Not sure you’re a four-tier cake kind of girl? Don’t fret. There are plenty of other delicious dessert options available, and if these real weddings are any indication the trend is towards homemade treats and bite-size creations. From cinnamon buns covered in icing (see above) to adorable miniature cheesecakes, we present 10 of our favourite wedding dessert ideas.

The hottest dessert table trend for 2012 is as beautiful as it is simple. We’re talking gradient-iced cupcakes. These stunning sweets draw upon a specific colour family then the icing in mixed in varying shades to create a cascade of colour. The finished products may look pretty basic on their own, but gather a few of these colourful creations together the effect is absolutely breathtaking. To make the most of the gradient shading line differing cupcakes up in rows on your dessert table or group similar shades and create tiers of colour that fade from dark to light.

Cupcakes courtesy Sullivan & Bleeker. Photos courtesy Carlo Mendoza.

Summer brides rejoice–Marble Slab Creamery has taken the classic cupcake and transformed it into something even more delicious: ice cream cupcakes. Can you think of anything better and cooler (especially on a hot day such as today) to serve to your wedding guests? We can’t! We had the pleasure of trying these goodies awhile back. The result?

Let’s just say they were gone in a jiffy. Available in decadent flavours, including double chocolate, peanut butter, strawberry fudge and vanilla brownie, these desserts are one sweet way to thank your guests. Worried about delivery? Good news, Marble Slab does deliver to special events and will coordinate with you to ensure that they are delivered in a timely manner and kept cool until served.

It’s no hidden fact that I’m a sweets junkie. So, when I received an e-mail from SweetStyle, purveyors of delicious and gorgeous dessert tables–I was, naturally, ecstatic. The best part? They’re from Toronto! Styling duo, and owners, Cara-Lynn Nisenbaum and and Catherine McCulloch certainly have a fine eye for details and design. Their work was even featured on Amy Atlas’ site–now that’s saying something. To show off their exquisite work, here’s a recent table set-up that they created for a bridal tea party. Everything was personalized by incorporating family heirloom silver for serving. LOVE it!

If you’re looking for a sweet treat that will please even the pickiest of palates, why not serve chocolate dipped marshmallows? I tried this DIY project over the weekend for my aunt and uncle’s silver anniversary bash. The result? A smashing success! Every kid and adult loved the idea of chocolate covered marshmallows. Best of all? They’re a cinch to make, budget-friendly and can be altered to fit your theme and wedding colours. If you want the “how-to” on these delish goodies Hostess Blog has excellent instructions on how to whip up some amazing pops. Enjoy!

What better way to show your Canadian pride at your wedding then with these cupcakes and cupcake liners from The Caketress. Love the whole red maple leaf elements on the liners and piped on top of each mini-cake themselves. For a more patriotic approach, set up your dessert table with red and white cupcakes galore to resemble the Canadian flag–your guests are sure to gasp with delight!

This was just TOO pretty and cute not to share. Created by Rosie from Sweetapolita, Rosie wowed us with a chic dessert set-up–an elegant twist to a mad hatter’s tea party. LOVE everything about this, from the colours to the buttercream piping to the dreamy cupcakes–so very romantic and great inspiration for your own wedding.

This is one of the best Italian-inspired dessert tables I’ve seen. Everything from the colours to the patterns to the prints just screams Italy. Created by Viva La Diva Events and Sweet Heather Anne (via Amy Atlas), the two looked at an Anthropologie dining set and weathered terra cotta pots for their main inspiration.

And, how about that background? The chalkboard drawing is a gorgeous tie to Italian architecture and completes the whole Italian sweets table look. For a closer peek, check out Amy Atlas’ blog where you can see all the gorgeous details up close.

{Photography Jessica Johnston}