Sweet Celebrations: Selecting a Wedding Cake & Desserts

Few moments feel as sweet and joyful as cutting your wedding cake together — it’s a tradition steeped in celebration, love, and a touch of delicious indulgence. But beyond the cake-cutting photo, your dessert choices set the tone for how your guests will end the evening: with something beautiful, thoughtful, and memorable.

Here are some elegant yet practical tips to help you plan your cake and dessert experience with ease and delight.

Flavor Comes First

While a stunning cake design makes for beautiful photos, your guests will remember how it tasted. Schedule a tasting with your baker, and don’t be afraid to move beyond the classics. Seasonal flavors like lemon-elderflower in spring, strawberry-rhubarb in summer, spiced apple in fall, or chocolate-espresso in winter add a personal, memorable touch.

Size for Your Celebration

A towering cake can be breathtaking, but you don’t need enough tiers to feed every guest. Many couples choose a smaller showpiece cake for the cutting moment, paired with sheet cakes or a dessert table to serve guests. This way, you enjoy the tradition without overspending.

Let the Season Inspire You

Your wedding date is the perfect guide for flavors and décor. Imagine a summer cake adorned with fresh berries, or a winter cake dusted in cocoa with rich jewel-tone flowers. Seasonal choices feel more intentional — and often taste fresher.

Make It a Centerpiece

Your cake deserves the spotlight. Work with your coordinator to place it in a well-lit, visible area, and consider adding candles, florals, or a custom backdrop. Guests love gathering around a cake that feels like part of the décor. One couple I worked with displayed a different flavor of bundt cake at each table, so guests could mingle and share cake flavors from one table to the next. If you do this, select the couple who have been together the longest to cut the table cake at the same time the wedding couple cuts their cake.

Match Your Venue & Climate

Buttercream is soft and luscious — but it doesn’t love hot summer afternoons. If your wedding is outdoors, talk with your baker about options that will hold their shape. For outdoor garden weddings, faux florals and sturdier decorations photograph beautifully and stand up to the elements. A good coordinator will time the display of the cake just right to avoid any melting and disturbance to the look of the cake.

Offer Variety

Not everyone loves cake, and that’s okay. A dessert table with macarons, tartlets, cheesecakes, or family favorites ensures everyone finds something sweet to enjoy. This also creates a lively, interactive moment as guests mingle and sample. Several couples in the Twin Cities choose MochiNut Donuts, and others choose Thumbs Cookies.

Personalize With Meaning

Your desserts can tell a story. Perhaps a family recipe inspires one tier, or your favorite cocktail becomes the flavor of a mini dessert. Incorporating personal details makes your celebration feel uniquely yours.

Be Smart With Your Budget

Delicate piping and sugar flowers are exquisite but add cost. Consider faux tiers for extra height, or hidden sheet cakes for efficient serving. The beauty is in balancing elegance with intention. Cake and desserts don't have to break the bank.

Remember Guest Comfort

Your guests will appreciate thoughtful options, such as a small gluten-free or vegan fruit tray. Clearly labeled desserts make everyone feel included and cared for.

Plan the Final Details

Bring a cake plate, cake cutting set, and your coordinator or banquet team will help be sure you have a plate and some napkins. Confirm who will cut, plate, and serve your cake so the moment flows seamlessly. And if you’d like to save the top tier for your first anniversary, ask your baker to package it for freezing. Consider wrapping your cake tightly when you get home. Or, order a new cake from the same baker on your 1st anniversary to get a fresh version to remember the sweetness.

A Sweet Note

Your wedding desserts are more than a bite of sugar — they’re a reflection of your taste, your story, and your joy. Whether you dream of a towering masterpiece, a rustic buttercream design, or a spread of tiny delights, the sweetest choice is the one that feels true to you.

After all, what better way to celebrate a love story than with a little something sweet?

P.S. Grooms, if you're cutting the cake with your lovely partner, be sure to show kindness and serve or feed your new spouse first — or at the same time. And remember: it’s never okay to shove cake in your spouse’s face. There are so many other playful ways to celebrate while honoring and caring for their wedding experience.