Dessert tables have become very popular in recent years, allowing wedding guests a choice in their dessert on your big day.
A dessert table is any offering other than the wedding and groom’s cake, and can range from a variety of cupcakes to a smorgasbord of treats. Popular goodies include, cookies, tarts, brownies, macarons, and cereal treats.
Well, the desserts are small, so a dessert table will cost less than a wedding cake, right? Not necessarily.
When at a buffet, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) sets in and you want to try it all. The same thing happens with a dessert table. A greater variety of desserts can lead to guests only taking a bite or two of more items than they would typically select.
Can't you hear it? "Of course I'm going to get a mini cupcake, but I can't pass up on a chocolate chip cookie. Is that a chocolate covered Oreo? Oh, lemon tarts!"
So how many desserts do you really need? If you are offering a full size dessert like a cupcake or a full size brownie, count on 1-2 per guest. With smaller desserts like cookies, macarons, bite size brownies, or mini tarts you can count on each guest taking 3 items from the various options.
Right now, people are ready to get out and party after missing all the events that were cancelled during the Covid pandemic. The event planners I work with tell me that about 80% of the guest list are coming to the wedding. Not everyone will have dessert though, and your wedding cake servings factor into the mix as well. If you invite 100 people to the wedding, you won’t need 100 servings of cake and 300 mini desserts – unless you like leftovers.
Ready for some math?
So for your 100 invited guests, let’s say 80 come to the wedding. Only 80-90% of those guests will have dessert, regardless of what you offer. It will be closer to the 90% with a dessert table (again, FOMO), so you need desserts for about 72 people. The smallest three tier cake I make is 56 servings, and if we remove the cake servings, we only need mini desserts for 16 people. At three desserts each, that’s only four dozen mini desserts.
If you want the look of that three tier cake, but want more dessert options for your guests, you can always incorporate a false tier into the wedding cake. The same size cake in the above calculation will look exactly the same but would only serve 24 if you replace the bottom tier with a fake one. Then you would need twelve dozen mini desserts to reach enough servings for those 72 people, which gives your dessert table a much fuller look.
The false tier is decorated in buttercream or fondant like the rest of the cake, so your guests won’t even be able to tell the difference. The only design a false tier will not work with is a naked or semi-iced cake. Can you pick out the false tier in this cake?
There are lots of options when it comes to dessert tables, and I’m always happy to walk through the details with my clients. If you would like to talk about a dessert table or wedding cake just fill out the contact form and we can get started.
FAQs
Create Symmetry
The most striking and easiest dessert tables to style are symmetrical. Start by deciding on a centerpiece, like a simple layer cake set up high on a ruffled tiered cake stand, and then build out from there, creating balance with serving dishes and your desserts.
What should a dessert table include? ›
A dessert table is any offering other than the wedding and groom's cake, and can range from a variety of cupcakes to a smorgasbord of treats. Popular goodies include, cookies, tarts, brownies, macarons, and cereal treats.
How to arrange a dessert table? ›
The easiest way to arrange a dessert table is symmetrically. Put the cake in the back center of your table and elevate it so it is the tallest item. From there, arrange trays, apothecary jars, etc. on either side of the cake.
What is the rule for dessert tables at weddings? ›
What I think would be hard about dessert tables is that there is no set rule about how much dessert you'll need for your guests. According to Wedding Party App, if you're serving all small desserts (cookies, candies, etc.) you should allocate about 2-3 per person and 5-6 different options.
What is the etiquette for dessert tables? ›
The proper way to eat most desserts is with a spoon and fork. The following are some tips: Slide the fork with your left hand and the spoon with the right hand to the side of the dessert plate ( the fork to the left of the plate, and the spoon to the right of the plate.
Is a dessert table cheaper than a cake? ›
Dessert tables are typically presented in a visually appealing way and can be self-serve, allowing guests to pick and choose what they want to try. Dessert tables can be a budget-friendly option compared to custom-designed wedding cakes, as they provide a variety of desserts without breaking the bank.
How to elevate a dessert table? ›
Use cake stands, dessert risers, or even overturned boxes covered with coordinating fabric to elevate some of the treats. This adds depth to the table and prevents it from looking flat.
How many desserts for a dessert table? ›
We recommend 2-4 items per guest, but don't worry, we'll help make sure you have enough servings to go around!
How many sweets for 100 guests? ›
Here's a table to help you work it out
| Number of Guests | 200g Sweets Each | 300g Sweets Each |
|---|
| 10 | 2kg | 3kg |
| 30 | 6kg | 9kg |
| 50 | 10kg | 15kg |
| 100 | 20kg | 30kg |
1 more rowDesserts. For desserts, you can estimate around 1-2 servings per person, depending on the variety and size of the desserts being served. For example: If you plan to serve a variety of desserts like cakes, cookies, and fruit tarts, you will need approximately 50-100 servings for 50 people.
How many cupcakes should I get? We recommend one standard-sized cupcake per guest. If you prefer minis, we suggest two to three minis per guest.
How many desserts are on a dessert table? ›
We recommend 2-4 items per guest, but don't worry, we'll help make sure you have enough servings to go around!
How do you set up a dessert board? ›
Start with dishes
The easiest way to begin assembling your dessert charcuterie board is to place a few small dishes on your base. Fill them with small items such as M&Ms, Skittles, conversation hearts, chocolate chips, etc. You can then begin to add the rest of your items around them.
What size table for dessert table? ›
A six foot banquet table is not only used for guest tables but also your welcome table, gifts and cards table, dessert table, escort card table, and DJ table. Eight foot banquet tables are mainly used as guest tables.
