Ah, the wedding cake, often considered the centerpiece of the wedding reception. A multi-tiered, sugar fest that serves as high art, photo op, and dessert.

There are more styles and designs of wedding cakes than there are brides and today’s top sugar artists are ready to explore them all. What if cake just isn’t your thing?

Then you are in luck. Wedding cake alternatives are all the rage.

Here are just a few ideas for wedding cake alternatives to get your taste buds motivated.

Dessert Tables
These have actually been around for ages but they keep getting more beautiful and creative every year. They can incorporate anything from your favorite cookies to pies to chocolate truffles. Your guests will love getting to choose lots of little tastes of so many different treats.
You can either ditch the cake altogether or have a small one on a pedestal for that photo op.

Macaroons
These lovely, light as air little bites are made of an almond meringue with a jam or cream filling. They come in so many different flavors and colors that you go wild creating a multi-tiered “cake”.

Fun, Fruity Shortcakes
Layers of pound cake or sponge cake sandwiched with a whipped mascarpone filling and dripping with fresh fruit. What a delightful alternative for a summer garden wedding.

Donuts
While perfect for a brunch wedding why stop there. Donuts are taking center stage stacked as high as any traditional wedding cake. Indulge your love of this humble pastry and serve it as a late night treat with tiny glasses of milk.

Cupcakes
Cupcake wedding cakes aren’t new but what is new is doing them in a wide range of flavors. If you really explore all the different flavors available and plan it right, you can have your baker create an ombre effect with the different layers.

Croquembouche
A croquembouche is a traditional French wedding cake. A tall, slender pyramid of profiteroles (a small round cream puff) is covered in a golden cage of spun sugar and adorned with tiny edible flowers. Individual servings are usually plated on a pool of chocolate sauce. How much more delightful than a possibly dry piece of cake!

Ice Cream Sundae
You can either have these served individually to guests or make it a Sundae Bar and let them create their own. Either way, don’t miss your photo op; have your caterer create an enormous, amazing ice cream sundae and have it brought out so the two of you can “cut the cake”. How is that for the cherry on top of a perfect wedding day!

All images are from Pinterest.