Cupcake tower: signage help!

You can have them bring them out after dinner is served.

Can't the dessert table just be put out after dinner? I've never seen the sweets table just hanging out and available prior to dinner.

Honestly, the "Cupcakes Reserved for Dessert. Sweets Table is Open for All" would be the best choice, in my opinion. Short, sweet, and exactly what you mean. Though I doubt anyone would find any of those phrases impolite. The last one just gets across what you want the best.

I'm also having cake + dessert table, but my venue is giving me a small round table that I'm putting the cake on by itself that way the grab-and-go desserts are separated. I think that helps imply that they shouldn't touch them yet. Might help for you too unless you're set on having them together!

View Quoted Comment As mentioned, they place the cupcakes on a separate table already out on the floor. So they cannot bring them up, unfortunately. Seemingly this is rather common with the wedding cupcakes, around here at least.

View Quoted Comment But why is the whole sweets table out before dinner? Normally, at least in my experience, none of the desserts are out in guest spaces until after dinner. They are usually brought out from the kitchen while everyone is dancing after dinner.

What about putting a variety of cupcakes on a tray for each table and it is served per table before dinner plates are removed? Almost like serving sliced cake. Of course this could only works well if there are limited flavors of cupcakes.

View Quoted Comment A sweets table is very common actually, and are usually left out for people to enjoy throughout the night even before dinner! That I don’t might we have one for that very reason
It’s the cupcake thing that I don’t like they leave out. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe I can talk them into bringing it out later..? We’ll see!

How about something like “Mom said no dessert until after you eat dinner!”?

Or can it be on its own table with velvet rope around it? ‘Display will be open after dinner.’
Also saw this cute quote recently...

Why wouldn’t they serve cupcakes on a plate? And with a fork? I love cupcakes, but I can’t imagine eating one from a wrapper if I’m dressed and styled to attend a wedding. If this is your dessert in lieu of cake, it’s very weird your venue or caterer wouldn’t be willing to serve it to your guests. If you wanted to make it a favor instead, maybe have the cupcakes individually wrapped in plastic bags or takeout containers and let people grab on their way out?

That is ridiculous that they will not use plates. Personally I find it easier and way less messy (especially when wearing nice makeup and clothes) to unwrap the cupcake and eat it with a fork on a plate.

If there is no cake cutting/feeding, some people will be confused that the dessert is open and available. They will be waiting for an announcement rather than wandering to read a sign.

If you want them to be a favor to take home, put them in a cupcake box that you can find wholesale online. Then use a sticker to label flavors.

Do not use bags of any kind even for cake slices because you will have frosting all over everything.

Could you ask for the cupcake tower to be placed on a table with wheels to be wheeled out during dinner or post dinner during dancing? Is the cupcake tower in lieu of a “traditional” wedding cake? If it is, I’d, as a guest, rather my cupcake be on a plate rather than have to unwrap it myself, or have to eat it without a fork and get icing on my makeup at a formal event, leaving icing and make up on my napkin. I would cause a (very polite) stink about this. But if this is your wedding cake, your caterer wouldn’t expect people to just self serve themselves pieces of cake.

Okay so maybe I'm under thinking things for my own wedding lol but do you really think people are going to eat cupcakes before dinner? I'm having cupcakes and a cookie table. They will be out the entire time. It didn't even occur to me that someone might grab one ahead of time (and honestly if they did... so what?). It also did not occur to me that the venue should serve them on plates or to put up a sign. I've been to plenty of weddings where desserts are sitting out the entire time and common sense generally dictates dinner first, sweets second. I'm also not worried about people serving themselves or having to unwrap their own dang cupcake.