7 Creative Ways To Make Your Wedding Unique

Your wedding guests will most likely be expecting a typical ceremony and reception when you invite them to join you at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville. Traditional weddings are wonderful, but if you want to shake things up a little bit, Country Jewell has come up with some creative ways to incorporate some additional fun to surprise everyone with. 

#1- Serve refreshments before the ceremony.
You don't have to make your guests wait until after the "I do's" to grab a drink. Set up a drink station with refreshing flavored waters, tea, or lemonade so that they can pour a drink to enjoy during the ceremony. You could even schedule the cocktail hour to happen before the ceremony with drinks and a few small appetizers for everyone before you walk down the aisle. 

#2 - Keep everyone well-fed all day.
Instead of the traditional ceremony followed by a cocktail hour with appetizers and then dinner followed by cake, spread out the food. Start by using the advice from tip #1 to feed everyone a little bit before the ceremony, then have a few more appetizers before dinner. Serve a light meal at the reception, then go ahead and cut the cake for any guests that need to leave early. 

As for the rest of the guests that stay to dance the night away, serve a snack midway through dancing. It could be a surprise appearance by a food truck, a dessert table with cookies and cupcakes, or maybe even a popcorn bar. If you're going late into the evening, have a few pizzas delivered for everyone to munch on before heading home or send them away with edible favors to enjoy on the ride home or the next morning. 

#3- Relive memories with each guest.
Many couples like to display photos from their relationship leading up to the wedding day as a part of their decorations. Some also display pictures from the weddings of other family members. Why not add your friends to the mix too? Display photos of yourself with particular guests or handwritten memories you have of them at their reception table. It's a very sweet and personalized gesture. This is a lot easier to do with a small, intimate wedding rather than a large one with lots of guests.  

#4- Act like kids again.
Kids always seem to be happy and having a great time. Take a cue from them and do something child-like that will put a smile on everyone's face. Rent a bounce house, play some goofy games, serve cotton candy and ice cream... you get the idea. The kind of stuff that grown-ups don't normally let themselves enjoy. You'll all go home with incredible memories of having an amazing time. You can be a grown-up again the next day.   

#5- Surprise them with your first dance.
Your first dance as husband and wife is a romantic moment, but if the song goes on too long, guests may lose interest and you might start feeling awkward having everyone stare at you both for so long. One way to avoid this is to have the DJ cut the music after a verse or two to shorten the song. A fun way to fix this problem is to have the DJ merge your romantic slow song into a fast dance midway through. You could even invite your wedding party or the entire room to join you on the dance floor at this point. It's a very lively way to get the party started. 

#6- Arrange for unique entertainment.
In addition to just having a DJ or live band perform at your wedding reception, think outside the box. You could have a professional dance troupe come in to perform for your guests. An impersonator or hypnotist would be very entertaining. Another creative option could be a close-up magician wandering around the room or a caricature artist on-hand to draw favors for your guests. 

#7- Set aside an area to chill out.
If you have some wedding guests that don't like to dance a lot or some that dance so much you know they'll need a place to take a break, set up an area away from the dance floor where they can all chill out for a while. A few comfortable chairs set off to the side of the room will do the trick. Inside our beautiful event barn near Knoxville, you could host dancing upstairs in the hayloft and set up a relaxing area downstairs after the reception tables have been moved out of the way.

Those are just a few fun ideas that you might want to add to your wedding plans to make the celebration unique and add an extra element of fun. When you visit us at Country Jewell in Heiskell, we would love to hear what type of fun ideas you have in mind. Between the both of us, your wedding will be one that you and all of your guests will enjoy and remember fondly for years to come! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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7 Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Want To Take Home

You don't have to give favors to the guests at your rustic wedding near Knoxville, but it's a nice way to thank them for coming. Wedding favors are also a great way to add a little fun to the celebration. You don't want to put time, effort, and money into favors that will be left on the table though, so Country Jewell has a few ideas for you that everyone should be excited to take home with them. 

Food
One favor that is always a hit with wedding guests is anything edible. S'mores kits to take home can be fun for a fall wedding. Specialty donuts or muffins make a great favor that guests can enjoy the next morning, or as a late night snack. Condiments, such as hot sauces or honey, or packages of gum or mints are nice too, especially if you add a funny label or it ties in with your wedding theme somehow. And of course, everyone loves a bag that they are free to fill up at a well-stocked candy bar. 

