddit

It’s clear from the picture that the groom is the polar opposite of the bride. He’s the type who’d rather stay in and get some shut-eye than hit the town in search of a good time. Even more so, the wealth of detail, such as the groom’s underpants and chest hair, is remarkable. They surely got a bang for their buck!

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A Hamburger Kind of Wedding

Many weddings that took place during the COVID-19 epidemic were not celebrated with large groups of people but rather by the couple’s immediate families. This pair, though, didn’t appear to mind that there wasn’t a big party to commemorate their union.

Source: Pinterest

They did things their way, hosting a modest reception for the close family. However, the bride’s request for a cake shaped like their favorite food – a hamburger – was the party’s biggest attraction. After all, it’s not every day we see a uniquely shaped dessert in a bun!

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Can You Say Creepy?

While we’re sure there was probably good intention behind this cake design, it’s a bit concerning. When people get married, they talk about being together forever but this went too far.

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Source: themotherish.com

There’s a lot of attention to detail here: the eyeballs, detached fingers, and red coloring that signifies blood. Can you even imagine the bride’s reaction? After seeing this cake, we wouldn’t be surprised if she completely ditched her new husband altogether.

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No One Likes An Ugly Cake

Based on the chosen design, it was assumed that this cake would be simple to construct and, thus, stunning in appearance. Unfortunately, the fondant was only the beginning of his failures. The fault lies squarely at the feet of the baker or pastry chef who botched the cake.

Source: Pinterest

Our best wishes go out to the happy couple, and we hope they mended it in time for the celebration or at least found a way to hide the shattered pieces from their visitors. The photographs, though, will serve as a constant reminder of that tragic day. Yikes!

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Look Closer...

At first, this cake actually looks nicely done. The flowers on top are a bonus, but if you peer closer, you may notice what the white circles resemble.

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Source: cakewrecks.com

Have you figured it out? Yes, this right here is a condom cake. Whether or not it was intentional, that’s what it looks exactly like.

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Leave the Toilet Paper in the Bathroom

They say that toilet paper was one of the most demanded supplies during the COVID outbreak. Frankly, we have no idea what this couple was thinking when they requested a wedding cake in the shape of toilet paper.

Source: YouTube

Apparently, they baked a cake in recognition of the enormous amount of TP they went through during the epidemic. In any case, this does not seem like the right time for such a homage. It’s a funny idea, but it should have been left unrealized!

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What Even Is This?

At first glance, we are confused about what this cake is even supposed to be. What are all those little purple and green things? Why are they the heads of the bride and groom figures?

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Source: cakewrecks.com

If you’ve seen the movie Beetlejuice, then the topper might remind you of that film. Otherwise, we have no clue what’s going on here.

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Magical Woodland-Like Cake

This cake appears to be quite disappointing because it is flawed both in shape and color. Firstly, it’s round instead of square. Secondly, instead of a rich dark brown color, the shade appears more like mud.

Source: YouTube

Additionally, it lacks the four tiers that it should have had. The flowers on top are poorly placed with shooting stems. The only positive quality is that the baker was able to hide the cake’s crooked shape.

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Of All the Wedding Cake Designs...

It appears there was a particular inspiration behind this awful cake design: a sandcastle, right? The sand, shells, and white lounge chairs are a dead giveaway of a beach-themed dessert. Well, it was completely botched and turned into a disaster. 

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Source: Reddit

The result doesn’t even look realistic and seemed rushed. It’s also pretty suggestive. We just hope this really is what the couple wished for!

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Even Worse Than the Real Deal

The only explanation for choosing such an unconventional cake as this is if either the groom or bride is associated with the automobile industry.

Source: Reddit

However, as evidenced by the cake on the right, the baker was unable to recreate the original cake effectively. The first flaw is that the cake is tilting and breaking. Furthermore, there is a missing element of white flowers that would have made it more appealing.

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I, Do...Want A Hamburger Cake

Ok, this cake is nice and simple – there’s nothing wrong with that. We’re sure the couple enjoyed having their cake and eating it, too.

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Source: Reddit

However, a hamburger cake screams cheesy. While most folks go all out for their wedding cake design, these two decided to keep it easy. Plus, they eloped to a diner during quarantine, so they probably didn’t have many options.

