Experts reveal the latest wedding dessert and drink trends
By Sara Perez Webber
Wedding receptions are a time to indulge. To help you plan your big events accordingly, we’ve rounded up some of the latest trends in scrumptious desserts and celebratory cocktails. Let’s get this party started!
Desserts
Extravagant Cakes
While no-frills cutting cakes were in demand post-COVID, now couples are increasingly requesting intricate, show-stopping cakes. “Gone are the days of brides saying, ‘I just want something simple,’” says Lizzy Skelton, executive pastry chef at Design Cuisine in Arlington, Virginia. “In the last few months, we have seen more and more extravagant requests—which we love! It gives our staff something out of the norm to do.” Recent wedding cakes created by Design Cuisine include a three-foot-wide mille-feuille cake built by Skelton in the middle of the dance floor, as well as a three-tier hand-painted beauty featuring cascading gum paste lemons.
Beautifully Plated Courses
Couples who are passionate about food are making sure to serve a beautifully plated dessert as the final course of a sit-down dinner, says Christie Altendorf, director of marketing and senior event planner at D’Amico Catering in Minneapolis. When collaborating with their pastry chef to develop this course, Altendorf suggests that couples share their design aesthetic, overall menu, and favorite flavors or ingredients. “Once the course has been developed, the next step is to ensure that the plating and presentation harmonize with the entirety of the dinner service,” adds Altendorf. “Consider using custom dishes or vibrant garnishes to create a cohesive dining experience.”
Passed Desserts
Just like hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats are being brought to guests wherever they are at the reception. “After dinner, most people get up and dance or move about and socialize,” says Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs in New York. “Passing the desserts is an elegant touch and allows everyone to taste a variety of sweet bites.”
Design Cuisine’s Skelton notes a similar trend: “We are seeing guests lean towards having desserts passed, especially chilled items like ice cream sandwiches or milkshakes.”
Indeed, according to the experts at Constellation Culinary Group, passed milkshakes are shaking up the wedding dessert scene. These mini shakes, served elegantly in shot glasses, can be customized to fit any wedding theme—and the single-serving portions make them easy to pass around without interrupting the flow of the celebration.
Ice Cream Treats
In fact, more and more wedding clients are screaming for ice cream at their receptions. “Couples are getting creative with custom ice cream carts that offer everything from gourmet soft serve to handcrafted gelato with unique toppings like edible flowers, artisanal sauces and fun mix-ins,” says Craig Peterman, owner of Craig Peterman Photography & Videography in Phoenix. “I also have seen an influx of mobile ice cream trucks catering specifically to wedding needs, arriving on site and offering as much ice cream as guests can eat.”
At The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, wedding clients are loving the Warm Cookie Skillet Ice Cream Station, with warm, gooey cookies served in skillets, paired with scoops of ice cream and a variety of toppings. The customizable nature of the station makes it a fun and engaging addition to the celebration while giving guests a comforting, nostalgic treat.
Dessert Bars
Windows Catering in Washington, D.C., reports that interactive and visually stunning dessert bars are still going strong. Not only do they provide a variety of sweet options for guests, but the creative displays also serve as a showstopping centerpiece at a reception.
Mini Desserts
Driven by the popularity of grazing tables and personalized culinary experiences, the trend toward mini desserts has been growing, notes Miami’s Spuntino Catering and Chef Toni Roberts, the pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago. Both have seen a significant number of couples customizing their dessert offerings with mini pastries, sweet displays and bite-sized treats as they cater to different guest preferences without overwhelming portions.
“Bite-sized treats like mini cakes, tarts and cupcakes allow guests to sample a variety of flavors without committing to a full slice,” notes Anna Barr, owner of AGA Hospitality Group in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Cupcake bars in particular have gained traction at venues such as Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida, which offers guests an array of flavors, fillings and toppings. Not only are the bars photogenic, but they can also be more cost-effective than traditional cakes and are easier to serve. Mini bundt cakes are another growing trend at the resort, adding a sophisticated touch to dessert tables.
Themed Desserts
More couples are considering the vibe of the night when choosing their desserts, says Design Cuisine’s Skelton: “We are seeing more themed desserts.” Examples include mini desserts that evoke a “camp” theme, like mini s’mores or Design Cuisine’s famous baked Alaska brownie sticks; or having all the desserts in the same color scheme, like silver and white, to match the linen choices.
Dessert As Décor
In the same vein, more caterers are creating photogenic desserts that appeal to the eye as well as the appetite. “Treats that double as décor, like beautifully arranged doughnut walls or cake towers, provide a stunning visual element while satisfying sweet cravings,” says Barr of AGA Hospitality Group.
Matcha Moment
Spuntino Catering, a premier Miami caterer, has noticed an increasing demand for matcha-infused desserts at weddings, thanks to the powder’s health benefits and unique flavor profile. With its vibrant green hue and antioxidant properties, matcha appeals to couples who want to offer a less traditional dessert.