Personalized Cups
Your guests are going to need something to drink out of at the reception. Let those cups double as a favor by ordering personalized plastic stadium cups that they can use again at home. You can also scour the thrift stores for an eclectic mix of cool glasses for your guests to use and take with them. In place of glasses, personalized koozies always seem to be a popular favor too.   

Photos
Let your guests take home a fun photo from the reception, printed out and ready to frame. With a little bit of tech savvy, you can fairly easily set up a photo spot connected to a printer so that you can make souvenir pictures in minutes. Polaroid cameras do the developing work for you. There are also many wedding vendors that offer a photobooth service where they take care of all of the setup and execution, and guests get a cute photo strip to take home. 

Candles
Every household is improved with a lovely scented candle. You should easily be able to find them in your wedding colors. If you purchase glass candles, a personalized wedding label can be printed on stickers and added. If you really want to get fancy, make your own and come up with a signature wedding scent! Maybe something similar to the flowers used at the wedding or a food that is being served at the reception. 

Plants
Potted plants can do double-duty as both a table decoration and a favor that your guests can take home with them. If you write their names on the pots, then they're doing triple-duty by also serving as a place card! You could even give away packets of seeds for your guests to plant at their own home, with a cute label stating how they can "Watch your love grow!" 

Hangover Kits
If you expect your wedding guests to do a lot of drinking at your reception, hangover kits as favors can be both funny and useful. Wrap water bottles with personalized wedding labels, then pair them with helpful items such as headache reliever, antacids, and maybe a pair of sunglasses. You should be able to find sample sizes of the medications at most grocery stores. 

Post Wedding Cocktails 
Let your wedding guests toast your marriage one more time the morning after the wedding with adorable Mimosa or Bloody Mary kits. For the Mimosas, use a pretty ribbon to tie together a single-serve bottle of champagne with a small container of orange juice, or bag the champagne up with an actual orange. The Bloody Mary kits can contain mini bottles of vodka tied together with small containers of Bloody Mary mix. Non-alcoholic versions can be made of these for younger guests and people that don't drink with just the juices, or maybe a sparkling water. 

Those are just a few of the clever ideas we've seen used for wedding favors at our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville that guests have really liked. There are tons more where those came from. Look to your wedding theme and favorite things for the inspiration for favors you can give away at your own Country Jewell wedding. Chances are, if you like it, your guests will too! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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4 Plate-Free Wedding Appetizer Ideas.

Food is a very important part of a reception at our scenic wedding and event venue near Knoxville. If you will be hosting an all-day celebration, you may need more than just the main meal. Appetizers are a great way to keep guests happy after the ceremony until dinner is served, and some couples even choose to serve a few snacks before their "I do's" at Country Jewell. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, but it should taste great. 

During a cocktail hour or before the ceremony, your guests may not be in their seats at the reception tables yet. It can be awkward to socialize with a drink and a plate full of food in hand, and very difficult to participate in any lawn games you have set out to entertain everyone. Here are a few ideas for simple treats that don't require guests to carry a plate around with them. 

Grab & Go
Rather than expecting your guests to balance a plate of food, place small appetizers in easy to carry containers. A plastic cup that is flat on the bottom and can easily be set down if necessary can hold dip in the bottom and fruits, vegetables, cheeses, or crackers on top. You can even fill the bottoms of these cups with cocktail sauce for shrimp or with ketchup for a cup full of french fries. 

Cute paper bags of popcorn, chips, or some other type of crunchy snack is small and easy to carry. You can even opt for an edible container. Place fresh fruit in a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone for a fun treat.   

One-Bite Wonders
Another option is to have the food come to your guests by having servers carry passed hors d'oevures on trays. These should be small food that can be popped into your mouth in 1 or 2 bites. They only require that all guests have a napkin rather than a whole plate. Crackers topped with dips, cheeses, and other items work well for this. Bruschetta is also a wonderful option, or sandwiches cut into tiny, cute shapes. 

On a Stick
Toothpicks are excellent for serving bite-size foods, or you can opt for skewers and serve an entire row of yummy bites at once. Just about any type of food can be served on a stick: vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, and more! We've even seen slices of watermelon on a popsicle stick, making it easier and less messy to enjoy. 

