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Sweet Alternatives: Desserts we're Seeing More of at Wedding Venues in Michigan
- Jennifer Wilson
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
When planning a wedding, couples often spend a lot of time deciding on the perfect wedding cake design and flavor—only to find that much of it goes uneaten. At Celestial Farms, one of the top wedding venues in Michigan, we’ve seen firsthand how much cake gets wasted at the end of the night at weddings. There's no doubt they're beautiful, but they can also be difficult to cut and serve (especially if your baker isn’t on standby), messy, and many times left untouched—especially when guests are drinking alcohol and are busy dancing the night away.
If you’re looking for ways to cut down on waste, simplify dessert service, and even save money on your overall budget, consider these alternative wedding desserts that your guests will love.
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1. The Perfect Balance: A Small Cutting Cake + Pre-Packaged Cookies
One of our favorite solutions at Celestial Farms for couples who still want the tradition of cutting a cake for pictures but don’t want the hassle of serving 150 pieces is a small, personal and beautiful cake just for the Bride and Groom. This allows you to have that picture-perfect moment without worrying about cutting and distributing a ton of cake to all your guests.
One of our favorite alternatives to consider is individually wrapped cookies. This is such an easy, mess-free alternative. Cookies can be pre-packaged in clear decorative wrap or small treat bags so guests can enjoy them at the reception or take them home to enjoy later. They make a great late-night snack, take home dessert, and they can double as wedding favors!
If you’re looking to splurge on a high-quality bakery, consider Sugar High Bakery (a local favorite and winner of Cupcake Wars) or Alyssa's Cakes (a preferred vendor and one of our favorites at Celestial Farms). They both make desserts that wedding guests absolutely love. Our April 12th couple Ashley and Cory have chosen brownies and cookies from Sugar High Bakery instead of a traditional wedding cake, and we know their guests will be thrilled!
But don’t feel like you have to go all out—even cookies from Sam’s Club or Walmart are a fantastic and affordable option that can still be delicious and aesthetically pleasing. People love cookies, and at the end of the night, guests care more about a yummy easy to grab treat than a fancy piece of cake that requires a plate and fork.
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2. Mini Cheesecakes: A Crowd-Pleasing Favorite
If you want a dessert that feels indulgent but is very easy to serve, mini cheesecakes are a perfect choice at Michigan wedding venues. They come in a variety of flavors—classic New York, strawberry swirl, chocolate, caramel, and more—allowing your guests to pick their favorite flavors in bite size/finger food form!
Mini cheesecakes can be displayed beautifully on trays or tiered stands, or individually packaged in small clear containers for a fun grab-and-go option. Unlike a traditional cheesecake that needs to be cut and plated, these cute alternatives are pre-portioned and easy to serve, making them an ideal choice for weddings and many of our couples at Celestial Farms Wedding Venue in Clio, Michigan.
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3. A Candy Table for a Nostalgic, Fun Twist
For a fun and interactive dessert option, consider a candy table at your wedding. Fill glass jars or decorative bowls with an assortment of your favorite sweets, allowing guests to scoop up their faves into easy to take home treat bags.
Some great ideas for a wedding candy table include:
• Chocolates wrapped in your wedding colors
• Gummy bears or sour candies
• M&Ms- also available in custom colors
• Big name wrapped chocolates (like Hershey’s Kisses or Lindor truffles)
• Custom-labeled candy bars with your wedding date or monogram
A candy table satisfies your guests’ sweet cravings, acts as a decor element that can be themed to match your wedding colors or style, and is a fun interactive activity for everyone.
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4. Elegant Macarons in Your Wedding Colors
For a bit more of a sophisticated dessert option, French macarons are a stunning and delicious alternative to traditional wedding cake. These delicate, meringue-based cookies come in a variety of flavors and colors and can be custom-colored to perfectly match your wedding theme.
Macarons are also naturally gluten-free, making them a safe choice for guests that may have dietary restrictions. Whether you serve them in classic flavors like vanilla, strawberry or raspberry, and pistachio or unique ones like champagne or salted caramel, they’ll add a touch of elegance to any dessert spread at your favorite Michigan wedding venue.
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5. Brownies: The Ultimate Crowd-Pleaser
Brownies are another fantastic alternative to traditional wedding cake because they’re rich, chocolatey, easy to eat and a favorite for many people. Like cookies, they can be conveniently pre-packaged for a take-home option or displayed beautifully on tiered trays and stands.
