unique wedding ideas

10 Chic Naked Wedding Cakes and Why We Love Them
by Nahva Tecklu

Photo by True Atelier

Photo by True Atelier

When it comes to wedding cakes, what's more beautiful than delicate cake, decadent buttercream, and fresh fruit and flowers? Honestly, not much, which is why so many brides are choosing to go naked on their wedding day...well go for naked cakes that is. We're huge fans of unique wedding cakes. This season's hottest trend is to forgo the fondant and we love it. Take a look these 10 chic naked wedding cakes and you'll see why we're obsessed!

This cake is the definition of pretty. Pink blooms and dusted powdered sugar give it an whimsical feel perfect for a fairytale or garden wedding. It's too pretty to eat, well almost...

Only a few ripe berries adorn this stunning cake, and it needs nothing more! The chic minimalism would make the perfect statement at a rustic vineyard wedding.

This cake would look amazing at a barn wedding. The thin layers of cake with exposed buttercream and subtle hints of lavender give this naked cake homemade country chic vibes we can't get enough of.

Momofuku is known for their amazing desserts and, of course, their wedding cakes are no different. This playful riff on classic funfetti comes naked and is a delicious way to celebrate a spring or summer wedding. Yum!

The combination of berries and flowers give this tri tiered naked cake a woodsy feel perfect for outdoor weddings. Not only is the cake beautiful, it's multiple flavors guarantees it will be a crowd pleaser.

Photo by Sweet Paul

Photo by Sweet Paul

The contrast between the dark layers of cake and white buttercream combined with the caramel dripping down the sides of this cake make it a true showstopper. There's no way your guests will be able to resist.

Ever been to a wedding with a cake that - to your disappointment - looked way better than it tasted? This is certainly not one of those cakes. It's beauty comes from strawberry jam seeping out of exposed layers of sponge cake and lemon buttercream. Looks and tastes like summer!

We're all about switching things up and this cake does exactly that. The exposed lines of cake and frosting are highlighted by the square shape of the cake for a cool, modern look.

With it's decorative frosting perfectly peaking out between each layer this naked chocolate cake is sure to win over any preppy bride!

This cake is amazing. The stacked berries add a touch of drama to each delicate layer. And as if we couldn't love it more....it's a DIY! If you're considering making your own wedding cake a naked cake is a great option. Because of it's perfectly imperfect homemade aesthetic it's a lot more forgiving than a traditional cake. This bride did an incredible job creating her cake and with this online tutorial, you can do the same. Pair it up with a DIY topper to create a showstopper of your own!

With so many sweet moments centered around it, the cake is an iconic part of any wedding. Go ahead and make a chic statement with yours by trying one of these naked wedding cakes everyone will love! Comment below and let us know what you think of the trend!

3 dapper summer style ideas for grooms and groomsmen
by Biana Perez

Let me paint this little picture for you — your handsome groom is standing alongside his best guys at the altar... and all of them dripping in sweat. Not so glamorous, right? Is anyone likely to notice, probably not. But why not have everyone that's a part of your wedding day feel comfortable?

Dark suits are not the end all be all for weddings, but not anymore. Keep reading for three fun summer style ideas for grooms and groomsmen to look dapper and keep cool!

LIGHT SUITS

If you've always imagined having the men in your wedding dressed in suits, it's still possible with a summer wedding! Keep the color light with a grey, blue or tan suit. If you're having an outdoor ceremony, the guys will be thanking you for not having them in dark suits that are doing more harm than good in the hot sun!

SKIP THE JACKET

No jacket, no problem. If your groomsmen are budget conscious, they will say a big thank you for not requiring them to rent (or possibly buy) a full suit! Matching ties can pull this entire look together, and the bright side is your groom can still stand out by wearing a full suit. You can have fun with this look by having them show off accessories like suspenders or just wear vests — either way, it's a great summer wedding look. And, most importantly, it keeps your guys looking hot without being hot!

