Top Spots For Alternative Wedding Cakes In South Florida

Weddings cost a lot of money and require a lot of planning, and the pièce de résistance is the wedding cake. Some people go the traditional route, but with the abundance of cake cooking shows and competitions in the TV landscape, many people are flocking to wedding cakes that express their individual style and represent them as a couple. There are so many options that it doesn't even have to be cake anymore. Some couples have an ice cream or candy bar while others choose to add a bit of South Florida flavor by including local treats. Check out the list below and see which cakes and cake alternatives best show your wedding style.Related: Which Is Your Favorite Dessert?

Ana Paz Cakes

1460 N.W. 107th Ave., Suite D
Doral, FL 33172
(305) 471-5850
www.anapazcakes.com

Hoboken, N.J. has Buddy the baker of Carlo's Bakery to cater to celebrities and local notables, and Miami has Ana Paz Cakes. Paz bakes intricately detailed cakes that are tailored to your tastes. For example, she can bake the ever popular seashell cake or she can include your couple's quirkiness by adding a bunch of crazy colors over multiple layers that look so good together that it could be fit for a king or in her case, Hollywood royalty. "Desperate Housewives" and "Sex and the City" star Kyle Maclachlan turned to Paz when he needed a wedding cake and Cher has used her as well. So if you want a bit of star style at your wedding, Ana Paz Cakes is for you.

Cakes by Karol

533 Eaton St.
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 393-3020
www.cakesbykarol.com

The norm is to get an immaculately decorated, fondant-covered cake, but at Cakes by Karol, you can add a bit of Key West style. She offers the standard fondant cake but also provides tower stands that give flexibility to the couple who is torn between wanting a cake and a dessert bar. You and your soon-to-be spouse can have a cake/cupcake combo with a one-layer cake on the top tier and cupcakes or desserts like dessert shots, brownies or mini-key lime pie tarts on the other tiers. She can also set up a dessert bar allowing you and your spouse to go sans cake. It's totally up to you to decide which direction you want to go.

Dominion Catering

1114 N. University Drive
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
(954) 437-8630
www.excitingparty.com

Dominion Catering can make your wedding elegant by supplying your guest with a full meal, usually with the exception of the cake. However, it does offer the next best alternative with the latest trend that's sweeping the country: the ice cream sundae bar. Dominion's ice cream social menu offers two flavors of ice cream, six toppings, three syrups, brownie bites, bananas and the options of assorted cookies or a logo cake. If you want a classy affair, you can also add on bananas foster, strawberries and Kahlua mousse, a chocolate fountain with skewered fruit and a logo sheet cake. If you're planning a bridal shower, Dominion also does high tea with tea sandwiches, scones and pastries.

Related: Best Barbecue in South Florida

Smoke & Spice Fine Catering & Events

436 N.W. 10th Ave.
Homestead, FL 33030
(305) 248-4535
www.smokeandspice.com

Smoke & Spice offers a variety of services from traditional catering to even your own luau including its delicious barbecue. Its reception menu offers local desserts like mango guava cheesecake and key lime pie and standard classics like crème brulee, mini cheesecakes and bread pudding. However, its special touch is the gourmet coffee station. Your guests can have an expresso, latte, cappuccino and American-style coffee all prepared by an experienced barista. It doesn't get any classier than this.

Tiny Delights

12847 S.W. 42nd St.
Miami, FL 33175
(305) 200-3460
www.tinydelightscupcakes.com

Tiny Delights is an oh-so-cute bakery that offers decorated wedding cakes and specialty cupcakes and desserts. If you go the cupcake route, it makes a design so intricately adorned that it would be a sin to eat it. You can also order a dessert table that features brownies, cake pops, cupcakes, cookies and dessert shooters. If you really want to get creative, pick from one of Tiny Delights themes: The Morrocan theme features blue, pink and purple cake pops, cookies, cupcakes and dessert shots and the Mayfair Wedding theme includes a wedding cake (optional), decorated cupcakes, cookies, cake pops, dessert shots and more. It's a bride and groom's dream come true.

Related: Best Coffee Shops in South Florida

Niema Hulin was born in Newark, NJ but raised in Lexington, South Carolina for the bulk of her formative years. In 2002, she moved to Miami after graduating from the University of Florida. Since then, Niema has worked in film, television and commercials as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator. Some of her films have included Bad Boys II and I Am Number IV. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.