so im doing a dessert bar for a bride who doesn't really like cake. I'm meeting with her Thursday, so we haven't decided on exactly what she wants, but i want to be prepared to tell her how much of different desserts she'll need. so if we do say 3-5 diff bite-sized desserts (cookies, truffles, strawberries, etc) how much of each item does she need? surely most guests will want 1 of each, or 2-3 of certain items. so if the reception is for 100, do i make 50 of each dessert? any insight?

People will eat one piece of cake, but they will take 3-5 pcs off of a dessert table.

Bear in mind that she is looking for individual, tiny desserts. Remember Debi's Rule: 1/4 the size = 4 times the price. sometimes brides think "Oh I'll just get some little bite size foods to save money. Well, they don't....they take longer (higher payroll) and you usually need more of them.

I factor 1.25 to 1.5 choc covered strawberries per person MINIMUM! THese are very popular and will go fast, especially if you get the larger berries. My berries are $2.25/each.

For petit four size desserts (bite sized brownies, silver dollar size cookies, etc), I assume 3 per person TOTAL. So if you were making these brownies and cookies for 100 people, you'd need 300 pcs which would be 150 of each.

When it's set up as a dessert buffet, you look at the TOTAL Number of pieces and factor the per person. So overall, if you figure 5 pcs per person, then you'd need 500 pcs. If you are providing 4 different things, that's about 125 of each item. If you're providing 7 different items, then it's about 75 pcs of each.

Some will be more popular than others, so factor that (i.e. choc covered strawberries).

I also always ask brides "what about your guests? do you have any traditionalists in your family who would be expecting cake, and don't you think you should provide some cake for those who DO like cake?" Refer her to this page of my website, http://cateritsimple.com/_wsn/page8.html , under "Survey Says....!", under the section entitled "Guests have indicated they really hate it when:", See item #3.

Then I go into my "mom" speech, with a Southern Bell smile on my face: "You may think this day is all about you but it's not. When you are standing in the church, exchanging your vows, then it IS about you. BUt once you walk down those church steps, you are now hosting an event for 100 people and you have guests to take care of ..... so TAKE CARE OF THEM." this includes consideration of what THEY like to eat.

How many of them would host a dinner party and only serve food the host likes with no regard to what their guests like? None of them, that's how many! But in a wedding, where the environment is "it's all about ME!" they seem to forget (or were never taught!) this simple rule of etiquette.

thanks for the insight, i thought about just PM'ing you debi, since i knew you'd have the answer!

This is a little off topic, but if you are doing a cake for a reception that will also be having a sweeet table, do you reduce the amount of cake?