BOW TIES TO DRESS IT UP

Another fun alternative to the full suit is to dress up the guys with bow ties. You can go the dressy route with black bow ties for the groomsmen and then have the groom in a tie, or have them all match with bow ties! You'll see below that this look good with or without suspenders.

Photo by Jo Photo

Photo by Jo Photo

For the most part, the groomsmen will happily take part in your day without uttering a word (if they are uncomfortable!), but these are just a few more things to keep in mind if a large portion of your wedding is taking place outside. If you have some men in the bridal party that tend to sweat a lot, have them order a second white shirt so that they can easily change into that between the ceremony and reception! If that still doesn't help ,these mini hand held personal fans are sure to keep them cool before they have to make their way down the aisle.

What do you like to see groomsmen wearing at a summer wedding? Let us know in the comments! Biana Perez is a twenty-something newlywed that is quite simply giddy over weddings. She's co-owner of Bespoke Boston Weddings & Events in Boston and you can read along as she writes about food, fashion & fitness (and lots more in between) on her blog, Bloved Boston, and follow her @blovedboston on Twitter!

How to plan a fun wedding weekend your guests will never forget!
by Karly Anderson

For some couples, the wedding day simply isn’t “enough.” Instead, they opt to make a whole fun wedding weekend out of it! From hosting meals to different activities, it’s an opportunity for the bridal party and guests to interact with each other all weekend long, all the while celebrating the couple and their pending nuptials.

Wedding weekends typically begin Friday morning and/or afternoon as guests arrive, with the wedding held Saturday, and activities wrapping up early Sunday. In a nutshell, think of it as planning a short, weekend getaway for a large group of friends – think of things that your guests would like to do or see, what they’d like readily available (food, drinks), and so on.

If you’re planning to go the wedding weekend route, keep in mind that there is a lot more that goes into planning this weekend-long event than if you were just planning the wedding day. I’ve outlined some things to consider as you start to plan the weekend that will help to ensure that your guests are comfortable and entertained for the duration of their stay.

PICK ONE LOCATION

A wedding weekend will go much smoother if everybody is staying in the same location and a majority of the activities are also held at the same place – a hotel or resort will most likely work best for this scenario. Be sure to call around to local places in your area to see if you can get a discounted rate for rooms for your guests – most hotels are willing to accommodate large groups of people for multiple days for a lower price-per-night room charge.

HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER OR ASK SOMEONE FOR HELP

Since there will be quite a few more logistics to plan throughout a whole wedding weekend, a wedding planner or coordinator might be your saving grace in keeping the itinerary running smoothly and on-time. If that isn’t in the budget, consider appointing close friends and family in charge of certain tasks and activities – if your cousin is an early bird, ask her to manage breakfast/brunch details, such as picking up the food (if necessary) set up, etc. This will allow you and your significant other to still enjoy the weekend without worrying if everything is going accordingly. DO NOT ask either set of parents or bridal party members to take charge of anything the day of the wedding – they will need to be with you to get ready!

CREATE A WEDDING WEBSITE

Although wedding websites are a pretty standard detail these days for weddings, it is especially crucial for wedding weekends. A website will allow you to share the weekend itinerary and planned activities with guests, as well as suggestions as to what to pack per the dress code for each event. Your guests will appreciate knowing ahead of time what to expect from the weekend and what they do and do not want to participate in. This real-life couple’s wedding website is a great example of what a wedding weekend website should include.

PROVIDE WELCOME BASKETS

Nothing makes guests feel more at home and welcome than be greeted at the hotel with a personalized basket or favor bag put together by the couple. Be sure to include a few refreshments, such as mini bottles of water, snacks and a few pieces of candy, as well as a printed copy of the weekend itinerary, and any brochures from local attractions and restaurants.

