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Alyssa
Just Said Yes June 2019

Do i have to serve dessert??

Alyssa, on April 22, 2019 at 4:01 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 43

Hi all!

So I am definitely NOT a dessert person and I certainly do not spend a lot of my hard earned money on sweets. I have decided to completely skip the wedding cake all together. However, I don't even have the slightest urge to spend money on any kinds of desserts for everyone else to enjoy. But, EVERYONE is telling me that I must have some kind of dessert at the wedding. After doing some research, I am looking at spending close to $1,000 on desserts alone, which makes my wallet cry.

What are your thoughts on having no dessert at all? If you believe desserts are a must, do you have any low cost suggestions?? (Even S'MORES bars are expensive!)

Thanks all for your opinions and suggestions Smiley smile

43 Comments

Latest activity by Lisa, on April 23, 2019 at 6:12 PM
  • Nemo
    Master August 2018
    Nemo ·
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    I do think they are a must, but I agree and think sweets are gross. I much prefer salty things, personally. We just did a cake for our guests. How many guests will you have and what options are you looking into?

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  • Kelsey
    VIP September 2020
    Kelsey ·
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    Ok, I love sweets and would be disappointed if I went to a wedding and there were no sweets. There are other options. I know you said cake is out, but what about cupcakes? My FH's co-worker got married this weekend they had pie, it was awesome! Or even a cookie table or a candy table in your colors?

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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    You should offer some sort of dessert. Grocery store cupcakes are very inexpensive and will get the job done.
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  • Melissa
    VIP October 2018
    Melissa ·
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    I personally also could take or leave sweets when it comes to a wedding. However - I will say that most guests expect some kind of dessert. Whether that's cake, pie, ice cream, that's up for discussion. For us, we paid for minimal dessert (our cake and a few dozen cupcakes) but filled the table with homemade stuff that family & friends volunteered to bring in. So that was a money saver for us.

    In the end, its' up to you whether you want to have dessert of any kind or not. It's just something worth keeping in mind that many guests do expect something. Smiley smile

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  • Alyssa
    Just Said Yes June 2019
    Alyssa ·
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    My venue coordinator said that she throws away more than half the cake most of the time, so that is waisted money. I am looking into vendors that do ice cream sandwich carts or ice cream scoops. We are looking at 100-130 people

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  • Alyssa
    Just Said Yes June 2019
    Alyssa ·
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    I was thinking maybe a pie bar. A cookie table sounds good! I wonder if I can find a vendor for that...

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  • Sandy
    Dedicated December 2021
    Sandy ·
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    A lot of people really enjoyed Sam club’s cupcakes. Other weddings that I’ve worked have done different candy and popcorn that people put into bags and take home. They’re super cheap and not hard to set up at all.
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  • B
    VIP July 2017
    Becky ·
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    We did miniature pies (my "cake") through our caterer and doughnuts (his "cake") through a local doughnut shop - they went over very well and were relatively inexpensive

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  • Lauren
    VIP February 2020
    Lauren ·
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    I'm a huge dessert person, so I would be sad if I went to a wedding without any. My mom doesn't love a lot of desserts, but she does love fruit. What about something like a chocolate fountain with fruit? I'm planning on having one, and then, you could have fruit for people to eat or dip in chocolate. Fruit's a sweet but not necessarily a "dessert".

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  • Destiny
    VIP May 2020
    Destiny ·
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    How many people are you having? You could have a cookie bar with cookies from like walmart or get a single sheet cake ? Gordon food service has cheesecake squares 48 for like 12 bucks
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  • Tara
    Expert June 2019
    Tara ·
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    I also think you have to have a dessert. Just because you do not like it does not mean no one else should not have it. You are inviting people to come to your event and your way of saying thank you is their meal when it comes down to it.


    I like your idea for ice cream or ice cream sandwiches! Where are you looking for s'mores? You can do cake pops, cookies, brownies, pies, candy bar, etc. If you buy candy in bulk and set it up on a table in jars with little bags, then people can help themselves. You can see if someone in the family will make cookies and brownies. Or go to a regular store for a cake.


