The traditional wedding cake will always be a crowd pleaser at the reception, but equally sweet competitors are compelling engaged couples to make the switch from traditional to trendy. Maybe you’ve seen these scrumptious desserts or heard about them or tasted them. We love them and we’re sure you will too!  Take a look at some popular wedding cake alternatives for inspiration. First up, wedding cake pops. Yum!! These showstoppers are absolutely adorable. Bakerella has gone above and beyond with an actual cake pop shaped like a wedding cake (below), but you can opt for simpler cake pops accented with edible sprinkles or dipped in colored coating to match your wedding theme. Check your local bakery to see if cake pops are an option or consider making them at home with the help of family and friends (in advance, of course). They are cute, tasty and make an incredible display.

Wedding Cake Pops by Bakerella

Next up, cupcakes! Who doesn’t love the delicious, decadent flavors of these spectacular desserts? The best part is you can make a breathtaking wedding cupcake display (think Food Network’s Cupcake Wars). Create a tower of different flavored cupcakes for guests to pick and choose. You can go dramatic and fun! Wedding cupcakes save you from cutting and serving, and they come in amazing flavors. You don’t have to pick just one cake – you can serve multiple cupcake flavors such as lemon, red velvet, pumpkin, carrot cake, coconut, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and the list goes on and on. Better yet, specialty cupcake bakeries offer frosting options and many can inject ganache filling into the cupcake for a super, mouth-watering treat. Check out wedding cupcakes on Wedding Wire (below). Simple, sophisticated, sweet.

Wedding Cupcakes

Mini desserts displayed on a dessert table give guests multiple choices and make a stunning presentation. Create a monochramatic look by choosing desserts with similar hues or vary the colors for a touch of whimsy. Use all white or vintage cake stands to arrange the mini wedding desserts and to add visual appeal. Guests love the wedding dessert table because it lets them choose their favorites! Sweet & Saucy Shop in Long Beach, Calif., not only makes wonderful wedding cakes and wedding cupcakes but it’s also mastered the art of mini wedding desserts. Of course, the wedding cake can still be part of your celebration but consider a smaller cake to serve alongside these amazing wedding dessert ideas! You can combine one or all of these ideas to make your wedding day a truly memorable occasion! Pictured below are mini desserts and dessert tables by Sweet & Saucy. See Advantage Bridal‘s gorgeous collection of monogrammed crystal cake toppers, Swarovski crystal cake jewelry and wedding cake accessories.

Lemon Raspberry Mini Cupcakes

French Macarons & Mini Cupcakes on Vintage Stands

Mini Dessert Display