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How to Design the Perfect Dessert Table

December

How to Decorate a DIY Wedding Dessert & Display Table

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Who doesn’t love a good dessert table?! Wedding dessert and display tables have been popular for 5-6 years now. If you are looking to take your wedding, shower or party to the next level, consider treating your guests (and yourself!) to a dessert table!

A dessert or display table is a collection of sweets, curated in a beautiful way.

Dessert Tables Serve 3 Main Purposes:

1. Dessert for your guests (Obviously)

2. Beautiful focal point and photo opportunity

3. Party Favors: Don’t forget to include to-go-bags.

Dessert Table Ideas

upper montclair country club wedding photographer

Pink French Macarons

How do you set a dessert table?

Choose a Theme

First, you’ll want to choose a color scheme or theme. I’m including lots of inspiration in this post. Everything from Chic & Girly Dinosaur Dessert Tables to a “Time Flies” themed table for a little boy’s first birthday to tons of pink bridal shower themed tables and of course lots of blue boy inspired tables for baby showers. The possibilities are literally endless and this first step will likely be the hardest party!

2. Measure and Cover your Table

Next, you’ll want to a long table and cover it with a beautiful cloth. Believe it or not, I really believe the linens make a huge difference so you may want to invest in a nice tablecloth. But you don’t have to pay a fortune! I’m kind of obsessed with this sparkly dessert tablecloth on amazon. Many hotels and nice restaurants even pad underneath the table cloth. Personally, I like to use this stretchy table cover. You can get it on amazon. Just make sure to measure your table first. The cover slides right over the table and under the cloth. That way your linens stay still and the legs of the table don’t get exposed. Don’t worry, you can still store extra treats and your storage boxes under the table, and I definitely recommend that you do!

3. Map Out Your Display

The third step will be to come up with a plan to display your treats and purchase your containers and trays. There are many ways to display your treats from trays to cake stands, glass jars and more. My best tip is to vary the heights. This creates visual interest. You can look into renting beautiful containers and vintage pieces for your dessert table. This works really well for vintage tea parties. But you can also go in amazon and type in “dessert table” Tons of beautiful and affordable container options will come up.

4. Order Your Treats

Wondering what to wear to your bridal shower. Check out this post.

What do you put in a dessert table?

You may be wondering what to include on your treat table and where to order. Let’s start with menu. Here are some common desserts I see at parties and showers.

Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Covered Oreos
French Macarons
Rice Krispee Treats
Cake Pops
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Candy in a Jar

The rest I would order locally:
Cupcakes
Mini Cupcakes
Donuts

*Don’t forget to include to go bags, so your guests can take a few sweets home with them (hello, favors!)

Be sure to order cake, cupcakes, donuts and candy bar candy locally! And speaking of local vendors, here are a few of my favorites!

Where to Order

Believe it or not, I love Etsy for dessert table goodies! Cookies, cake pops, rice krispee treats and chocolate covered pretzels can easily be ordered online. Here are a few of my favorite Etsy resources for dessert table treats.

When creating your dessert table it’s okay to have a mix of treats ordered online and some you will obviously need to get from a bakery. Here are 10 local NJ venues that my clients frequently use.

Sugar Suckle (Sugar Cookies)
Cookie Press (Oreo’s & Rice Krispee Treats)
Joohee Bakes (Macarons)
Glaze Artisan (Donuts)
My Daughter’s Cakes (Cake)
Sugared Hearts Bakery
Chocolatey Dreams
Shea’s Sweet Shoppe
Sweet & Flour
Blue Sheep Bake Shoppe (Pricing included!)

3 Desserts Beyond the Table

Blue + White Dessert Table Inspiration

If you want to really surprise and delight your guests, hire one of these vendors to make a surprise appearance!

Luigi’s Ice Cream Truck

Fluff + Fluff (Cotton Candy)

Glazed & Confused (Donut Truck)

Your Dessert Table Questions Answered!

How do you decorate a dessert table?

Question: I want to get some neutral cake and dessert stands to have for holidays, special occasions, plate dates, parties, etc. I see dessert stands with different heights. Do they all have to be the same color? Material?

While I do love an eclectic collection and don’t think things need to be super match-y, I think its important to keep one aspect consistent. So, my recommendation would be to keep either the color and material the same, i.e., all white or all clear, but vary the shapes and sizes OR keep the shapes and sizes the same and vary the color, etc.

Neutral Cake Stands I Love

White

White Cake Stand via Pottery Barn

Handmade Cake Stand Via Etsy (Can be reused for the wedding)

Cute and affordable White Cake Stand via Anthropologie

Gold

Cake Stand via CB2

Wedding Cake Stand

Marble + Gold

Wooden

Marble + Wood via Project 62 (My personal favorite!)

Wooden via Etsy

Wooden

Rentals

Question: Where can I get a pretty white table to keep and use as a dessert table? What other tables can I use?

Truthfully, many of the beautiful dessert tables I see are rentals. There are some great rental companies you can use. Some of my favorites are White Glove Rentals, Big Mamas Party Rentals and From Peonies to Paint Chips. If you don’t want to rent, I would use whatever table you have and cover it with a beautiful tablecloth to keep it clean and simple.

Display

Question: I want to show off cookie pops. Should I place them flat or is it better standing? How do I make them stand?

I would try to display anything on a stick standing up if possible. One hack is to go to Michaels and purchase white foam. You can spray paint it any color you want to match your theme (they make all types of pretty spray paints in a variety of colors + metallics- silver or gold would be really pretty!) Then, insert the stick into your foam and enjoy your display!

More Tips to Design the Perfect Dessert Table

Question: What other details besides dessert can make my dessert table pretty?

First of all, I love this question! The fact that this person asked it means she already knows, that while desserts are pretty, there are other aspects to consider. Here are 7 ways to make your dessert table even prettier!

1. Find the Best Light

First of all, good lighting makes everything prettier! Make sure to position your dessert table near a window. If possible, place the display table across from a window, so when you are facing the table, your back will be to the window. Obviously, that is not always possible. The second best option is to place your table next to the window (and a little back if possible). Side lighting can also be really pretty if done right. The last option would be to place the table up against the window, therefore, backlighting the display table. This can be tricky lighting and should be avoided.

2. Add Flowers

Next, flowers make everything prettier! And don’t worry- you can add flowers even for boy parties! My client, Lindsay is a seasoned party thrower. I have shot a number of events for her and her son, Mario and she always goes big with flowers! Just be sure to keep the color scheme to blue and white or neutral.

3. Include a Backdrop

A clean backdrop sets the scene and focus so that all eyes are on the dessert table. The backdrop can be elaborate or simple, but defining a clear space for your dessert table is key.

4. Include High and Low Aspects

Be sure to add visual interest by displaying desserts in a variety of heights.

5. Use Different Vendors for Different Treats

See above for vendors that specialize in sugar cookies, painted cookies, French macarons, etc.! Especially if you are DIY-ing the design itself, I would invest in the professionals for the actual baking.

6. Frame with Balloon Arch

Now that you have your dessert display table set up in the best lighting with a clean backdrop and delicious desserts, you can add more interest by highlighting the table with a frame or arch. Balloons are a great way to do this! Indie Bee Balloons is one of my favorite balloon artists! Or you can DIY with a kit!

7. Rent a Table or Cart

Don’t feel like you need to make a big investment or choose a venue with perfect furniture. See above for some of my favorite NJ rental companies.