Wedding cakes and desserts

Melissa Chase6 said:Who do you think takes the win: Kasnar or Andric? Also, quick practical question—how many pounds of cake should I grab if I'm feeding a crowd of 200?

I can't really weigh in on Andric since I haven't had his work myself, but I can give you a sincere recommendation for Kasnar—we actually used them for our wedding. We received an incredible amount of compliments on the desserts, especially since we opted for a dessert table that absolutely blew everyone away! There wasn't a single crumb left over from the sweets, so I definitely recommend both—Kasnar's treats and the dessert table setup!

They were chasing down cookies today. 🙂 Just to be clear, we took samples of the pastries home to taste properly; there was no tasting on-site. Everyone recommends a standard serving of roughly 5 ounces per person. For our guest count, that equates to about 45 pounds of sweets. While most caterers have their own way of plating, Sweet Talk is the only one that uses ceramic plates.

First, we headed over to Fancy Cako. $43The weight was listed at 120 grams per unit, but they actually threw in a little sampler box of cookies for free. We ended up grabbing two extra slices of cake on our own dime, too. The cookies have a perfect, crumbly texture with distinct flavors in every bite—you can tell there isn’t a trace of margarine in them. As for the cakes? Absolutely top-tier. They offer free delivery within the city, which is a huge plus, though we'd probably just pick them up ourselves. $33. $6.75 Cake slices.

Amelia and I had a bit of a misunderstanding. I mentioned that I’m rarely in the city, but she took it the wrong way and ended up with zero snacks on hand. It was a total waste of money. $40The price per pound might look high, but they offer volume discounts based on the guest count, so it actually works out in our favor. $30The price per pound for these cakes is frankly excessive. It’s like paying premium steak prices for a side of mashed potatoes. $6.75 She sent over three macarons and two slices of cake, followed by an invitation to swing by around noon on the 12th to pick up a new sample of mini pastries—apparently apologizing because we hadn't reached an agreement earlier. To be blunt, the macarons were underwhelming, but the cake was excellent. As for the quality of the mini pastries, we'll see once they arrive. They don't charge for delivery.

The cake is excellent. $40$3.30 per pound. It’s a steep price, plain and simple. $8.25 I sampled their cake along with three complimentary cookies. To be blunt: they were mediocre. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact flaw because they weren't dry, tough, or oily—they were simply unremarkable. They lacked any real character.

Sweet Talk— $40I don't have the exact price per slice since he did his own math, but based on the weight, we ended up getting the cheapest cake in the room. $567It’s easily the most expensive option—over $2,200, give or take. $300 The decorations are absolutely stunning. As for the cookies, they charged us exactly what was owed, which I find perfectly acceptable. 😁We sampled some dry pastries and two different cakes. The pastries were incredibly tough—think stale bagels or biscotti—which certainly didn't impress the Canadian guest. We also tried one of those trendy orange zest cakes that everyone raves about, but honestly, it was underwhelming to us. One thing the baker mentioned privately, which nobody else seemed to know, is that he offers tiered cake stands where the bottom layer can be any flavor you want, kept hidden until the first slice is cut.

Our decision comes down to choosing between Amelia and Fancy Cako, which we will settle once we've sampled the cookies from Amelia because... $13A difference of even a single dollar per pound represents a significant amount of money. I recognize that my criteria might seem vague to some, but frankly, certain pastries are simply unacceptable—they lack flavor, miss my personal style, or are disappointingly dry and tough.

I hope my input proved useful to someone. At the very least, you now know the pricing for the pastries and exactly where to pick up free samples. 😂 Regardless of everything else, one should still make an appointment and take a stroll down to the bakery to sample the pastries. 😁

I suppose I’ll have to make an extra trip to Amelia now. I already checked out Magnolia, Emma, and Sugarland.
Regarding Magnolia—the second I walked in, the smell of baked goods hit me and I just knew. I didn't eat anything there, though; I just picked up some treats to take home. Honestly, the cookies aren't exactly... but the pralines are perfect. The cakes are decent enough. The owner mentioned they are $33/lb, since everything is made with real butter and Belgian chocolate. They haven't really handled weddings yet, though, since they just opened up recently. I completely forgot to ask about delivery.
As for Emma—the cookies are great. Probably better than any I've had so far. The cakes, however, weren't really my thing. They charge $43/lb, but if you order more than 15lbs, it drops to $30/lb. There's a delivery fee, I guess, but she said it might be free if we order a large enough amount, though she didn't specify how much that actually is.
Sugarland was absolute perfection. The cookies are delicious and the cakes are good. It's $40/lb, and maybe there's a discount for bulk orders, but she wasn't specific about the quantity. Delivery would probably run me about $23. Still, that feels a bit pricey to me... I don't know, I probably need to give Amelia another shot.

