If you have guests on your list who are going gluten-free and you're confused about how to accommodate their needs, you're not alone. Increasingly, brides are dealing with gluten-intolerant or Celiac guests, whose special diets can be puzzling. The term “gluten-free” means food made without any wheat, wheat by-products, barley, rye, spelt, oats, and by-products or cross-contamination from any of those grains. This takes the traditional wedding cake off the table for these wedding-goers. While you may not want to design your whole cake around just a handful of guests, there are a few quick and easy ways to improve your gluten-free guests' experience.
First, consider the number of guests who will need an alternative to regular cake and the amount of effort you want to devote to providing other options. Many bakeries, specialty stores, and even regular grocery stores are carrying gluten-free baked goods these days, so assign a member of the wedding party to pick up a box of gluten-free cupcakes or muffins to display on the cake table.
You might be afraid a box of cupcakes will look out of place beside your gorgeous wedding cake, but never fear: gluten-free cupcakes can be just as gorgeous as your wedding cake. If you're concerned about the cupcakes matching the larger cake, buy the gluten-free cupcakes a day in advance and give them to your decorator, who can top them with icing that coordinates with the larger cake. A simpler solution is to take all of the photos first and add the gluten-free items on the side after all of the cutting and cake-in-your-face-smooshing is finished.
Homemade gluten-free baked goods can be just as tasty and look just as cute as store-bought ones, plus you'll save the cash by not paying a baker or decorator.
Another way to get gluten-free baked goods to the wedding table is to ask one of your gluten-free guests to provide some treats as their gift to you. Homemade gluten-free baked goods can be just as tasty and look just as cute as store-bought ones, plus you'll save the cash by not paying a baker or decorator.
If acquiring gluten-free baked goods seems like too much hassle, you can provide something sweet that just happens to also be gluten-free. For instance, set out special chocolate bars like the Endangered Species natural and organic chocolate or some common chocolate bars that are already gluten-free. (Snickers, Hershey bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, or Baby Ruth bars are just a few such sweets.)
Lastly, now that you've gone to the trouble of supplying your guests with something delicious, make sure they find it! Many people who avoid wheat won't even think to approach the dessert table, so let them know ahead of time that there will be something special provided. Then label your gluten-free desserts clearly; try a cute sign with wording like, “Goodies for Gluten-free Guests.” Your guests will be delighted that they can participate in every aspect of your celebration.
