Cake or Cupcakes?

The cake cutting can be done before serving food so the caterer can serve them to the guests for dessert and still collect them at the end of the night to clear the dishes to pack away. It does seem right since the restrictions will have limitations to what the vendor is willing to do and for how long they are present. If your okay with the alternative of the cupcake, it can be boxed or in plastic so guests can just help themselves to one and not have any concern about cutlery to use. A small cake for the cutting and pictures would be enough to have and just take the rest home.

Yes, I agree with Hank.
Do it while it’s time for the meal, this way the plates and cutleries are already in use and will be all clean at the end. That’s if you’re having cake big enough to feed your size. If not, having cupcake afterwards works as well.

I would agree with Hank to get it done so the cake can be sliced while everyone is eating and use the cake for dessert. You definitely don't have to wait till later in the evening to cut it. You could still have cupcakes if you prefer and have a small cake for pictures.

Since you don't have a dessert with your meal, I don't see why you couldn't do the cake cutting after your dinner

You can also cut the cake before dinner - it's just a photo moment anyway so it doesn't matter when it happens. This way, the caterer can slice up each individual slice while you're having your entree and then serve the cake to each guest as dessert. That way when dinner service is over, caterer can take all the dinnerware and flatware. Because if you cut after dinner, and guests don't get to the cake in time, there's no utensil for them to eat cake.

View quoted message Seems like after dinner is the perfect time!

View quoted message I think it seems like the most natural timing as well!! I dont want to have to chase everyone down or gather attention to hand out cake, plus our photographer will be leaving after dinner so they'll be there to get photos of the cutting

We are planning on doing our cake cutting right after dinner! Once the party starts after dinner I dont wanna have to stop it for cake cutting so we're just gunna do it right after cake cutting then party the rest of the night!

View quoted message Thats what I was thinking, thank you!! I just wasn't sure if it was normal practice lol

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In that case I don't see an issue with it! Normally if you do like a 3 course dinner for example dessert is served shortly after the main course so I would think the same thing can apply to cake!

View quoted message That's a good point, there is no dessert included so we wouldn't be doubling up on sweets back to back right after dinner.

Does your meal include a dessert or not? I would say if there is no dessert included then cutting the cake after dinner is perfectly fine, but if you are serving dessert I'm guessing not many people will eat cake right after that.