Wedding Reception Forum

Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?

What do you think about cupcakes at the reception? Andrew and I still would like to do the cake cutting tradition but also like the idea of having an assortment of flavors in a cupcake tower. Each cupcake is a serving and it would be easy for guests to grab and go. Any down sides to this do you think?
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Re: Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?

  • I like cupcakes! I've seen a lot of really pretty cupccake displays at weddings. You and the groom can still feed each other...nobody will miss the actual "cutting" part. Makes the cake easier to serve too!
  • Honestly, I have no problem with cupcakes at weddings.  :)

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  • I think you have to have the right wedding for them. Judge your wedding style to avoid looking like a kids birthday party invaded your formal reception like Lasairona said.
  • If I were dressed nicely (as I normally am for weddings) I would prefer cake with a fork.  It's less messy than a cupcake.  Plus, I like the fillings in cake :)
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_honest-opinion-cupcakes-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:de6a36ad-4ea0-4404-a86b-f8ec7a2d4329Post:a35aef28-08bb-4e6b-b180-16d2c9e2ce6f">Re: Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?</a>:
    [QUOTE]If I were dressed nicely (as I normally am for weddings) I would prefer cake with a fork.  It's less messy than a cupcake.  Plus, I like the fillings in cake :)
    Posted by CA2MT4EveR[/QUOTE]

    Agreed. Cupcakes are messy as heck even when you aren't dressed up. It could be argued that a large number of cupcake shops have fillings in them, but most places actually don't. People do like filling with their cake. Also, some cupcake shops will serve them on a plate with a fork, but from what I understand, that is incredibly rare.
  • I went to a wedding that had cupcakes.  It looked great.  The cupcakes were beautifully decorated and presented on a cupcake tower.  And then they were served on plates and we ate them with a fork.  I liked it.  But then, I love cupcakes.
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  • I love cupcakes (does everyone know that it's national cupcake day, btw?)!! I think as long as the tower is done right and doesn't just look like a bunch of cupcakes on a plate it's a cute idea. That way people can try out different flavors and it's just a lot easier.
  • I've never seen them at a wedding in real life, but I've seen pictures on here and I think it looks great. I don't see them as either formal or informal -- I think they can go either way depending on how they're decorated and presented. For a formal wedding, I'd have them on display and then presented on plates by the wait staff like the PP mentioned.
  • We are doing cupcakes for our reception... We are going to use on of the multi-tiered cupcake trees, so it actually has the look of a wedding cake. We are going to put a small (6") cake on the very top tier so that we can still do the cake cutting part.

    Just make sure that they are decorated nicely, and I think its an awesome idea! A lot of reception venues charge a cake cutting fee, so you can get around that by doing cupcakes also.
  • I prefer cake.  I get icing on my face when I eat cupcakes. :(
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_honest-opinion-cupcakes-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:de6a36ad-4ea0-4404-a86b-f8ec7a2d4329Post:2b06593a-67b4-4352-a7c0-fcc25f989ed5">Re: Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I prefer cake.  I get icing on my face when I eat cupcakes. :(
    Posted by jenn.daniel[/QUOTE]
    Same happens to me. Yet folks say you aren't eating the correctly if that happens which is not true at all.
  • I love cupcakes, but they can be really messy.  I've seen a lot of couples who've done the cupcake tower who have a small cake at the top for the cutting, I've seen some couples cut a regular cupcake, and I've seen some just feed each other the cupcake, no cutting.  It's the feeding that's tradition (it's your first "meal" together as a couple), not the cutting.
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  • I am on team cupcakes.  They can be quite elegant and provide more options, and I don't see a problem with using a fork so you don't get frosting all over your face! Although I would prefer messing my face up to enjoy a cupcake and then just use a napkin...Sometimes it can be cost effective or more expensive which may or may not influence you decision.  Sometimes getting fancy cupcakes can cost more than a full wedding cake - but, depending on your caterer, you may have to pay a cake cutting fee.  
  • I'm having cupcakes at my wedding, made my aunt and her daughter, who are taking a cupcake class to get it right... and my aunt was a pastry chef in college.  That was 20 years ago, but i'm sure it'll be fine!  and if they aren't, I really don't care... it's not one of my priorities.  My wedding is going to be on the casual side though.  It's a beach reception, so we're pretty far from black tie.   I just want something that looks cute, tastes good, and doesn't cost a fortune.  My fi and I may just cut a cupcake in half or something.

