Dessert Table: How Many Desserts for 125 people

You asked for advice, we are graciously giving it to you. Self catering in any form is almost always a bad idea. Things like key lime pie and banana pudding (which I admit I do love) need to be PROPERLY STORED AND REFRIGERATED. A professional caterer has the means to do this. Your family likely does not.

Wedding cakes aren't expensive. I've seen plenty of very nice looking wedding cakes out there that are lovely. Hire a PROFESSIONAL baker (yes, this can include your local grocery store) to bake & decorated a small tiny tier for you and your FH to cut, and then have sheet cake (that can be decorated to look as equally pretty) for your guests. Or, if you still want to use your family recipes, hand the recipes off to a PROFESSIONAL baker, and have him/her create them. This way, you can save on the "expensive wedding cake", and your family recipes will be represented with. Southern flair.

There is no reason or excuse to have your family members slave away at your wedding. You told us that you weren't asking your family, but yet almost right off the bat you say, and I quote, "I am going to ask 5-6 family members to make ..." See right there? You contradicted yourself. This is a tad confusing. You have a nice profile photo, you have 3 stars, so obviously you've been here for a bit and therefore you couldn't expect us here to just look over the fact that you're self catering. Desserts, that is. I honestly hope your entire reception isn't self catered.

Don't ask for advice of you can't take both positive and negative feedback. Everyone is aware that your grown no need to mention it ,

Yumm!!! That all sounds amazing!! I would assume 1-2 slices per person. Will there be options for thinner slices or are you pre cutting and serving plated?

Also, let me give you some perspective here.

For a cousin's wedding, my mom offered to bake the wedding cake. She was ServSafe certified (this is important ) and taught foods class at a high school. She catered events for various high school events, because she had the professional grade equipment to do so. She baked and decorated my cousin's cake in the giant kitchen, and the day of the wedding, transported it in the back of her suburban (I strongly urge everyone to NOT do this). She got to the venue, and assembled the cake. Easy, right?

No. because come actual ceremony time, my mom was exhausted. Sure, she enjoyed the wedding, but she was exhausted.

Fast forward to two years later. My older sister is getting married. Again, my mom offered to bake the wedding cake. The cake look and tasted amazing, I'll give my

mom that. But the whole week of the wedding, my mom was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Between baking & decorating my sister's cake, and helping my sister get ready for the wedding, my mom had zero energy left by the time the big day rolled around. Sure, she had fun and enjoyed seeing her first born child get married, but one look at her and you could tell how tired she was.

Fast forward to earlier this year. I'm in the meat and potatoes part of my wedding planning. I'd been on the forum long enough to know the basics of wedding etiquette. My husband and I finally decide on a PROFESSIONAL baker to use, and when we told my mom this, I could tell she was secretly relieved. We never asked, nor did we expect her to bake our wedding cake. However, she herself had considered doing it. Because she felt like she had to. It was very sad she felt that way, and we told her that we'd rather have her actually enjoy herself this time around. No need for her to exhaust herself to the point of going to the hospital (which actually DID happen the night before our rehearsal. That's for another story).

My point is, even if your family did somehow have the means to self cater the desserts, please....do not have them do it. Do not treat them like slaves. Don't you want them to enjoy your wedding?

I like idea minus family members doing cooking. I just went to a wedding and this turned out bad and raw. Also just think of potential liability. Also I am hesitant to eat homemade food unless I have been to the home.

View Quoted Comment It depends upon the way you ask your family members. I wouldn't generalize this as a rude gesture.
With love and with a special gesture from you (the bride), Id ask your loved ones to make there special dessert you've grown up loving!
I say go for it!
It would be so special to have your loved ones recreate your childhood/family favorite desserts.
Also I would label your pies with the special someone who made it, showing the sentiment!

I’d eat it.

View Quoted Comment I know this is an older post, but I found it very helpful with planning my dessert table. I can't believe this wedding forum just ripped you one for being a bride and wanting what you want. I hope your day was beautiful and I hope mine will be as well.