Dessert Table: Perfectly Pretty

It's been a while since I've featured a dessert table that showcases the dresser trend, but this one from Jenna Rae Cakes is the perfect addition to the group. With a heavy emphasis on balloons, the fringe cake pop flags and golden streamers are simple, but pretty accents.

images via Pinterest by Jenna Rae Cakes

Dessert Table: A Taste of Italia

Cyd of The Sweetest Occasion showcased this charming country dessert table, which was designed and photographed by Chiara of Le Frufrù, Valentina of Cut and Paste, and Michela. Although it's pegged as an inspirational Christmas shoot, the three Italian designers who styled it could easily make this display work year round.

It appears the bureau trend I wrote about here, here, and here is alive and well, even overseas.

This table has so many great touches. Various colors of yarn balls in apothecary jars are easy additions to any design. Simply open up a drawer on your buffet to reveal jars of homemade granola or homemade preserves. I really love the crochet, doily-inspired cookies. What a stead hand those must have taken. They look flawless.

What's your favorite part?

Dessert Table: A Gourd-geous Whoopie Pie Feast

I'm a big fan of whoopie pies. Anytime you can sandwich inventive frostings between two layers of moist, flavorful cake, I'm on board.

Like macarons, whoopie pie flavor options are nearly endless. You can find or make whoopies in tons of cake-y flavors like carrot, double chocolate, or pumpkin. Of course, you could try traditional vanilla if that's your preference. The options don't end there. You can also fill the soft sandwich cookies with all kinds of delicious frostings, like mint chocolate chip, chai tea, or coconut. Again, you could stick with traditional chocolate or vanilla buttercream.

When I saw this whoopie display yesterday on 100 Layer Cake, I knew I had to share it with you. You'll recognize the bureau trend that I wrote about here and here. Along with the trendy table, the stylist also added lush flowers, caramel and sunshine-hued gourds, and birch bark stumps to create a gorgeous Fall backdrop for pumpkin whoopie pies.

Simple brown bag favors are dressed up with custom flavor labels.

Want a little more whoopie goodness for your Friday? Check out some of the dessert tables I've designed using whoopie pies. I selected giant apple spice ones for this Autumn dessert table, and custom chocolate ones for this Alice in Wonderland dessert table for Nonpariel Magazine. These custom lavender vanilla ones were a big hit a MN Bride Magazine's Best of 2010 gala.

So tell me, have you tried whoopie pies? What flavor were they?

Image 1 (The LDS Grandparent Place), Image 2 (Scott Clark Photo)

Dessert Table Trend: Hutches/Bureaus/Dressers

Call them what you will. Whether you call it a hutch, bureau, or dresser, they are the new trend in dessert tables. Party planners are taking the candy display vertical for a new twist on the traditional horizontal display.

The trend can fit any theme or vibe. Check out this calligraphy-labeled, feminine spread.

I designed macaron stands and styled desserts for this Marie Antoinette-inspired spread. It's full of bright colors, and the hutch has a great damask background.

This light, bright yellow display is full of cakes and flowers. The white bookcase is nearly invisible against the wall of windows in the background.

I even came across a candy-stuffed dresser when I stopped by Minnesota's Largest Candy Store last month. The mirrored top clevery reflects the store's other goodies.

Image 1 & 2 (Style Me Pretty), Image 3 & 4 (Nonpareil Magazine), Image 5 (Elizabeth Anne Designs)Image 6 (Shauna Younge)