    By the way, I don't think cupcakes are that messy!  I can't recall ever eating a cupcake and getting frosting all over my face... at least not since kindergarten.  Wink
  • A thing about cupcakes- I'm fine with them, but I went to a wedding where they had different types. People took more than one, so not everyone got them. I think it was the setup- the food was a buffet, with the cupcakes basically at the end. I think you have have them on a nice display, seperate from the food line (if you're doing stations/buffett) then you will be ok. Especially if you have a small, raised cake that you and Andrew will be cutting into. The cupcakes could be nicely surrounding the cake.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_honest-opinion-cupcakes-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:de6a36ad-4ea0-4404-a86b-f8ec7a2d4329Post:a35aef28-08bb-4e6b-b180-16d2c9e2ce6f">Re: Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?</a>:
    [QUOTE]If I were dressed nicely (as I normally am for weddings) I would prefer cake with a fork.  It's less messy than a cupcake.  Plus, I like the fillings in cake :)
    Posted by CA2MT4EveR[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>Uh... you can eat a cupcake with a fork, just like a regular cake.</div><div>
    </div><div>I like cupcakes! You can always do a very petite cake for the cutting, maybe put that at the very top of the tower and take that home with you. I think they're adorable :)</div>
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  • team cupcakes.
    but im having cupcakes at mine, so i suppose im a bit biased.  i made a few towers, different heights and we'll also having a small 2 tier cake for us :) i couldnt be more excited.
  • I was just at a wedding where they had tiered cupcake stands as centerpieces on all the tables - it was really cute!  They had enoujgh at each table for everyone to have one, and some people to have two or spit a few, and it seemed to work well.  They cut a small regular cake, and also fed each other cupcakes.  I think they are cute and fun and still pretty unusual - go for it!
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  • I would stay with a cake.  Cupcakes are great for birthday parties, but this is your wedding and so it deserves a little more formality.  While cupcakes are easier to grab, they are messier to eat and the towers always take away from the formality and elegance of the reception.
  • Maybe it's just around here, but it looks like its going to be more expensive for me to do cupcakes than it will be to do a cake. Grrr. I really like the idea though, especially about using them as centerpieces on the tables. Cute!
  • We are having a larger reception so we are doing cupcakes and I don't see anything wrong with it.  We are having a cake for show and to cut it.  It was a lot cheaper than getting 1 cake for 150 people.
  • I think this is fine as long as it fits your wedding. I personally prefer cake at a wedding, but cupcakes wouldn't bother or upset me by any means. Just be careful to have enough for everyone. Smile
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  • Another bonus to cupcakes is the freeze really easily. If you end up with left overs, none will be wasted. Go cupcakes! People can choose a fork or not, and there are some really amazing beautiful tasty (not generic) cupcakes out there. 
  • I agree with PP about cupcakes being messy. That being said, they're also a lot of fun and no one will be sitting there going "dang, I wouldn't have come if I knew I wouldn't have gotten filling."
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_honest-opinion-cupcakes-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:de6a36ad-4ea0-4404-a86b-f8ec7a2d4329Post:2421b8fe-29ee-4821-9599-8ef51e07d57a">Re: Honest Opinion: Cupcakes at the Reception?</a>:
    [QUOTE]We are doing cupcakes for our reception... We are going to use on of the multi-tiered cupcake trees, so it actually has the look of a wedding cake. We are going to put a small (6") cake on the very top tier so that we can still do the cake cutting part. Just make sure that they are decorated nicely, and I think its an awesome idea! A lot of reception venues charge a cake cutting fee, so you can get around that by doing cupcakes also.
    Posted by steph_edw7588[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>I am going to do a cake for my wedding but this is a great Idea! Having the smaller cake on top so you can still have the cake cutting. I think if you are a cupcake person it can be really great. </div><div>And I don't see why you couldn't eat a cupcake with a fork if you wanted. : ) 

    </div>
  • Love cupcakes! I've never been a huge cake person, and didn't like the idea of a big elaborate cake, because that's just not us. We're going to have 2 cupcake tiers, with a small, 2-tier cake in the center for us to cut (and take the top home). Our total cost for the cake to cut and the cupcakes is under $100! The set-up of the table looks great, and it's a little bit more fun to us than the traditional cake table! Plus- we save on the cutting and serving fee at our reception venue.
  • We are also planning on doing cupcakes. But we are planning to use mini-cupcakes that are like bite-size. This way you don't have to cut it on a plate or get it on your face. We are still a bit out from the wedding.. but this is what we're thinking about doing.
  • Isn't getting frosting on your face supposed to be cute and romantic? Sounds ok for a wedding to me!
  • I think a lot of it depends on the overall feel and formality of your wedding, though in general I prefer to have a slice of cake at a wedding and not a cupcake. Grab and go is nice, but even at a casual wedding I wear a nice sundress and wouldn't want to get messy. I'm also a very messy eater though!

    One of my FSIL's had  a super casual wedding and used a cupcake tree with a small cake to cut and my FMIL hated it. She thought it was the worst thing you could do to a wedding at the time. Right after we got engaged she said, "Please don't do cupcakes. That's all I ask! Don't make me wear a gown and eat a cupcake. Remember FSIL's wedding?!" haha.
  • we had cupcakes and a small cake to cut as well :)
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