Wedding Cake Alternatives
When planning your wedding, there are certain elements that will mean a lot to you, that need to be included. Others, you won’t mind skipping or dropping from your wedding day. For many brides, this thing is the traditional wedding cake.
There can be many reasons for this. For some, the cost doesn’t add to their big day. Wedding cakes aren’t cheap and if you don’t really care about them, then why spend some of your budget on it? Other people feel like their dessert table is going to be around sweetness and don’t see the value of having a wedding cake as well. After wedding favors, cocktail hour, the main meal, many people aren’t interested in eating more by the time the cake is cut! So, you can have some alternative wedding desserts, which would still make your wedding reception amazing.
If you’re interested in skipping the cake, here are a few wedding cake alternatives that you can have instead, so your wedding planning and wedding food planning doesn’t stress you out too much.
Wedding Cake Alternatives
Dessert Buffets
Want to have dessert, but not that interested in having a wedding cake? Why not just have a wedding buffet! You can then give people more choice, by including a variety of desserts rather than just cake. Rather than handing everyone a slice of cake that they’ll politely take two bites of and then leave on a table somewhere, people can serve themselves the amount of dessert they want which will generally lead to less waste. You can also include more child-friendly desserts like ice cream, or healthier options like fruit with whipped cream on the side.
Doughnut Walls
If you’re having a fun and whimsical wedding, a doughnut wall is the perfect wedding dessert! Have the wall up all day or evening and then add the donuts when it’s time for dessert. This will keep them fresh and moist. The wall also becomes part of your wedding decorations, so don’t leave it plain. You can include photos on the back wall, brightly colored pegs or get donuts iced in your wedding colors.
Mini Cakes
This is a great alternative for a wedding cake! Want to mix up your flavors? Go for mini cakes! Also, then you can have your cake decorated in a few different ways, rather than just the traditional way on a cake stand. Embrace your uniqueness and your wedding theme.
Cheese Displays
If you don’t have a sweet tooth, then definitely consider this idea. These have become one of the most popular wedding foods in the last few years! You can do a grazing platter style cheese board with lots of delicious cheeses, grapes and crackers. Or if you’d like to still give a nod to tradition, you can create a unique wedding cake made out of large wheels of cheese. Delicious!
Cake Pops
Love cake but can’t find a cake design you love? Why not get cake pops! They’re fun and you can dress them up any way you want. I also love that people can join you for cake, without having to have a whole slice (which often just goes to waste anyway). A small mouthful of something sweet is often all I want at a wedding, and these totally fit the bill. You can still use a cake stand to layer them up to give height to the dessert display, which always looks more appealing.
Churros
I love this idea for a destination wedding or if you want to embrace a Spanish theme. They’re great for winter weddings, as the warm chocolate goodness will be a treat in the cold. Remember, this wedding is all about you and your partner, so don’t feel like any wedding ideas are out of bounds. If you’re doing churros, I’d highly recommend getting a small food truck in to serve them. They’ll have everything they need to create them, keep them warm and dish them out to your guests. As a specialty menu item, you want to get people who know how to make them well for your wedding!
S’mores
Having an outdoor, rustic style wedding? S’mores can allow you to continue that theme through the whole night with a touch of nostalgia when your guests expect it least! These cake alternatives are always much loved, by young and old. Either have them pre-built or lay out a table where people can build their own. Make sure there are plenty of napkins on hand!
Macaron Tower
I love a perfectly crisp macaron, so I think this is another great alternative for an alternative wedding cake. There’s something so delightful about the way they melt in your mouth. A macaron tower will not only impress your guests, but you’ll also be able to serve them a bite of dessert without having to serve plain ol’ cake. Serving them as a tower brings height and drama to the display. You can also choose flavors that are colors that are complementary to your wedding theme.
Wedding Pie
If you’re a pie lover, this can be a great alternative wedding “cake”. It’s still something people adore, you can choose flavors, and there’s no reason wedding foods need to be traditional. You can serve wedding pie at your wedding reception, and I’m sure the guests will love it. To make the wedding planning easier, just pick a few flavors you like, and guests can choose which ones they want to eat.