Edible Centerpieces 
Once your guests are allowed to go to their seats at the reception table, you can have colorful centerpieces that also double as appetizers. An edible arrangement is fun and unique, and everyone can pick pieces off of it. One way to do it is with skewered food that resembles a floral arrangement, or you could use beautiful bowls and platters at different heights to hold the appetizers. This idea is also great for serving dessert. 

Deciding how to serve food to your guests is only one of many things to consider when you are planning a rustic wedding near Knoxville. As we mentioned earlier, the most important thing is that it tastes incredible. If you can make it unique and easy for guests, even better. Country Jewell is here to help if you have any questions about any part of the wedding planning process. All you have to do is ask, and we're thrilled to offer our expertise to make your wedding amazing! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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Wedding Reception Fun If You Don't Want To Dance

For most weddings, the main activity at the reception is a dance party. This isn't very much fun for anyone that isn't really into dancing. You don't have to worry about those guests being wallflowers all night long if you add a few of these fun ideas to your Tennessee wedding. 

The old hay loft at Country Jewell is an excellent place to dance the night away, but there are plenty of other things that you can plan for your guests to do during your reception too. Plus, it's a great way to add a unique element to your day that not all weddings have.

Play Games
Lawn games are a great way to keep your wedding guests entertained, and weather permitting, our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville is a gorgeous place to spend time outside. Indoor games can be lots of fun too. Set up a table or two for guests to sit together and play cards or board games. You could even bring in a TV and gaming console and let guests play a few video games.  

Plan Entertainment
If you have a live band, they will be needing to take breaks, and even if you hire a DJ, they can pause the music for an entertainment break. Hire professional dancers to perform a dance routine, or you could have a magician or hypnotist captivate the crowd. 

You, the bride and groom, could continue being the stars of the show with a mini-movie or slideshow presentation of your relationship. There are even some fun games that everyone will enjoy taking time out to watch, like the Shoe Game, or have an "I Spy" scavenger hunt that goes on throughout the evening.      

Offer Extra Activities
Guests can be kept busy by offering interactive stations, like a cupcake decorating table or s'mores-making area. If your friends and family enjoy party games, play a round of Bingo or really get crazy and have a pinata filled with treats. A few games that involve a bit of friendly competition, like beer pong or flip cup, can really get everyone excited.   

Just Don't Dance
If you happen to be the one that doesn't like to dance, there is no rule that says you have to include dancing at your wedding reception. You can incorporate these other activities in place of the dancing, or simply have a cocktail hour-type reception with refreshments, keeping it short and sweet. You can also host a wedding at brunch or lunchtime and guests most likely won't expect dancing.


Whatever you decide to do for your wedding reception, most importantly, it should be something that you as a couple are excited about doing. You want your guests to have a good time too, though, so having a few backup activity ideas in addition to dancing couldn't hurt. When you tour our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville, you may see something about Country Jewell that inspires even more fun ideas. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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10 Clever Ideas For A Football Fan's Wedding

It's not just men that love football. We've seen quite a few brides that enjoy the game every bit as much as their grooms do. With Super Bowl Sunday coming up this weekend, Country Jewell has decided to help out any engaged football fanatics with some wonderful ideas to incorporate into the wedding they will be hosting at our scenic Knoxville wedding venue.

#1 - Football Field Engagement Photos 
Your favorite team's football field would make an awesome background for your engagement photos. Go the classic route and dress as you normally would, or have some "Team Smith" (fill in your own last name there) jersey's made up in your wedding colors. Your photographer should have no trouble at all coming up with some adorable poses. 

#2 - Game Ticket Save-The-Dates
Let all of your wedding guests know to mark their calendars by sending out "tickets" to your wedding for the save-the-date announcements. The theme can even be carried over to your wedding program, where you can list your wedding party's "team lineup." 

#3 - Little Crowd PleasersThe youngest members of your wedding party can join in on the football-themed fun too. Let the ring bearer carry a football with the rings tied gracefully around it with a big ribbon. Your flower girl could drop confetti, like the kind that is shot out of cannons when a team wins a big game, or she could throw mini craft pom poms in festive colors.

#4 - Pom Pom Bouquets
A creative florist will most likely be able to make your bridal party's bouquets resemble the shape of a cheerleader's pom poms. That could make for some very "cheerful" group photographs.  

#5 - Concession Stand
Cocktail hour is the perfect time to pull out all of your favorite foods from the snack counter at the stadium. Giant pretzels, nachos, popcorn, waffle fries, and maybe even some mini chili dogs will keep the crowd happy until dinner time. 

