Sweet endings! From classic cakes to donuts and pies, there aren’t any rules when it comes to the last course at your Northern Michigan wedding.
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I have a major sweet tooth. Like, an “always have an emergency chocolate bar in my purse” kind of sweet tooth.
So, when I started planning my own wedding last year, I knew I wanted the desserts to shine—to spark joy. And for all of the traditions we did away with, I also knew that participating in the time-honored tradition of exchanging a first bite of wedding cake was something I definitely wanted to experience with my groom.
I struggled melding the two visions in my mind—delightful desserts vs. just wedding cake. Does eating a slice of chocolate cake spark joy for most wedding guests? Maybe. Maybe not.
Photo by Dan Stewart
Luckily, my friend Anna Kucharski at Merlyn’s Pâtisserie suggested a compromise—a small wedding cake for just my husband and me, and an array of mini desserts for our guests. It’s a trend I’ve seen all over social media, and it made perfect sense for us (mainly because we’re obsessed with Merlyn’s pastries—seriously, if you haven’t visited their stand at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market, what are you waiting for?!).
The best part about dessert tables is the endless ways to customize them: towers of cupcakes, personalized cookies, a rainbow of macarons. We worked with Merlyn’s to develop a menu that highlighted autumnal ingredients—pumpkin cheesecake bites and caramel apple croissants—while also showcasing their Filipino roots with flavors like ube (sweet purple yam) patisserie crème sandwiched in a cream puff.
Photo by Dan Stewart
“I love when we can do a dessert table, because the couple usually chooses desserts they both enjoy, which makes it more personal,” Kucharski says. “Desserts aren’t normally a highlight at weddings, but I like to think they can bring some whimsy.”
Whimsical is the perfect way to describe how our table turned out—from the bright purple ube cream puffs, to the mousse cups topped with fresh raspberries and chocolate pearls. Our guests loved trying different treats, and I got the chocolate wedding cake of my dreams.
Dozens of Wedding Donuts
Donuts are, without a doubt, the ultimate wedding finger food. Whether it’s a dazzling donut wall, or a coffee and donut bar, I’m all for embracing everyone’s favorite breakfast treat. (Plus, how fun would it be to serve mini donuts atop some espresso martinis?) Peace, Love and Little Donuts in Traverse City has some great options for your wedding day, from their assorted Disco Party Box that serves 36, to their warm donut bar, where fresh donuts are decorated on-site for guests by PLLD staff.
Photo by Courtney Kent
Photo by Courtney Kent
Personalized Wedding Pies
I can’t think of anything more iconic for an Up North wedding than a homemade cherry pie (maybe with a scoop of vanilla Moomers ice cream?). And how cozy would pumpkin and pecan pies be in the fall? I love that Grand Traverse Pie Co. offers all sizes—a 20-inch pie can serve 75–100 people, or get 6- or 9-inch pies in a variety of flavors. Plus, you can ask for yours to be topped with a cute cutout heart (or your names in dough!). Does it get any sweeter than that?
A Simple Take on Wedding Cake
Throughout my wedding research, I scrolled past photo after photo of minimalist, elegant wedding cakes. It’s safe to say that, at least for now, the era of mile-high tiers and extravagant frosting details is behind us.
One of the most swoon-worthy bakers I stumbled upon is Kate LaCross of The Baker’s Gamble, based in Northport. LaCross believes that less is more when it comes to cake decoration, and her work focuses on hand-mixing the most flavorful, quality ingredients she can find. She tops her classic creations with fresh or dried flowers and fruits—you won’t find frosting roses or heaps of fondant here.
But LaCross says she’s always open to trying new things. If you’re looking for something a little different, reach out and she’ll work closely with you to develop your perfect cake.
“I deliver everything I make, and I can make (almost) anything,” she says. “Just ask me and I’ll probably take a whack at it!”
Photo by Kate LaCross