ORGANIZE GROUP ACTIVITIES AND SUGGEST THINGS TO DO

The primary event(s) of a wedding weekend is hosting organized activities for your guests so nobody is left bored or unsure of what to do in a place that they aren’t familiar with. The sky is the limit here – host a luau-themed welcome party Friday night so guests can break out their tropical-inspired wardrobe, or take a field trip to a local museum the following afternoon before the wedding events begin. Don’t forget about food! There should be organized meals planned for each day of the weekend – you may opt to have light hors d'oeuvres Friday afternoon as guests are still arriving, followed by a large dinner that evening and breakfast and/or brunch Saturday and Sunday morning (dinner will be served at the wedding reception Saturday night).

Keep in mind – your guests are entitled to downtime, so you don’t have to plan for every second of every day. Plus, if someone doesn’t want to participate in one of the organized events, they aren’t obligated to! That’s why you provided local attraction information and food suggestions in their welcome basket. Also, you and your spouse are not expected to attend any events the day of the wedding – your guests will understand that you’re busy preparing for the big (and main!) event of the weekend.

BE GENEROUS, BUT DON’T BLOW YOUR BUDGET

You’ve invited all these people to celebrate you and your spouse for an entire weekend, so obviously you have the mentality that you should (and need to!) take care of every last thing, regardless of the expense. Reality check: don’t blow your budget! Staying smart with certain activities or details will help you in the long run – maybe you only offer a full, open bar at the actual wedding, but only offer beer and wine and a cash bar at all other weekend events. Decide what’s important to you to splurge on ahead of time so you know where you can cut back elsewhere.

While this is just a brief overview of things to consider while planning a wedding weekend, hopefully it provides insight into all the additional details that need to be planned and accounted for. Above all, don’t lose sight that you’re trying to show your guests that you care about and appreciate their presence at the biggest moment of your life – if you try your best to keep them happy throughout the weekend, you’ve done your job!

If you’re looking for more information or tips on how to throw a wedding weekend, A Practical Wedding shares a great article that includes a mock itinerary for a wedding weekend that is sure to be helpful to anybody planning this type of event. You also can check out Brides.com for more details and tips on how to throw the perfect wedding weekend.

Karly Anderson is a born and raised Midwest girl currently residing outside Milwaukee, Wis. Her blog, Miss in the Midwest, chronicles her take on beauty, life and style in the Heartland. Catch up with Karly on Instagram, Facebook and TwitterFind Karly's creative musings here.

10 wedding tasks your groom should be in charge of
by Jenny Preston

Photo by Jose Villa

Photo by Jose Villa

Your fiancé is exhausted. He just spent sleepless nights planning the perfect proposal, finding the perfect ring and keeping a HUGE secret. He is ready for a break, but you were just given a ticket to start planning the day of your dreams! Getting your fiancé excited about wedding planning can be a bit of a challenge and may become frustrating, if not infuriating.

So what the important wedding tasks for your groom to be in charge of?  I’m going to let you in on a few tips and tricks I have seen work when it comes to getting your groom on the wedding planning express.

Talk about His Wedding Dreams

As much as we may deny it, we all have a few wedding dreams we would like to see come to life. Ask him what he would like to have at the wedding, what he doesn’t want at the wedding. Maybe he has an intense love for cooking and food, lending his interests perfectly to the research (and tastings) required to find a caterer. Make the day about both of your interests, and your fiancé will be more willing to participate.

Managing the Groomsmen Attire

Believe it or not, finding the perfect suit at the perfect price point for all of your groomsmen can be a pesky job. Between the shopping, the fittings, negotiating, delivery, and tailoring it is almost more exhausting than finding a wedding dress. If your groom is interested in having everyone match, talk about the style of the suit together and then put him in charge of the suit order.

The Rehearsal Dinner

It can be customary for the groom’s parents to pitch in on the rehearsal dinner. This can be a great opportunity for your groom to get his family involved in a planning of the rehearsal dinner. Make a day of it and walk around downtown to ask your favorite restaurants if they rent out an area for private parties, set up a few tastings, and nail down a guest list. Boom rehearsal dinner planned and off your plate.

