Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale of The Secret Garden is one of the most beautiful and inspiring themes for weddings and special occasion parties, offering lots of inspiration for a beautiful floral, old world wedding.

Antiqued locks, keys and secret doorways set the scene amongst cascading sugar flowers and verdant green foliage for a Secret Garden wedding cake – perfect for the relaxed, nature inspired wedding favoured by brides this year.

Sugar Realm hint at the possibility of a secret garden with their beautiful gilded gold key and keyhole detailing nestled amongst hydrangea blooms in the beautiful cake (above left).

Above right, Samantha Boon of Samantha’s Cake Design, Jersey created this award-winning masterpiece for Cake International. While not the original design theme, it nonetheless provides beautiful inspiration for a Secret Garden wedding cake with the central frame structure evoking images of a garden swing in summer and the birdcage top tier reminiscent of a Victorian glasshouse, all accented with trailing florals and foliage.

An antique style key partially hidden behind trailing ivy captures the imagination in the beautiful secret garden wedding cake below (image by Abby Grace Photography via Style Me Pretty, image right by Firm Anchor via 100LayerCake).

Old English flowers frame a gilded key set against an extract from the classic novel in this enchanting Secret Garden wedding cake by Sweetface Cakes (image by Krystal Mann Photography).

Studio Cake have hidden a old doorway beneath a lush cascade of summer garden flowers with the secret keys resting amongst roses on the top tier for a superb take on the Secret Garden theme (image by Kevin Von Essen Photography).

The lock and key design motif also makes an excellent theme for a 21st birthday cake with two beautiful special occasion cakes below by Carina’s Cupcakes (left) and Nadine’s Cakes (right).

A lavish Baroque design combining gilded gold with beautiful greyed-blue features below from Coco Cakes Australia incorporating an antiqued lock and key them perfectly.

Leading cake artist, Alexandria Pellegrino of The Cake Opera Company has created the intriguing keyhole cake design below – one the three opulent cake designs she teaches in her brand new class on Craftsy. (See ad panel below for more details).

UK chocolatiers, Choccywoccydoodah have produced a superb “key to my heart” masterpiece below, adorned with garden roses and floral decor making it perfect for a Secret Garden inspired wedding.

For a children’s party, the secret garden theme works a treat – little ones just love the idea of secret hiding places! Two fabulous secret garden creations feature below from De Koeken Bakkers (left) and All The Kings Horses Cake Creations (right).