Ugh, honestly ladies, I feel like everyone is overthinking and dissecting these dessert tastings way too much, especially since it’s common knowledge that the treats at a tasting aren't going to taste the same as they do on the actual wedding day... I mean, mostly the ones served on the big day are those perfect, fresh, gorgeous little bites made just for you, and their look and flavor basically act as their own advertisement for the rest of the guests (like potential clients for the caterer, maybe?)... Personally, we didn't really stress about it, I tried the sweets—they were fine, the price was just $18, they weren't exactly the best desserts I've ever had in my life, but again, they were okay, and the price definitely played a huge part in that... In the end, everyone at the wedding loved them, there was hardly any left, and I could honestly say they were like ten times better than what we had at the tasting... They looked amazing, there weren't even more than 10 different kinds, which is fine by me... We couldn't find anything cheaper, so don't sweat it too much; your job is just to look pretty and stay happy, everything else is just minor details... Once it's all over, you'll realize that stressing over certain things just wasn't worth it... hugs to all the brides-to-be :-*

Melissa Sanchez2, I am not agitated at all 😁 I actually enjoyed visiting the bakeries.

Desserts are a priority for me (my future bride-to-be mother-in-law insists they are essential for the wedding 😁) and I refuse to pick mediocre sweets for a wedding reception. I was hoping for a "wow" factor, but what if they fall flat? I prefer playing it safe by choosing quality, because I have attended several weddings where the desserts were an afterthought—people just bought whatever was available, nobody ate them, and they ended up as wasted food—even including myself, and I have a massive sweet tooth.

When money is being spent (and I mean generally speaking here), things should be done properly. I will pre-select a menu that truly impresses, regardless of whether it costs me a few extra dollars or requires more effort. 😁

Susan Smith11 said:I suppose I’ll have to make an extra trip to Amelia now. I already checked out Magnolia, Emma, and Sugarland.
Regarding Magnolia—the second I walked in, the smell of baked goods hit me and I just knew. I didn't eat anything there, though; I just picked up some treats to take home. Honestly, the cookies aren't exactly... but the pralines are perfect. The cakes are decent enough. The owner mentioned they are $33/lb, since everything is made with real butter and Belgian chocolate. They haven't really handled weddings yet, though, since they just opened up recently. I completely forgot to ask about delivery.
As for Emma—the cookies are great. Probably better than any I've had so far. The cakes, however, weren't really my thing. They charge $43/lb, but if you order more than 15lbs, it drops to $30/lb. There's a delivery fee, I guess, but she said it might be free if we order a large enough amount, though she didn't specify how much that actually is.
Sugarland was absolute perfection. The cookies are delicious and the cakes are good. It's $40/lb, and maybe there's a discount for bulk orders, but she wasn't specific about the quantity. Delivery would probably run me about $23. Still, that feels a bit pricey to me... I don't know, I probably need to give Amelia another shot.

Let me know what you find out at Amelia😉

Their cakes are amazing... especially the Vivian cake, but unfortunately, they don't have it right now since it's not raspberry season🙂

So, what is actually a reasonable price per pound for desserts anyway?

We're planning on doing a dessert table... I'm obsessed with that idea, especially when there's a huge variety and everything is presented in a cool way.
I saw some photos from Fancy Cako on this thread and it looked incredible.
About $1200, if I remember correctly from what that girl wrote.

Does anyone happen to know when the next big wedding expo is happening?
I heard they usually hold them in January or February, but I can't find any info anywhere...

Apparently, they promote a ton of bakeries and dessert shops at these things—they even hand out coupons for free tastings. And honestly, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. 😁

Joseph Jones11 said:Does anyone happen to know when the next big wedding expo is happening?
I heard they usually hold them in January or February, but I can't find any info anywhere...

Apparently, they promote a ton of bakeries and dessert shops at these things—they even hand out coupons for free tastings. And honestly, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. 😁

Our tastings were totally free, 😁 except at Sweet Talk where we actually paid. Honestly, we would have paid anywhere, but I was surprised they were giving away free samples—we still need to stop by Amelia since we only picked up cakes.