Rentals

Reserving your wedding day rentals is all about numbers and logistics. If you don’t have a wedding planner, this can be the perfect job for your groom. When reserving wedding chairs, tables, plates, flatware, glassware, tents, even space heaters, there is a lot of counting involved - and recounting. Then there is the negotiating and managing of drop offs and pick up times. If your groom is a numbers guy and enjoys process more than floral design, this is the job for him.

The Signature Cocktail

My now husband and I loved creating our signature cocktail. We went to one of our favorite local bars, told the bartender what we like, and sat back while he crafted a few things for us. By the end we had a perfect cocktail and a wonderful date night to boot.

Before or After Party

Photo by Erich McVey  via OnceWed

Photo by Erich McVey via OnceWed

Your favorite people are all celebrating you and your love. Party it up! As the bride you’ll be so focused on the wedding day, you might just forget to plan a night with your wedding party. Have your groom get in touch with your wedding party and find out when everyone is arriving or available. Once a day and time is decided upon have him create an event in your Wedding Party App so everyone knows to hit up the local pub the night before you get hitched.

The Honeymoon

Planning a wedding and a honeymoon requires super human powers; especially if that honeymoon involves any international travel. Decide with your groom where you are each interested in enjoying your honeymoon. Research a few options with him and then put him in charge of booking the flights, hotels, and managing any other travel needs – even the purchase of travel sized toothpaste for your carryon!

Jenny Preston grew up in Delray Beach, FL in a home filled with unique pieces from other eras and dreaming of wedding planning. She now owns her own wedding planning and vintage rental company, Jenny Does Weddings, with her fiancé, where she offers brides and grooms advice with a look into her own wedding planning and styling adventures. Follow Jenny Does Weddings on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Get more of Jenny's planning advice here.

The Sweetest Father-Daughter Wedding Moments
by Emily Westbrooks

Photo by Trent Bailey Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Trent Bailey Photography via Style Me Pretty

With Father's Day right around the corner, we thought we'd put the spotlight on our sweet dads this week. There's nothing that will tug at your heart strings faster than a proud, tearful dad on his daughter's wedding day. I've been tearing up for hours writing this post and putting together a selection of the sweetest father-daughter wedding moments!

When I got married, my Dad and I had already been crying for weeks. We're a family of sappy souls! In the months before our wedding, I asked my father to choose a song he would like for our father-daughter dance. When he picked it, I knew I couldn't listen to it until our wedding day or I'd spend the next six weeks in a puddle of sappy tears! Funny enough, by the time we got to the big day, we were all cried out and we were the ones with dry eyes for once! But that father-daughter dance was the only time that I couldn't keep it together. My father chose the song Love and Happiness, by Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler and it is possibly the most beautiful song you could ever choose.

There are a few father-daughter wedding moments you'll likely want to capture with your father on your wedding day, from a first look to your father-daughter dance. But there are a few unexpected moments to watch out for - or ask your photographer to watch out for - throughout the day. Here's a tear-jerker of a list for you!

Pinning Flowers on Dad

Instead of letting someone else pin his corsage on, take a quiet moment to pin a flower to your father's lapel.

The Car Ride

There's such anticipation in the car ride to the ceremony, just you and your father.

First Look

First looks aren't just for grooms! Your dad will likely make a face you'll want to remember when he first sees you in your gown.

Down the Aisle

Walking down the aisle with your father is a classic shot you won't want to miss. If possible, ask your photographer to capture the moment from behind as well.

Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Robyn van Dyke via Southern Weddings

Photo by Robyn van Dyke via Southern Weddings

Top of the Aisle

When you reach the top of the aisle, your dad will give you a kiss or a hug, and that moment is worth a snap as well as he formally gives you away.

Photo by Our Labor of Love Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Our Labor of Love Photography via Style Me Pretty

The Father Daughter Dance

Whether you choose a serious song or a silly one with a choreographed dance, soak it in. Or if you're like my dad and I, just try to hold it together! And we have a whole bunch of amazing father-daughter dance songs if you're looking for more inspiration.

