Cakes and Desserts for Elopements
You can have your cake and eat it too—yes, even on your elopement day!
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you have to skip the best traditions of the day. In fact, eating during your elopement is important, even if it’s just sugar.
So here’s everything you need to know about desserts for elopements. From keeping cakes together during warm temperatures, to finding local deals on desserts—this guide touches on it all.
What type of dessert should you get
To cake or not to cake—that is the question.
Actually it’s not a question, you should always get the cake! I love a good wedding cake, even though it’s not everyone’s thing. Luckily, there’s so many types of desserts to choose from.
Wedding Cake: It’s a classic for a reason! Wedding cake is delicious and traditional without the sometimes complicated history of some traditions. And what a great excuse to buy a fancy or really well made cake.
Pastries: Donuts? Cupcakes? Cookies? Pies? Croissants? There’s so much to choose from, and a huge variety in pricing. It’s a great opportunity to try something local or order from your favorite bakeries.
Interactive Desserts: Think things like s’mores, hot chocolate bars, candied apple bars—anything that’s DIY. It’s a great way to get everyone up and about or around the fire.
Ice Cream: Go out for a cone in your wedding outfits or share a favorite pint! It’ll make for some seriously adorable photos.
Budget Option: Where to Get Desserts on a Budget
Everyone knows cakes get more expensive when you order one for a wedding. There's a good reason for that! Wedding cakes are often more complicated and need to stand up longer against the elements. The more modifications, the more likely you’ll be spending the big bucks.
But there’s nothing wrong with having a budget. You can keep your cake and dessert cost down by finding a local baker or skipping delivery and travel fees. Or buy a cake that’s already been made from a local bakery or grocery store.
If you buy a pre-made cake but still want some flair, decorating a cake is actually pretty simple. You can buy customized cake signs, animal or pet figurines, or stick a few extra florals right into the cake.
Bougie Options: Where to Get Expensive Desserts
The best cakes and desserts will come from bakers, especially those who have been in business a long time. If you have the budget for it, these bakers will have plenty of customization and will likely be able to transport your desserts for you.
Make your cake your own—have it made in your favorite colors or match your color scheme. It can even reflect your surroundings, like having cactus, mountains, and more decorated on the side.
If you’re skipping cake but have something like a private chef, they can make desserts as well.
How to Transport Desserts
If you’re eloping, it’s likely you’ll be traveling some distance. Many desserts don’t hold up well in travel, so it’s important to consider these things before deciding on or buying your wedding dessert.
Weather: If it’s warm, hot, or even just sunny, traveling with delicate desserts might prove difficult.
Movement: Cars, planes and trains don’t make for the smoothest ride, which can make packing treats hard.
Not to fret—here’s a few quick tips to transport your desserts safely.
Order from a local baker or cake maker near your elopement location for the freshest picks.
Traveling by car with desserts? Pack them with plenty of extra room in and outside the package. Keep them cool with a hard-walled cooler. If you don’t have that option, ice packs, soft-walled coolers, and air conditioning can all help.
Hiking with desserts? Go for transport-friendly treats like cookies, hand pies, or donuts. Store them in hard plastic containers and ensure they’re upright in your pack.
Real Elopement & Wedding Examples with Desserts
Alicia & Steven wanted to save money and DIY their wedding cake, so they made their own! They transported it from Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes in a hard container, then carried it a short distance out to this beautiful spot along the lake.
Kristin & Robert traveled from Northern California to Joshua Tree for their elopement, so they picked up this cake on the way. And went all out with the design. If you can believe it, this cake was gluten-free and tasted amazing!
Martyn & Natalia had a cake AND desserts from a private chef at their intimate cabin wedding. Fanny made handmade almond sweets and a silky Arabic ice cream. It was amazing, can confirm!
Sara & Anthony transported this tiered cake from their favorite bakery all the way from Las Vegas to Joshua Tree. And it made it a long drive all in one piece!
Dagny & John have a pastime of drinking pink bubbly and eating donuts, so they skipped the cake for their favorite dessert.
Lauryn & Jameson packed desserts from a local bakery, drove them from Oregon to Northern California, then transported them down a rough dirt road and across a long beach. All to eat these right by the water!
Tips for Your Wedding Dessert
Random tips to make your dessert experience that much better:
Bring reusable cutlery like forks, spoons, and knives. Yes, reusable—we’re not about that single-use plastic life! If you’re traveling, you can always grab one from your hotel or rental, as long as you bring it back. Or, get a customized set!
If you’re cutting a cake, make sure to bring a knife. We often have one packed just in case, it’s very common to forget this.
Follow your craving and skip the cake if you don’t want it. Or get a smaller cake along with your other desserts so you can still have that traditional cake cutting moment.
Don’t stress if something “goes wrong”. A partially smooshed cake isn’t important enough to be stressed over and makes for a funny story later.
No matter where you say “I do,” there’s always room for dessert. And yes—I will ask for a bite 😋
Book Your Dessert-Loving Elopement Photographer
Sure, I’m a wedding and elopement photographer and planner. But I’m also a baker myself. It might be just a hobby for me, but hopefully you can tell I’ve put quite a bit of thought into having the best dessert experience during your elopement.
Need a wedding photographer to capture all of the magic? Book with Love & Latitudes Outdoor Wedding and Elopement Photography!
Elopement Photography Packages
+ 4-12 hours of coverage
+ Planning and vendor services
+ Location assistance
+ Online gallery with high-resolution photos
+ Option to download images or purchase prints online
+ Travel fees included, minus permits
+ Optional officiant services.
Meet Your Elopement Photographer
I'm Diana Lustig, a California-born adventurer with a camera for a hand and an inborn love for the outdoors. I'm a professional photographer of 15 years and counting. In my free time you'll find me traveling with my husband in our van, or working on home projects in the town Joshua Tree.
How did I get into wedding and elopement photography? In 2019, I hired adventure photographers for my own wedding and they showed me there’s a different, more personal way to get married. It was such a special day, I want to bring it to so many more couples who believe in getting married their own way.
