Who says it has to be wedding cake?

Wedding dessert tables, a spectacular alternative to wedding cakes

If you are not a fan of cake and think the wedding cake is an old tradition, you’d rather not spend your money on, but you do like sweet treats and desserts, and don’t want to miss out on the photo opportunity that the cake cutting provides, then how about a Wedding dessert table instead?

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about our showstopping Wedding Dessert Tables to get you up to speed and falling just a little bit more in love with this delicious wedding cake alternative.

What is an Italian dessert table made up of?

Not that there is anything wrong with a humble brownie or doughnut, but it’s your wedding day and you want to elevate it by offering your guests something a little more special. Here at Pasticceria Lorena, I do just that! My dessert tables are made up of delicious mini-Italian patisserie known as ‘Pasticcini’. There are around 12 varieties to choose from, in a wide range of flavours and textures, each lovingly handmade and beautifully decorated by me. What really sets Italian patisserie apart from other dessert options is the use of liqueurs such as Limoncello and Frangelico as well as fresh Italian ingredients such as Ricotta and mascarpone cream.

From classic choux pastries known as Bignè, to mini Tiramisu trifles, Crunchy sicilian cannoli and Rum soaked Babà. Whatever your preferences, there is something for everyone, and if you can’t see what you are looking for, I am always happy to chat about creating a more bespoke menu of Italian desserts for your wedding.

I have a minimum quantity of 50 per variety of pasticcini and an overall limit of 6 varieties, for any one dessert table, as these are all made fresh on the eve and day of your wedding.

How will I know which desserts to choose?

The proof is most certainly in the pudding….pun intended!!

As such it’s crucial that a tasting appointment forms part of the process. After initial enquiry you will be invited for a tasting and consultation appointment at Pasticceria Lorena HQ, which will feel very much like a relaxed afternoon tea experience. Here you will get to try a platter of Pasticcini and chat to me about all of your likes, dislikes, wedding style and tastes and together we will discuss the perfect menu and presentation of your wedding dessert table.

What if I want to opt for a wedding dessert table but still would like to honour the tradition of cutting the wedding cake?

Most couples who opt for a wedding dessert table feel this way, so adding a single tier cutting wedding cake at the centre of your wedding dessert table would allow for ‘the cutting of the cake’ photo moment and an opportunity to declare the wedding dessert table open.

However, if cake really isn’t your thing, then why not think outside the box when it comes to this tradition, instead of cutting the wedding cake, why not feed each other a pastry during your photo moment, or showcase your wedding desserts on a tower to give the effect of a tiered cake and be the first to help yourselves to one or two for a more natural candid shot.

What is the best time to feature and serve the dessert table on my wedding day?

If you are not sticking with tradition when it comes to wedding cake, then don’t feel the need to do so when it comes to timings either. A wedding dessert table full of mini-Italian patisserie can work in several ways.

In Italy, Pasticcini are served at drinks receptions as sweet canapés along with welcome drinks and savoury canapés. After all, who wouldn’t welcome a little ‘pick me up’ especially when wedding ceremonies often fall around lunchtime leading to couples and guests missing their lunch.

If your venue allows external catering, then you may want to opt for your wedding dessert table as part of your wedding breakfast. This may result as a money-saving exercise as you will be covering dessert table and wedding cake in one!

If you want to make sure your evening guests don’t miss out on all the action, then serving your wedding dessert table alongside your evening food is a great idea, particularly as most venues don’t offer dessert as part of their evening food. The advantage here is also that it remains a visual feature that your guests can graze on throughout the evening, enjoying bite-sized treats whilst they have a dance and a drink, unlike cake that is often cut up and left on napkins and goes unnoticed.

How many desserts do I need?

It’s an Italian’s worst nightmare to run out of food and find their guests have gone without, but by the same token, no one likes waste either!

A great place to start is your guest count. If you are serving these morsels of deliciousness as your main wedding dessert, you will need to cater for all your day guests with around 2-3 per person (which makes up a dessert portion, depending on which ones you choose).

However, if you are serving your wedding dessert table as an alternative to a wedding cake, alongside your evening food, consider what else your guests have had to eat and how many more guests are invited to your evening reception. I recommend catering to around 75% of your overall guest count, with again 2-3 per person. As some people will dive in and have more than their fair share, whilst others will be too busy at the bar or on the dance floor!

Of course, you should also consider what your budget will allow for with your wedding dessert table and work along that basis.

Can you cater for different dietary requirements with a wedding dessert table?

Having a wedding dessert table wins hands down when it comes to dietary preferences as you can cater for lots of different tastes with a variety of patisserie in a way that a cake cannot. However, it is important to consider that all patisserie is made in the same kitchen, sharing the same ovens and fridges, so whilst I can cater for people with mild intolerances, if you have guests with severe allergies, these cannot be catered for as I cannot guarantee against traces.

What will my wedding dessert table look like?

When you opt for a wedding dessert table and choose to spend your hard-earned money on handmade, eye-catching, delicious wedding desserts, the last thing you want to do is, just lay them on trays on a clothed table! Trust me when I tell you, presentation matters!!

At Pasticceria Lorena, I work closely with you, your stylist, your florist and your venue to ensure that your wedding dessert table looks spectacular. I make sure it is in keeping with the style, colour scheme and season of your wedding and is positioned in the right space within your venue to get noticed by your guests and give you the best possible photos.

Whether you are having a rustic barn wedding, a classic and elegant Stately home wedding or you have chosen a more contemporary, industrial venue. My service includes styling your wedding dessert table to suit with an abundance of stands, accessories, and backdrops. There will be no hiding your wedding dessert table in a corner next to a fire hydrant!! Let’s work together to make it a memorable feature of your day!

Who will deliver and set up my wedding dessert table?

All wedding dessert tables are created, delivered and set up by me. As a perfectionist, nothing leaves my kitchen unless it tastes divine and looks irresistible. Once that test is passed, everything is packaged with military precision and delivered in food grade cool boxes to ensure the maximum freshness. Once at the wedding venue, I discreetly work to unload, lay stands and accessories and finally your wedding desserts ensuring perfection right down to the smallest of details.

Has this blog got you excited about wedding dessert tables? Please get in touch.

Alla Prossima