Ask any former bride; her custom wedding cake, embellished with vanilla buttercream frosting, intricate piping and marzipan roses, is the epitome of individuality. Similar to vintage wedding gowns and off the beaten path venues, cakes represent character and style. Take Queen Elizabeth for example. Her Majesty’s sweet creation weighed 500 pounds and stood 9-foot tall in four tiers, and was ornamented with family crests and bride and groom monograms. Though cakes have been the quintessential headliner for wedding receptions, modern brides are forgoing traditional tiers for something different. Something extraordinary. Here are three cake alternatives to satisfy your wedding day sweet tooth.

Candy

Colorful, sweet and sour and fun to eat, candy transports even the most mature adults back to childhood. Besides the obvious, the beauty of this sugary guilty pleasure is it’s remarkable convenience, especially at receptions. Establish a charming makeshift candy shop with mismatched canisters, similar hued candies and trendy signage letting guests know what’s what. Also provide small gift bags or cartons so guests can scoop out treats as take-home favors.

Donuts

Whether cake or yeast, jelly or crème-filled, sugared or glazed, donuts have traded their breakfast item reputation for wedding showstopper. And there’s a multitude of ways to make, garnish and present this simple, hand-held dessert in style. Give your guests options by creating a donut station that matches your reception theme. Attendees can choose from various flavors like chocolate frosted, powdered sugar and vanilla glazed, and add rainbow or chocolate sprinkles.

Old-fashioned Desserts

There’s a strong sense of nostalgia and comfort when eating a spoonful of creamy banana pudding or warm peach cobbler—the kinds that taste similar to secret family recipes. The once ordinary, after dinner desserts have made a powerful comeback with contemporary flair in the wedding world. Share your love of classic desserts with a traditional buffet. Include personal, and perhaps seasonal, favorites like strawberry ice cream charlotte, chocolate trifle, lemonade icebox pie, butterscotch pudding, and ambrosia.