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In Sickness And Health, In Cleanliness And Dirt

This three-tiered white buttercream cake should have an interesting story behind it. The concept was cute, with two toy cars on the top and bottom tiers connected by a string. Instead of shiny and new, the cars were decorated to look muddy, leaving tracks on the white decor, which is a complete mess.

Source: Pinterest

It’s like the baker wanted to remind everyone of the couple’s childhood days of playing in the mud. Maybe he had one too many drinks.

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So...Where's The Rest Of It?

On the left, we have the cake the couple was supposed to get. And, on the right, is what they actually got. Whoops! That’s really embarrassing. The failed cake looks nothing like what it should have resembled.

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Source: Reddit

First of all…the coolest part of the cake is missing! Plus, the bird in the failed cake is barely being supported, and the rest of the contents can’t hold the bird’s weight. Last but not least, there aren’t even three layers!

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Profiterole Tower of Doom

Let’s talk about this couple’s genius idea for their wedding cake—their favorite candy, profiteroles, stacked on top of each other to create the ultimate dessert centerpiece. Sounds delicious, right? Well, they didn’t anticipate the massive amount of caramel needed to stick them all together.

Source: Pinterest

When it came time to cut the cake, the knife just couldn’t handle it, resulting in a hilarious, cake-tumbling disaster. The moral of the story: stick to traditional cake or risk a sweet catastrophe.

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More Like an Igloo Than a Castle

This couple decided on an unusual fairy tale theme for their wedding reception to represent their love story. To signify the fairy tale element, they chose a castle as inspiration for their cake, hoping for something like the picture on the left.

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Source: Mikole Dorig/Facebook

Unfortunately, the baker failed to meet their expectations, resulting in a disastrous outcome. The castle resembled a peasant’s house, and the towers were poorly constructed and unable to support their own weight.

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Squirrelly Love

A lot of people have odd fascinations and obsessions with squirrels. Yes, they’re pretty cute, but…on a wedding cake? Not so much!

Source: onedio

This cake fail is just plain bad (let’s not forget to mention the beer cans surrounding it). While the intention and message behind the cake’s design are sweet, it says quite a lot about this married couple.

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My Way or the Highway!

Making this particular cake should have been simple, but the baker chose to make it complicated. They added flowers all over, even on the parts that should have been left plain. Moreover, the layers were not distinctively different in width, posing a challenge.

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Source: mrs.ball/Reddit

Although white was the preferred color and is easy to get, the baker went ahead and made it yellow. Overall, the cake looks nothing like what the couple wanted, indicating the baker’s disregard for their preferences.

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The Year's Crown Jewel

These newlyweds decided to combine their love for oysters with their underwater-themed party, opting for an oyster cake for their wedding.

Source: SweetArt/Facebook

The highlight of the cake was the pearl placed on top, symbolizing the couple’s relationship with the phrase, “After many oysters, I finally found my pearl.” It was a clever metaphor and a sweet addition to the special day.

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Miscommunication on the Baker's Part

Cakes are an essential accessory for the couple on their special day that makes it memorable and sweet. Every couple has a clear idea about what they want for their wedding, much like this one—they wanted one layer, three colors, and roses as decorations.

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Source: juads/Reddit

Who knew that there would be a twist in the baking plot? The baker took matters into their own hands and made things more complicated. They didn’t even follow the color chart and skipped the rose decorations. All in all, the baker realized their mistake and refunded the couple, but left them disappointed on their special day.

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Hunting-Themed Wedding Cake

As huge hunting fans, this couple decided to get a hunting-themed wedding cake, and rightly so! Why not include a reflection on something you both enjoy doing? So, they decided to order a full-sized cake complete with an elk! The idea was for the cake to resemble a hunting trophy and symbolize the couple’s union.

Source: gracefulcakecreations/Pinterest

The cake turned out to be realistic and beautiful; kudos to the baker for putting in the extra effort and time. It flows with the baker’s dedication and creativity. However, it could have sat better with the overall theme of the event. But we suppose life’s about doing things you love, especially at your wedding.

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The Biggest Cake Disappointment Ever

Wedding cakes aren’t cheap, so when people invest money into a cake, they want it to be exactly what they envisioned. Sadly, that’s not always the case.

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Source: _thetendollefamily/ TikTok

The cake this married couple received is absolutely awful. It’s far from what they originally ordered, and it’s also not pleasing to look at. It looks like a green and white stack of nothingness.

