18 Sweet Wedding Dessert Bar Ideas
Cookies, cakes, mini pies, pastries… With all the time you’ve spent dreaming up delicious goodies to serve during your wedding, it only makes sense to think just as hard about how to display them in a way that’s truly spectacular. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of food for thought when checking out these 18 sweet and stylish DIY wedding ideas and dessert bars. Whether you’re going for a look that’s rustic-chic, modern and minimalist or classically vintage, there’s something here to whet every creative bride’s appetite.
1. Old-Fashioned Pull Cart: Get the good times rolling by turning an old-fashioned pull cart into a delightful dessert table. With green garland trim and vintage serving stands, it’ll be a picture-perfect addition to your reception decor. (Photo via The Nichols)
2. Geometric Designs: Inspired by Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, this colorful dessert display is all kinds of amazing. Want to capture the same fun vibe yourself? Hang geometric accent pieces above a table that’s topped with delicious desserts or sweet brunch treats. (Photo via Rodeo + Co Photography)
3. Wooden Wine Barrels: Vineyard weddings are always breathtakingly beautiful, especially when they feature wooden wine barrels as furniture and decor pieces. Use some to create interesting bar and dessert displays, then position a few more throughout the space as cocktail tables and flower stands. (Photo via Katie Jackson Photography)
4. Mint + Gold: For sweet yet striking style, go with a mint and gold color scheme, gilded fern backdrop and scalloped ombre cake. This unconventional look would work great for holiday season engagement parties or New Year’s Eve nuptials. (Photo via La Luz Photography)
5. Modern + Minimalist: As tempting as it can be to go all out with bold colors when decorating a bare space, many couples find that embracing a minimalist look can be just as intriguing. This industrial wedding, complete with a donut dessert bar, is an ideal example of the “less is more” concept. (Photo via Finch and Farrow)
6. Creative Breakfast Bar: Get your reception off to a mouthwatering start by presenting donuts, pastries and coffee on a basic wooden bar. Here, a chalkboard menu and newsprint signage add non-traditional touches. (Photo via Kirsten Julia Photography)
7. Rustic Romance: Whether you’re hosting a rustic wedding during the fall or a garden-inspired fete next spring, an eclectic, weathered-wood dessert bar definitely won’t disappoint. (Photo via AndySeo Studio)
8. Chic Shelving: Who knew simple shelving could ever look so chic? This is an especially great choice when you’ve got a lot of desserts and a limited amount of space. (Photo via Honey Honey Photography)
9. Feather Backdrop: Let pretty pastels lend feminine flair in a way that’s classy, not kiddy. Love the feather garland backdrop? Carry the look further by using one during the ceremony or adding individual plumes to your bouquet or updo. (Photo via Liz Banfield)
10. Woodland Wonder: Featuring moss, flowers, tree stumps and even a silver owl accent piece, this dessert display will make guests feel as if they’ve entered a whimsical wooded wonderland. (Photo via Jessica Charles Photography)
11. Beautiful Balloons: Spell out your love with eye-catching gold balloons. They’re a versatile prop you can also use in photos. (Photo via Onelove Photography)
12. Lovely Lettering: Not loving the idea of balloons as a backdrop? Light-up letters work just as well and can be displayed at home later on. (Photo via Jillian Rose Photography)
13. Marvelous Marquee: Mini pie pops are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser any time of year. Use a monogram marque to help light the way, and hang twinkle lights from trees to create an especially magical atmosphere. (Photo via This Love of Yours Photography)
14. Mirror Menu: Give an old vanity new life by covering the mirror in chalk paint and using it as a dessert or appetizer menu during the reception. (Photo via Cluney Photo)
15. Vintage Drawers: Stuck on what to give guests as favors? Fill apothecary jars with sweets and let friends take home their favorites. If you’re tight on space, open shelf drawers can provide extra display areas for candy bags and small desserts. (Photo via Eden Day Photography)
16. Understated Simplicity: An industrial wall backdrop looks anything but bland with a naked cake, crate stand and rose-hued urn on display in front of it. (Photo via Marta Locklear)
17. Barnyard Boxes: No extra table on hand? No problem. Wooden crates and barrels will get the job done in a unique and stylish way. (Photo via Jordan Kowalski of Redmoose Photography)
18. Antique Elegance: Marie Antoinette herself would fall head over heels in love with the exquisite and elegant styling seen here. Isn’t the lace overlay a romantic finishing touch? (Photo via Damaris Mia Photography)
Which dessert bar design do you love best? Share your thoughts below.