From what I gather, prices in the city range from about $85 (Little Pie Shop) to $130 (Fancy Cako) or Poppy, which charges per piece, making it hard to budget. Amelia offers volume discounts (though Fancy Cako, Lee, and Sweet Talk didn't mention any), but I doubt that helps much with a dessert table since you typically order fewer items there. I'm counting down the days until next Friday or Saturday so we can finally settle on either Amelia or Fancy Cako.😁

Olivia Castillo562 said:Our tastings were totally free, 😁 except at Sweet Talk where we actually paid. Honestly, we would have paid anywhere, but I was surprised they were giving away free samples—we still need to stop by Amelia since we only picked up cakes.

From what I gather, prices in the city range from about $85 (Little Pie Shop) to $130 (Fancy Cako) or Poppy, which charges per piece, making it hard to budget. Amelia offers volume discounts (though Fancy Cako, Lee, and Sweet Talk didn't mention any), but I doubt that helps much with a dessert table since you typically order fewer items there. I'm counting down the days until next Friday or Saturday so we can finally settle on either Amelia or Fancy Cako.😁

Wait, so you just walked in there and told them you were picking out desserts for a wedding? Is that how it works?
Did you guys actually call ahead to make an appointment, or did you just barge in there unannounced? 🙂

Olivia Castillo562 said:Our tastings were totally free, 😁 except at Sweet Talk where we actually paid. Honestly, we would have paid anywhere, but I was surprised they were giving away free samples—we still need to stop by Amelia since we only picked up cakes.

From what I gather, prices in the city range from about $85 (Little Pie Shop) to $130 (Fancy Cako) or Poppy, which charges per piece, making it hard to budget. Amelia offers volume discounts (though Fancy Cako, Lee, and Sweet Talk didn't mention any), but I doubt that helps much with a dessert table since you typically order fewer items there. I'm counting down the days until next Friday or Saturday so we can finally settle on either Amelia or Fancy Cako.😁

I might head over to Amelia next week for some treats myself, so if they turn out great, they're my go-to, but if not, maybe I'll just stick with Emma... though if I go with Amelia, I'll probably grab both cookies and a cake, whereas if I pick Emma, it's just cookies, which leaves me wondering what to do about the cake.
By the way, you mentioned Amelia offers free delivery—is that just within the city or does it cover the suburbs too? If I recall correctly, you live a bit outside the city limits, but I can't quite remember where.

Joseph Jones11 said:Wait, so you just walked in there and told them you were picking out desserts for a wedding? Is that how it works?
Did you guys actually call ahead to make an appointment, or did you just barge in there unannounced? 🙂

We called everywhere and had a massive list of questions.😁 You have to schedule an appointment because the owner isn't always on duty or available. At the end of the day, whether they give you a deal is entirely up to their discretion. I didn't exactly hit it off with the owner at Amelia, so she invited us over (no obligation), but when we arrived asking for extra small pastries, she unexpectedly gave us two whole cakes and three macarons for free. It was quite surprising, but a very generous gesture on their part.

Susan Smith11 said:I might head over to Amelia next week for some treats myself, so if they turn out great, they're my go-to, but if not, maybe I'll just stick with Emma... though if I go with Amelia, I'll probably grab both cookies and a cake, whereas if I pick Emma, it's just cookies, which leaves me wondering what to do about the cake.
By the way, you mentioned Amelia offers free delivery—is that just within the city or does it cover the suburbs too? If I recall correctly, you live a bit outside the city limits, but I can't quite remember where.

We plan to source everything from one vendor. We won't taste the cakes until later since most bakers struggle with fondant when stacking tiers vertically. Only Sweet Talk mentioned using that central dowel system that allows you to stack tiers however you want. I'll ask Amelia about it when I call back.

We are located in Grand Market, which is about 22 miles outside of the city, and they offered us free delivery.

