The 20 Best Wedding Pies

Dessert bar with pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie with a mini cupcake tower and white wedding cake — Photo by Mikkel Paige Photography

Serving cake at your wedding reception is a longstanding tradition, but who says you have to play by the rules? It’s your day after all, so you have full permission to round off your menu with any sweet treat that appeals to your taste buds. If you aren’t a cake aficionado or you’re looking for ways to supplement the classic wedding dessert by offering more variety, pies are an out-of-the-box choice that will make a big impression with your guests. By swapping a conventional confection with a baked pastry, you’ll still have the ability to create a tiered look, participate in the ceremonial cake cutting, and serve large quantities to your friends and family, but this sugary item will stand out from the stack. “There really is no difference in the ‘wow’ factor that you will receive in using cakes versus pies other than we feel like pies are incredibly unique as a wedding dessert option,” Kristen Mullins of Slice Pie Company says.

Meet the Expert

Kristen Mullins is the owner of Slice Pie Company in Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s been in the business for nearly a decade.

For one, there are so many flavors to choose from: You can stick with crowd-pleasing favorites (think: apple pie and pumpkin pie in the fall or winter or key lime pie and blueberry pie in the spring and summer) or you can get creative with your offerings by selecting more unexpected flavors (consider peanut butter pie, coconut macaroon pie, or s’mores pie). There are also many different options for serving your dessert, whether it’s a whole pie, mini pies, or pie pops. Giving your loved ones a slice of pie will likewise produce a cozy, welcoming, laid-back atmosphere that will make everyone feel nostalgic. For that reason, this baked treat naturally fits the vibe of rustic nuptials at a farm or casual bashes in the backyard, but you can make this dessert as opulent or as no-frills as you’d like. Your decorations will play a role in producing the intended ambiance as well. For instance, use colorful flowers to adorn garden bashes or serve your treats on a lucite stand for glamorous celebrations.

Think pie might be your preferred dessert of choice? We’ve rounded up a list of the best ideas for your big day. Read on for 20 wedding pie ideas that will bring all of the cozy vibes to your reception.

01 of 20

Consider a Unique Presentation

A white chest of drawers arranged with various pies and decorated with greenery and white flowers — Photo by The Weber Photographers

Instead of presenting your pies on a flat table, consider arranging them on a stack of shelves to bring depth and dimension to your display. Serve a wide variety of flavors, such as key lime pie, cherry pie, and lemon meringue pie, and place each pastry on a different size stand to further increase the visual intrigue. Using a decorative hutch in lieu of a table will also aid in creating that homey feel. Adorn the setup with greenery and flowers for spring or summer weddings in a garden.

02 of 20

Display Them on a Tower

A tower of mini cherry pies at an outdoor wedding reception and a sign — Photo by Hopkins Studios

If you want to replicate the look of a tiered cake, present your wedding pies on a tower. Not only does it look stunning, but it’s also efficient: Each guest can grab their own pre-portioned serving from the stand instead of waiting for a plated slice from the back. You can choose one single flavor, like mini cherry pies, or arrange several different towers, each with their own taste. Remember to add signage to help your guests make their decision.

03 of 20

Top Them With Ice Cream

Two mini wedding pies toped with vanilla ice cream and served in white bowls with silverware — Photo by Lacie Hansen Photography

Pie is definitely tasty on its own, but adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream will amplify the sensory experience. Taking a bite of the warm pastry mixed with the cold, creamy topping will provide a contrast of flavors your taste buds will love. If your wedding is taking place in the warmer months, ice cream will also cool off your guests while they take a break from the dance floor. Serve mini pies with ice cream as a late-night snack to enjoy on the spot, or provide personalized packaging, so your guests can take them home as favors.

04 of 20

Choose an Apple Filling

Mini apple pies presented on apple slices and round apples — Photo by Kate Headley

With its doughy crust and sweet filling, apple pie is a classic dessert no one will be able to pass up. Instead of serving from a single dish, select bite-sized versions for your friends and family to nosh on. This is the perfect treat for soirées in the fall since apples are at their peak ripeness in autumn. For a fun presentation that speaks to the season, place them on apple slices and decorate with whole apples.

05 of 20

Create a Dessert Bar

A dessert bar with a pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, a mini cupcake tower, and a three-tier white wedding cake — Photo by Mikkel Paige Photography

Maybe you want to give your guests a lot of options for their sugar fix. If that’s the case, stock an entire table with different desserts, such as pies, mini cupcakes, and even a wedding cake. To satisfy every guest’s taste buds, diversify the flavors. For instance, include pecan pie, apple pie, and pumpkin pie at your autumnal nuptials, and choose vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting for a well-rounded display to guarantee that everyone will find something they like.

06 of 20

Select Seasonal Berries

Mini strawberry pies topped with whipped cream on a wooden board — Photo by Gipe Photography

For weddings taking place during the summer months, there are so many seasonal fruits to choose from. Strawberries are freshest and tastiest from mid-May to early July, so miniature pies filled with sliced strawberries and topped with a dollop of whipped cream will give your guests a taste of the season and bring a pop of color to your reception.

07 of 20

Make Them Handheld

A bowl of heart-shaped pie pops on a wedding dessert bar — Photo by One Love Photography

Pies usually require a fork to devour, but for an unexpected presentation and culinary experience, consider serving pie pops. Munching on a heart-shaped handheld treat is definitely memorable, plus you won’t have to worry about divvying up slices. This pie alternative will make a great addition to a larger dessert bar.

08 of 20

Execute a Theme

Two sliced pumpkin pies on birchwood stands decorated with an evergreen garland — Photo by Artistrie Co.

