Dessert bars are a trend, but they aren’t exactly new, and they aren’t going away anytime soon, owing to their global appeal and photogenic nature. Having a dessert table at your wedding reception allows you to a) have a beautiful and efficient wedding cake presentation and b) have additional room to serve a variety of desserts in addition to (or instead of) cake. We will show you some amazing wedding dessert bar ideas to effectively inspire and plan your wedding.
Delightful decorations and breathtaking backdrops are not only part of the fun, but they also help create an Instagram-worthy center for the celebration.
What should be on the dessert bar at a wedding?
It’s entirely up to you whether you fill your dessert bar with five single-tier wedding cakes, locally created pies, a DIY candy bar or mounds of cookies and doughnuts. You may design a dessert table that complements your wedding theme, colors and sweet taste! There’s always a place for a specific sweets table, whether your wedding venue is a laid-back ranch or an opulent ballroom. To make your big day even sweeter, check out our wedding dessert bar ideas.
Vintage Inspired
This vintage-inspired dessert bar display is so chic because of the way the various colors and materials complement one another.
Mix Dessert Display
The reception’s dessert table is dressed up with a variety of treats, from cupcakes to ice cream to macarons and floating candles.
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Cupcake Dessert Bar
You have a lot of creative options with a cupcake wedding dessert bar in terms of design, flavor, presentation and more. The cupcakes can be customized in a number of ways, including flavor, filling, décor and more to fit your wedding’s theme.
Rustic Cake Display
Instead of using a standard cake stand, a number of elegantly frosted cupcakes are placed on a set of rustic stairs.
Mini Dessert Bar
Bite sized cakes are adorable in every way. Instead of the traditional large multi-tiered wedding cake, mini cakes are a lovely addition to your wedding dessert bar. Easy to eat cake will definitely have something your guests would like.
Fruit Dessert Bar
Fruit lovers can enjoy a dessert buffet featuring their favorite fruit in the form of fruit-flavored cakes, cupcakes and other sweets dipped in chocolate. A fruit dessert bar is a fantastic choice for a summer wedding because most fruits are in season throughout the summer and their brilliant colors can match the season.
Ladder Dessert Display
For a sweet ending to your wedding day, consider using a vintage ladder dessert table with a wedding sign. The lovely vintage ladder display can carry a variety of delicious sweets that your wedding day guests are sure to love.
The dessert display which includes pies, cakes, cookies and cupcakes, will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. The sign is also a wonderful decorative element to the display and a great means of inviting guests to try the candies.
Create a Dessert Collection
Modern shelves are a terrific way to display your collection of tasty wedding desserts and are a great addition to any dessert bar. These shelves would look lovely and sophisticated when adorned with flowers for a spring wedding. This rack has multiple levels and compartments, making it ideal for displaying a wide variety of baked goods and sweets.
Everything Dessert Bar
If you simply cannot decide on just one type of sweet treat, a “everything” dessert bar is a fantastic option. Fill the table with as many varieties of desserts as you like. Whatever comes to mind, you can put on the table including cupcakes, mini pies, cones, doughnuts and macarons.
Cupcake & Macaron Dessert Bar
If you’re planning a modern wedding, macarons, which are simple to make in a variety of flavors and colors like pastel blue, make a sweet complement to the weddings dessert bar.
Tiered Cake Dessert Bar
Even if you’re short on table space, you can still put out a delicious selection of sweets. A tiered cake stand is an excellent option for displaying a gorgeous wedding cake on the top layer and a variety of desserts on the lower tiers. If you want to impress your guests, have each delicious item identified with a handwritten label.
Pie Dessert Bar
Mini pies, which can be served to each guest as a personal treat, are a delightful addition to wedding dessert bars. Depending on the time of year, several types of pies, such as apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie and even chocolate chip pie could be served as wedding desserts.
Mixed Pies With Cake
When it comes to weddings, adding some tasty treats to the dessert table can be a great way to impress your guests. Pecan and berry pies with their rich flavors can be a great addition to your wedding especially when paired with a two tiered cream cheese cake.
If you don’t like traditional wedding cake, individual pies can be a great alternative. They’re tasty, easy to use and give your big day a little extra charm.
Dessert Buffet Table With Wedding Sign
Adding a little flair to your dessert table with some calligraphy wedding sign and doughnuts
Cake Pop Dessert Bar
Cake pops are fun and versatile additions to wedding dessert bars and they can be decorated to match any theme or color palette. Not only are they delicious but there is a variety of ways in they can be decorated to fit into your wedding’s theme or color palette.
Cake pops can be dressed up with edible glitter or kept classic with a white chocolate drizzle, depending on your taste. Plus, their bite-sized portions make them easy to grab and enjoy, making them a popular choice among guests.
