17 Sweet Wedding Dessert Ideas Your Guests Will Love

Everything From Miniature Dessert Shooters to Donut Walls!

We couldn’t help but notice that all of our favorite receptions had one thing in common: fabulously designed dessert displays! From cake tables overflowing with bite-sized confections to interactive treat bars and DIY presentations, these wedding dessert displays are as much eye-candy as they are literally sweet enough to eat. Read on to discover a delicious wedding dessert ideas for your reception that are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Unique Wedding Dessert Ideas

Instead of the traditional five tiered cake, surprise your guests with a sweet treat they’ve never eaten before. You can use these creative dessert ideas for any wedding celebration.

unique trending wedding dessert ideas
unique trending wedding dessert ideas

Cookies Ice cream Sandwiches

Cookies, despite their simplicity are always a welcome treat. A simple and entertaining dessert idea for any summer wedding is to make ice cream sandwiches out of cookies. Oreos can be crumbled and used as a garnish for chocolate chip ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies.

wedding desserts with cookie ice cream sandwiches
wedding desserts with cookie ice cream sandwiches (Photography by Ten22 Studio )
Sprinkles crushed cookies and almonds on ice cream sandwiches are a delicious wedding dessert idea
Sprinkles crushed cookies and almonds on ice cream sandwiches are a delicious wedding dessert idea (Photography by Ten22 Studio)

Cupcake Tower

Because there are so many delicious flavors, fillings, and frostings to pick from, cupcakes make the best wedding dessert idea. Grab one of these red velvet cupcakes, which are cream cheese-filled and finished with whipped cream free of dairy. What about a chocolate cupcake with raspberry preserves inside and chocolate buttercream on top? Everything is accessible simultaneously!

Wedding dessert table with cupcake tower
Wedding dessert table with cupcake tower (Yoyosummer)

Ice Cream Sundae

Guests at a wedding desserts station or buffet can make their own ice cream sundaes with a wide selection of ice cream flavors and toppings such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Finally, you can guarantee that you’ll have something that everyone will like.

ice cream sundae dessert table ideas
ice cream sundae dessert table ideas (miss_winchesteruk)

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Chocolate Mousse

The assortment of scrumptious sounding toppings, including mudslide, key lime pie and peanut butter Oreo, makes this chocolate mousse look irresistible.

chocolate mousse wedding dessert bar ideas
chocolate mousse wedding dessert bar ideas

Fruit Dessert Bar

Enjoy a rush of fruit tarts sweetness that will leave you saying “yum” with every bite – A dessert table full of chocolate dipped strawberries during a summer wedding is sure to win over the hearts of all wedding guests who enjoy sweets.

Fruity wedding dessert table ideas
Fruity wedding dessert table ideas  (Style Me Pretty)

Strawberry Dessert

Serve a colorful and delicious Strawberries Parfait at your spring wedding. This dessert will match your wedding theme and be a hit with your guests. Almost any sweet treat from cakes and puddings to refreshing strawberry shortcake looks great when served in a mason jar because of the layered presentation. Delight your guests with these Strawberry Mousse Parfaits wedding dessert, a set of charming bite sized treats that are excellent for sharing.

Strawberries Parfait wedding dessert bar ideas
Strawberries Parfait wedding dessert bar ideas

S’MORES Dessert Bar

Graham crackers, marshmallows and melted chocolate—do those exact words make your mouth water? The addition of an S’mores station to a wedding’s dessert spread is a wonderful way to make guests feel at home. This is a great idea for small weddings where everyone can make their own chocolatey treats or where a bonfire will serve as the focal point in the evening.

outdoor s'more wedding dessert display ideas
outdoor s'more wedding dessert display ideas (Jamie Jones Photography)

Cake Popsicles

If you’re looking for a fun and creative wedding dessert table idea, consider serving ice cream popsicles. The chance to select their favorite flavors—from traditional vanilla to delicious chocolate or fruity flavors will delight guests. And since cake pops are small, guests can try several different varieties without feeling stuffed. These delectable delights are guaranteed to be a hit on your big day, whether you pick ice cream popsicles or wedding cake pops.

non-traditional wedding dessert ideas
non-traditional cake popsicle wedding dessert ideas (RAYMOND TAN)
creative wedding dessert ideas for 2018 trends
creative wedding dessert ideas

Mini Cream Cheese Cake

Treat your guests with these adorable cheese cake wedding dessert feature rich chocolate crush, a traditional cheese cake filling with cookies bits and topped off with whipped cream and a mini Oreo biscuit

mini Oreo wedding dessert ideas
mini Oreo wedding dessert ideas (Baked By Rachel)

Macaron Tower

Macarons are an excellent replacement to the conventional wedding cake if you prefer something more elegant. Why are macarons a fantastic choice for a wedding dessert table? These are just as classy as a wedding cake would be and they are available in a wide range of colors. All the distinct flavors and the ombre effect make this “cake” tempting. Use a tiered tray to make a rainbow display by adding a different color to each level.

macarons wedding dessert tower ideas
macarons wedding dessert tower ideas (one love photography)

Doughnut Tower Dessert

If doughnuts are your favorite sweet, why not have them at the reception? A doughnut tower is a modern and creative idea for a wedding dessert table. As a fun and engaging part of the wedding reception, this dessert station lets guests choose their own flavors and toppings for tasty treats.

donuts tower wedding dessert ideas
doughnut tower wedding dessert ideas (June Bug Weddings)

Mini Crème Brulee Shooters

When it comes to the reception’s food spread, miniature versions of everything are great. We think these crème Brulee shooters are the cutest little wedding treats ever.