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Don't Commit If You Won't Follow Through

This couple wanted to have the classic cake topper dolls that usually represent the bride and groom. Aesthetic dolls are a staple for wedding cakes. They are a wonderful addition to the dessert and sit well with almost every theme.

Source: plutchina/Reddit

To ensure the baker got the design right, they even attached a reference photo. However, the completed dolls looked nothing like what the couple initially asked for. It was nothing short of a disaster. In fact, if the couple had left the top of the cake empty, it would have looked far better than the bride imitating a sumo wrestler.

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That's Supposed To Be A Steak?

Weddings are all about celebrating the couple’s passions. Well, for these newlyweds, nothing beats a good ol’ BBQ. So, they thought, why not have a cake in the shape of a steak? Sounds like a deliciously brilliant idea. Hmm, not exactly.

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Source: nikdah/Reddit

The cake turned out to be a total disaster, looking more like a weirdly-shaped lump than a juicy steak. To make matters worse, the baker thought adding vegetable toppings would be a great touch.

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Love and Passion on a Cake

Cakes are a way for the bride and groom to express their undying love for each other. This cake is significant for the bride and groom because it showcases their professions. But, it is also a canvas for them to showcase what they like as individuals and as a couple. It’s a beauty to witness.

Source: EmercomRed/Reddit

The bottom three layers are dedicated to the bride, a paramedic. The second layer represents a heartbeat, a nod to her life-saving work. The part dedicated to the groom did not precisely represent his profession, but we guess off-roading is somewhat of his hobby.

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A Butterfly Rainbow Cake for the Bride

This bride couldn’t decide on the theme of her wedding cake, so she decided to go with all the rainbow colors. When she ordered the cake, she asked for it to be as bright and colorful as possible, featuring all the colors of the rainbow.

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Source: Pinterest

Yet, it turned out the baker followed her instructions too well, and the cake ended up being a bit too much. Even though she got what she wanted, the couple’s guests were not pleased. In fact, the rainbow-colored teddy bear in the front looks out of place.

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An Awful Design to Take Center-Stage

Couples should know that cakes play a significant role in every wedding. When people walk around the reception to admire the ambiance and atmosphere, they are very likely to take a picture of the wedding cake.

Source: Pinterest

First, the design strikes the eyes, and then, the bad typo completely throws you off! The cake is like the face of the occasion, so it should be done professionally. In this instance, we can firmly tell it wasn’t handled with any scrutiny.

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Pride of the Peacock: Rested on the Cake

If there’s anything you should try hard to avoid when planning a wedding, it’s a cake disappointment. Some vendors can be very good at ruining your event with some ridiculous-looking cakes.

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Source: Pinterest

For example, what exactly is this? Instead of a supposed wedding cake that enchants the guests, this seems like an ugly bird who has just found the perfect spot to ruin.

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Too Much Cake Ceremony in a Wedding Ceremony

Hold up! Supposing we were at this wedding, how many ceremonies are we even expected to follow? The real wedding event? Or the dramatic-looking cake reenactment?

Source: Reddit

What do we say about this one? At least the baker made a simple, good-looking doll. So, at least it wasn’t an complete failure!

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The Whole Basket in a Cake

What could be lacking in this cake? Or, rather, let’s rephrase the question: What shape and color could possibly be missing in this arrangement?

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Source: Pinterest

We don’t exactly understand the inspiration behind this supposed wedding cake. Yet, with the combination of fish, meat, fruits, veggies, and shapes, it appears this couple found the creativity to represent the idea of their self-sufficiency with each other.

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Tiffany’s Gone Wrong

This looks like something from an episode of “Nailed It!”Having a multi-tiered wedding cake inspired by Tiffany’s jewelry boxes at your nuptials is actually a pretty creative idea.

Source: Youtube (Amazing Cakes)

However, the Pinterest-perfect version of this wedding cake didn’t come out exactly as intended. Instead, the couple got this melty-looking green and white monstrosity which looks like it was made by a child for St. Patrick’s Day.

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A Winter Wonderland

Even if it was a wedding that took place during the colder months, there’s no excuse for this bizarre winter wonderland cake. Although the cake itself is done professionally, the concept here is seriously questionable.

