Should You Have a Dessert Table at Your Reception?

Before you go treat tasting, it's important to consider if a dessert table will serve your needs.

"I always ask couples if there's a reason why they don't want to do a traditional wedding cake," says Tamieka Cobb, owner and operator of Sweet T's Dessert Boutique. "Once we figure what their reason is-whether it's cost or number of people-we look at what will work for the theme and what desserts they want."

Most dessert tables feature handheld goodies-something to enjoy while mingling or cutting a rug on the dance floor. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes and cheesecake bites are popular. But don't go overboard on the options.

"Keep it simple," says Sue Baisden, owner of Capital City Cakes. She suggests having six to eight choices. "When you have a lot to offer, people will try a little bit of everything and you may run out."

When it comes to the display, use the dessert table as a way to incorporate your wedding elements.

"I recommend getting special linens to match the theme," says Laura Molter, wedding consultant at Our CupCakery. "It's a good way to pull in colors. And have different heights: something on a plate, something on cake stands, the multi-tiered cupcake towers. It's very visually appealing."

Molter also notes it's important to label the desserts.

"Guests at weddings hate not knowing what they are going for," she says.

And you might not want to skip the cake after all: Oftentimes, bakeries encourage couples to get a small cake for a traditional cutting or to save for the first wedding anniversary.