Q – We love the idea of a groom’s cake. The only problem is that the groom doesn’t actually like cake. Any tips on dessert alternatives for the rehearsal dinner?

EARL ANDERSON (Certified Cake Pimp, Fantasy Frostings)

I’m not sure why anyone would marry a man that didn’t like cake, but stipulating that someone would, there are other sweet options. Traditionally, the grooms cake is served at the rehearsal dinner. Usually, it’s designed around a hobby or interest of the groom’s. We have done a wild boar for a hunter, a Transformer for a fan, Superheroes galore and even a golf cart for a groom that was given a DUI driving his cart on the street after a very liquid round on the course. Groom cakes are all about a sense of humor. My first suggestion for an alternative would be a dessert bar themed to the tastes and interests of the groom. Colors, designs and tastes can be incorporated into many different desserts. Fresh fruits dipped in white, milk and dark chocolates. Cookies, fudge, pies and candies can be put together into a beautiful display.

LAUREN GROVE (Founder, Every Last Detail)

I always tell couples that their wedding should 100% reflect them, so why should the “groom’s cake” be anything less than that? Think of what kinds of desserts you LOVE, and have that as your “groom’s dessert”! I’ve seen “cakes” made of donuts, giant cookie cakes, and of course cupcakes. Pie is always an excellent option (pie pops are a new favorite) or you could even do mini-desserts, like creme brûlée or bananas foster. The options are endless!

GRETCHEN VILES (Editor & Social Media, WindWishes)

Don’t like cake?  No problem!  Here are some alternatives to satisfy that sweet tooth after a delicious rehearsal dinner:

- Donut tower: Stack up the grooms favorite donuts on a cake plate and next to that, platters of donuts for your guests taking.

- Cookies:  Serve the grooms choice cookies alongside a shot glass of cold milk.

- Ice cream sundae bar:  This one sounds a bit more involved…but, really it’s just about setting up the basics and any personal fave toppings, of course; vanilla icecream, chocolate fudge, nuts, sprinkles, whipped cream and a bowl of cherries!

- Chocolate fountain:  Who can resist a waterfall flow of chocolate?  Add dippers like: bananas, strawberries, rice crispy treats, wafer cookies…and you are all set!

Now, don’t forget to personalize your presentation identifying it as the “Groom’s Dessert.”  I say add in some pictures of the groom as a kiddo with maybe icecream all over his face…or chocolate in his teeth!  This is a sure way of adding lots of personality to it and making it all your own!

BRIAN LEAHY (Founder, The Groom Says)

You’re in luck, cake hater. Rehearsal dinners and desserts are the two wedding elements where breaking the rules is not only okay — it’s encouraged. First look to new dessert alternatives like COOLHAUS for inspiration (they engineered some kickass ice cream sammies for our wedding … cause wedding cake is so 1990). And there’s nothing wrong with incorporating the groom’s favorite desserts, no matter how lowbrow they may be. If a classic Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty (with french fries to dip) is your Achilles’ heel, then go for it. Finally, if you’re having a destination wedding, an assortment of goodies from local bakeries might be a good way to tie in the locale. Whatever you do, don’t make the safe choice. Bold and unique will always leave a lasting impression.

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What are you serving for dessert at the rehearsal dinner or reception? Will there be a cake alternative? Share your story in the comment section below.

A New York based production company is looking for charismatic toastmasters to feature in its new series, PODIUM. The series celebrates the art of oration in all its myriad forms. One category we are excited to feature is wedding toasts, with several episodes exploring what makes a toast truly unforgettable. If you know someone who will be giving a wedding toast in the coming months — be it best man, maid of honor, or parent of the bride/groom — and you think it has the potential to be great, nominate them now.

One of our favorite non-wedding blogs to follow is Uni-Watch on ESPN.com. While they normally cover news & trends in the world of sports uniforms, today they featured an NFL themed wedding that gives new meaning to the term “mixed marriage.”

Pinterest boards of the week: Wedding WTF, Proposal Ideas & Man Cave.

Planning a couples shower? These type of events can be difficult to cater to both sexes. A new post on OneWed takes a look at several shower themes that are sure to pique the groom’s interest.

