A Planning Guide
Keep the moment, change the format.
The best wedding cake alternatives keep the cake-cutting moment and change what guests are served: cupcakes, mini cupcakes, gourmet truffles or individual cakes, usually paired with a small single-tier cutting cake for the photo. At my Provo studio, cupcakes start from $42 per dozen, minis from $24 per dozen, and a single-tier cutting cake from $150 to $250 for 6 to 38 servings.
If you would still like a tiered cake, most couples invest $650 to $1,200, and every size is listed with my wedding cake prices. Below are the alternatives I actually make, real setups from Utah weddings, and a simple way to compare them for your guest count.
Wedding Cake Alternatives I Make
Cupcakes. The most popular alternative, and the easiest for your venue to serve. Cupcakes come in any flavor from my menu, so guests can choose between two or three, and they start from $42 per dozen, or $48 per dozen filled.
Mini cupcakes. Two-bite minis from $24 per dozen work beautifully for grazing, especially late in the evening when guests want something small with their dancing.
Gourmet truffles. From $30 per dozen, tucked between cupcakes or set at each place, they add a richer bite without adding another cake.
Individual cakes. Small cakes for each guest table or as take-home favors can be added to any cake order and are quoted on inquiry.
A small cutting cake. This is the piece I recommend keeping. A single tier, from 4 inches (6 servings) to 10 inches (38 servings), gives you the cake-cutting photo and the first bite, while the dessert table serves the room.
Three Ways to Serve 100 Guests
Here is how the options compare for a 100-guest wedding, using prices from my price list. Design details, delivery location and 3% Utah sales tax are added to every quote.
| Option | Servings | Starting From |
|---|---|---|
| 6-inch cutting cake plus 8 dozen cupcakes | 110 | $506 |
| 6-inch cutting cake plus 8 dozen filled cupcakes | 110 | $554 |
| Three-tier cake, 8, 10 and 12 inches | 115 | $950 |
For other guest counts, my wedding cake servings guide matches every size to the room, and wedding cupcakes in Utah covers flavors and fillings in detail.
When a Wedding Cake Alternative Works Best
A dessert table suits couples who love variety, a reception that runs late, or a guest list with a wide range of tastes. It also suits a relaxed, grazing style of evening where no one waits for cake to be plated. A tiered cake suits a formal room, a tall ceiling, or a couple who wants one showpiece in every photo.
Many couples land in the middle. A two-tier cake for 20 to 60 servings, starting from $450, with cupcakes alongside gives you a true wedding cake and a full table. My guide to wedding dessert table ideas shows how I style both together, and small wedding cakes covers single tiers for reception-only celebrations.
How to Plan Your Dessert Table
Count and Choose
Start with your guest count, then pick the mix: cupcakes, minis, truffles, and the size of your cutting cake.
Taste Your Flavors
A wedding cake tasting with three cakes and three fillings helps you choose the two or three flavors for the table.
Delivered and Styled
I deliver everything and style the table on site, so it is ready before your guests arrive.
Why Sweet E’s
Tastings First
A $50 tasting with three cakes and three fillings, complimentary with orders over $300.
Custom Design
Every cake is designed with you in a one-on-one consultation, sketched around your venue, florals, and style.
Delivery & Setup
I deliver and style your cake on site, so it arrives flawless and photo-ready.
“Erika is AMAZING!! She made us a cake and cupcakes for our wedding and they were absolutely delicious. Everyone talked about them all night!!”
Rachel R.
Wedding Cake Alternatives, Answered
What can I have instead of a wedding cake?
Cupcakes, mini cupcakes, filled cupcakes, gourmet truffles and individual cakes are the alternatives I make. Most couples pair them with a small single-tier cutting cake, so the cake-cutting moment and the photo still happen while the dessert table serves the room.
Can I still cut a cake if I choose cupcakes?
Yes. A single-tier cutting cake runs from 4 inches for 6 servings to 10 inches for 38 servings, starting from $150 to $250. It sits on the dessert table as the centerpiece, and the cupcakes carry the rest of your guests.
How many cupcakes do I need for a wedding?
If cupcakes are the main dessert, plan about one per guest. For 100 guests, a 6-inch cutting cake with 14 servings plus 8 dozen cupcakes gives you 110 servings. If truffles or minis share the table, you can scale the cupcakes down.
How do cupcakes compare to a tiered cake for 100 guests?
A 6-inch cutting cake plus 8 dozen cupcakes serves 110 and starts from $506, while a three-tier cake at 8, 10 and 12 inches serves 115 and starts from $950. Design details, delivery and 3% Utah sales tax are added to either quote.
Do you deliver dessert tables across Utah?
Yes. I deliver cupcakes, truffles and cutting cakes anywhere in Utah and style the table on site. Delivery is quoted by location, so you see the full price before you book.
Let’s Make Something Beautiful
I am booking 2026–2027 now, with a limited number of dates each season, for Utah wedding cakes and dessert tables delivered anywhere in the state.
Inquire About Your Date
Or book a tasting, the sweetest first step. See more in the gallery and follow along on Instagram.