Personally, sweets are the last thing on my priority list. I’m not about to drop serious cash on them because, honestly, most pastries are pretty much mid in terms of quality. Like, what kind of dessert are we even talking about for $40/lb? 😲 The priciest thing I’ve ever heard of was $30🙄

Taylor Jackson59 said:Personally, sweets are the last thing on my priority list. I’m not about to drop serious cash on them because, honestly, most pastries are pretty much mid in terms of quality. Like, what kind of dessert are we even talking about for $40/lb? 😲 The priciest thing I’ve ever heard of was $30🙄

Taylor Jackson59, I couldn't disagree more. It's a fallacy to assume all desserts are equal in quality, and besides, the cost difference is negligible when you look at the wedding budget as a whole. Saving $200 ($30 versus 120) on 20 pounds of sweets is just a drop in the bucket compared to the total expense. Ultimately, everyone makes their own choices based on what fits their specific needs and budget.

Honestly, $200 is a pretty decent amount to save. In my experience, guests mostly care about the vibe, the live band, and the food. Cakes are just a side note—everyone's got their own priorities when it comes to spending.🙂

Even if my own treats cost only $20/lb, they won't be any less delicious than those overpriced ones.☕

Let me give you the quick rundown on my experience with
"Elite Wedding Wonders" over in Indianapolis... We placed a massive order with them—cakes, pastries, invitations, and all those little extra details needed for our wedding. While we were placing the order, everything was absolutely perfect; they were incredibly kind and attentive. But once the big day actually happened, we had a serious issue with the wedding cake, which turned out to be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE ORDERED!!! As soon as we brought this up, that legendary kindness vanished instantly, replaced by pure rudeness! We paid for the cake (honestly, looking back, I regret paying for it at all given the service we received) $667, but it wasn't even close to what we requested. It only had about five decorations on it, looking like they barely had time to finish it 🤷, whereas the one we ordered was supposed to be way more elaborate!!!! (Their excuse? They basically told us: "You should have specified that you wanted it fancy!"—but I showed them a photo and clearly said, "I want this exact one...") On top of that, there were supposed to be LED lights to illuminate the cake stand, but those weren't even delivered to the venue!!!!
Look, I wouldn't say anything if this were just for a birthday—you could always make it better next year—but this was our WEDDING. There isn't a second chance for this!!!!!! It was shameful and totally unprofessional. To top it all off, we ordered those small square pastry bites; when we ordered them, they were quoted at one price, but when it came time to pay, the woman suddenly "remembered" they were more expensive than she originally told us, so of course, she charged us the higher price!!!! AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WHEN YOU RUN A BUSINESS AND YOU SCREW UP, YOU NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT!!! I really hope they don't ruin what should be the most perfect day of your life! Good luck

Megan Lewis98 said:Let me give you the quick rundown on my experience with
"Elite Wedding Wonders" over in Indianapolis... We placed a massive order with them—cakes, pastries, invitations, and all those little extra details needed for our wedding. While we were placing the order, everything was absolutely perfect; they were incredibly kind and attentive. But once the big day actually happened, we had a serious issue with the wedding cake, which turned out to be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE ORDERED!!! As soon as we brought this up, that legendary kindness vanished instantly, replaced by pure rudeness! We paid for the cake (honestly, looking back, I regret paying for it at all given the service we received) $667, but it wasn't even close to what we requested. It only had about five decorations on it, looking like they barely had time to finish it 🤷, whereas the one we ordered was supposed to be way more elaborate!!!! (Their excuse? They basically told us: "You should have specified that you wanted it fancy!"—but I showed them a photo and clearly said, "I want this exact one...") On top of that, there were supposed to be LED lights to illuminate the cake stand, but those weren't even delivered to the venue!!!!
Look, I wouldn't say anything if this were just for a birthday—you could always make it better next year—but this was our WEDDING. There isn't a second chance for this!!!!!! It was shameful and totally unprofessional. To top it all off, we ordered those small square pastry bites; when we ordered them, they were quoted at one price, but when it came time to pay, the woman suddenly "remembered" they were more expensive than she originally told us, so of course, she charged us the higher price!!!! AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WHEN YOU RUN A BUSINESS AND YOU SCREW UP, YOU NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT!!! I really hope they don't ruin what should be the most perfect day of your life! Good luck

Megan Lewis98, I am so incredibly sorry you went through that. 😢

As for how important the desserts are... well, to me, they are huge.

