Beyond Wedding Cakes: Alternatives for Bakers During Wedding Season

Cash in on wedding season without making traditional wedding cakes


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Are you a baker or treat maker looking to cash in on wedding season, but you have no interest in making wedding cakes? If so, you're not alone. While wedding cakes can be a lucrative source of revenue, they're not the only way to cash in during wedding season. In this article, we'll explore alternative ways for bakers and treat makers to profit during the wedding season without focusing solely on wedding cakes.

Whether you're looking to expand your dessert offerings or cater to the wedding market in a new way, we'll provide you with valuable tips and strategies to help you succeed. So, let's dive in and discover how you can maximize your profits during the upcoming wedding season!

Do market research on wedding desserts.

To successfully offer alternative wedding desserts, you need to start by doing some market research. Identify your target market and determine which desserts are popular during wedding season. Consider the demographic of the couples you're catering to - are they young and trendy, or more traditional? Do they prefer classic desserts or are they looking for something unique and personalized? You can get a sense of what's popular by checking out wedding blogs, social media, and wedding-related websites. This research will help you determine which desserts to offer and how to market them effectively to your target audience. 

For example, if your research shows that macarons are a popular wedding dessert in your area, you could offer custom-designed macarons in a range of flavors and colors to attract wedding customers. By conducting thorough market research, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions about which alternative wedding desserts to offer and how to best target your customers.

To help you get the ideas flowing, here are a few dessert ideas, wedding cake alternatives, that can be customized to match a wedding theme and colors. They're also a great way to add variety and creativity to any dessert table.

  1. Cupcakes

  2. Macarons

  3. Cake pops

  4. Donuts

  5. Brownies

  6. Mini pies

  7. Cheesecake bites

  8. Fruit tarts

  9. Petit fours

  10. Chocolate truffles

  11. Ice cream sundaes

  12. Rice crispy treats

  13. Cannolis

  14. French pastries

  15. Mousse cups

  16. Crepes

  17. Chocolate-covered strawberries

  18. Cinnamon rolls

  19. Gourmet cookies

  20. Marshmallow pops

Create a non-wedding cake niche for yourself.

Also, if you're looking to make money during wedding season without making traditional wedding cakes, consider specializing in alternative wedding desserts, such as cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, and donuts. This will help you create a niche for yourself in the wedding market and attract customers who are looking for something different than the traditional wedding cake. 

To be successful in this niche, it's important to not only offer a variety of flavors and designs but to also market your desserts specifically to the wedding market (i.e. couples and vendors). Create a menu with custom designs that match the wedding theme or offer a dessert bar where customers can choose from a range of different toppings and decorations to create their own custom dessert. Then use social media to showcase your desserts and attract potential customers. You can also attend wedding expos, bridal shows, and other wedding-related events to network with potential clients and showcase your wedding cake alternatives in person.

Another effective marketing tactic is to collaborate with wedding vendors such as florists, event planners, and photographers. By building relationships with these professionals, you can offer a bundled package deal to clients and increase your exposure in the wedding industry. Additionally, offering discounts or promotions to clients who refer new business to you can help increase your customer base.

Lastly, it's important to have a professional and user-friendly website that showcases your products, provides information about your business, and makes it easy for potential customers to place orders. Consider including a gallery of your desserts, customer reviews, and a clear ordering process on your website. By specializing in alternative wedding desserts and marketing them effectively,  you can build a strong brand and increase your profits during wedding season without having to make traditional wedding cakes.

Pre-wedding events need dessert options too!

Keep in mind that you can still take advantage of wedding season sales by providing desserts for other wedding-related events. This can be a great way to expand your offerings and increase your profits as well. Many couples will be looking for delicious desserts to serve at their bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and other wedding-related activities. The demand for dessert options doesn’t begin and end with only the wedding.

By offering desserts for these events, you can expand your customer base beyond just the wedding cake and appeal to those who are looking for tasty treats for a variety of occasions. Additionally, providing desserts for these events can help you establish relationships with other wedding vendors, such as event planners, florists, and photographers, which can lead to even more business opportunities.


To effectively provide desserts for these events, it's important to consider the specific needs and preferences of each event. For example, a bridal shower may call for lighter, more feminine desserts such as petit fours or macarons, while a bachelorette party may call for more playful and indulgent desserts such as chocolate-covered strawberries or bachelorette themed cake pops.By catering to these different events and offering a range of flavors and designs, you can establish yourself as a versatile and reliable dessert provider and increase your profits during the wedding season without relying solely on traditional wedding cakes.

In conclusion…

There are many ways to profit from wedding season without making traditional wedding cakes. By conducting a thorough market search and identifying opportunities for dessert providers, you can get a better sense of what customers are looking for and how you can stand out from the competition.

One effective strategy is to specialize in alternative wedding desserts, such as cupcakes, donuts, or dessert bars. By offering a unique and customizable dessert experience, you can attract customers who are looking for something beyond the traditional wedding cake.

Another strategy is to provide desserts for other wedding-related events, such as bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. By catering to these different events and establishing relationships with other wedding vendors, you can increase your profits and establish yourself as a versatile and reliable dessert provider.

Ultimately, by combining these strategies and staying creative and adaptable, you can build a successful business in the lucrative wedding dessert market. So start exploring your options, get creative in the kitchen, and take advantage of the many opportunities available during wedding season!


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Cyd Mitchell

Cydni N. Mitchell (aka Cyd) is a Bakery Consultant and the Sweet Business Coach behind Sweet Fest®. Based in Atlanta, GA, Sweet Fest® is an online company that supports the business needs of the Sweet Community in the areas of professional development, marketing, branding and web design.

By trade, Cyd is an accountant & financial analyst with a Masters from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the Founder of the Sugar Coin Academy, an online business academy for business owners in the baking and sweets industry, and she is also the organizer of The Ultimate Sugar Show, Georgia’s Largest Annual Baking and Sweets Expo in Atlanta. She is also the Business Blogger for the Retail Bakers of America.

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