Have you attended a wedding this year?  DId you enjoy a piece of wedding cake?  Yeah, probably not.  Me neither.  A new trend is upon us and I actually think it's a grand one!

In the caveman days when my then-young friends were getting married, wedding food consisted of cake and punch along with mixed nuts and mints.  The cake was generally a large, multi-tiered, beautifully decorated dessert.  After the bride and groom ceremoniously cut the cake and shared a piece with each other, they would dismantle the tiers and cut the cake for their guests.  (That, by the way, required some training by the one who baked and assembled the cake so as not to mutilate the confectionary creation).

Things have changed in the wedding world. All but one of the last two dozen weddings Studio Jay has been a part of has served a delicious dinner, or at least heavy hors d'oeuvres, as well as abundant beverages.  I confess to having a sweet tooth and even after an amazing catered meal I'm still anxious for the dessert to be unveiled. 

What do wedding desserts look like these days?  Just like weddings - unique, romantic, fun, and a reflection of the bride and groom and their personalities.  Cupcakes seem to be most popular currently. And what a smart choice.  Cupcakes can be made in multiple decadent flavors and frosted with a beautiful array of colors and flavors.  They can be arranged elegantly.  Cupcakes are easily served, easily eaten, and enjoyed by all ages.

Doughnuts have also made an appearance at several weddings this summer.  In the form of a doughnut WALL.  Sweet!  Someone obviously more creative than I thought of that.  Again - clever, colorful, and easy to serve. 

Other dessert ideas we've partaken of included a dessert bar of brownies, cookies, and fruit bars. One couple and their wedding party took turns whacking a multi-tiered wedding cake piñata!  A vintage turquoise van pulled into the outdoor reception of another wedding to serve up unique flavors of ice cream on a hot summer evening.

These new/different desserts have come from home kitchens, the local grocery store bakery, and upscale bake shops.  And yes, alas, there was almost always a CAKE.  A mini wedding cake, however.  Because even though one tradition has faded, the tradition of the bride and groom cutting a wedding cake and offering a piece to each other is still very much alive and well.  

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