Traditional Wedding Cake Alternatives

In today's world, not everyone is going to be able to enjoy your wedding cake at your reception. Some people are watching their waistline, and others have allergies or cannot have sugar. While your wedding cake should absolutely be in the design and flavor of your choice, consider some traditional wedding cake alternatives for you and your guest.

If you are concerned about dieting or sugar-wary friends and family members, consider offering a small sugar free cake or desert for those guests. They will surely appreciate being remembered on your big day. While you cannot please everyone, a small sugar free cake or desert will be a relatively inexpensive way of showing your guests that you care.

However, if the white, flowery tiered traditional wedding cake look isn't for you and your fiancée, consider some out of the box ideas for a reception desert:

1) Regional/Heritage Treats: Does your German grandmother make a great strudel? Or maybe you are fond of a regional treat, like key lime pie? Consider having this as your reception dessert instead of a traditional wedding cake as homage to your heritage or hometown.

2) Make a picture cake: Have a great photo of you and your fiancée? Put it on a cake! Instead of a traditional cake, have a large photo cake made instead. This is a great way to personalize your cake and really have the bride and groom on their instead of little plastic toppers.

3) Unique Shapes: Cakes come in all shapes and sizes, and wedding cakes are no exception. Instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake, have your cake make in an interesting shape. From castles and birds to guitars, hearts, motorcycles and more, you may be amazed at what your baker can create out of flour and frosting. Ask if they have a photo gallery of unique cake shapes to choose from and let your imagination go wild!

4) Wedding Cupcakes: Easy to serve and cleanup, create classy single serving wedding cupcakes instead. These can be very fun and personalized with you and your fiancées name on them, mini decorations, and more.

If you want to forgo a desert all together, that is up to you. Many couples today are health conscious and do not indulge in sweets, so it is perfectly acceptable if you do not want to have a cake at your wedding. Instead, perhaps offer a desert fruit dish like strawberries and whipped cream or even something fancy like bananas foster. You could even opt for an extra champagne toast in lieu of cake or a special after dinner desert wine or coffee beverage.

Consult a baker or wedding planner for more great ideas if you are still stumped and don't want a traditional wedding cake. Whatever you decide, remember that today's wedding couples don't have to have a traditional cake at their reception. Whatever dessert you decide on should be a special reflection of you and your partners' preferences, and can be fun and delicious!