Wedding Cake Alternatives – Your Big Day Desserts

Cakes

While traditional wedding cakes have come on leaps and bounds in the last 10 years in Ireland – and with new flavours, modern styles and stunning embellishments they have become the focal centerpieces of some wedding receptions – some couples would rather forgo them in favour of an alternative. Dessert is a perfect item to have fun with at your reception, so take advantage and treat your guests to something scrumtuous and entertaining!

By Karen Birney 

Pancake Station (Above)

Pancakes are perfect for a ‘social’ dessert – fold it, stuff some Nutella and bananas inside and get mingling! Set up a pancake station offering a range of ‘toppings’ for guests to add themselves, including syrups and fresh fruit. Pancakes can be ready made and served heated or you could talk to your wedding venue about having a pancake/ waffle maker available on the day.

Credit: Top – Photo by Sarah Yates Photography via www.greenweddingshoes.com

Wedding Cake Pops

wedding cake pops
Left: Cake with cake-balls via Preston Bailey Blog | Top right: Cakepops by Jenny Keller via EversoLovely | Yellow and blue cakepops by ThesePearsareHallow

We fell in love with cake pops while watching a certain Prince and Princess take their vows 16 months ago, when Blaithín from Wedding High spoiled us with her individual, home baked treats! Many wedding cake suppliers in Ireland will have cake pops in their repertoire of skills. Some can be made as simple cake balls, or you could add sprinkles or dip in chocolate, some can even be made as little bride and groom cake pops!

Donut Cake & Donut Station

donuts wedding dessert
Clockwise from top left: Image via Realistic Wedding | A Beautiful Mess | Images by Paiges of Style via UnitedwithLove | Heather Baird, Sprinkle Bakes

A decidedly American treat, the donut is becoming popular with weddings as a pretty and fun alterntive to a wedding cake. Dusted and piled high on cake stands of all different heights, or set up with their own DIY toppings station, these are sure to be something not many of your guests have seen before!

Wedding Dessert Table – Individual Desserts

wedding dessert table
Top & left: Photo by David McClelland, see full real wedding here | Photo by Ben Blood Photography

The dessert table has been a popular wedding cake alternative for a few years in Ireland. It’s a great way to mix and match and to get your guests up chatting (mostly through ‘homs’ and ‘yums’ of course!). Cupcakes, cookies, cheese cakes, snowballs and macaroons, the list is endless with the dessert table. If you really want to blow your guests away and make this a feature in the room, speak to a wedding coordinator or event stylist to get some great tips and tricks.

Wedding Cheese Cake – Cheese Stack

cheese cake wedding
Left: Via Gush Events | Right: Arch House Deli

If the idea of a sweet dessert is just not up your street, there are some alternatives. Cheese boards are a great finale to a beautiful meal, and the perfect way to make it wedding-ready is to get your tiers on! Cheeses stacked and decorated with berries, grapes and wildflowers will make a gogeous and unusual alternative to a white wedding cake. Suppliers of cheese wedding cakes in Ireland include Gubbeen Farmhouse in West Cork and Sheridan’s Cheesemongers.

Ice-Cream Van & Ice-Cream Sandwich Station

ice cream van wedding
Clockwise from top left: Photo by Sandra Pan via FloridianWeddings | Ice-cream van at Mount Druid Wedding | EatDrinkChic

Who doesn’t love ice-cream? Perfect for a summer wedding, ice-cream can be served in a variety of ways as your dessert. For a dose of nostalgia, have an ice-cream van chime up to your venue and distribute 99s to guests. Alternatively you could set up an ice-cream ‘parlour’ and let guests help themselves to different flavours and toppings and tubs, cones or even cookies for ice-cream sandwiches! Nom!

Candy Cart & Sweet Tables

candy cart wedding
Clockwise from top left: Candy Cart by Sweet Memories | Photo by David McClelland | Sweet table by Be Sweet Occassions

Candy buffet and candy carts are one of our favourite dessert trends at a wedding – tasty and ridiculously pretty?! Yes please! Professionally styled carts and stands will be a highlight for your guests and, of course, a real treat for you! They make a gorgeous focal point at your reception and can double as favours and your dessert.

Winter Wedding Cake Alternatives – Pies & Chocolate Apple Station

winter wedding desserts

Check out our article on winter wedding desserts to get the details on these and more mouth-watering treats for a winter warmer wedding (maybe wait til after lunch though!)

American Style Popcorn & Pretzel Station

donut table wedding dessert
via Abigail Kirsch

If you’re having a movie-themed wedding, this spread is just the ticket. A laid-back and informal atmosphere will come as standard with a buffet style carb-fest! Different flavours of popcorn, pretzels and crisps can be set up for guests to help themselves to while they enjoy an after dinner beer or cocktail (striped hand-held cones and napkins on the side!) This set up is also a great idea for a hen or stag night, if watching a movie or a match happens to be part of the plans.

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