Photo by Jen Fariello Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Jen Fariello Photography via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Dark Roux Photography via Storyboard Wedding

Photo by Dark Roux Photography via Storyboard Wedding

Photo by Robyn van Dyke via Southern Weddings

Photo by Robyn van Dyke via Southern Weddings

Photo by Jonathan Canlas Photography via Southern Weddings

Photo by Jonathan Canlas Photography via Southern Weddings

One last tip - don't forget to ask your photographer to try to get a few different angles while you're dancing with your father. It's lovely to see both your dad's face and yours during such special moments.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Emily Westbrooks is an American-born writer and blogger based in Dublin, Ireland. She is the Online Editor for Confetti Magazine, one of Ireland's top bridal magazines. She also writes her own lifestyle blog, From China Village, where she chronicles her adventures in Dublin, travels around Europe, DIY projects and Irish design. She shares her home with her husband, one cat, and four sassy chickens! Browse Emily's unique tips here. 

Beyond the bouquet: 4 unique flower wedding decor ideas
by Nahva Tecklu

When you imagine yourself walking down the aisle, what is it that you see?  For may the picture wouldn't seem complete without a beautiful bouquet, but the focus on florals shouldn't stop there. Flowers are a beautiful addition to any space, and with so many unique flower wedding decor ideas for your big day, there's no reason to stick to your bouquet when thinking about wedding flowers. Here are a few of my favorite ideas!

Flower Walls

A strategically placed flower wall can function as more than just a background for special moments of the night the like the first dance, cake cutting, or exchange of vows. Repurpose the wall as a beautiful backdrop for photos your guests will love. Or, create a chic lounge outside the main reception room for guests to enjoy.

While the price of traditional flower walls is rather high, you can cover the majority of the wall with less expensive greenery and accent with flowers to achieve a similar effect, or opt out of a solid wall and instead hang flowers loosely for a more ethereal look that won't break the bank.

Floral Structures

To wow your guests before you begin your walk down the aisle, consider investing in a floral structure placed either at the head of the altar or somewhere else visible to guests as they make their way in. A fully covered arch will act as a dramatic focal point, directing attention to your beaming groom.

On the other hand, a combination of light fabrics and greenery can create a whimsical feel that's subtly striking. If you're working with a venue that won't allow outside structures, but you still want to incorporate flower wedding decor, look out for existing structures you can work around, you may even save money by doing so!

Photo by The Nichols  via Brides

Photo by The Nichols via Brides

Hanging Florals

Hanging flowers are a huge trend this season, and it's no surprise. There really is something breathtaking about a falling bloom, and luckily, achieving the look won't break the bank. While the assembly costs may be higher, florists will ultimately use far fewer flowers, which, for you equals money saved. For those replacing traditional centerpieces with hanging arrangements

Aisle Decor

Despite the aisle being a iconic aspect of a wedding, its decor is often overlooked. Flower petals are an easy and affordable way to accentuate the aisle before your grand entrance. Whether you choose to form a monogram or pattern, play with colors using an ombre design, or let the petals fall where they may, a floral aisle runner can do wonders to dress up your ceremony space.

Bonus Idea, Forgo Fresh Flowers and Use Paper Flowers Instead

Here's a secret, your guests will be wowed by what they see, not what material it's made of. Not only will opting to use paper flowers save you money, it means you'll never face any seasonal or geographic challenges to make your vision for your wedding a reality. It really is a win-win!

With these ideas you can incorporate flowers into your wedding for maximum impact, even if your budget is less than blossoming. And for even more ways to save, check out our tips on DIY floral arrangements.

A whimsical handmade wedding by Janelle Elise Photography
by Stephanie

There are weddings that instantly make you fall in love — fall in love with the couple, the guests, the details and every other amazing part of a wedding day. Well, today's wedding is exactly that! Alexandra and Nick were married in a sweet church ceremony and had a completely whimsical handmade wedding reception put together by family members and friends.

