All You Need to Know About Having A Dessert Bar at Your Wedding

As the years go by, I notice dessert bars are becoming more and more popular, and I'm seeing less and less of the traditional wedding cake. Couples have started getting small 1-2 tiered wedding cakes to cut themselves, then offer a ton of other different dessert options, rather than just serving cake to their guests. Not only is a dessert bar is a great way to show off the sweet treats the couple enjoys, it gives your guests the opportunity to have different dessert options they'd like to try too. And obviously, it's adorable!

Some of the Most Popular Dessert Bar Options:

• Mini Pies

• Cheesecake

• Mini Cupcakes & Regular Cupcakes

• Donuts

• Cake Pops

• Brownie Bites

• Cheesecake Shooters

• Cookies

• Chocolate Covered Strawberries

• Ice Cream Bar

• S’mores Station

Different Ways to Display Your Dessert Bar:

Sure, you can use a normal table, but where’s the fun in that? These are some examples from previous weddings I’ve coordinated, where brides went the extra mile to make their desserts stand out! They used things like a:

• Dresser

• Vanity Cabinet

• Ladder Stand

• Cigar Bar

• Donut Wall

Tips & Tricks to a Dessert Bar:

• Have displays that are different heights to make your desserts stand out. You don’t want everything to be on the same level, because it’s much less noticeable to your guests standing on the other side of the room.

• Don’t have too many options. I know how easy it can be to get carried away with adding desserts to your menu, but try to keep it limited.

• Have mini desserts so they’re easier to handle, and guests can try more desserts without filling up on one thing.

• Don't order more than what you need. Only about 75% of your guests will take a dessert, and trust me when I say at the end of your wedding night, you don’t want to have to take home 75 leftover cheesecake shooters.

• Check with your guests to see who has dietary restrictions. If you have a guest who is gluten intolerant, you can provide a few special gluten free desserts for them!

How Much Should I Order?

Only about 75% of your guests will eat the desserts, and out of the people that do grab from your dessert bar, they are more than likely to take more than one thing. A good rule of thumb is 1.5 desserts per guest if you’re opting for no leftovers, however if you want to ensure you won’t run out, order 2-2.5 desserts per person.

When it comes to how many sweet treats to order for your dessert bar, stick to 3-5. It can sometimes be easy to get carried away with all of the choices, but you don’t want to overwhelm your guests with too many options or flavors.

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Wanting to Add a More Personal Touch?

Add a Sweet Story!

What is a Sweet Story?

A sweet story is a fun and interactive way for the couple to share their love story using their favorite treats! Take a peek at the sweet story a previous couple of mine did. Olivia and Boyd selected 4 desserts that represented milestones in their relationship, and wrote a brief description of each dessert for their guests. On each of the guests place settings, the couple printed out a sweet story menu so each guest could see the dessert menu and get to know a little bit more about the bride and groom!

• Candied Maple Bacon, representing Memphis Tennessee where the couple traveled to after their graduation.

• Cookies, representing Dayton Ohio where they met, and each cookie had their college logo on them!

• Churros, representing San Antonio Texas where the groom grew up and where the couple currently lives

• Mini Donuts from Dubuque Iowa, where the bride grew up