In addition to the type of pie you serve at your wedding, the items you use to decorate your display have the ability to build upon your aesthetic. For rustic fêtes in a barn or enchanting weddings in a forest, present your pies on slabs of birchwood and tie in garlands of evergreen to create the right ambiance. Make sure to coordinate the flavor with the theme as well—pumpkin works best here.

09 of 20

Pick an Array of Flavors

A wedding pie bar with mini pecan pies and other flavors on stands — Photo by For the Love of It

To appeal to even the pickiest of guests, provide an variety of different flavors. Include apple pie, cherry pie, and key lime pie for classic choices and rhubarb pie, sweet potato pie, and peanut salted caramel pie for the adventurous eaters. Serve each type of pie—preferably miniature sized—on separate stands, along with the corresponding signage.

10 of 20

Offer Different Sizes

A pie bar with mini pies on two metallic towers and a cherry pie and blueberry pie on plates — Photo by Katia Taylor Photography

Besides switching up the flavors, you can also offer diversity by mixing different sizes. “You can display individual slices, mini pies, and whole pies along the table to provide some depth to the presentation,” Mullins suggests. This also gives your friends and family the option of grabbing a petite pie on the way to the dance floor or opting to take a break with a larger slice while seated at their table.

11 of 20

Play With Various Shapes

An assortment of blueberry pies on a wooden table at an outdoor wedding — Photo by Whitney Neal Photo

Looking for even more variety? If you’re serving only one flavor of pie, change up the presentation with different shapes. These blueberry pies (a traditional pie with a woven crust, another version with a solid top sprinkled with fresh blueberries, and an iteration with folded edges and a blueberry center) all look different, which gives the arrangement more visual appeal.

12 of 20

Brand the Crust

Mini pies with a heart-shaped center that are arranged on wooden boxes — Photo by Anna Delores Photography

If your aesthetic leans on the romantic side, add a heart-shaped cut-out to the center of your mini wedding pies. Not only will this evoke a dreamy flair, but your guests will also get a sneak peak of the flavorful center. Your pie crusts are also the perfect medium for signage. “Setting pie dishes throughout a table and adding custom lettering, designs with color made out of our own crust, are great options for the display table,” Mullins says.

13 of 20

Embrace Apt Decorations

A blueberry pie and another pie on a lucite stand decorated with single-stem flowers and white draping — Photo by Stephanie Brazzle

While your wedding pie will likely add a pop of color to your table, incorporating suitable decorations will elevate the spread. These single-stem pink and peach flowers in bud vases on white draping give these pies an effortless, lush feel that’s perfect for garden nuptials. Meanwhile, the acrylic stands bring a chic flair that’s ideal for modern affairs.

14 of 20

Focus on Color

A tower of mini pies filled with berries and topped with flower petals — Photo by Chellise Michael Photography

The pie itself might be the only decoration you’ll need. Mini pies with vibrant berries, topped with edible flower petals in coordinating hues, will make a splash without needing any extras. Serve other colorful desserts on the side to up the ante.

15 of 20

Mix Sweet and Savory

A table with pumpkin pie, cherry pie, lemon meringue pie, quiches, and danishes — Bogdan Kurylo / Getty Images

Who says your wedding pie has to be sweet? For guests who prefer savory flavors, add meat and vegetable quiches to your spread. Instead of serving this combination for dessert, bring the display to your cocktail hour.

16 of 20

Supplement the Main Dessert

A two-tier wedding cake with gold foil and blueberries surrounded by mini fruit pies and pecan pies — Photo by Becca Lea Photography

Perhaps you and your partner do want a wedding cake, but you’re looking for additional desserts to round off the setup. Mini pies are the perfect supplement. Small crusts overflowing with fresh berries and others loaded with chopped pecans will give your loved ones something light and refreshing and dense and buttery, depending on what they choose. You can even decorate your cake with the pie filling for a cohesive look.

17 of 20

Arrange a Mobile Cart

A spread of pumpkin pies arranged on a wooden cart on wheels and decorated with greenery — Photo by Artistrie Co.

Do you want your wedding pie table to be the focal point of your celebration? Think strategically about your display. An oversized wooden cart on wheels decorated with greenery will demand attention. Make sure to arrange the installation near the entrance, so your guests will notice it once they walk into the reception area.

18 of 20

Cut Into a Single Pie

A fruit pie with raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries served on a wooden plate — Shaw Photography Co. / Getty Images

You don’t have to make your wedding pie the main treat. If you have a big dessert bar with a lot of different items, all you need is a single pie. That way, if you aren’t serving cake, you’ll be able to carry out and document the cake-cutting tradition. A multi-berry pie with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries is perfect for the summer season.

19 of 20

Incorporate Signage

A wedding pie table with six different pies decorated with a chalkboard arrow sign and photos of loved ones — Photo by Jasmine Lee Photography

While signs are definitely necessary for providing important information about your dessert, they also help reinforce your aesthetic. A chalkboard arrow with handwritten lettering elicits a casual, rustic feel, while a lucite sign with ornate calligraphy evokes a more glitzy look. It doesn’t matter where you place these plaques: “There are cute little signs, just like added with cakes, that you can place along the table or even in the center of the pie,” Mullins says.

20 of 20

Include a Personal Touch

A wedding pie on a wooden stand topped with with three dog toppers — Photo by Kindred Weddings

Taking your guests’ preferences into account is definitely important, but it’s your wedding at the end of the day, so make sure your pie actually resonates with you. Maybe you choose the same type of pie the two of you shared on the night of your engagement, or perhaps you decide to recreate the same kind from your favorite date night spot. Adding personal toppers, like figurines of your pet dogs or your hometown football team’s logo, will also give your loved ones a deeper look at your love story.

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