I don't want a cake... but what do I do!?

What about a dessert bar? Some people do donuts too

At my FH's cousins wedding they did pie! It was actually really awesome. They had a ton of flavors, ice cream and whip cream. Everybody seemed really happy with it, and they said it was far less expensive than a cake.

I've seen dessert bars and cupcakes, both were a big hit. I would not recommend having a friend/family make anything (especially edible) for the wedding. It's a lot of work for them and you risk people getting sick if people don't follow food safety. You could try desserts from a local grocery store. I have heard great things about publix cakes for the wedding and I'm sure other desserts by them are just as good.

What about cupcakes? That way you don't have to cut anything but there is still somethi mg sweet there for the guests.

Other people like cake. It's kinda like the 'we're not having alcohol cause we don't drink" thing.

Don't have your family make cake. We were doing pie bars 12 years ago; they go over well, though I did hear 'where's the cake'?

Don't do donuts. Donuts are Tuesday morning, not your wedding, no matter what the magazines say.

I like the idea of a "sweet bar" I think it's a great alternative and can also serve as your favors.? Let people make their own bags?

There has already been at least two threads like this in the past week. You can basically do any other kind of dessert. We are serving a choice of mango cheesecake or key lime pie. It was included in the meal package.

I'll leave all the "friendor" comments alone, but add this: check your venue contract. A lot of venues either won't allow outside catering, or they require it be done by someone licensed and insured.

We had two different tables full of desserts. S'mores, pies, fried apple pies. We did a mini 3 tiered cake too. Every single crumb was gone by the end of the night. Guests love desserts!

#TeamDonuts. The last wedding I went to had a croquembouche which was fabulous. Before that I went to a wedding with dessert budinos that were great. The other two had cake and I don't remember them/remember if I even got cake.

How about a smores bar option. A few venues we looked at had that option and that would fit with a winter wedding

Buy a sheet cake from somewhere and have a "fake cake" (styrofoam decorated like cake). Have servers cut and serve up said sheet cake and most people won't know the difference. Have something different for you and BP.

Would you venue allow a cake from Publix or Costoc? Many people here have said good things about them? You can get a smaller "cute" cake, and then have a sheet in the kitchen if more pieces needed.

You could always do pies and a sheet cake. The sheet cake could be in the back and the staff could cut pieces and set those out so you don't actually see the cake. Do not have friends or family make the food for YOUR event. That is considered rude and could be a health hazard.

What about an ice cream bar? Who doesn't like ice cream?! Lol in all seriousness, I agree with Celia, this is like the whole "I'm not providing alcohol because I don't drink" thing. Cupcakes are a nice alternative. Or like others said, a candy bar. I thought about setting up a little smores bar as an extra, only because we can have a bonfire at our venue!

Have -some- sort of dessert. People won't die if they don't get cake. It's hardly something to stress over in the grand scheme of things.

Shannon, I think it is very rude to offer some food (or drink) to BP, but not to others. VERY RUDE. If someone has an allergy or religious dietary restrictions, of course, you try to accommodate them, but every guest gets the same. If I were eating cake, and ice cream sundaes going to the BP, I would feel like a VUP, very unimportant person.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! We definitely will have dessert, but I think a sheet cake or dessert assortment table may be the way to go. We're not into the cake cutting, and won't have any sort of fake cake on display or anything. Just seems to be a waste of our not-so-big budget. My fiance's sister is a baker and she offered to bake for us as our gift. I understand asking someone would be considered rude, but because she wants to do this for us I'm thinking differently.

I would still get it done from someone else. You don't want to have family work on your wedding. Just my opinion.

We had a small, 6" layered cookie cake for us to cut (took the rest home) and had cupcakes and a cookie table (Pittsburgh-er here) for all guests to enjoy.

ETA, damn autocorrect.