Who needs cake? NC couple serves Cook Out milkshakes to wedding guests instead
It’s common for couples to personalize their weddings to uniquely represent their love story, and one pair of North Carolina newlyweds did just that by serving milkshakes from their favorite fast food restaurant: Cook Out.
The fast-food chain is a staple in the South, especially in North Carolina, where the first Cook Out officially opened. So when Layne and Taylor Roberts got married back in March, they knew the popular sweet treat would be a great choice for dessert on their big day.
While they did have a smaller cake they cut and served for photos, they also wanted to have something else to bring to the table for guests.
“Neither of us are big cake people, so we tried to think of something else — and we both just love Cook Out,” the couple told CharlotteFive. “Some of our wedding guests were from out of town … so we were like ‘You know what? They’ve not had Cook Out, so we’re about to show them what this is about.”
The 22-year-old North Carolina natives met seven years ago at a summer camp in Panama City Beach, Florida. After years of dating through high school, college and even some time spent long-distance, the two got engaged at the beginning of 2023 and got married in Graham on March 31.
“We’ve been dating for so long that once we got engaged, we were like ‘When we get engaged, we’re going straight to a wedding. We’re not wasting any time,’” the couple explained.
While they only had a couple of months to plan their wedding, the Robertses said their idea for Cook Out milkshakes was one they had early on.
“We kind of threw it out there a long time ago in the planning and then we forgot about it … until closer — until we didn’t have a wedding cake — so it was like ‘I guess we are doing Cook Out.”
Once the two settled on serving milkshakes at their wedding, they said they contacted the fast-food chain closest to their venue to organize the big order for their 100 guests.
“[We] talked to the manager and said ‘Hey. On this night, we’re going to send somebody to get 50 milkshakes. Is that OK?’ and they were great with it,” Layne explained.
After tying the knot in front of their closest friends and families, their dinner reception included chocolate and vanilla milkshakes with a toppings bar featuring their favorite candies.
Not only was this plan a personalized touch, but the couple says it was also more cost-friendly than just serving a traditional wedding cake. The average cost for a wedding cake is $510, according to The Knot. In comparison, the Robertses said they spent half of that on the shakes, only spending about $200.
“We figured no one wants a whole milkshake at a wedding because they’re dancing…so we had our catering team split the milkshakes in half, which also saved some money.”
Looking back, the couple says the shakes were a hit for guests who got to dance the night away with their favorite desserts.
“The guests loved it, and they thought it was different that you don’t see at every wedding,” the two told CharlotteFive.
In addition to the shakes, the couple also included several other personalized touches to their wedding, including dinner from another favorite North Carolina restaurant, Debbie’s Restaurant & Catering, and a video highlighting their love story before the ceremony.
This story was originally published June 1, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
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