Creative Alternatives to the Traditional Champagne Toast

Champagne toasts will always be a fan favorite, but when it comes to cost and an uptick in those that don’t drink, they may not be for everyone. If bubbly isn’t your thing, don’t worry — there is a wealth of alternatives to the classic champagne toast to choose from and celebrate in your own way.

We rounded up some wedding experts to share their top picks to get creative with your cheers.

Miniature Everything

Traditional champagne toast alternatives

Instead of springing for full flutes of alcohol that can end up going to waste or abandoned throughout the reception, opting for mini versions of beverages could be the perfect alternative for you and your guests.

“If you’re looking for a great alternative to the traditional champagne toast, consider offering miniature versions of your signature cocktail instead. This can be a nice surprise to your guests and might persuade them to try something they’ve never had before—you never know!” recommends Kimberly Sisti of SISTI & CO.

Partying late into the night? Craig Peterman of Craig Peterman Photography & Videography suggests small espresso shots..

Wingman Wisdom

“For the coffee and caffeine lovers out there, this is a fun twist to the traditional champagne toast. Making a personalized espresso shot is a great way to get the reception energy up to dancing levels to party the night away and is a great way to show off your bold, unique personalities.” -Craig Peterman

Mocktails Are In

Whether you’re alcohol-free or simply looking to include all of your guests with a family-friendly alternative, mocktails are here to stay.

“Another alternative, especially where the wedding couple or at least one of the partners doesn’t drink alcohol, is providing mocktails to the guests. This creates an atmosphere where alcoholic drinks like champagne are not the default option. Wedding couples have said this was very liberating for them to be able to have a different type of reception,” notes Kevin Heslin of Kevin Heslin Photography. “In hot places, this definitely helps fight dehydration and is a fun substitute for champagne.”

Decadent Desserts (in drinkware)

Even better? There’s no rule that says the toast must be a beverage. Utilizing fancy glasses with a sweet, indulgent surprise is the next best thing to a champagne flute.

“Since speeches typically start as dinner is wrapping up, a great alternative to the champagne toast could be small desserts served in champagne flutes or similar drinkware. Some guests may already have a drink from cocktail hour or may not drink at all, so this is the perfect way to cut down on wasted alcohol and offer served desserts in an unexpected way,” Kevin Dennis of Fantasy Sound Event Services says. “Smaller portions of cake, tarts, or melted chocolate paired with fruit can all work for this; just make sure that it can easily be eaten with a spoon. Your guests can still lift their glasses to ‘cheers,’ but with a twist!

For an added quirk, go with a comfort pairing! “Passing out shot glasses of milk with a mini cookie on top will have everyone excited to toast, even the children,” adds Sisti.

Breaking the mold and nixing the traditional toast will be incredibly memorable for you and your guests, plus it’s the perfect way to ensure that no one is over-served. Elevate the experience with a unique twist on a classic, or go outside-the-box with something custom!

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.

Planning

5 min

Trending Guide to Wedding Cake Cutting

By Meghan Ely

Front cover photo by Rachel Maloney Photography

The tradition of serving cake at a wedding has been around for ages, dating back to ancient civilizations. Over the centuries, the concept has evolved from a superstitious measure to a celebratory staple. In modern times, we’ve seen other sweet substitutions—like doughnuts, pies, and macarons—but cakes remain the quintessential dessert to signify a couple’s start to a happy marriage.

That’s why the cake cutting stands out as a long-held tradition — and one that produces plenty of cute and silly photos! Keep reading to see what wedding experts say you must do to nail the cake-cutting ceremony.

Go In With a Plan

It may seem like you can simply have your cake delivered and show up with a knife at the right time, but there’s more nuance to the cake cutting than you might expect. From timing to photo angles, you’ll need to work with your wedding day team to ensure the tradition goes smoothly.

First and foremost, Jen Sulak of Weirdo Weddings recommends consulting with vendors to coordinate details for the cake cutting. “Cake cutting isn’t always included in your packaging,” she explains. “You may need to discuss with your venue, planners, and catering team about who, how, and when the cake will be cut.”

Working through these details ahead of time prevents day-of scrambling to find the proper utensils and figure out who (and when) to cut the cake. Once you’ve settled on a plan, you can focus on the next vital element: where the cake-cutting will take place.

“If possible, have your planner or coordinator display the cake and desserts on a table that is easily accessible and off the wall,” wedding photographer Rachel Maloney suggests. “This allows the photographer to photograph the cake-cutting moment from a really great angle!” In addition to your photographer and/or videographer, consider positioning in relation to guests who want a good view of the special moment.

Wedding photographer Melani Lust notes that couples should also plan how to cut their cake. “Ask your baker which tier is best to cut through,” she says. “Typically, it is the bottom tier, but it can be a different tier depending on the style of cake. Decide whether you will cut that first slice as a wedge or a box shape.” You probably don’t want your cake toppling over from an improper slice, so trust your baker’s recommendations!

Your wedding cake is essential to your big day — don’t let it fall off your planning radar! A bit of preparation will guarantee a seamless transition in your timeline and prevent potential cake disasters from spoiling the moment.

Pose For the Camera

Few wedding day photos are more iconic than the cake cutting! To snag the perfect snapshot of this meaningful moment, Loni Peterson of LP Creative Events encourages couples to get close when cutting their cake. “Snuggle up and use the knife and other utensils together,” she says. “These make for the best photos!”

In addition to posing for the camera, Lust urges couples to tell others to stay out of the photo. “So often, the venue manager comes to help and will literally hold the knife with you both and stand right next to you during the entire cake ceremony,” she explains. “The resulting photos can look very awkward and detract from the moment.”

You can also recruit your planner to keep people away while cutting the cake. If loved ones want photos with you and the cake, have them wait until you complete the cake-cutting ceremony.

Make It Your Own

While the cake-cutting ceremony is an age-old tradition, that doesn’t mean you must adhere to every “rule.” (After all, you probably don’t want to sleep with a piece under your pillow as newlyweds did centuries ago!)

“There are no rules when it comes to cake-cutting,” Maloney confirms. Maybe you want to break tradition with a bold and colorful cake, or perhaps you prefer to let your caterer cut it in the kitchen — stick to whatever feels most authentic to you and your celebration.

Wedding Cake Showdown – Vote!

Team Trendsetter – Fancy a unique and creative cake that’s a standout?

Team Tradition – Are you a fan of the classic, elegant, and timeless wedding cake?

“Your cake-cutting doesn’t have to be a huge announcement,” Megan Breukelman of Megan & Kenneth affirms. “Some couples choose to make this a big moment, while others will do it quietly off to the side. If you’re a couple who doesn’t love attention, you can still do the cake-cutting tradition while maintaining a little bit of privacy.”

What if you want other types of sweets instead of cake? Breukelman says go for it.

“Your cake cutting doesn’t have to be cake,” she assures. “We’ve seen couples re-create the same energy as a cake-cutting moment with pizza, champagne towers, and even feeding each other donuts.”
Megan Bruekelmen

In other words, the cake isn’t the point. You can achieve the same joyful moment with whatever treat you fancy, so long as you appreciate it together!

Incorporating a wedding cake-cutting ceremony into your big day adds an extra special moment to cherish as newlyweds. With a bit of planning and personalization, you can ensure this tradition is seamless, memorable, and camera-friendly.

Remember: Your wedding day is an opportunity to celebrate your union — make sure your cake-cutting ceremony is as authentic and momentous as your love story!

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.