#6 - Autograph Session
With a little searching, you should be able to find a light-colored football to use for your wedding guest book. If you need to use the classic dark brown kind, find metallic pens that will show up brightly on it. Set up a sign next to the football asking for all of your guests' "autographs." 

#7 - Grand Entrance
Everyone at the wedding will definitely take notice if you make your grand entrance into the reception similar to how a football team enters the field. Your wedding party can enter first and line up, making a row foryou to run down. Once they are all in place, bring out a great big Mr. & Mrs. banner for the two of you to bust through, high-fiving your wedding party as you pass them by.  

#8 - Halftime Show
The players get a break mid-game to rest. Give your wedding guests a break from the dance floor mid-reception by bringing in some added entertainment for them to enjoy. This can be as tame as a special guest singing a few songs, or a big production like a troupe of dancers performing all around the room.

#9 - Garter Pass
If you choose to do the classic bouquet toss and garter throw, let the groom play quarterback. After removing the garter, place it around a football and throw an inspired pass to the next groom-to-be. 

#10 - A Winning Exit
Guests can cheer you on into your new life as husband and wife by shaking pom poms as you make your way to the getaway car. If you trust your friends and family to not throw them at you, they could even toss mini footballs in the air as you run past. It would look amazing in the wedding photographs. 

It's not hard to incorporate something that you love into your wedding without making it look like a kids' party. It just takes a little creative thinking. Small details like those listed above can go a long way to making your Country Jewell wedding a memorable event for everyone involved. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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Creative Ideas For A New Year's Eve Wedding

If you happen to be newly engaged and are possibly considering a New Year's Eve wedding next year, there are lots of fun ways that you can incorporate classic New Year's traditions into your reception. While some people prefer to steer away from holiday weddings, this is an occasion where everyone is looking for an awesome party to attend anyway. Country Jewell has a few great ideas that will make your celebration that awesome party they are searching for!

Start Late
If you want to keep partying long enough to last past midnight, then you'll want to begin the festivities late in the evening. Too early and you risk guests getting tired, or even worse, bored before the new year rolls in. Plan the ceremony for after dinner time, followed by late-night appetizers throughout the evening. Another option would be to host a dinner before the ceremony, then get married just before midnight at the reception.

Serve Traditional Foods
You can incorporate foods that are traditionally considered to bring good luck to the diner in the coming year. Some say that pork is the only meat that you should eat on this particular holiday. The reasoning is that chickens scratch backwards, cows stand still, but pigs root forward, just as you should move forward into the new year rather than looking back.

Lentils are another food that is said to bring good luck when eaten, helping to usher in a prosperous new year. Some seem to think that it may be because the roundness resembles coins. As a matter of fact, round foods are encouraged in general on New Year's Eve.

Make sure that you have a lot of white grapes available for all of your guests to nibble on at midnight too. In Spain, it is customary to eat one grape for each month of the year at midnight, taking in a grape at every midnight strike of the clock.  

Get Ready For The Countdown
In addition to having plenty of white grapes handy, midnight toasts are a must. Most people expect a champagne toast at midnight, but if you aren't a drinker, there's always sparkling cider to replace it with. Your band or DJ should be able to pull off an entertaining countdown to midnight, and make sure that they have "Auld Lang Syne" cued up to dance to after everyone indulges in their romantic midnight kiss. 

You will also want to make sure that noisemakers get passed out before the clock strikes twelve. One way to get them to everyone could be to incorporate them into the table settings or even the centerpieces. Making a lot of noise at midnight isn't just for fun. It was originally done to scare away any evil spirits that might try to follow you into the new year. Top it all off with a fun balloon drop and maybe even a few sparklers.   

Have Fun With Favors
New Year's Eve lends to some pretty cute favor ideas. You could send everyone home with pocket calendars for the coming year, and maybe even go the extra step of inserting a few special dates to remember. Hangover kits are a great idea for a reception that includes drinking. A small bag with some aspirin, a bottle of water, gum, antacids, and possibly breath mints. Whatever they might possibly need for "the morning after."  

Last but not least, don't forget about the black eyed peas. This is one final tradition to send your guests home with. Eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day is said to bring good luck and financial good fortune for the coming year. They suggest that you strive to eat one pea for every day of the coming year on January 1st. 