Charcuterie Dessert Bar
Looking for a unique way to impress your guests at your next event? Look no further than dessert charcuterie bars ideas. Dessert charcuterie boards are great for entertaining since guests can help themselves to whatever they like from a spread of fruit, chocolate, biscuits, marshmallows and almonds.
Cone Dessert Bar
Ice cream cones have many other uses! Delicious toppings, such as peanut butter, cookies and doughnuts can be served at dessert bar in the shape of a cone. Cones are a unique and tasty option for a wedding dessert table because of their versatility in presentation and flavor.
Gourmet Doughnuts Dessert Table
A fun and unique dessert bar idea that can really set your spread apart is gourmet doughnuts. Not only do they taste great, but there are infinite ways to adorn them, so they can fit with any theme or style.
Boho Chic Dessert Bar
A dessert bar display that is both elegant and dramatic can capture the bohemian spirit. As for the desserts themselves, they could have both traditional sweets like cakes, cookies and pastries as well as healthier options like fruit and yogurt parfaits. Overall, the spread is beautiful and invites guests to enjoy it in a carefree and laid back manner.
See also: Small Boho Wedding Decoration Ideas
Woodland Cupcakes
The centerpiece of the wedding dessert table are these cupcakes, despite their minimal decoration. The guests will keep returning for more cupcakes even though there are plenty of other delicious goodies on the table. These cupcakes are proof that sometimes less is more, whether you prefer chocolate or vanilla.
Cookie Dessert Bar
What goes best with a traditional wedding cake? A mini candy bar along with cookies like chocolate chip and snickerdoodle.
Ice cream Display
You can never have too many dessert choices, so why not include ice cream? A summer wedding is the perfect time for a dessert bar loaded with ice cream flavors. Your guests will go crazy for it and you can wow them with exquisite ice cream sundaes that you make right in front of them.
You can choose from popular flavors like chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip, mint and pistachio or more unusual ones like lotus, matcha and Kinder Bueno.
Dessert Table With Fruit Tarts
Do you want to add some color to your dessert table with a lighter option? Guests will have a blast with these colorful and tasty fruit tarts.
Red velvet Dessert Bar
Delight in the best of both worlds with this wedding dessert bar of red velvet cupcakes. Cupcakes topped with creamy cheese icing are the perfect combination of sweetness and tanginess. Moreover, adding a variety of cookies to the cupcakes is a great way to give some extra crunch & taste.
S’mores Bar
Do you want to add some excitement to your wedding dessert? The addition of a DIY s’mores bar can be a fun and tasty treat for your guests at the reception. Your guests can make their own unique s’mores by selecting their favorite combination of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows. This is a delicious way to get your guests mingling and laughing together.
Types of Dessert Tables for Weddings
The Bar of S'mores
S'mores are an American wedding dessert craze that has recently made its way to British shores. Set up a fire pit at your site and invite your guests to assemble and toast their very own sticky, delicious delight!
Bar of Cookies
In the same vein as doughnuts, cookies make a lovely addition to any wedding dessert table. Cookies are a convenient post-dance snack, and the variety of flavors will keep guests coming back for more throughout the evening.
Decorative Doughnuts for the Wall
Doughnut walls are a tremendous hit because they're so delicious and convenient for guests. Make your doughnut wall a backdrop for your wedding cake table, complete with matching blossoms.
With a Tiered Dessert Table
It's possible to have a lovely wedding cake and dessert bar even if you don't have much room for it. Place the top tier of your wedding cake and the lower tiers of your dessert table with handwritten labels describing each item. Finish with a couple of stems to provide a little bit of wow.
Display in a Vintage Style
This vintage-style exhibit has a great blend of colors and textures. Beautiful contrast between the faux fur runner and the weathered wood and scattered flora in this room. If you want an eclectic look for your wedding dessert table, gather a variety of chopping boards, trays, and chests.
Bring a rustic feel
A paste table display is a great way to add a rustic atmosphere to a wedding reception. If you're going for a homemade feel, avoid too polished and flawless cakes in favor of brownies, flapjacks, and naked cakes on your table.
Macrame table runners
Rustic weddings have always been our favorite, from boho wedding dresses and flower crowns to macrame table runner ideas. If you want to do some wedding DIY and make your own decorations, many macrame kits are available.
Crates Stacking
Consider using wooden boxes to add visual flair to your wedding dessert presentation. When arranging desserts on a dessert table, use crates stacked on top of one another to create depth and interest.
Theme of Cactus
Cacti and succulents have recently had a resurgence in popularity as wedding decor. We're in love with the ikat-style cake ribbon and the icing-made plants, as well as the genuine ones scattered throughout the table!