To make it even more special, Alexandra wore her grandmother's wedding dress, and her mother hired a totally unexpected but awesome surprise for the couple... let's just say you're going to want to read more to see every amazing part of this unique handmade day, captured perfectly by Janelle Elise Photography!

"I wore my grandmothers wedding dress for our ceremony, 50 years after she was married and she was there to see it. The dress was made by my great grandmother. My bridesmaids dresses were handmade as well for the special day."

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"We had a beautiful ceremony at Grace Episcopal church, walked through Downtown Asheville with our bridal party taking pictures as we made our way to our reception venue."

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"We did everything on our own, and ALL the decorations were DIY. The light canopy was constructed and hung by my father and in-laws, flowers arranged by friends and family. We didn't hire anyone from outside the family (or friend group) for any part of the catering, decorating, DJing, photography, etc. We danced. All. Night. Long. Had local brews and donuts, and it was all with our best friends and family."

"By far the best present we received was a SURPRISE New Orleans style brass band showing up at the reception. This was planned by my mother and some family friends. We paraded Downtown Asheville with the band AND the entire wedding party and danced in Pack Square. There were nearly 180 of us walking the streets. We had people pouring out of restaurants and shops taking pictures and joining the celebration. It was INCREDIBLE."

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How gorgeous is Alexandra and Nick's big day? This is a truly special day with so many personal touches, and we are so glad we got to share it. Congrats to the happy couple!

Vendors:

Ceremony venue: Grace Episcopal Church | Reception venue: YMI Cultural Center | Flowers: DIY | Cake: Krispy Kreme Donuts | Makeup and hair: Bride & friends DIY | DJ: Family friend | Photography: Janelle Elise Photography |

6 steps to create a stunning DIY wedding dessert table
by Stephanie

Dessert Table Wedding Tips

The wedding dessert table has become just as important as the wedding photo books or nuptial photo invitations as many couples opt to skip the giant wedding cake for a more varied assortment of sugary goodies. After all, why choose one dessert when you could offer your guests a whole buffet table full of your favorite desserts? Not only does the dessert table offer your wedding guests more choices, it also can be more cost effective, depending on what type of desserts you're serving, and how much of it you're DIYing.

While a dessert table might seem pretty straightforward (cakes + donuts = success, right?) event styling rookies might have a tough time creating a DIY wedding dessert table that looks as drool-worthy as the sweet spreads on Pinterest. So how do you create a beautiful and affordable dessert table in a pinch? We've broken down the process with a few steps and resources to help guide your way.

Step 1: Pick a theme

As with all other elements of your wedding, like picking the right wedding thank you cards or save the date cards, you're going to want to follow some kind of cohesive theme when it comes to your dessert table. Having a Gatsby-themed art-deco wedding? Make sure to incorporate any colors and motifs from your wedding theme to the dessert table. Picking cake plates, decor and tablecloths or a backdrop within this theme is a good starting point. (More on decor and dishes later...)

For extra added impression, add some themed touches to your desserts — you can do this with a fun cake topper, edible glitter, colorful floral touches... you get the idea. No need to get too fancy with the food — plain white frosted desserts provide the perfect palette to make these themes or colors pop.

2. Height

The difference between a blah and beautiful wedding dessert table is HEIGHT — this is the one key element that will turn an ordinary table full of desserts into a Pin-worthy masterpiece. It creates depth and visual interest, and allows you to emphasize the most important elements of your dessert table, like the cake.

So how does one achieve height on their dessert table? Cake stands are an obvious choice, and allows for you to create a cute display for each dessert. Make sure to find a varied assortment of sizes and heights — having a table full of cake stands that are the same height wouldn't have quite the same visual effect you're looking for.