A Whole Year To Plan
While these ideas are a bit late for this year, you've got an entire year to plan an amazing New Year's Eve 2018 wedding at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville. If this sounds like a good possibility for your ceremony and reception, give us a call at Country Jewell before the date gets booked. What a wonderful way to start your brand new life together!

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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Our Top 10 Thanksgiving Food Picks

While Thanksgiving is a time to think about and be grateful for everything that we have in our lives, you can't help but think about all of those amazing foods that go along with the holiday too. Just about every single one of those dishes would make up a wonderful meal for your rustic wedding reception. Today Country Jewell has decided to list our top ten favorite Thanksgiving foods to serve a room full of guests.

Turkey
This tasty bird is pretty much the center of attention on a Thanksgiving table. It's a popular meat that most people love, making it a wonderful choice for a reception dinner. 

Ham
This seems to be the runner-up if you don't happen to like turkey. Both meats are perfect for leftovers too, if your guests don't gobble it all up! 

Mashed Potatoes
While this food happens to taste great just about any way you prepare it, there is something comforting about a big scoop of mashed potatoes. While it is delicious any time of year, it's especially nice during the colder months. 

Sweet Potatoes
These can be served up about every way that a regular white potato can, but sweet potatoes generally get the added sweetness of marshmallows, brown sugar, &/or cinnamon served with them. It also adds a nice burst of orange color to a buffet table.

Gravy
This tasty sauce seems to be great on top of almost everything, especially Thanksgiving-type dishes. It can be served brown or white, or even better, offer both!

Green Bean Casserole
The Campbell Soup Company created this recipe in 1955, and it's been a Thanksgiving staple ever since. There's just something about the creamy combination topped with crispy fried onions that is irresistible. 

Broccoli Casserole
Here's another comfort food casserole that's a buffet favorite. Vegetables always seem to be a crowd pleaser when they are cooked up with the addition of cheese and other add-ins. 

Stuffing
One more side dish that the masses love. Even whipped up out of a box of Stove Top it's delicious, but our Knoxville wedding caterers can do a lot better than that! 

Dinner Rolls
You've got to have some type of bread, and there are tons of choices. You can go for a seasoned type to match the meal, or stick with good old white and whole wheat rolls. Croissants are always a popular choice too.

Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin is the most obvious choice for this holiday, but any type of pie served at a reception in our wedding barn near Knoxville makes guests smile from ear to ear. It's a great addition to the traditional wedding cake. 

When you host a wedding or any other type of event at Country Jewell, you are welcome to provide your own food, but we also have access to some very talented caterers in the area. There are packages listed for meals provided by Bradford Catered Events on our website to give you an idea of what they can offer. 

Holiday menus are great for giving you inspiration for what to serve at your wedding reception. Any one of the foods above is sure to please your crowd, but these ideas are just the beginning! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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7 Creative Ways To Keep Kids Entertained At Your Wedding

Even the most masterfully planned reception can can seem a little long to a child. They have much shorter attention spans than adults do, and many things that grown-ups enjoy aren't a ton of fun for kids. If you will be inviting the younger generation to your Country Jewell wedding, here are a few creative ways to keep them entertained throughout the celebration.

Set up an activity table.
When you are planning the room layout for your wedding reception, reserve a special spot to set up a table full of fun things for the kids to do. Coloring books are always a hit. Have plenty of plain paper handy too so that they can draw their own creations. A basket of building blocks can provide hours of entertainment. A few board games or simple crafts make a wonderful addition to this activity station too. 

Make special place settings.
If the children are old enough to sit away from their parents, you can put them all at a table together. If not, these special place settings can be put right next to the adult ones at the regular reception tables too. The placemat can be made of paper so kids can decorate it with stickers, markers, or crayons. (Make sure it's something that won't harm the tablecloth!) 

You can have personalized kid favors that are more playful that what the adults will be getting. Each spot can have special snacks/appetizers to keep the little ones satisfied until dinner is served. If you'll be toasting at the reception, give the kids their own glasses filled with punch, or use milk and top the glass with a cookie.  

Host a fun zone.
Rather than just a table, provide an entire area for the young people to have their own kind of fun. It could include a play tent, or you could even bring in a TV and video game console and let them have at it. If space allows and the reception music won't overlap, you could set up an area for the kids to chill out and watch a movie. 

