YOU CAN LET EM' EAT WEDDING CAKE--BUT TODAY'S BUDGET-SAVVY BRIDES ARE SERVING UP THE LATEST WEDDING DESSERT TREND ALTERNATIVES FOR 2010-2011!

On the actual wedding episode of "Bethanny Getting Married?" Bethanny proclaimed that the wedding cake was a major component of the event as that was all she had (beside Jason, the groom). At seven-and-a-half months pregnant there wasn't much sex, and drinking was out--but she could indulge in wedding cake. However, she could have had much more.

Today's brides are foregoing the wedding cake altogether in favor of more cutting edge and cost-effective confections. If you thought the cupcake craze had crashed and burned, think again. Couture, customized cupcakes, (standard size and minis), have continued to evolve and remain a guest favorite. (So easy to just pop a mini in your mouth.) What else? Designer donuts are delighting couples with  a never-ending variety of fantastic flavors from chai latte to maple glazed bacon apple! And candy buffets featuring beach themes (think saltwater taffy, candy apples and fudge) or charming vintage, retro displays, double as dessert stations and takeaway favors.

Get ready for the sugar rush:

Icing decals are an affordable way to customize wedding cupcakes (you can even get your own personalized monograms!)--thin sheets of edible icing (using food grade inks) are gently pressed on top of already frosted cupcakes--find these at  Hello Frosting (above and below).

This would be a perfect cupcake tower for a black and white wedding. This $10 tower from Sprinkles  holds 2-3 dozen cupcakes.

Okay, so Bethenny Frankel from "Bethenny Getting Married?" wanted a quintessential New York City wedding. Well, she got it partly right by hosting it at The Four Seasons restaurant, but for quintessential New York City, incredible tasting cake, you gotta go William Greenberg honey!

Hey Dude? Where's my cupcake? Forget pricey groom's cakes--these manly man cupcakes will do the trick courtesy of  Butch Bakery in alcohol-soaked goodness including: beer-run, rum & coke, mojito,sidecar and more at $48 per dozen.

Cupcake tower with larger cupcake on top for cutting.

Milkshake shooters (great as a side with cupcakes and cookies).

Pink sugar cookies from Eleni's go for $35.00 per dozen. Wrap up in cute packages like the Kraft Bags and Doilies below found at Etsy.

Also found on Etsy, these adorable cupcake wrappers to dress up your dessert table.

From dollars to donuts, these exquisite bites of perfection have been wowing guests lately at high profile weddings. The Doughnut Plant, featured on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" with their peanut butter and jelly doughnut , won't name names, but we did see Cynthia Nixon and her brood there one summer afternoon relishing the goodies. Prices average around $2.00 per doughnut.

Blueberry and chocolate-covered cherry donuts from The Fractured Prune. Only $10.75 per dozen! And yummy!

Looking to stock your candy bar? Since 1937, Economy Candy on NYC's Lower East Side  has been making Willy Wonka eat his sweet little heart out with an overflowing selection of candies from milk-chocolate gummi bears to giant Pez dispensers. Purchase here in bulk for big savings.

Shabby cottage candy buffet signs at The Back Porch Shoppe at Etsy for $21.95.

Vintage candy bar concept courtesy of WeddingStar

Do consider the use of levels and different size jars and containers to create visual appeal to your candy bar buffet. (Scout out flea markets and Ebay for inexpensive, vintage apothecary jars, containers and candy scoops).

Just so pretty we had to throw this in for inspiration. Carry your event colors through to the candy bar such as this pink and green station which would make Lily Pulitzer smile.

Did you know that stressed spelled backwards is dessert?

Let us know what you like! What did we leave out that your sister  brides might like to know about?