Floral Colors in a New Light
Neither you nor your bridesmaids will require your flowers after the ceremony; therefore, it makes sense to re-purpose them. When you're done with your bouquets, ask your venue to have some vases available on your dessert table. The flowers are a low-cost way to add a splash of color and beauty to your dessert table.
The Dessert Rack
There's no need for a real table when it comes to serving up sweets. We're not! This stunning gold and glass shelving unit are adorned with lush greenery and blooming flowers, and it is simply stunning.
Stack of Doughnuts
Traditional wedding cakes can feel out of place if you frequently visit the Krispy Kreme drive-thru, so swapping out the cake with a doughnut stack makes perfect sense. Doughnut displays at the dessert table may be made to look as delicious as they taste by working with your florist.
Chimichanga Churro Shop
If you don't like cake or cookies, that's fine too. We think you and your partner must choose a dessert that you both enjoy. These churro cones would be the perfect addition to any wedding dessert table at Hitched HQ!
Styles of the Industrial Era
Using steel and copper pipes to decorate your wedding reception table will instantly give it an industrial feel. Wooden trays, flowers, and leaves can be used to soften a hard-edged bridal presentation, making it look more like a modern-day celebration.
Cohesive Color Scheme
Elegant and traditional settings are ideal for a wedding cake and dessert table decorated in coordinating shades of white and ivory. Because of the yellow blooms on the cake, this delicacy has a fresh and fashionable appearance.
Make-Your-Own Bakes
If you're planning a rustic wedding in a village hall or a secluded tipi, handcrafted cakes, pies, and tarts are the perfect accompaniment. Set trays on white vintage-style table runners and linens and have any talented bakers in the family whip up some of their specialties for an extra-personal touch.
With a Modern Twist
Consider using an old dresser or desk to showcase your wedding cake and sweets instead of the traditional spherical wedding dessert table. Reclamation yards and boot sales are great places to get bargains under $30 that only require a fresh coat of paint and a few funky handles to transform. It's a great way to update the classic wedding cake table with a few creative signs and a flower wreath from your florist.
Tips for Wedding Dessert Bar Ideas
The planning of a wedding dessert bar requires some consideration. Make sure you have the following items with you at all times:
- If you want a traditional wedding cake, go with this first. If this is the centerpiece of the dessert table, you'll want to get started right away!
- Other desserts: Choose other desserts in addition to your cake, and be sure to include different flavors and ingredients so that everyone can enjoy. The possibilities are endless, from a candy bar to an apple to a brownie.
- The tabletop: Think about the type of table you'll be using and whether or not it will be the centerpiece of the room.
- Decorate your dessert bar with cake stands and other interesting dessert displays, which will give visual interest and height to the table.
Common Questions
What do you put on a wedding dessert bar?
Chocolate-dipped treats like Rice Krispies bars and caramel apples should be on display. Perhaps provide fruit skewers, chocolate brownie bite-sized pieces and soft pretzel sticks as dippers for a chocolate fountain? (for that delectable salty-sweet combo). If the color chocolate brown isn't right for your wedding, feel free to substitute another shade.
What do you name a wedding dessert table?
It's customary to have a Viennese hour after dinner and after the wedding cake has been sliced. As the party goes on into the night, it serves as an elegant display of desserts.
How much does it cost to have a wedding dessert table?
The total cost for 100 visitors is estimated to be around $800-$1000. Desserts cost around $700 for 240 pieces (60 “sets”) of desserts. To feed 80 people, you'll need desserts that are at least 8″ in diameter.
What is the best time to set up a wedding dessert bar?
During the Party Stage, Serve Dessert. The serving of dessert often marks the beginning of the party phase of a wedding, which I generally refer to as the post-dinner stage.
How many desserts should be served at a wedding?
You should aim for 2-3 pieces of dessert for each person at dessert bars (even if you serve cake, people eat with their eyes first and will still pick up more than one piece of dessert from your display!).
Are cupcakes cheaper than cakes at a wedding?
It is possible to save money on your wedding cake by opting for cupcakes, pies, or doughnuts instead. Although your chosen bakery will determine the final cost, you can save money on your wedding dessert because these items don't take a lot of decorating work.
What's the cheapest option for a wedding dessert?
Dessert Bars of any kind and Ice Cream trucks and carts are the cheapest wedding desserts. Ice cream bar is tends to get messy and look unpleasant if it isn't made properly. Popsicles, Gourmet popsicles and a cookie table are included in the same concept as the ice cream.
Final Thoughts
Since you were a small girl, you’ve fantasized about your wedding day. If you want your wedding to stand apart from the rest —it’s a good idea to include some playful or unique elements, like dessert table. It’s a cheap and easy way to impress your guests. The great wedding dessert bar ideas we discussed above are sure to help you put together a sweet finish for your reception.
