Fun and Fabulous Wedding Cake Alternatives

Wedding Pie, Cheesecake, Cookies, Ice Cream and More!

Jul 28, 2009

Wedding Cookies Offer Many Design & Taste Choices, Rinderart

Wedding cake is traditional, but it isn't absolute. Lots of couples are now choosing other delectable dessert sensations for their wedding day celebration.

When it’s time for the cutting of the wedding cake, all the bride and groom really need is something to enjoy. There can still be a reception ceremony that involves “cutting,” “scooping” or just “biting into” regardless of the type of confection.

Traditional Wedding Cakes

Brides and grooms have been sharing breads, cakes and other sweet morsels with their guests since the dawn of marriage. But in days gone by, cakes were simple concoctions. Not so today. Modern wedding cakes can be huge in scope and style and have a price tag to match.

The average cost of a modern three-tiered-wedding cake is over $500, and that cost can climb significantly if the wedding couple desires unique customization. But the cost can be whittled and the fun factor enhanced when a wedding cake alternative is selected.

Wedding Cake Alternatives

Wedding Cupcakes – For those enamored of cake, cupcakes can lower the cost and still bring that traditional "cake" feel. Beautiful cupcakes can be of simple or extravagant design, and they can be displayed on the cake table in a number of pleasing ways, including stacked in tiers or clustered among flowers or greenery.
Wedding Cookies – A wedding cookie table can be a delight. Whatever a wedding couple can imagine can be translated to a cookie, and personalization is easy. Cookies can be displayed on trays, in tiered bowls, hung from artificial trees or arranged in a pattern that reflects something unique to the bride and groom. Everyone loves cookies, and offering a variety of flavors, colors and textures is easy.
Wedding Donuts – For some, the pleasure of sinking their teeth into a donut far outweighs the enjoyment found in cake. Donuts are convenient and tasty and can be artistically finished with powered sugar designs or other icing artwork. Their presence at the reception offers everyone the perfect excuse to indulge in a treat. One option for display is to treat donuts with holes as if they were wedding rings by pairing them in sets of two, one resting slightly atop the other. Personalized ribbons can be woven through the holes to create an even more effective presentation.
Wedding Pie – Pies are growing in favor for wedding receptions. Pies decorate well. From those with simple crusts to those graced with intricate art, pies bring a new world of possibilities to the wedding experience. Tiered pie racks are becoming commonplace rentals for receptions. The pies can be all one flavor, like decadent chocolate, or come in a variety so that every slice is a surprise.
Wedding Ice Cream – In yesteryear, ice cream socials were the place to socialize. Wedding reception ice cream stations recreate that joyful connection. Ice cream can be elegantly styled into individual ice cream cakes or served as scoops or sundaes by designated servers. Toppings are optional depending upon how involved the wedding couple wishes for the treat to become. Simply sticking bride and groom swizzle sticks into a plain scoop of ice cream in a waffle or dessert cup makes an enticing presentation. For the daring, it’s even possible to create a river of ice cream within a framework of artistic ice sculptures that can rival the most elegant of wedding cake tables.
Wedding Fudge – Many people close their eyes in ecstasy when a piece of deep, dark fudge passes their lips. Fudge is delicious and easy to mold into virtually any wedding-inspired shape. It can be formed into a large design for cutting, or molded into individual creations. Fudge displays can be breathtaking when nestled among baby’s breath, lily of the valley or status.
Wedding Cheesecake – For those who long for rich taste via smaller portions, cheesecake is a great option. Cheesecakes lend themselves to beautiful toppings and decorations and come in a large variety of flavors. They stack and tier beautifully for display, and the cutting of the cake is the same as if it were ordinary cake.

Custom Cakes

Regardless of the alternative choice, the wedding couple can still “cut the cake” if they so choose. A small decorated cake can be created for the bride and groom to cut before desserts are shared with the guests. These small cakes can still be finished with a cake topper and top virtually any display of desserts.

After the cake is cut and tasted, the wedding couple can then sample the alternative dessert that will be offered so that all guests will still be sharing in the “cake” tradition.

Pies, cookies and ice cream all top cake as favorite desserts, yet cake is served simply because it’s been done that way for years. It doesn’t have to be so. The modern bride and groom have many exceptional choices, and deciding which one to choose involves ranking the following attributes in order of importance.

taste
convenience
fun
tradition
cost

The wedding cake experience should be decided by what will make the reception unique to the bride and groom’s personality, style and sense of adventure.

If cost is the top priority, donuts or cupcakes reign supreme.
If convenience is the goal, cookies answer the call.
If it’s tradition that matters, the beautifully tiered, elegantly-decorated wedding cake is the obvious choice.
If taste tops the desired list, pie, cheesecake or fudge will be winners.
And if fun is paramount in the bride and groom’s hearts, nothing beats America’s number one dessert—ice cream.

Choosing one or more wedding cake alternatives can transform any wedding reception into something a little extra magical and memorable.

More unique wedding ideas to consider:

The copyright of the article Fun and Fabulous Wedding Cake Alternatives in Wedding Planning is owned by Tricia Spencer. Permission to republish Fun and Fabulous Wedding Cake Alternatives in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.