The groom and I are total sweet tooth people, and honestly, at every single wedding we've been to, we've ended up critiquing the sweets—which ones were good and which ones weren't.
Personally, I'm not a fan of those super heavy, old-school traditional pastries; they're getting kind of boring.
So, I have no problem spending a little extra to get us some nicer, more innovative, and pricier treats that I hope will wow everyone else too.🙂

I think something like this would even catch our grandmothers' interest:😁:

http://sweettablechicago.com/wp-cont...sert-table.jpg

http://cdn.greenweddingshoes.com/wp-...wedding-15.jpg

http://ruffledmedia.ruffled.netdna-c...-tables-01.jpg

Taylor Jackson59 said:Honestly, $200 is a pretty decent amount to save. In my experience, guests mostly care about the vibe, the live band, and the food. Cakes are just a side note—everyone's got their own priorities when it comes to spending.🙂

Even if my own treats cost only $20/lb, they won't be any less delicious than those overpriced ones.☕

Nobody ever promised your cookies would be edible. Having a strict budget you aren't allowed to touch is an entirely different matter altogether. $200 It won't enrich or impoverish anyone. Personally, I am the type of bride for whom everything matters—nothing is trivial. That is why we took our time, and we are prepared to invest more effort into details that others often push to the bottom of their list. As you pointed out, everyone simply chooses different priorities. 🙂

Joseph Jones11 said:Megan Lewis98, I am so incredibly sorry you went through that. 😢

As for how important the desserts are... well, to me, they are huge.

The groom and I are total sweet tooth people, and honestly, at every single wedding we've been to, we've ended up critiquing the sweets—which ones were good and which ones weren't.
Personally, I'm not a fan of those super heavy, old-school traditional pastries; they're getting kind of boring.
So, I have no problem spending a little extra to get us some nicer, more innovative, and pricier treats that I hope will wow everyone else too.🙂

I think something like this would even catch our grandmothers' interest:😁:

http://sweettablechicago.com/wp-cont...sert-table.jpg

http://cdn.greenweddingshoes.com/wp-...wedding-15.jpg

http://ruffledmedia.ruffled.netdna-c...-tables-01.jpg

Those tables are stunning, but you need to be strategic about placement. I once attended a wedding where the layout was a disaster; guests were forced to trudge right through the dance floor just to reach the buffet. Also, keep in mind that cupcakes are priced per unit—depending on how much icing work goes into them, you could be looking at a significant cost. $5.00 Just so we are clear—for your information. 😉

Olivia Castillo562 said:Nobody ever promised your cookies would be edible. Having a strict budget you aren't allowed to touch is an entirely different matter altogether. $200 It won't enrich or impoverish anyone. Personally, I am the type of bride for whom everything matters—nothing is trivial. That is why we took our time, and we are prepared to invest more effort into details that others often push to the bottom of their list. As you pointed out, everyone simply chooses different priorities. 🙂

Those tables are stunning, but you need to be strategic about placement. I once attended a wedding where the layout was a disaster; guests were forced to trudge right through the dance floor just to reach the buffet. Also, keep in mind that cupcakes are priced per unit—depending on how much icing work goes into them, you could be looking at a significant cost. $5.00 Just so we are clear—for your information. 😉

Yeah, fair point... I'll talk to the restaurant manager about booking a spot where it won't be in anyone's way. Ideally somewhere far away from the dance floor.

And thanks for the tip on the cupcakes, 😉
honestly, we don't even need them... there are plenty of other delicious desserts out there, so I'm sure we can find a great alternative.

Location is everything when you set up a table. 🙂
I don't see why they charge such an absurd premium for a single cupcake 🙄 It seems like they spend way more effort on their pastries or eclairs than on those little treats. Yet, anything that looks trendy or colorful gets priced individually—think mousse cups, cake pops, or macarons.

Joseph Jones11 said:Megan Lewis98, I am so incredibly sorry you went through that. 😢

As for how important the desserts are... well, to me, they are huge.

The groom and I are total sweet tooth people, and honestly, at every single wedding we've been to, we've ended up critiquing the sweets—which ones were good and which ones weren't.
Personally, I'm not a fan of those super heavy, old-school traditional pastries; they're getting kind of boring.
So, I have no problem spending a little extra to get us some nicer, more innovative, and pricier treats that I hope will wow everyone else too.🙂

I think something like this would even catch our grandmothers' interest:😁:

http://sweettablechicago.com/wp-cont...sert-table.jpg

http://cdn.greenweddingshoes.com/wp-...wedding-15.jpg

http://ruffledmedia.ruffled.netdna-c...-tables-01.jpg

If you're into that style of dessert, maybe check out Culinary Arts (if you happen to be in NYC); they seem way too pricey for my taste, but I guess if you're into that whole fancy vibe...