No Dessert?

Does your caterer not have any dessert options? I don't see how any dessert included in the catering would be considered "outside dessert" above and beyond whatever kind of fee you may have paid to use your caterer.

We are not having a wedding cake, but we're doing a mixed dessert display through our caterer (pudding shots, mini pies, that sort of thing).

As a guest, it would be weird. People seem to look forward to a bit of dessert at weddings. Maybe because they don't eat dessert often outside of special occasions and a wedding is an occasion.

I think people expect dessert, of some sort, but i imagine if you didn't want to you don't have to. I would say paying the $300 for outside dessert and asking a bakery to do mini desserts, donuts, etc would probably be cheaper over that 7.50 a slice thats crazy. My cake is included with my venue so im not sure of the cost, but i don't think i have seen slice prices that high and im in Los Angeles.

What other desserts does the venue offer? I'd pick one of those

I would look for alternate options for desserts. Maybe a donut bar or pies. I think you should have some type of sweet treat.

As a guest, I would be disappointed and definitely find it weird. Dessert is often the best part of the meal and something I look very forward to (but, I have a huge sweet tooth).

Does your venue offer any dessert options besides cake? If not, I'd probably hire an outside vendor and pay the $300 fee.

Did you not know this before you booked? Was this not in your contract? If the fee isn't mentioned in your contract I'd probably try and fight it.

I'm afraid this is going to be one of those times I do the finger wag and ask why you would agree to have your wedding at a venue that made that kind of demand about the dessert. You should have tried to negotiate that with the venue or find a different place if the price of a cake was too high.

That being said, yes, you need to serve dessert. Whether you or your FH are into dessert or not doesn't matter. The reception is for your guests.

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Cakes in NYC city are generally $8 - $10 a slice. OP said the venue is in the mountains so they know that have couples by the proverbial balls. Frankly, they should just charge $8 more per head for dinner and say the cake is included as people would feel much better about it. That's generally what a lot of venues do as nothing is really free.

It would definitely be weird to have no desert at all. That's usually one of people's favorite parts. Like the pp said look at other desert options. You may find something that will be cheaper even with the $300 fee

I've never been to a wedding where there was no dessert after dinner. I think it's expected.

As a dessert lover I would be disappointed if there wasn't something. Cookies, donuts, brownies, I'd be happy with any type of dessert! I second the others that said look at other desserts offered by the venue that may be cheaper than the cake.

Can you cut one of the courses? I mean... I wouldn't have room for dessert after all of that but weddings are one place I expect dessert. I've never had soup at a wedding either. I personally wouldn't feel both soup and salad are necessary.

I would be really sad if I went to a wedding and found out there was no dessert/cake. I like PP’s idea of cutting the soup so you have room for dessert.

I agree that you need dessert. Can you do a cookie table or something that can double as a favor to take home? And that way you can pick them up ahead of time and not have to pay a delivery fee.

As a bona fide sweet tooth person, I would expect a dessert. Even bars and cookies are a nice touch.

Maybe substitute the soup course for the dessert? I don't know that anyone would miss the soup like they would dessert. Pay the $300 and do a cookie table? My vendor has similar fee for outside desserts - I think that is pretty common though sometimes it's disguised as a cake cutting fee. People do really like/expect dessert.

I am not a big sweets person, and I would still find it a little odd to not have any sort of dessert. I would probably opt to pay the $300 fee and do a dessert table with cookies, mini cupcakes, etc.

We are not doing a cake but instead are paying for cookie/brownie platters and mini cheesecakes for our desserts.

As a few PP have said, I would definitely look into replacing the soup course with the cake so it will at least seem “discounted”. I’ve never had both soup, salad, hors d'oeuvres, and an entree. That seems a bit excessive on savory foods to not have a sweet option.

As a dessert person, I'd be looking for something sweet. If you're set on your meal, could you offer a sweet treat for your favor? Maybe a decorated sugar cookie or a small box of chocolates?