Wedding Cakes & Food Forum

Do I really need a cake?

ok ladies, I need some help! I don't like cake. Don't get me wrong I loooove sweets, but cake has just never done it for me. So for my big day do I really need to offer cake? My venue offers passed desserts for guests. So far I have a variety of ice cream lollipops, vanilla bean creme brûlée, mini strawberry shortcakes, s'mores, and chocolate chip cookies served with mini vanilla shake shots as my top choices. I feel like it's a good variety, but give me thoughts, opinions, anything. THANKS!!!

Re: Do I really need a cake?

  • redheadtmkredheadtmk member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Creme brulee is my absolute favorite dessert. It all sounds great
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_really-need-cake?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:268f714a-0671-4ded-8576-defaa02c81d9Post:0852ae8d-5ad0-40f3-90b9-6e97cea6d2e5">Do I really need a cake?</a>:
    [QUOTE]ok ladies, I need some help! I don't like cake. Don't get me wrong I loooove sweets, but cake has just never done it for me. So for my big day do I really need to offer cake? My venue offers passed desserts for guests. So far I have a variety of ice cream lollipops, vanilla bean creme brûlée, mini strawberry shortcakes, s'mores, and chocolate chip cookies served with mini vanilla shake shots as my top choices. I feel like it's a good variety, but give me thoughts, opinions, anything. THANKS!!!
    Posted by jpierce@suffolk.edu[/QUOTE]

    The reception is for your guests.  Just because you don't like cake doesn't mean that nobody does; in fact, it's what I look forward to the most at the reception.

    A cousin of mine was insisting on only having cheesecake at her wedding because it's the only cake that she liked.  She compromised and had wedding cake and cheesecake there.  Almost everyone wanted the real cake.  Another cousin (other side of the family, other part of the country) did desserts instead of cake and there were enough people disappointed that she said she'd do a cake if she had to do it all over again.  Nobody complained, they just left all of the desserts on the dessert table.

    You could always do a small cake and sheetcakes in the back.  Let people choose between the cake and a couple of diffrent options if you want a compromise.
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  • kmmssgkmmssg mod
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    I think you choose the dessert you will serve based on your guests, not your personal taste.  You figure out what would appeal to the masses the most and that is the best bang for your buck.

    I personally adore cheesecake, but I am told threre are actually people who hate it.  That would not be a good choice if I were planning my wedding reception.  The other thing I adore in this world is really good cake.  It is its own food group in my world.

    All of that being said, I think your responsibility is this is to offer a nice dessert to your guests.  Your selection sounds really nice.  Would I be disappointed to not have cake?  A little bit.  Is that just me being bratty?  Yeah.  I would never dream of mentioning it out loud.  The cake at my nephew's wedding a couple of months ago was awful - I was so bummed!
  • edited December 2011
    I think that selection sounds good, but it might be nice to have a cake option (not a big wedding cake, but just sliced cake) for someone that wanted it.  

    We had a dessert buffet instead of a wedding cake.  As far as I can tell, it was a big hit--I saw people going through multiple times and later on standing around picking at the fondue.  The cakes on the buffet were just regular sized cakes that the venue replaced as they got used up, not a big wedding cake.  We had:
    - Chocolate cake with raspberry filling
    - Lemon cake with lemon curd and toasted almonds
    - Chocolate fondue (just chocolate in a chafing dish, not a fountain) with pound cake and fresh fruit
    - Chocolate chip cookie shooters (with milk, but I love your milkshake option)
    - Blueberry crisp with homemade ice cream
    - Fresh fruit sorbet
  • edited December 2011
    I love most desserts, but I have to agree with GL Bear about looking forward to wedding cake. Also, I like the way wedding cakes (or cupcakes, which is what we're doing) LOOK. They are just so decorative and pretty. I would be a little disappointed if I didn't get some cake porn at a wedding. 
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  • FaithCaitlinFaithCaitlin member
    5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I look forward to wedding cake the most when I attend a wedding.

    I think your selection sounds great but I'd probably offer some type of cake.

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  • edited December 2011
    Eh, I don't think cake is mandatory - and there's been a huge trend moving away from it over the past few years. I've been to weddings where I've had cupcakes, creme brulée, pies (loved that one), ice cream bars, donut bars. Personally, I'm happy with whatever I get as long as it's delicious.

    And while guests might expect the traditional, I don't think there's anything wrong with mixing it up and getting them to try something new. If people didn't break from tradition, honestly, I'd be really bored by the same old wedding food over and over again. You go to enough weddings, you start to appreicate variety, you know?

    There are always a few pearl clutchers at any event. The reality is, no matter what you serve, there are going to be people who don't like what you do. Luckily, most of the guests are adults who know how to be good guests, to smile and enjoy what's put in front of them.
  • edited December 2011
    I personally hate wedding cake.  I've been to tons of weddings and can't remember a ton of guests even eating the cake.  I would love to be at a wedding with passed desserts!
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  • AbbyjensenAbbyjensen member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Love it. You have enough options to please everyone... Not just the people who love cake. If you wanted to add something like mini chocolate molten cakes or mini vanilla cupcakes, I think they would the theme of small passed desserts, but I don't think that they need to be center stage. Serving something like just cheesecake or just creme brûlée may be an issue, but you have so much variety, everyone should be happy.
  • edited December 2011
    I myself HATE cake! I desided from the get go that we were serving wedding pie. The more traditional people in our family had a big problem with this but like I told them it is MY wedding. So regardless of what anyone says you do what you want. I think that it is refreshing to update a traditional custom.
  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Cake isn't required, and I love the variety of desserts you have so far :-) I'm not a big cake person either.
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  • ElleB87ElleB87 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We're doing fondue. Depending on how many guests are at each table you could put one or two pots at each table and a fruit tray - it could be an interesting experience for your guests
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  • cmp1986cmp1986 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think you should do both. Even if you just have a small one-tier square or round (or any shape you want for that matter). This way you can do the cutting of the cake and have sheet cakes in the back. People will be able to have cake and whatever other desserts you have. This way your cake lovers won't be dissapointed.
  • edited December 2011
    I think that you have a nice variety of desserts and most people will be able to have a sweet after-dinner treat that they enjoy. 

    I do not think cake is mandatory.  I do think that having something sweet is, and you have that covered nicely. 

    NOTE - I love cake. 
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  • edited December 2011
    We're considering not doing a wedding cake. We are having dessert and one of the choices will be cake, but not wedding cake. In my opinion, most wedding cake are forgettable at best and horribly overpriced.
  • edited December 2011
    You don't have to have one. Do what you feel is right :) If you're happy, then I think everyone else will be happy. Plus people get to have cake all the time. I would enjoy having lots of different desserts I wouldn't normally get!
  • jpiercejpierce member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all the input everyone! Much appreciated!!! I'm leaning towards the passed desserts with a cupcake option. I think almost all of my guests know how much I hate cake so it may even be expected. Again, thank you all so much! This was super helpful!!
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