If you’re planning your wedding on a budget, one of the smartest swaps you can make is ditching the traditional tiered wedding cake for more affordable wedding dessert ideas. Because let’s be real: while those towering cakes look beautiful, they come with a not-so-sweet price tag.
According to Zola, the average cost of a wedding cake in 2025 is around $600, but in bigger cities, that price can easily climb to $1,000–$1,200+. Yikes.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to go that route. Below are some delicious, creative, and much more budget-friendly alternatives to the traditional wedding cake—plus, how much you’ll need for a 150-person wedding and what you can expect to spend.
🍰 Affordable Wedding Cake Ideas (That Aren’t a $900 Fondant Tower)
First, before we get into the affordable wedding dessert ideas for your guests, let’s talk alternatives for your cake cutting. Skip that $900+ fondant confection and go with one of these options instead!
🎂 Small Cutting Cake
Perfect for: Couples who want a traditional cake-cutting moment without the full wedding cake price
Serving suggestion: One 6″–8″ cake for the couple to cut and share
Price range: $30–$100 (non-wedding bakery menu)
Estimated cost: $30–$100 total (+ whatever you end up buying for the guests!)
If you’re just in it for the photo op (and a sweet bite together), a small cutting cake is the way to go. One of the best tricks? Order a regular cake off your local bakery’s standard menu like this couple did for their intimate microwedding. You’ll skip the “wedding” label and you’ll usually save big. It’s sweet, simple, and still totally special.
🍰 The Grocery Store Wedding Cake Hack
Perfect for: Elegant look without the bakery markup
Serving suggestion: 3–4 sheet cakes or several rounds to create a tiered look
Price range: $40–$70 per cake
Estimated cost: $160–$280 (assuming 4–5 cakes total)
Buy a few sheet cakes or small rounds from your local grocery store, then assemble and decorate them yourself (or have a crafty friend do it!) with florals, greenery, or a cute topper and no one will know. (Except your wallet. It will know—and thank you.)
🧁Gourmet “Cutting” Cupcakes
Perfect for: Wanting a “cake cutting” moment without the big cake cost
Serving suggestion: 2 gourmet cupcakes for the couple + 1–2 affordable desserts for guests
Price range: $5–$6 per cupcake (2), then $1–$2 per guest for rest
Estimated cost: $10–$20 (for couple’s cupcakes) + $150–$300 (for rest of desserts) = $160–$320
This is what one couple I worked with did for their casual park lodge wedding and it was SO cute. They each picked a flavor that represented them (and fed each other a bite), while the guests enjoyed traditional cupcakes and Italian cookies.
10 Fun & Affordable Wedding Dessert Ideas Your Guests Will Love
Alright, next let’s get into the good stuff – ten affordable wedding dessert ideas that are fun, easy on the wallet, and absolute crowd pleasers.
🧁 “His and Hers” Cupcakes
Perfect for: Classic wedding vibes on a budget
Serving suggestion: 1 cupcake per guest
Price range: $2–$4 each
Estimated cost (150 servings): $300–$600
Cupcakes are a classic for a reason—people love them! They’re cute, customizable, and easy to serve. Give this a fun twist by each picking your favorite flavor for your guests to choose from “His or Hers.” Bonus: You can still do a cute cake-cutting moment with a mini “cutting cake” just for the couple, as I mentioned above.
🥧 Pie Bar
Perfect for: Rustic, fall, backyard, or farmhouse weddings
Serving suggestion: 1 slice per guest (standard 8 slices per pie = ~19 pies)
Price range: $12–$18 per pie
Estimated cost (150 servings): $228–$342
This is what we did for our casual backyard wedding! We had a mix of classic and fun flavors—think key lime, apple (served with a scoop of vanilla!), blueberry, and chocolate cream—and created a little sign that said “All you need is love… and pie.” Total hit.
🍪 Cookie Bar
Perfect for: Family-style weddings, casual receptions, or when someone offers to help
Serving suggestion: 3–4 cookies per guest (you’ll want 450–600 total)
Price range: $0.50–$1 per cookie
Estimated cost (150 guests): $225–$600
This is one of the best dessert tables I’ve ever seen at a wedding—and it cost the bride and groom nothing. The bride’s aunt baked her heart out and gifted this gorgeous Italian cookie spread as her wedding present. If someone close to you wants to contribute something meaningful? This is a beautiful (and budget-friendly) way to do it.
🍩 Donut Wall or Donut Tower
Perfect for: Couples who want something playful, photo-worthy, and easy to serve
Serving suggestion: Plan for 1–2 donuts per guest
Price range: $1–$2.50 per donut (or more if you go with specialty donuts!)