In search of some budget grooming before the wedding? AskMen has tracked down 8 grooming products that you can buy for cheap at your local drugstore.

Our friends over at Hitched are experts on everything marriage. So when they publish a post called “The 10 Qualities of Great Marriage” we stop everything and read it immediately. You should too.

Video of the week: a guy attached a camera to his dog and it loose at his brother’s wedding:

Going to a wedding this summer? In a wedding this summer? Maybe even it’s your wedding this summer? Well, you’re going to have to learn to dance! From grooms breaking out the Thriller dance to the classic bride and groom first dance, dancing is popular and you need to know how to join in the fun.

The popularity of some of these dances will vary depending on the crowd you hang with, but you can’t go wrong if you learn them.

Couple Dance steps/moves

The Waltz – Simple, 4 beat step, fancier than the sway in place slow dance, but not so fancy that a dancing challenged guy can’t do it. One note of warning, if you’re the groom, make sure that your first dance song is in fact a waltz (not a foxtrot or other tempo) before you try to waltz to it. It’s worth taking a few private dance lessons with your fiancée and letting the instructor teach you how to dance to your song.

The Fast Step- The refuge of bad dancers everywhere for generations – repeat after me – step touch, step touch. That’s all you need to do. Shake your hips a little bit and throw in some arms and you’re good to go for almost any faster tempo song. If you really can’t dance, throw in some stupid faces and make fun of yourself.

Cha Cha – The great thing about the Cha Cha is that it’s simpler than the tango, rumba, or salsa. If you can do two slow steps followed by three fast ones you can dance to almost any Latin-influenced beat.

Two Step – The Two Step is a good dance to learn because it works for both Country-Western dances and a lot of Ethnic dance forms such as the Polka. It can also be used for the unexplainably popular “Cotton Eye Joe” dance.

Group Dances

The Wobble The modern day version of The Electric Slide, although, the Electric Slide is still pretty darn popular.

The Dougie – If Michelle Obama can do it, so can you!

Cupid Shuffle – Some DJs and bands say this is losing popularity, but others report it being frequently requested.

The Chair Dance – No, not a lap dance. Raising the bride and groom up on a chair used to only be part of the Jewish dance, the Hora. But today, all sorts of couples are doing it. If you’re the groom, your only job is to not fall off and look like you’re having fun. If you’re a guest your job is to make sure the bride and groom do not fall.

If you’re looking for more great wedding entertainment info, check out the GigMasters Wedding Blog.

What are your go-to dance moves for wedding receptions? Do you go with proven classics or improvise as you go? Leave a comment below.

With so many people in attendance, it’s almost impossible for one or two photographers to capture all the action at the wedding. Not to mention, once the guests actually do arrive, the photographers won’t really know who is an important family member and who is the hot date of a long-lost cousin.

The guests will take lots of pictures but most of them will get scattered on many different Facebook profiles anyways! It’s a headache to see them all, let alone collecting them all in one place.

Wedding Snap has created a very easy and high value solution. You sign up, create an album code (e.g. Ashley25), and share that album code among your guests through 250 personalized information cards that Wedding Snap sends you. Your guests will download the FREE Wedding Snap app to their iPhones or Androids. Every picture that your guests take through the app, a copy of it will be automatically uploaded directly to your album. The guests that don’t have smartphones can still upload their digital camera photos directly to your album after the wedding. This way, all your wedding memories are preserved in place without begging your guests for months or spending countless hours on Facebook to see all your guests’ photos.

With Wedding Snap, you can:
•    Upload wedding photos before, during, and after the event
•    Store unlimited photos of your wedding for a full year
•    Create additional albums for your bachelor/bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, etc.
•    Download all your pictures to your personal computer at once
•    Have a LIVE slideshow of all the guests’ photos at your wedding
•    Have 150 personalized info cards for your guests.

If you care about preserving your wedding memories, you should take advantage of this opportunity now. The first 10 people can get 50% off the Original or Premium Wedding Snap package with the code: Groom50

This is a video slideshow of the photos from one of Wedding Snap’s weddings:

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Will you and your bride be using an iPhone or Android app to capture your guests wedding photos? What do you like most about the Wedding Snap app? Let us know in the comment section below.