wedding 2025 | Wedding dessert trends

Sweets

date posted: February 23, 2025

Photo by Clean Plate Pictures for the Wedding Foundry. Desserts sourced locally.

A little wedding cake history: In ancient Rome, couples would share the remnants of a cake of wheat or barley after it was smashed over the bride’s head. Alternatively, the guests would throw wheat or barley at the couple, and they’d be expected to scoop a few grains up and eat them. It was a fertility thing, and sounds as though it might have gotten a bit rowdy, with all that cake-breaking or grain-tossing.

Europeans of the 16th century devised an alternative to cake—the Bride’s Pie. What a wonderful thing it is to be planning a wedding in the present, when you can basically serve whatever you want as a grand finale for your feast.

Europeans of the 16th century devised an alternative to cake: the bride’s pie. Savory rather than sweet, the pie—at least according to one 1685 recipe—was filled with lamb testicles, pine kernels, oysters, and cockscombs, and couples who wanted to get really fancy might add live birds or a snake for the sheer entertainment value. By the mid-20th century, most wedding couples in the United States had adopted the classic multitiered white-frosted confection with a topper. Rebels might go with yellow or even chocolate cake, or add some fruit between layers.

With a virtually endless selection of proportions and shapes to choose from, a dome cake invites whole new worlds of cake decoration.

Photo by Melissa Walker-Horn.

to by Kassie Mendieta of I Bake Mistakes.

choose from today’s assortment of confections

What a wonderful thing it is to be planning a wedding in the 21st century, when you can serve whatever you want as the grand finale of your feast. (Although people might well have issues with live birds or snakes, and lamb testicles have fallen out of favor.)

Cake meadows—in which your cake serves as the focal point of its own display of flowers, fruit, greenery, and/or vegetables—are a modern trend we love. Blossoms, foliage, and natural bounty surrounding all that beautiful sweetness can be just glorious; picture a taller floral piece as a backdrop, with cascades of glorious colorful nature flowing out from there to surround your baker’s masterwork.

That masterwork can be anything you like. How about a whole silhouette? Dome cakes are currently trending for a reason: they’re fresh and gorgeous. With a vast selection of proportions and shapes to choose from, a dome cake opens up whole new worlds of cake decoration.

Cakes can be gleaming metallic and jewel tones; cakes can be stacked geometric shapes. Cakes can be drizzled with fudge or fruit sauce, or gleam with rock candy geodes. Cakes can be towers of naked-sided layers topped with cream cheese frosting and berries. Cakes can be sculpted, stenciled, etched, or made to look like tiedye or stained glass.

Photo by Junior Reis.

Photo by Love Me Do Photography.

A tower or a meadow presentation full of single-serving mini-cakes in two or three flavors—maybe with a toppings bar—is perfect for a wedding of free spirits. For that matter, you don’t need a cake at all. Options include ice cream sundaes, a selection of pie and fancy cookies, and goblets of creamy chocolate and raspberry mousse; the only requirement of a wedding dessert is that it be delightful.

Cheesecake by Cohen’s Bakery.

Tarts by Overlook Bakery.

Strawberries by Adam’s Fairacre Farms.

ADAMS FAIRACRE FARMS

Hudson Valley, 845-336-6300 (Kingston), adamsfarms.com

Let us cater your special day. Our expert bakers will work with you to create the wedding cake of your dreams. Your special dessert, baked to perfection by us, will be a huge hit! Call or visit your local Adams store to schedule a consultation with our bakers.

COHEN’S BAKERY

Ellenville, 845-647-7620, cohensbakery.cafe

Cohen’s Bakery in Ellenville is a beloved local institution renowned for its delectable pastries and baked goods. Indulge in exquisite wedding cakes crafted with artistry and the finest ingredients. From elegant, tiered creations to unique and whimsical designs, Cohen’s Bakery will make your wedding dreams a reality. Their selection of delectable desserts will leave your guests wanting more.

MAIN COURSE CATERING

New Paltz, 845-255-2600, maincoursecatering.com

Main Course is a full-service caterer that can coordinate all wedding aspects, including customized menus, cakes, décor, linens, and rentals. Under chef Bruce Kazan’s innovative leadership, a team of talented professionals creates the finest in catered events. Main Course, a leader in the sustainable food movement, uses small Hudson Valley purveyors to provide the freshest local, organic produce, free-range poultry, line-caught fish, and hormone-free meats.

OVERLOOK BAKERY

Woodstock, 845-684-5898, overlookbakery.com

Overlook Bakery, nestled in the heart of the Catskill Mountains in beautiful Woodstock, NY. We specialize in bespoke vintage-inspired and floral tiered cakes, crafted with love and artistry using only the finest ingredients. In addition to our signature cakes, we offer delectable cupcakes, tarts, pies, and our beloved cookies, with lots of gluten-free and vegan options available. We proudly deliver throughout the Hudson Valley and would be delighted to bake something unforgettable for your special events!