Estimated cost: $150–$375 (for 150–180 donuts)
This trendy setup always gets people excited! Stack them on a pegboard or tiered tray, or go rustic with crates and cake plates. You can keep them all the same or mix flavors and glazes for a rainbow effect. Pro tip: add a cheeky sign like “Holy Matrimony” or “Donut mind if I do.”
🍫 Brownie Bar Platter
Perfect for: Low-key couples who love crowd-pleasing classics
Serving suggestion: 2–3 small bars per guest (plan for ~300–450 bars total)
Price range: $0.50–$1.50 per bar if homemade / $1–$2 per bar if bakery-made
Estimated cost: $150–$900 depending on mix of DIY vs. store-bought & quantity
From fudgy brownies and lemon bars to blondies and rice krispie treats, this dessert setup is low-stress and high satisfaction. I love cutting them into mini portions so guests can try a few. It’s easy to prep ahead or outsource to a friend who loves to bake (recommended, as it could be pricey if you go with a bakery!)
🍰 Mini Cheesecakes or cups
Perfect for: Couples who want something elegant but not fussy
Serving suggestion: 1 mini cheesecake or DIY cup per guest
Price range: $2–$3 per cup
Estimated cost: $300–$450 (for 150 cups)
Creamy, classy, and crowd-pleasing. Whether DIYed in mini mason jars or ordered from a bakery, these are a fun way to serve up a “fancier” dessert without needing to slice anything. Add fruit, chocolate drizzle, or edible flowers for that Pinterest-worthy finish.
🍦 Ice Cream Sundae Cups
Perfect for: Summer weddings, kid-friendly events, or retro themes
Serving suggestion: 1 small pre-portioned sundae per guest
Budget tip: Use individual (5 oz) to serve! (you can find them at Walmart or Target!)
Price range: ~$1–$1.75 per serving
Estimated cost (150 guests): $150–$262.50
Skip the full sundae bar and go for DIY sundae cups instead! Use pre-packed ice-cream cups instead of full tubs for easy set-up. When you’re ready to serve, have someone place them all in a large tub filled with ice, and set-out a variety of toppings your guests can add to their cups like chocolate syrup, sprinkles, oreo crumbles, etc. Add some spoons = done.
🍡 Mini Skewer Dessert Bites
Perfect for: DIY weddings, grazing tables, or cocktail-style receptions
Serving suggestion: 2–3 skewers per guest
Price range: ~$0.75–$1.25 per skewer
Estimated cost (150 guests): $225–$562.50 (for 300–450 skewers)
Think: strawberries with shortcake and brownie bites with marshmallows—stacked on short skewers or cocktail picks. They’re easy to DIY, adorable to display, and fun for guests to grab. You can even drizzle chocolate or add a dusting of powdered sugar for a fancy touch.
Macaron Tower (Splurge Alert 🚨)
Perfect for: Elegant, petite weddings
Serving suggestion: 2–3 per guest = 300–450 total
Price range: ~$2–$3 per macaron
Estimated cost: $600–$1,350
While beautiful, macarons are expensive and small—meaning you need more per guest. This option can cost as much (or more) than a wedding cake. Keep it on the inspo board unless it’s your one splurge item.
🍬 Candy Bar with Favor Bags
Perfect for: Couples who want something interactive that doubles as a favor
Serving suggestion: ~½ lb. candy per guest
Price range: ~$1.50–$3 per person (including bags & scoops)
Estimated cost: $225–$450 for 150 guests
This is such a fun way to let guests customize their treat—and it eliminates the need for separate wedding favors! Choose 6–8 types of candy in your wedding colors, set out jars and scoops, and let guests fill their own goodie bags. Add a “Love is Sweet” sign to tie it all together.
Planning Tips for the Affordable Wedding Dessert Ideas You Love
Once you’ve narrowed down the affordable wedding dessert ideas you love most, here are some bonus planning tips for keeping it fun, low-cost, and stress-free!
- Mix and match! You don’t have to choose one dessert. A small selection of cookies + cupcakes or cake + ice cream cups is totally doable on a budget.
- Ask around. Desserts are an area where family and friends are often happy to help—especially if someone’s got a special recipe.
- Borrow, don’t buy. Ask your venue or friends if they have cake stands, platters, or cupcake towers before you buy anything.
Before You Go…
🎂 Grab my complete guide to finding affordable wedding vendors so you can stretch your budget beyond just desserts.