Every year brings new trends, especially with weddings. Some changes come with the need to physically distance during the pandemic. Other trends develop because we’re human beings and we like novelty. This quick guide explains mini wedding cakes and offers great tips for serving them at your nuptials.  

Understanding the Mini Cake Trend 

Mini wedding cakes are exactly what they sound like. These delicious treats are a different take on a classic, packing the goodness of a full-sized multi-tier cake into a single-serving package. They have been around for a while – Martha Stewart Weddings showed off these confections in January 2018. It’s no surprise that they gained notice in the last few years, along with other single-serve desserts like donut and cupcake towers.  

These days, mini cakes are enjoying another surge in popularity. A Brides article explains that COVID-19 is one major reason: They’re much easier to serve safely to guests. Working them in with a plated meal is easy, and you eliminate guests queuing up at the dessert table. Mini wedding cakes also offer tons of flavor and personalization possibilities – more ways to delight your guests.

Smart Tips for Your Mini Cakes 

Mini wedding cakes can be frosted and embellished just like their larger counterparts. With that said, you may want to keep a few things in mind. Considering the time and labor involved with their creation, these desserts are best reserved for smaller events. Think in terms of micro weddings and minimonies. If your guest list is under 50, these small treats are sure to make a big splash at your celebration. 

Visual details impact how guests experience their single-serving cakes. You can go with an elaborate version of a large multilayer wonder, but you don’t have to. Simple additions can be equally striking – a couple of edible flowers or fresh fruit slices, for example. Elegant and sophisticated, they can add enough panache to match the flavors you choose.  

Finding Your Ideal Bakery 

You’ll need to shop for your baker from home. Fortunately, Wedding Wire’s Kim Forrest suggests several ways you can make this process go smoothly. Your recently married friends can recommend bakeries they’ve used. Customer reviews can also be helpful, but remember to exercise some critical thinking as you read them. A June 2018 New York Times piece points out that we tend to pay more attention to negative reviews. Look for overall patterns in each vendor’s reviews – a couple of negative ratings in a sea of positives are likely outliers.  

Forrest adds that virtual interviews can work just as well as in-person visits. The only thing you can’t do is taste samples, but you can gauge how well each bakery can meet your needs. You’ll want to prepare some questions beforehand – The Knot suggests asking about flavor options, pricing, delivery, and other key details. For video interviews, don’t forget to observe some etiquette tips from TechRepublic: 

• Test your equipment before your conference. 
• Select a quiet location in your home. 
• Eliminate potential distractions – pets, televisions, and the like. 
• Give the call your full attention. 
• Use the mute button when you aren’t speaking. 

Photos can also help you evaluate a bakery’s work. Most will have online photo galleries showing their creations. These images can give you an idea of whether the baker can execute your vision. As a final step, be sure to review any contracts before you sign or make down payments.  

Big Flavor in Small Packages 

Lots of things have changed about weddings within the last year. Some changes give rise to new trends and innovations. Mini wedding cakes are visually appealing, tasty, and easy to adapt for a small guest count. Smart planning can help you serve this trendy treat at your 2021 wedding.