If you don't have a bunch of cake stands to use for your dessert table, you can find some fairly affordable options if you search around! Our recommendations:

  • Home goods! Get thee to a Home Goods and find incredibly affordable cake plates. Just do it.

  • Pier 1 has a few basic glass and ceramic cake plates for under $20

  • Ikea is one of the best places to get affordable decor for cheap. Cake stands are no exception!

If you don't have the budget, time or energy to find cake stands for your dessert table, you have a few options to add height to your dessert table:

  1. DIY it: You can create your own cake stands! We love this DIY tutorial by The Bearfoot Baker and this DIY tutorial by Wedding Chicks. You'll be whipping up the perfect dessert table stands in no time!

  2. Use vintage crates, boxes, or whatever else you can find that will create height: Who says you need to use cake stands? If your wedding has a rustic theme, old wooden crates or boxes could work just as well to create height. Or, cover your stands with fabric or the tablecloth to disguise the stand. Easy!

3. Decor elements

Okay, you have a theme for your dessert table and you know you've got to add some height. Great! Just a few more steps... bear with me now!

You're dessert table is going to look pretty darn sparse if you don't have something else on the surface to fill it out, visually speaking. The easiest way to fill out your dessert table with decor is to add flowers, candles and/or whatever else you're using for decor. Make sure when you're talking with your florist (or whoever is doing your flowers) that you mention needing a few extra vases for your dessert table. Adding in candles might not be a bad idea either.

There's no fast and quick rule to how many vases, candles or extra decor you'll need — a lot of this will depend on how much space you'll have on the table once the desserts are placed. Make sure that your table doesn't end up looking too crowded and cluttered, though! Give each dessert stand and piece of decor some space. Remember you might also have serving utensils, silverware or dishes on the the tables as well — this may affect how many pieces of decor you'll need to add.

Photo by Smitten Studio

Photo by Smitten Studio

4. A backdrop

Okay, technically you can do without a backdrop, but it really helps to call out your dessert table and give it that extra-special touch, and doesn't have to cost a fortune. Some amazing backdrop ideas we've seen include:

  • Ballons

  • Ribbon garlands

  • Photo garlands

  • Marquis lights

  • A simple fabric backdrop

Photo by Ameris via 100 Layer Cake

Photo by Ameris via 100 Layer Cake

 

5. Signage

Your guests are going to want to know what tasty desserts they can choose from! Make sure to clearly mark the desserts with place cards or other simple DIY signage. Nuff said.

 

6. Your desserts!

Okay last step — make sure you have your desserts planned out and ready to go on the big day! If you're doing a DIY wedding dessert table, that probably means you'll need to do more than just pick up your wedding cake from the bakery. If you caterer or baker isn't planning on delivering your wedding desserts, make sure you have a trusted family member or friend assigned to pick up the cake and any other cupcakes/donuts/cookies/whatever that you'll need for the dessert table.

(While you're at it, read our tips for saving money on your wedding cake...)

In terms of quantity, think of it this way — it's always better to have more food than not enough, and that goes doubly for desserts! A good rule of thumb from Sweet and Saucy Shop is:

  • For a table full of mini-desserts (no cake), allocate about 3-4 mini-desserts per person. (Editor's note: take this down to 1-2 mini-desserts per person if you're also having cake.)

  • You don't want to overwhelm guests with options, so choose 2-3 more options than what you're allotting per guests. For example, if you are assuming 3 mini-desserts per person, you should have about 5-6 dessert options.

That means if you're having a dessert table and a wedding cake for 100 people, you should have about:

  • 2-3 servings (including cake slices) per person, or about 250 dessert servings total.

  • 4-5 different types of desserts to choose from

Now that you've gotten all the planning tips you need to create the best DIY wedding dessert table ever, it's time to go forth and conquer! Which of you brides are planning on DIYing your dessert tables, and how did you accomplish a stunning spread? Let us know in the comments!

Related Wedding Products:

rsvp cards, wedding albums, couples photo albums, wedding invitation templates,