Let Them Eat Cake -- Just Not at Your Wedding

It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides don't like cake -- and don't want one at their wedding reception. Others like cake just fine, but prefer to serve something a little more distinctive for dessert. On the whole, brides pass up cake at their wedding because they:

• don't like it
• want something nontraditional and edgy and are bored by "the norm"
• want something that more personally represents them or their geographical area
• attended too many catered weddings where no one touches the cake because they'd already had a full meal plus dessert
• have a venue that tacks on high cake serving fees

I must admit I'm tempted to stare when someone tells me "they just don't like cake." Because, as everyone knows, wedding cake is no longer just cake. Wedding cake has morphed into something that, in the right hands, borders on a religious experience.

Today's chefs know that a good cake -- one light years away from the "packing material" type cake of old -- is full of delicious, creamy fat. And not that horrifying vegetable shortening, either. The modern wedding cake is loaded with real butter, moist base material (poppy seed cake, pound cake, carrot cake, banana, chocolate, red velvet and more) and tempting fillings (amaretto, chocolate mousse, tiramisu, raspberry, white chocolate).

The exterior, too, has gotten sleeker and lovelier in response to today's streamlined bridal fashions. All the former hallmarks of questionable taste -- fountains, pillars, mugging couples on a cake topper -- are gone. So how can any bride resist?

Many don't, but a few persevere in wanting something else. Fortunately, weddings these days are about personal choice and individuality -- they don't have to have one. And the alternatives to cake are many.

The secret to a satisfying wedding cake alternative is simple -- presentation. Whatever you're serving, stack it in tiers. Follow this simple tip and you can turn almost anything into food fit for the most special occasion.

Tiered puddings and mousses

Pre-chill wine or champagne glasses, and fill with:

• Chocolate, chocolate orange, lemon mousse
• Rice, coconut rice or wild rice pudding
• Raspberry, hazelnut or regular tiramisu
• White chocolate, key lime, blackberry or biscotti parfaits
• Heavy whipped cream, topped with sweet in-season berries

If your budget's ample, you can also stack up individual-sized

• Caramel, anise, pumpkin flan
• Crème brulee -- regular, eggnog, blueberry, espresso, coconut

Tiered Pastries

Cream puffs are king -- and for good reason. Remember that cream puffs don't have to be round; you can use cookie cutters to fashion them into lots of creative shapes. You can also go beyond them and stack up:

• Gooey cinnamon rolls
• Funnel cakes
• Baklava
• Soufflés served in individual custard cups
• Cream horns, éclairs, St. Joseph's pastries, sfogliatelle, cannoli, napoleons, baba rum

Straight from the Shelf

You won't be the first bride to try this. Stack those tiers high and proud or create an entire freestanding "cake" with:

• Sno Balls, Suzy Qs, HoHos, Ding Dongs, Twinkies
• Krispy Kreme donuts, Moon Pies

Other Options

• Chocolate-dipped fruit
• Chocolate truffles
• A chocolate fountain
• Sugar cookies or brownies with your initials in cellophane wrappers
• Fancy pies: key lime, lemon, chocolate pecan, coconut custard, cranberry apple, macadamia nut, peanut butter and white chocolate cream.

Whatever you choose, try to retain the cake-cutting part of your ceremony. The cutting of the cake is an ancient ritual and a powerful symbol of unity between the couple and their guests. It doesn't matter if you're really digging into a lemon meringue pie -- your guests will still want to ooh and ahh as you cut it together and feed each other.

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of "FavorIdeas.com". Stop by for a huge selection of wedding favors, Bridezilla's weekly adventures, and free resources for brides: save-the-date ecards, screensaver, wallpaper, and wedding web site templates.

http://www.favorideas.com

Prop 8: Gay-Marriage Ruling Expected Today TIME VIDEO: A Gay-Marriage Wedding Video The 9th Circuit does not typically give notice of its forthcoming rulings, and its decision to do so Monday reflects the intense interest in the case. Even if the panel upholds the lower court ruling, ... and more »

rachel-greenwald-critics Westword Her only definition of success (aside from her own hefty financial take, apparently) is a marriage, wedding and honeymoon, and she admits even that success is rare. If there is so little enduring happiness or success in her business or the matches she ...

Scotland's opposition parties back same-sex 'marriage' Lifesite At the signing event, which included cutting an “equal marriageâ€� wedding cake, Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson said, “I support the Equality Network's Equal Marriage campaign. … The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation on gay ... and more »

SheKnows.com

JCPenney to boycott group: We're sticking with Ellen SheKnows.com The group wants supporters to stop shopping at the store for featuring a same-sex marriage wedding cake decoration in a catalog ad." "In the hopes of making sales, your company has instead offended many customers in the process. and more »

The Christian Institute

Scots opposition leaders sign pledge to redefine marriage The Christian Institute They also cut an “equal marriageâ€� wedding cake – a symbolic gesture which was designed to show their support for rewriting the definition of marriage. The Scottish Government's consultation on redefining marriage closed in December after receiving tens ... and more »

PerezHilton.com

J.Lo Isn't Thinking About Marrying New BF Casper Just Yet!! PerezHilton.com Tags: bride, casper smart, divorce, hearts and fuzzies, jennifer lopez, jlo, love, marc anthony, marriage, wedding So we've heard what Paula Abdul had to say about getting fired, and we heard what Nicole Scherzinger had to say about the ax.

Business Insider

NEWLYWEDS: Renting Could Be The Smartest Move For Your Future Finances Business Insider ... is that it can be as temporary or long-term as you like, especially as your family grows. "There are just some things you don't think about when you're a newlywed with stars in your eyes,'" Bohutinsky said. newlywed - marriage - wedding - couple.

ABC2 News

WA Senate approves bill to legalize same-sex marriage ABC2 News If opponents aren't able to collect enough signatures, same-sex couples would be able to be wed starting in June. Otherwise, they would have to wait until the results of a November election. Marriage Wedding Married hub generic 640x480_20100616142339_JPG. and more »