Creme Brulee Shooters wedding dessert ideas
Creme Brulee Shooters wedding dessert ideas (Joanna Wilson Photography)

Donut Holes

If you’re looking for a delicious and budget friendly wedding dessert ideas, doughnut holes are the way to go. Doughnut holes on heart-shaped skewers make a lovely dessert table centerpiece.

elegant doughnut kabobs dessert table ideas for budget friendly wedding reception
doughnut kabobs dessert table ideas for budget friendly wedding reception (Kenroy Lumsden)

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

For a delightful ending to your wedding reception, consider setting up a dessert station with chocolate-covered pretzel rods. These tasty snacks are a great addition to any wedding dessert table because of the delightful balance of sweet and salty flavors they provide. Sprinkles, almonds, and white and dark chocolate drizzles are just some of the options for guests to add to their pretzel rods to make them truly unique

Chocolate dipped pretzel rods wedding dessert ideas
Chocolate dipped pretzel rods wedding dessert ideas

Cannoli Tower

Love cannoli or just want to show off your Italian heritage? This dessert tower is for you. Having a cannoli dessert bar as a wedding cake alternative is a great idea because every guest is likely to find something they love.

Cannoli tower wedding dessert table ideas
Cannoli tower wedding dessert table ideas (Criniti’s Italian Cuisine)

Brownie Dessert Bar

Food is always one of the most expected parts of a wedding. After finishing the main dish, everyone might be looking forward to dessert, but not everyone enjoys wedding cakes. Some guests would love to indulge in some chocolate-covered strawberries, a white mocha and some delicious-looking doughnuts. However your wedding guests won’t be able to resist with these chocolate brownies dusted with powdered sugar and adorned with fresh fruit.

Brownie wedding cake dessert ideas
Brownie wedding cake dessert ideas (Capture it Photography)

Whoopie Pies

When choosing wedding desserts, feel free to let your imagination go crazy. Everyone will be pleased with this assortment of whoopie pies, which features five different tastes and fillings.

Wedding woopie pies dessert bar ideas
Wedding woopie pies dessert bar ideas (K. Thompson Photography)

Common FAQs On Wedding Dessert Table Ideas

wedding dessert ideas

What are some popular wedding dessert ideas?

Some popular wedding dessert ideas include cupcakes, doughnuts, Marshmallow pops, cake pops, chocolate and coconut cookies, Monogram cream tart cake, banana pudding parfaits, Ice Cream Sundaes, chocolate truffles, cheese cake, mini pies, macarons and a dessert bar or table with a variety of options.

What is the cheapest wedding dessert?

Consider a dessert bar if you’re looking for budget friendly wedding dessert ideas because they provide your guests a wide range of alternatives and they’re also quite inexpensive to set up.

What desserts to have for a small wedding?

Desserts like mini doughnuts, small fruit tarts, red velvet madeleines, bite-size cannoli, small cakes, and chocolate-covered strawberries are perfect for a small wedding since they are portable, affordable, and tasty.

How many different desserts should you have at a wedding?

If your guests aren’t eating cake, we recommend serving three to four small desserts each.

How do I choose the best wedding dessert for my wedding?

The best wedding dessert depends on your budget, wedding style, number of guests, and personal preference. Consider the overall theme of your wedding and the flavors and desserts that you and your partner enjoy.

Final Thoughts

Weddings are a time to celebrate the union of two people in love, and it is up to the happy couple to make their big day special and memorable. It’s fine to have cake for dessert occasionally, but you don’t have to. There are a wide variety of tasty and unique wedding dessert ideas to choose from, such as ice cream bars, doughnut towers and macarons. Incorporating your personal preferences and trying new things will help you make your event one to remember. So don’t be scared to think outside the box and pick a wedding dessert table ideas that suits your tastes and preferences!

About me

emma

Seven years ago, I took a leap of faith and merged my organisational skills and love for all things wedding by starting this blog. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of sharing my insights, covering the latest trends, and offering practical how-tos, all aimed at simplifying your wedding experience.

Why weddings, you might ask?

Well, for me, weddings are more than just events; they are a tapestry of love stories, each unique and beautiful in its own way. With a blend of technical expertise and a keen eye for style, I bring a fresh perspective to the wedding scene, marrying (pun intended!) precision with creativity.

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