To Cake or Not to Cake: The Ultimate Wedding Cake Debate

A modern twist on tradition: a beautifully illuminated rustic wedding cake adorned with fresh berries, set against a breathtaking mountain backdrop.

By Emma Taylor, Kateri Weddings & Events

Trending Now: Big Changes in Wedding Dessert Traditions

It’s 2025, and everything is on the dessert table. From elegant tiered cakes to nostalgic cookie tables and dessert spreads that look straight out of a food stylist’s dream—modern couples are rethinking the sweet traditions of wedding day confections. At Kateri Weddings and Events, we did a deep dive into what’s trending now, what’s timeless, and how couples are mixing it all together to make their wedding dessert moments uniquely their own. Here’s what we found (and yes—you can absolutely do both cake and cookies).

It’s Your Party—Set Your Own Traditions

Gone are the days when a towering tiered cake was the only sweet centerpiece on the dessert table. Whether you’re team classic cake or craving something modern and eclectic, the golden rule is simple: do whatever speaks to you.

2025 Wedding Cake Trends You’ll See Everywhere

1. Sculptural & Textured Cakes Think dome-shaped cakes, wavy buttercream, sculptural forms, and bold laminth piping. These edible art pieces steal the show. Brides+10Carats & Cake+10Pinterest+10Brides+6THEWED+6Bake Magazine+6Sweet Heather Anne Cake Studio

2. Dessert Tables with Mini Treats An explosion of mini cheesecakes, macarons, tartlets, and colorful bite-size delights is topping trends. Guests love the freedom to taste a bit of everything. Valley Cooperative Association

3. Sheet Cakes Make a Stylish Comeback Charting a trendy shift: sheet cakes are hanging out front again—decorated to wow, easy to serve, and perfect for medium-sized or laid-back receptions. Brides

4. Flavor Adventures From matcha lavender to pistachio—nature-forward and unexpected flavor combinations are everywhere. Valley Cooperative Association+4Food & Wine+4crumbcentraloregon.com+4

5. Innovative Displays Croquembouche towers, cookie walls, tiered treat towers—you name it. All about making a visual statement. Wikipedia+2THEWED+2Valley Cooperative Association+2

Wedding Cake Replaced? Meet the Star from Pittsburgh: The Cookie Table

Ever heard of a cookie table? Born in Pittsburgh and popular through western PA and parts of Virginia, this tradition brings communities together through sweets. Families bake trays of bite-size cookies—ladylocks, shortbread, pressed cookies—and arrange them beautifully for guests. It started in the Depression era as a cake alternative and is now a rite of celebration. Wikipedia+4TASTE+4Wikipedia+4

Mix and match: mini pies, Italian pizzelle, gluten‑free bites—whatever you and your family love.

Make It Yours: Wedding Cake, Cookies—or Both!

• Classic Cake: A tiered or sculptural confection for the ceremonial “cutting” moment.

• Cookie Table: A warm, communal spread reflecting family heritage.

• Dessert Station: A cornucopia of creative sweets.

• All of the above: Why choose? Let your weekend wedding at Kateri host an entire dessert buffet bursting with personalized treats.

Why This Works for Your Kateri Wedding

• Secluded, private, and stunning… and all yours for the weekend.

• Multiple ceremony and reception sites let you place your sweet moments where they belong—on the terrace, the deck, side lawn, or under stringed lights.

• Our 90-acre estate is perfect for dessert bars, lounge-style s’mores, or family cookie tables by the pool.

Icing on the Cake

• Encourage guests to share pics using your wedding hashtag—bonus points for dramatic cookie spreads or sculptural cakes.

• Offer cute “dessert sampler” boxes for guests to take home.

• Include family backstories: “These pistachio-lavender macarons were Great Aunt Millie’s recipe!”

• Include family wedding pictures served up with the dessert table.

Final Thoughts

Whether you stick with a timeless tiered cake, embrace the Pittsburgh cookie table, or go all-in with a decadent dessert buffet—remember: It’s your party. It’s your weekend. It’s your dessert story.

Let your wedding at Kateri be as unique as your love. Want help planning your dessert spread or finding a local baker who gets it? Just say the word!