Hire a professional.
The parents will especially love this idea! Hire a sitter to keep all of the kids entertained throughout the evening. They can lead games, crafts, and other activities while the grown-ups enjoy their own reception fun. Another idea is to hire an entertainer for the kids, like a magician or a face painter.  

Play games.
If weather and space allow, yard games are always popular with both the young and the young at heart. Simple rules and the ability to get outside and be active make these a great thing to keep kids out of trouble. Easy ones to set up are bags, ring toss, and even hopscotch. Toss a few hula hoops and jump ropes outside while you're at it.  

Rent a bounce house.
This requires some extra wiggle room in your wedding budget, but every kid at your wedding will be super excited when they see a giant bounce house. As a matter of fact, there's an excellent chance that the grown-ups will even want a turn in there, and it will make for some incredible photos.  

Play kid-friendly tunes.
Children are not shy when it comes to hopping out on the dance floor. They will especially love it if you have the DJ throw in a few of their favorite songs or line dances that they know. They really love glow sticks out on that dance floor too. 

Keeping kids entertained is not only for the little ones' benefit, but also for all of the adults at the wedding. Parents will be able to participate more, and guests that aren't used to dealing with children won't have to worry about them getting underfoot. A little extra effort to keep the youngest guests entertained at your rustic wedding near Knoxville will help to keep everyone happy, which is the goal after all. The bride and groom are the most important people to keep happy, of course, but Country Jewell knows from experience, that's a lot easier to do when the guests are having a good time. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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7 Delicious Wedding Desserts To Enjoy Instead Of Cake

Traditionally, a giant, multi-tiered wedding cake is displayed prominently at the wedding reception for the bride and groom to ceremoniously cut. What if you don't particularly like cake? There is no set-in-stone rule saying that the dessert at your wedding reception must be cake, and traditions are made to be broken! You should eat what you enjoy at your own wedding, and Country Jewell has come up with a few alternative ideas for sweet treats you can serve instead.

As we have stated before, it's your special day, so do things that make you happy. If you enjoy something, there's a good chance that your guests will like it too. The desserts mentioned below can be served alongside a small wedding cake, instead of it altogether, or choose more than one to make up an entire dessert bar. 

Cupcakes & Cake Pops
Yes, technically this is pretty much the same thing as cake, but these little versions are perfect for a small wedding. Another bonus to serving these instead of one big cake is that there is no fight over whether you will serve white or chocolate. Instead, you can order a variety of flavors.

Donuts
Another cake-like dessert, yet totally different. This is a fun twist that many guests will be tickled to see... and eat. If you are creative and very careful, these can even be stacked in a way that resembles a cake. They also are excellent for a late-night snack after hours of dancing. 

Pies 
This dessert fits in perfectly at a rustic country wedding, and there are so many to choose from: fruit, cream, meringue, and even cheesecake!. You can use mini pie tins and offer a lot of different kinds, fill a table with many large pies, or place one at each individual table for those sitting around it to relish. 

Dessert Shooters
These are desserts that are served out of a shot glass or tiny drinking glass. Miniature versions of strawberry shortcake, banana pudding, chocolate mousse, or some type of similar food can be served in individual portions this way. Using small mason jars would be perfect for a rustic twist. 

Homemade Treats
If you come from a family of cooks and bakers, then there are probably a few amazing recipes that have been passed down over time. Cookies, brownies, trifles, tarts, pies, cakes... anything that your family is "famous" for. You can have your family members make these for the wedding ahead of time, or you can give the recipes to a professional baker to recreate for you, but only if you're willing to share those secret recipes!  

A Candy Bar
We aren't only talking about "candy bars" like a Milky Way or Butterfinger (even though those could be used for this too) but a table full of a variety of candies in jars or other cute containers. Guests can fill bags full of their favorite sweets to take back to the table or home with them after the reception. Wrapped candies work well for easy grabbing, or you can use bulk unwrapped candy and provide a pretty scoop to dig in with.  

DIY Dessert Station
Put your guests to work, but in a fun, delicious way. Set up a station for making s'mores or ice cream sundaes. Fall would be an excellent time to incorporate a caramel apple making station. Provide the base ingredients plus plenty of toppings, then let everyone start assembling their dessert. 


Whatever dessert you choose to serve, it's a great way to add a bit of personalization and flair to your small country wedding near Knoxville. If you are in need of a baker, Country Jewell knows many talented local wedding vendors. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll do our best to connect you with the right person for the job.  

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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