Custom Candy Bars
The catering team at Constellation Culinary Group in South Florida says more clients are requesting custom candy bars at their weddings. These playful, vibrant displays offer a variety of candies and treats, allowing guests to mix and match their favorites into personalized goodie bags.
Drinks
Pairing Menus
As more couples are choosing to serve multi-course seated dinners at their receptions, they’re increasingly opting for a pairing menu that complements each part of the meal, according to D’Amico Catering’s Altendorf: “Petite portions of classic cocktails can provide a fun start to the dining experience—for example, a small martini paired with an amuse-bouche of caviar and crème fraîche-topped blini, setting the stage for a luxurious tableside experience. Moving into the meal, I love to suggest a light, crisp white wine to accompany a salad or starter course, followed by an interesting varietal that pairs beautifully with the entrée course. When dessert is served, a glass of Champagne or a sip of amaro can elevate the final touch at the table, leaving a lasting impression on guests as the culinary experience concludes.”
Signature Cocktails
“The world of signature cocktails is still alive and well,” notes Miles Hunter, beverage director at Design Cuisine, who says wedding clients are customizing their signature drinks through ingredients, regional flavors, colors and names.
According to Jodi Joyce, wedding expert at Hotel Effie in Sandestin, Florida, brides and grooms are each serving a signature welcome drink, showcasing their individual tastes and personalities with their choices. At the newly renovated venue at The Sandestin Beach Club in Miramar Beach, Florida, a growing trend is to name the signature cocktail after a beloved pet.
Couples are also showcasing their favorite premium liquors in their signature drinks. “Some of this is incorporating a favorite brand that has more meaning to them,” says Vijay Goel, chief operating officer at Bite Catering Couture in Los Angeles. “Another more prominent aspect appears to be taking a group of their friends to the bar and having them all try this drink together, especially if it’s a brand that’s more boutique or incorporates interesting garnishes or flavor combinations.”
Couples increasingly honor pets with their signature cocktails. Photo by Mandee Johnson Photography
More Mocktails
Also gaining steam is the trend toward no-alcohol drinks. Elegant Affairs’ Correale notes that many of her clients are making sure to offer “some zero-proof options for guests that may not drink or who just want to space out their alcohol intake but still be able to indulge in a fun beverage.”
Guests are gravitating toward mocktails due to “health, pregnancy and driving concerns,” says Bite Catering Couture’s Goel. “Some of it is driven by cultural reasons, as we’re seeing an increasing number of weddings from couples who have a significant Muslim or other non-drinking group attending their wedding. Some of it is also driven by an increase in interesting non-alcoholic drink mixes with vitamins, nootropics and other elements that may enhance energy or experience.”
Popular wedding mocktail options at Florida’s Pensacola Beach Resort include a virgin strawberry mojito with fresh strawberries, mint and lime, topped with Sprite and soda water; and a Winter Gin Fizz with Empress Indigo gin, amaretto, cream, blue matcha and egg whites.
Agave Appeal
As for the types of drinks most likely to cause a stir, according to Design Cuisine’s Hunter, “more clients and guests are looking for agave-based cocktails, whether it be a riff on a margarita or paloma, or a tequila/mezcal adaptation of classic cocktails.”
Espresso Pick-Me-Ups
“The espresso martini is still reigning supreme!” adds Design Cuisine’s Hunter.
According to Meagan Pinney, co-owner of Your Jubilee Weddings in Scottsdale, Arizona, espresso martinis are so popular at weddings that if they aren’t served, “we find guests at the hotel lobby bar ordering them on their own.” To avoid that, Pinney advises clients to make sure bartenders are serving up this guest favorite. “We love having a separate Martini Bar moment or having them served as guests enter the after-party!” she says. “This was a big hit in 2024 that will continue into 2025, thanks to Sabrina Carpenter’s song Espresso.”
At the Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, “espresso martini shots bring a vibrant energy to weddings, serving as both a delicious drink and a little pick-me-up,” says event planner Ivana Andreani. “Their rich, coffee-infused flavor is a hit with guests looking to keep the party going. These shots also photograph beautifully, enhancing the visual appeal of the celebration.”
Creative Garnishes
Far from being an after-thought, garnishes are adding ever-more creative touches to wedding cocktails. Spuntino Catering reports a strong demand for smoked lime wheels, for example.
They also add an interesting twist to another growing trend—interactive bar stations. “Instead of just ordering from a bartender, guests can get involved by choosing their own ingredients or garnishes,” says Peterman of Craig Peterman Photography & Videography. At a make-your-own-mojito bar, for example, guests can pick fresh herbs, fruits and mixers to create a perfect drink for their palate.
Sabering the Bubbly
Sabering the champagne bottle is a dramatic way to get the party started, reports Pinney of Your Jubilee Weddings. “Make sure your catering staff has the bottle of champagne kept at a very cold level and that you have the proper, sharp sabering knife,” she advises.
Jello Shots
According to the Arlo Williamsburg’s Andreani, jello shots are trending at weddings because they add a playful and nostalgic twist to the celebration. The vibrantly colored shots can be customized to the wedding theme and they’re easy to serve—no glassware or bartenders necessary.
