The History Of Wedding Cakes And The Rise Of Wedding Cake Alternatives

While the wedding dessert is one of our favorite parts of the wedding reception, it’s been through a bit of a makeover over the past few years. From a cupcake tower that’ll make your jaw drop, to mini cheesecakes at a destination wedding, what defines a wedding dessert is everchanging.

Let’s dive into one of the most delicious debates in the wedding world: the wedding cake tradition!

Image via @modernweddingcakes

As your go-to source for all things weddings, we have seen some new and more modern brides take on the age-old question of whether to stick with tradition and go all-in on a towering wedding cake piled with fresh fruit and marzipan, or venturing into the world of alternative desserts. 

So, let’s see why the wedding cake holds such a special place in our hearts (and stomachs) and why some couples are saying “I do” to new dessert options at their wedding reception.

Image via @sincerelysamcakes

Slice Through History: The Origins of Wedding Cakes and Desserts

When and where did the wedding cake become the go-to for a reception dessert? This tradition dates all the way back from Ancient Rome and Medieval England.

While they may not have been as extravagant as the multi-tiered layer cake we see brides ordering today, the old simple wheat or barley cakes—sometimes adorned with fruits or nuts—were the foundation of this delicious tradition. And yes, while it may seem plain and boring to us, it got the job done! 

Fast forward a couple hundred years to the Renaissance Era! Weddings back then were like stepping into a fairytale, complete with jaw-dropping cakes that were more like edible masterpieces. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill desserts; they were next-level creations that showed off the skills of bakers and confectioners.

So, when you bite into a fancy wedding cake today, you’re not just tasting sweetness—you’re experiencing a slice of history where piped flourish tells a story of skill and artistry passed down through the ages. Pretty neat, huh?

Well, the flavors and layers of cake weren’t the only thing that evolved, the deeper and more symbolic meaning of the cake with traditions that followed also evolved!

Over time, this tradition evolved into the more elaborate cakes and a tradition of “Cake cutting” instead of the breaking over the head… which the Medieval Era normalised. Thankfully, am I right? But the cake cutting still has an element of symbolism too, carrying on tradition in a modernized way. 

The hand-over-hand while cutting the cake, for instance, is all about representing the strength and unity throughout a couple’s long marriage.

As for the wedding guests, having cake after it has been cut by the couple is believed to bring good luck, and of course finishing a night of celebrations with a tasty treat is never something to complain about!

Cake vs. Everything Else: The Rise of The Wedding Cake Alternative

Now, fast forward to 2024, and we’ve seen some innovative takes on wedding cake alternatives. Some couples are ditching the classic wedding cake in favor of something a little more… unexpected.

From decadent dessert bars to trendy donut walls, and everything in between. Maybe it’s the budget, practicality or just a dislike of cake. Who can blame them! But don’t worry cake enthusiasts, because there are still plenty of ways to incorporate your favorite baker into the mix.

With the world of innovation, alternative dessert options are all the rage now. From bite sized cupcakes, to different styles of cakes, the possibilities are endless. Pavlovas, Mille-feuille cakes, or even new flavors like pistachio, mango, and tiramisu-flavored and more.

Image via @squidgerandwatsoncakes

How To Innovate Your Dessert Table

• Dessert bars: We’ve witnessed many new innovative bar type desserts such as ice cream bars or even churro bars. But, why not combine them all together? Whip up a spread of desserts full of cheesecake, brownies, macarons, pies, pancakes, fruit tarts, bundt cakes, and chocolate––or any wedding cake alternative that takes your fancy.

Image via @Intricakes

• Cream Puff Tower: Masterchef fans will understand the hype around the french delicacy the Croquembouche. The towering French dessert is made up of individual choux pastry puffs (cream puffs) filled with whipped cream, piled into a cone and bound together with threads of caramel. Making it easy for guests to pull an individual piece off for themselves. All while still fulfilling your towering “cake” dreams––talk about wedding worthy!

Image via @thefrenchlettuce

• Chocolate Fountain: Incorporating fruit, while still having a sweet tooth, makes the chocolate fountain a perfect choice! There are so many dipping choices to choose from. Think chocolate covered strawberries, pineapple chunks, or even marshmallows! It’s the perfect blend of indulgence and a touch of freshness, catering to every sweet tooth’s desires. This variety makes it so much easier to choose based on your criteria and preferences.

Image via @nisacreations_

Image via @cakesbyevie_

• Candy Buffet: Bring out the inner child in everyone with a vibrant candy buffet! Fill jars with an assortment of candies, chocolates, and sweets in a rainbow of colours. It’s not just a treat for the taste buds, but also a feast for the eyes. Plus, guests can mix and match their favorite candies to create their personalised sweet stash to take home––basically a two-in-one wedding favor!

Image via @stefanotis.weddings

• Cake pops: If you love cake, but feel that a multi-tiered traditional wedding cake might go to waste, cake pops are here to save the day! A fun, bite sized version of wedding cake is still able to fulfil your sweet tooth, but is a more realistic option to save waste and fill your dessert table to the brim. Plus, you can decorate them in any which way you please!
• Cookie Towers: Cookie Towers are the new dessert that dreams are made of. It’s a show stopping centre piece that not only looks impressive but tastes divine, too.
• Millefolie Cake: Yes, this still is a “cake”, but these Italian style cakes are the internet’s current craze! We’ve seen a TikTok frenzy of couples decorating their cakes on their big day, and honestly, it looks like a great idea for pictures and super easy to serve.

Image via @johncainphotography

This adds such a cute and memory worthy element to your big day, and is still different to a traditional cake.

Wedding Cake Tradition & A Dash of Innovation:

Let’s still take a moment, amidst all the tradition changing and innovation, to appreciate the culinary, sweet-treat-making bakers that pull together vision boards and ideas into a dessert for everyone.

These talented artisans have been delighting taste buds and capturing hearts with their intricate wedding cake creations for generations. Using their creative minds to mould fondant into cakes that are too pretty to eat, showing that their attention to detail is truly unmatched. 

So, don’t be afraid to have detailed conversations with your favorite baker because they are generally able to turn your wedding dessert dreams into a reality––whether it’s a wedding cake, wedding crepe, or even a cheesecake with a thousand layers!

Let Them Eat Cake (or Not)!

So, no matter if it is a cake or if it’s an ice cream bar, the sweet part about desserts is that most everyone will enjoy it!  Whether you’re team wedding cake, team wedding cupcakes, or team anything-but-cake, the most important thing is to choose the dessert that you envision eating on your day!

So, how do you envision your wedding day? Eating traditional tiered wedding cake, or opting for a wedding cake alternative? That’s for you (and your soon to be spouse!) to decide!

READ MORE: WEDDING CAKE DESIGNS YOU NEED TO KNOW