Dessert Table: A Guide to Adding Sweetness to the Celebration

What is a Dessert Table

A dessert table for weddings and events is a table full of sweets, bite-sized cakes and desserts and pastries. Placed near the reception table at the entrance of the ballroom, or the foyer for wedding guests. These desserts are for the consumption of wedding guests who are early arrivals, who may enjoy small bite-sized food while mingling and waiting for dinner to start, similar to the purpose of a pre-dinner cocktail session.

Characteristics of a Dessert Table

These desserts are beautifully decorated. Care is given to be aesthetically pleasing, most of the time decorated to compliment wedding theme or theme colours. Examples of dessert items are cupcakes, brownies, macarons, fruit tartlets, verrines, choux pastries and etc.

The type and combination of dessert choice will be dependent on:

• different categories of desserts such as cake, cookie, brownie, tart, and verrines
• different variety of taste which complement each other
• different decorating mediums and techniques
• ease of serving and eating
• temperature of service area (indoor or outdoor)

Table Presentation

The table presentation would include the most basic table, tablecloth and skirting. Besides normal tables, creative use of other furnishings such as the A-shaped frame above is an interesting focal point. The backdrop plays an important role as well. In the hands of decorators, the overall setup will merge and compliment the whole theme of the event.

Plating and Presentation

Plating and presentation refers to type of crockeries such as cake stands, plates, bowls, baskets and anything to place the desserts on. Here is a compilation of three examples of plating and presentation such as white plates, wooden trays and mirrors. The rule of thumb on matching desserts to crockeries are the more costly the crokeries, the more high end the desserts need to be.

Conclusion

Regarding the evolution of dessert tables, there is no doubt that dessert tables are here to stay. It is challenging to plan and execute a dessert table, especially when every event is a different theme, but the satisfaction of the end result is worth all the effort.