    Another thing is if it is not through your caterer, then make sure that they will help with the setup and serving. They may also charge an extra fee for this. All things to take into consideration when looking outside of your caterer if you think you are saving money.

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  • Mandy
    VIP May 2019
    Mandy ·
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    I'd do something - even if it's not "fancy".. We're doing a small cake to cut and Sam's cupcakes for the guests. The cupcakes are like $15 for 30 of them, so if you bought enough for 150 people it'd only be about $75. They also have cookie trays (just bought one that was 84 cookies for $20).

    Ice cream would be fun as long as you can keep it from melting as not everyone will go grab one at the same time. Have you looked into renting a soft serve ice cream machine?

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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    I don't think that sweets are a must, but I do think that a dessert is a must at a wedding. We are doing a DIY s'mores bar for less than $35! Depending on your number of guests, you can get a sheet cake to be cut and served for under $50. Fresh fruit options could be fruit parfait, fruit tarts, fruit salad with whip cream, strawberry shortcake. A popcorn bar is also a pretty simple and inexpensive DIY dessert/snack option.

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  • Renae
    Dedicated August 2019
    Renae ·
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    We are using Costco for the bridal shower and for some of the desserts at the wedding. They have their usual baked goods but they also have seasonal items like macaroons and mini desserts in the refrigerated aisles. But of course this only works if you have one near you...

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  • Mcskipper
    Rockstar July 2018
    Mcskipper ·
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    I think dessert is an important part of a formal hosted meal.
    We had no interest in cake. We did a berry shortcake bar (3-4 different berry options, biscuits, fresh whipped cream) that was a huge hit for our summer wedding. We did it through our caterer and the add on expense was super reasonable. It doesn’t have to be extravagant and you don’t have to cover every base, but I think some sort of sweet treat after the meal is important.
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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    I think most people expect there to be some type of dessert at a wedding. I also think there should be some continuity between various elements of an event. If you're looking for "lowest cost options" for dessert, I think that would be more consistent with a lower-cost wedding overall (nothing wrong with that at ALL). However, if you're going for a more upscale, semi-formal event, I don't think grocery store cupcakes fit that vibe very well. Not all desserts have to be super sweet. Some pies and cakes (especially the "semi-naked" variety) are much less sweet than others. Also, if you haven't yet, I'd do some comparison shopping on costs. Daughter initially had wedding cake quotes in the $6-10 range per slice. A $600-$1000 cake didn't fit her budget, and, honestly, she didn't love those cakes. She kept searching and found a small local cupcake store that also does cakes, that would make her cake, including customizing the frosting because she is picky about food textures/consistencies, and came in under $4 a slice. She had a gorgeous cake delivered for about $425, so a nice, "wedding appropriate dessert" doesn't have to cost $1000 (and we're in a relatively high cost of living area).

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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    I personally wouldn't miss dessert at a wedding, as long as they had an open bar. Liquor has so much sugar I don't even notice it (but my fiance & I drink a lot at weddings). So that would depend for me. I do know a lot of older guests appreciate wedding cake. Have you thought about a candy bar or cookies?

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  • Summerbride77
    VIP July 2019
    Summerbride77 ·
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    I would be disappointed if there wasn't some kind of dessert. Like PPs have said cookie, sheet cake, cheesecake, etc from the grocery store is a good inexpensive options (that can always be quickly styled with a few fresh flowers too look fancier). If you really don't want sweets, you could also look at doing a fruit and cheese course after dinner or something like a hot chocolate bar.
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  • M
    Dedicated October 2019
    M ·
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    Italian cookie trays are extremely affordable and paired with tea and coffee satisfy my sweet tooth just fine and give a sense of “ending” to the meal. After a long night of partying, drinking, and eating, people will want something. I have a huge sweet tooth and always look forward to dessert. (Even just at normal dinner, I pick on my meal until it’s dessert time😂).
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  • Anna
    Expert June 2019
    Anna ·
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    FH and I are both longtime vegetarians, but we are offering our guests meat. For me, I'd rather have dessert only and no dinner if I had to choose. I'd be super bummed if I went to a wedding without dessert. So I vote have something.
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