Thoughts on Viennese (Dessert) Table

er225mm

I'm having my reception at the Aquaturf and we are having serving stations for dinner.  This includes a huge dessert table with pastries, cookies, fruit, daiquiris, etc.  I wanted to still have a small wedding cake, for display and cake-cutting purposes.  I emailed a bakery and she said that they don't do small 2-tiered cakes because they will look out of place and that prices start at $5.50 per serving.

We are expecting around 175 people and I can't see paying $1000 for a cake, especially when we have a huge dessert table.

Questions:  Has anyone ever had a dessert table and if so, what did you do about having a cake?  Does anyone know of a bakery that is willing to make a small cake that doesn't necessarily feed all the guests? Or, does anyone know of a bakery that will do a fake tier?

Thanks for your help!

Vanessa630

Just to answer your first couple questions. We are definitely having a Viennese Table. That was my mom's only request.  We're Italian so the dessert is what makes or breaks a meal, haha.  FI's side, on the other hand, is just concerned with meat.

We're also having a wedding cake. I hadn't really considered getting a smaller cake but you make a good point. A lot of girls get a smaller cake for cutting and then have a sheet cake in the back, to save money.  That's always another option.   

SarahRuthG

I would ask more bakers. There has got to be someone out there that will do a smaller cake for you. Don't relay on just one place. My cousin did the dessert table and she had a little cake. As for how it went I dont know - my fiance and I had to leave before the end because of a killer migraine =(

Good luck!

jmestyle

All the weddings I've been to have either just cake or both.
We are doing a cake and then having a cookie/canoli platter on each tabel. I couldn't afford the venn. table

JennandJoel2010

Definetly call around to other bakers. I'm doing cupcakes and had the option to have a mini top-tier cake to cut into. I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the area I'd check out A Little Something Bakery on Park Road in West Hartford.

CTbride79

Our venue (The Mill on the River) includes a 3 tier cake and a viennese dessert table in our package...if I had to choose one or the other though, I'd go with the cake because I guess I can't imagine a wedding without one (but I'm pretty traditional). 

I think you could definitely find cake cheaper than $5.50 a slice...that sounds kinda steep.  What about inquiring with Stop & Shop?  I actually really like their cake, and I know they do all different stuff now...might be worth looking into! 

starrbuk13

does your venue require you to use the bakery that won't do the 2 tier cake?  

if not, i'm sure you can find a bakery that will make you a smaller cake.  one of the PPs mentioned A Little Something Bakery in West Hartford, and i ditto that.  it's only 20 mins or so from Southington, and they are SUPER nice there and will probably be more than happy to do a 2-tier cake.

http://www.alittlesomethingbakery.com/

crushme8602

We are getting married at the AT and wanted to do the Viennese table, but it was just too expensive. Lucky you! It will be awesome. I think you can definitely find someone who will make you a small cake. We are using Donna from Creative Cakes (she is $4.50/slice). Otherwise, I've seen girls post on here that they've gotten their cake from BLs/Costco/Stop & shop.

CTGirl30

I got married at AquaTurf a month ago. We had a cake and we also did the Venetian table. AquaTurf slices up your cake for you and serves it along with the huge offerings on the Venetian Table. We had a 3-tier wedding cake (we froze our top tier so we had 2 tiers to serve to guests and ended up with WAY too much cake left over...we should have gone smaller).

You could always get a cake from like Stop & Shop - have them make you a pretty white cake or whatever color you like - and don't necessarily say it's for a wedding...and do like a small 2-tier one for photos.

Also, Aqua Turf doesn't dictate whom you go with for the cake so call around. Someone WILL make you a smaller cake. We went with DIane of Diane's Sweet Treats in Newington. Call her - she's very good about customizing what you need and I am willing to bet she'll do a small cake for you. Her prices are very reasonable, too.

dpantaleoni

We got married at the Aqua Turf in October and did the stations menu with the Viennese table.  Though I love the dessert table, so much of it goes to waste, but they wouldn't let me remove it from the menu.  We wound up only doing about 100 servings of the cake, which were served at the Viennese table, and it was still a bit too much (we had 200 people total, so we opted for half the servings). 

Our baker was great (Toria Dolce) and we requested she make a 3 tier cake out of styrofoam (only the top tier was real, which is what we cut into) and had sheet cakes in the back, which saved a TON on the costs. 

er225mm

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and responses!  I will continue to call around to see who is willing to make a smaller cake.  Maybe I'll just start telling people that there are only 50 guests at my wedding!

dpantaleoni- I will look into Toria Dolce.  I think having "fake" tiers is a great way to cut down on cake costs too.

CTGirl30- Thank you for the recommendation of Diane's Sweet Treats.  I actually had spoken to her about my situation and she told me that she doesn't make smaller 2-tier cakes for larger crowds.  I think she'd be great if you had a smaller reception, but with her prices starting at 5.50/slice x 175 guests, that was just too much money.

christikao

We're having cake and a viennese table with cordial bar. Our cake is included by our venue but even if it's not we would of still have enough for everyone just because you never know who wants viennese table only or both. Also try Stew Leonard's in Newington. They make amazing cakes and cheap!

Salamandy24

I saw a baker at a bridal show this year called A Piece of Cake. They are out of New Milford, CT. She was showcasing fake tiers that day. I had no idea it was fake! She also had samples of her cake, and it was super yummy. 

apieceofcake.com

smore154

My thoughts- along with the girls who have had this table- is either skip the cake all together or just have a really small one. SO MUCH of this food goes to waste with this table, if you want a cake just to have a cake- I'd say just get yourself a small one for display. Honestly- with this dessert table, no one will miss eating cake!!