Our April 12th couple at Celestial Farms a Michigan wedding venue, is serving brownies and cookies from Sugar High Bakery, and we can't wait! Guests love classic, homemade-style desserts, and brownies never go to waste unlike cake and cupcakes so often do. Whether you serve them plain, with nuts, or with toppings like caramel or ganache, they’re guaranteed to be a hit!
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6. Authentic Desserts & Cultural Sweets
One of the most memorable wedding dessert table setups we’ve seen at Celestial Farms featured authentic Italian desserts, which added a personal and meaningful touch to the couple and their families. If you have a strong connection to your heritage, serving traditional and authentic desserts from your background is a fun and meaningful way to share your culture with your guests.
For an Italian dessert spread, consider:
• Cannoli – Crispy pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta cream
• Tiramisu – Layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream
• Pizzelle – Delicate, crispy Italian waffle cookies
• Sfogliatelle – Flaky pastries filled with ricotta and citrus zest
• Amaretti Cookies – Chewy almond-flavored cookies
Other cultural dessert ideas could include:
• Baklava (Greek or Middle Eastern weddings)
• Mochi or Taiyaki (Japanese weddings)
• Churros or Tres Leches Cake (Mexican weddings)
• Kolaczki (Polish weddings)
Not only do these authentic desserts bring a personal touch to your wedding day, but they also create a unique and memorable experience for your guests, giving them something special and maybe something they've never tried before. It's fun, delicious and different from the traditional wedding cake and wedding venues near me are seeing more and more couples serve authentic desserts.
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7. Pre-Packaged Dessert Favors: Sweet & Practical
Another fun and practical idea is to give your guests pre-packaged desserts as wedding favors. Instead of spending money on customized trinkets that guests often leave behind, why not send them home with a sweet treat they’ll actually enjoy?
Some great pre-packaged wedding dessert favors to consider include:
• Mini jars of honey or jam
• Small boxes of chocolate truffles
• Individually wrapped rice krispie treats
• Personalized bags of popcorn
Not only are these options delicious, but they also eliminate waste—something we see a lot at wedding venues in Michigan. Guests can take them home and enjoy them later instead of leaving uneaten slices of cake or cupcakes behind.
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Why Alternative Desserts Make Sense for Your Wedding
If you’re getting married at Celestial Farms Wedding Venue in Clio, Michigan—or any of the stunning wedding venues in Michigan—choosing an alternative dessert can save you time, money, and sometimes stress. A large amount of wedding cake can be expensive, messy, and often impractical. Guests who are drinking delicious cocktails made by Cheers to You Bartending or dancing the night away rarely stop to eat cake.
By offering pre-portioned, grab-and-go, or pre-packaged desserts at your wedding, you make things easier for yourself, your guests, and your team. Whether it’s cookies, brownies, mini cheesecakes, macarons, or a beautifully curated authentic dessert table, there are so many fun and creative ways to give your guests a sweet ending to the night—without the hassle of a traditional cake and of course without waste.
Wedding Venues in Michigan That Exceed Your Expectations: Celestial Farms
Is an alternative dessert right for you?
Your wedding dessert should be fun, delicious, and as stress-free as possible. At Celestial Farms Wedding Venue, we’ve seen so many of our couples rethink the traditional cake, and the results have been amazing. Whether you go for pre-packaged cookies and brownies, a color coordinated candy table, or desserts inspired by your heritage, your guests will appreciate a unique and easy-to-enjoy dessert.
If you’re newly engaged and looking for wedding venues in Michigan that embrace creativity and personalization, Celestial Farms is the perfect place to bring your wedding vision to life. We deliver a personalized dream wedding experience to each and every one of our couples. Let’s create a celebration that’s as unique and special as your love story—cake or no cake!
Thanks so much for stopping by our blog! We hope you found this information helpful. We’re passionate about using our blog to shine a light on locally owned wedding venues like Celestial Farms. These venues often bring a higher level of expertise, service, and dedication to your big day. Plus, with less staff turnover than corporate or investor-owned venues, they’re able to provide a more personal touch. As you plan your wedding, we’d love for you to consider a locally owned venue like ours! Check out this wedding venue map to discover amazing locally owned venues across the country. And a big shout out to all the incredible locally owned wedding venues out there!
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