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Source: Pinterest

A sleigh ride through the snow can be romantic, but why choose that moment to put on a cake? And also, why is there a huge rose with a bunch of branches sticking out of every layer?

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A Lot Of Baggage

One thing is clear- this couple loves to travel. However, those suitcases are looking a little lumpy, and the back corner of the middle layer looks like it might explode.

Source: Pinterest

The bride and groom sit on top of the cake looking at a map, but we’re not sure whether they’re lost, happy, or having a terrible trip because they’re completely faceless, adding a new dimension of creepiness to this cake.

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That Time Of The Month

During her wedding day, no bride wants to think about having PMS. We’ll never know whether this was a poorly placed monogram or something else. But if taking your partner’s name means someone having the initials “PMS,” we’re not jealous of them.

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Source: Pinterest

Maybe the happy couple should have considered placing the initials in a more creative, less linear way. Or, you know, just not putting them there at all.

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The Indecisive Bride

When you can’t pick one cake…pick all the cakes. Looking like something out of the Mad Hatter’s tea party, this gigantic cake tower seems to defy gravity.

Source: Pinterest

Can’t choose between over a dozen colors, shapes, designs, and aesthetics? Or do you want to save money and stack a bunch of supermarket cakes instead of buying an expensive one?  In that case, this creative and complicated cake is a fantastic choice.

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This Cake Stinks

Maybe they have a pet skunk, or they’re just a truly nature-loving couple, but if we were guests at this wedding, we probably would not want to dig into this cake—at least not the splattered side.

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Source: Reddit (ilovemyking)

Complete with a skunk (that is debatably also made of cake) lifting its tail and making a mess on an otherwise beautiful white cake, the designer of this masterpiece has a bizarre sense of humor.

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Sweet or Savory?

We really can’t tell what this mystery cake is made up of. Are those flower petals lining it, or pieces of lunch meat? Are the green discs olives or jalapeños? Are those little black dots raisins?

Source: Pinterest

And the most important question of all. What on earth is that gooey mystery layer below the first tier? If their goal was to keep guests guessing or save the whole cake for themselves, mission accomplished.

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The Cake Eaten With Chopsticks

This is a wedding cake that is best eaten immediately and not after sitting out for any amount of time. Mostly because it’s made completely of sushi. Sashimi fans might rejoice, but looking at this leaves us a little queasy.

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Source: Pinterest

Although this concept could have been classy, we’re wondering why they adorned it with raw spinach and edamame and why there’s a rubber duck bride and groom plopped on top.

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Hostess With The Mostest

This cake is jam-packed with pre-made Hostess confections, including Snoballs, HoHos, Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies, and more, including an iconic upper ring of mini muffins below the topper.

Source: Pinterest

It’s unclear whether there’s an actual cake hiding under all these sugary processed desserts, or if it’s just artfully designed into a multi-tiered cake made of things you can buy at your local convenience store.  Now, that’s one way to cut costs!

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Larger Than Life

Having a life-size version of yourself as the cake at your wedding is a cool concept in theory, but it’s also terrifying.

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Source: Reddit (deathakissaway)

Although this cake was well done (doesn’t it look like one of those wax figures at a look-a-like museum?), it might be creepy to see guests cutting into your body parts. Judging by the look on the bride’s face, she might be rethinking this whole idea.

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A Bee-utiful Cake

You know the expression, “too good to eat?” well that might not be the case here. This cake looks like it’s too real to eat. Be careful or else you might get stung by the urge to run away.

Source: reddit / pinterest

If you want cake all to yourself this might be the best way to deter your guesses from going near the cake altogether. Don’t forget to warn your honey ahead of time.

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Instant Ramen

Loving ramen isn’t a crime but this couple took it one step further through their ramen-inspired cake. They failed to realize that filling up the center with ramen might be a little too messy for comfort.

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Source: reddit / Pinterest

Can you imagine trying to cut open this cake without spilling any ramen in the process? You might as well leave for hunger games.

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A Little Too Cheesy

This couple really loves Cheetos in case you hadn’t noticed, but it’s kind of hard to miss. Talk about turning orange, sometimes things you imagine in your head should stay there. This horrifying orange Cheeto couple on the top of their cake is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Source: reddit / pinterest

Here’s hoping they didn’t use that much fake tanner in real life. Let’s stick to something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue and leave all that orange behind.

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