The wedding cake as entertainment: a performance in pastry at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Pastry performance by frosting phenom Sebastien Thieffine at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Talk about a sweet genius: If you aren’t quite sure how to keep your guests amused while you do your meet-and-greet, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples has the answer: Their executive pastry chef, Sebastien Thieffine, will decorate your cake in the reception area as guests watch.

One of Florida’s most popular wedding sites, this Gulf Coast landmark delivers a classic oceanfront experience, with patios, courtyards, and terraces for al fresco ceremonies, and a ballroom, beach house, and indoor-outdoor spaces for the party. But it’s the service–including an entire team of on-site planners–that places the resort in a league of its own.

With bartenders shaking up signature drinks, centerpieces suspended from the ceiling, your monogram on the dance floor, and a lounge area set up on the sand, the resort specializes in the kind of high-impact parties that people talk about for years. And just in case you were wondering, Mr. Thieffine’s cake happens to taste darn delicious, too.